Towing a Spider

[LEWISDR]

Does anyone have experience towing a spider without a flatbed? I'm going to pick up an old (72) 124 that have we purchased and I'm trying to figure out how to get it home. I have to travel about 230 miles. The car is running and registered but probably needs alot of servicing so it would be possible to drive but safer to tow.

I would be using a 2009 Subaruru Forester as tow vehicle. I think it weighs about 3500 lbs.

Dan
Vermont

[baltobernie]

A manual-transmission Spider can be dollied great distances without difficulty. Here are a couple of tips:

Visually inspect the undercarriage for obvious defects; items not secured that can detach or bind.

Personally check all wheel bolts to ensure they are snug (but don't overtighten). Make sure the spare is inflated, and carry a jack capable of changing a tire without unloading

Tow nose-first

If there is any question of the top's integrity, tow with it down.

Remove the ignition key after tying-down, so that the steering column stays locked.

Spiders are tiny cars by today's standards. Some dollies are so wide the Spider barely fits between the ramps. Rent or borrow the smallest dolly you can find.

Be prepared for other motorists gawking or waving to you!

[LEWISDR]

Bernie,

Are you refering to one of those dollies you can rent from U Haul? They are intended to leave 2 wheels on the ground. They tell you that you must disconnect the driveshaft on a rear wheel drive car. Are you suggesting to leave the front wheels on the ground and put the back wheels on the dolly?

I wonder if a 72, 124 Spider actually has a locking steering column?

Thanks
Dan

[baltobernie]

Yes on the U-Haul dolly. Tow it nose-first, with the rear wheels on the ground. But make sure the minimum width vehicle that will fit on their dolly is smaller than the distance between the inner dimension width of the two front Spider tires. My Spider, with virtually stock wheels and tires, has an inner track of 46.5" The inner dolly ramps width must be no wider than this. If the car you're towing has aftermarket wheels and/or tires, have him measure the track beforehand. I remember when I picked up my car, the inner sidewalls were virtually rubbing the lip of the ramps.

You must disconnect the drive shaft on automatic transmission vehicles. The manual transmission and rear diff are splash lubricated.

My '73 has a locking column, and I'm pretty sure the '72 does as well. Denise, your comments, please.

Oh yeah, two more tips: Make sure the transmission is in neutral, and the e-brake is Off before starting out!

[LEWISDR]

Many thanks. Is that a picture of your light yellow 73 next to your name? Is that a stock hood with the bulges? The 72 that I'm picking up has a flat hood. Actually it has 2 since one hood was somewhat damaged and replaced. Did you do restoration on your car?

If you had pictures you could post or send that would be great. I'm interested to see details of 73 vs 72.

Thanks again
Dan
Vermont

[baltobernie]

http://www.fiatspider.com:16080/f08/vie ... f=3&t=3338 This year, she's got Cromodora CD3's that I've restored; next year re-chrome the bumpers, new top, and Santa might bring me a wood steering wheel

I think 1973 was the first year for the hood bulges; they got bigger around 1980. You'll find that hood bumps receive as much debate here as bumpers! I personally like the flat hood, and am sorta kinda looking for one.

And for my last tip (I promise): take along a tire pressure gauge, deflate the tires on the empty dolly to 25 psi, so the thing doesn't pogo all over the highway. Inflate to spec before picking up the car.

Good luck!

[rlux4]

This is a picture of me pulling into the driveway after hauling my car over 800 miles back from last years trip up to Oregon for the Mirafiror Oregon 08 campout. The trip didn't seem to hurt anything that I can tell. Since I found and fixed the problem that caused me to have to haul it home (a 15 cent heater pipe gasket) I've put on about 5,000 miles and it looks like the car suffered no ill effects from the tow.



Ron

[spider2081]

Just a thought: Many States have laws that require a towed vehicle be registered and insured if it has a wheel on the road. I have seen many cars towed with dollies in Connecticut with out plates but here it's illegal. You might want to check the State laws where you are towing.

[launieg]

Yes, it must be licensed (and insured) here also, to be hauled on a dolly. The U-Haul car trailers work very well too. There is a thread about this:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... aul#p48431