Towing an un-towable automatic car?

[Guest]

So I've got an automatic 2001 Toyota Corolla, and according to Toyota, it can't be flat-towed. Something about the drive shaft and the tranmission not being lubricated or something. Manual transmissions aren't a problem. So there are different ways around it. What I've found so far is 1.) obviously tow it on a flatbed or something. 2.) some sort of Remco lubricant pump to keep it lubricated. 3.) Disconnecting the driveshaft or something maybe?&nbsp;<br><br>Are there any other affordable alternatives? What if you left the car idling in neutral so that the oil and fluid would keep pumping, keeping things lubricated?&nbsp;

 

[offroad]

its front wheel drive, so disconnecting driveshaft is a PITA.&nbsp; You can put it on a tow dolly where the front wheels are off the ground.&nbsp; selling your automatic and buying a standard should be an easier alternative.

 

[Zil]

get the tow dolly.

 

[wagoneer]

TOW IT BY THE REAR WHEELS OFF THE GROUND IT ALSO LOWERS THE ODOMETER

 

[Terry]

Rear wheels don't do anything but ride and stop in that type car. No drive shaft to the rear wheel (unless its all wheel drive) Disconnecting the drive shaft"S (two of them) would be insane. Just get a tow dolly and if mountain driving, get one of those hard to find brake actuators for the towed vehicle.

 

[Guest]

So if I understand correctly, I can't flat tow my Corolla with all four wheels on the ground. It's an automatic front wheel drive, no crazy AWD 4X4 shenanigans. But if I towed it with just the two front wheels lifted up, with the two rear wheels still on the ground, in neutral I believe, I should be good to go? I would think that'd be fine and makes sense. I'm understanding this correctly?<br><br>Any recommendations on what kind of towing&nbsp;apparatus to buy, rough estimated cost, where to buy it, and general idea of how you might hook it up? Lol probably craigslist right?<br><br>Worse case&nbsp;scenario, I was thinking of driving the RV down, parking it somewhere (no idea where, maybe even the Amtrak parking lot?), taking the Amtrak back up (I love Amtrak. I'm like a kid again on a train.) and then driving my Corolla down. $44 total for the ticket. I'll do some research.<br><br>Found 2 tow dollys on Craigslist for $200-250.&nbsp;<br><br>One of them looks like this:&nbsp;<img rel="lightbox" src="http://images.craigslist.org/3Ke3I33N75L25E95F8d4fcb95526b1fbf1def.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>They say it's rated at 6,000 lbs. Corolla is about 2,500 I believe.<br><br>And the other is a Roadmaster Falcon 2? But I think it might be a tow bar and not a dolly. Not sure. Might just be cheaper to go with the Amtrak plan. I'm moving for a job so maybe once I get working and save up, I might buy a tow dolly. Well actually I'd like to get rid of this car and get a manual Geo Metro. Yeah Geo Metro! We've got to have a few Metro fans here right?<br><br>Yeah I think I shouldn't buy a tow dolly if I'm going to get rid of this automatic car. So then I'd just get a tow bar for a manual.&nbsp;<br><br>Thoughts? Maybe I should just try to Amtrak route? And if so, where might I park my RV unattended overnight for maybe 2 nights? Amtrak parking lot?

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I am not a fan of Metros.&nbsp; Only because I can not physically drive one <img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp;

 

[Terry]

The picture you show is not a tow dolly and is exactly what you shouldn't use to tow your car. A tow dolly has two wheels of its own and the front wheels of your car ride on top of the tow dolly. A tow dolly is actually a very small, two wheeled trailer in itself. most states don't require a tag or registration for a tow dolly either.

 

[Terry]

Here is a typical tow dolly

 

[Ziggy Moon]

&nbsp;<img rel="lightbox" src="http://roadmasterinc.com/img/towdolly.jpg" class="bbc_img">

 

[highdesertranger]

another vote for a tow dolly or get another vehicle.&nbsp; btw this applies to most automatics do not let the drive wheels turn the drive shaft when towing.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[Guest]

This is what I'm going to do. I'm either going to drive the RV down to a spot I have yet to find, keep it there unattended and overnight, take the Amtrak back home, and then drive my Corolla down.&nbsp;<br><br>Or vice versa. Drive the Corolla down, scope out a parking spot, hike/taxi/bike to the Amtrak station, come home, and then drive the RV down the next day.&nbsp;<br><br>Biggest problem: where to park. Somewhere near Santa Cruz. What about the Amtrak parking lot temporarily? Should I take the 19' RV down first or the Corolla first? It's like that old wolf, bag of grain, and chicken in a boat&nbsp;conundrum. What was the solution to that problem again?&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

[offroad]

take the corolla down first to use to scout the area.&nbsp; much easier with that

 

[idn88]

U-Haul rents both tow dolly's and flat beds (or used to). &nbsp;I have rented them one way a long time ago and it wasn't too much money - or didn't seem like it. &nbsp;Although U-Haul is a real PIB to deal with, and they don't maintain their equipment since all their locations are&nbsp;independent. &nbsp;But it is an option.

 

[VJG1977]

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Have you looked for manual locking hubs for that model car?&nbsp; They allow you to lock/unlock the hub at the wheel.&nbsp; Unlocked the tire can rotate while the axle remains stationary.&nbsp; I know there are after market manufactures for many later model cars.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>

 

[Johnnomads]

<strong>check out: http://www.remcoindustries.com/Towing/<br><br></strong>

 

[Zil]

Amtrak down<br>scout area<br>amtrak up<br>drive car down<br>Amtrak up<br>Drive camper down<br>I always look for max train time.<br><br>Some long term parking is better than others. The car would be safer left than camper.<br><br>

 

[Terry]

taking a train to someplace to scout out the area doesn't really sound like a good idea. How would someone get around to scout the area after taking the train. Drive the car down and leave parked at train station to retrieve the camper after scouting the area. Or better yet, just rent a tow dolly and take everything at the same time. Park in a Walmart and unload the car to look for a better place to stay.

 

[Zil]

no one seems to have a sense of humor any more.

 

[Terry]

Sorry. I have a sense of humor but not many people see it. It's mostly laughing at some of the things I do or that go through my mind at different times. I can be just setting around or walking along and out comes a little laugh at what I'm thinking about and some people just stare at me sometimes. Most of the time, I'm alone with the thoughts in my mind, even when I'm with my wife, or anybody else for that matter.