Can you back up with a car on a tow dolly?

You heard me.

I've heard it can't be done.

I have done it for short distances very slowly after missing a turn. Straight back that is, haven't tried turning and backing.

I couldn't. It was a Uhaul dolly: the ball hitch, and the front wheels of the dolly'ed vehicle all conspire against you. As George Burns said something about shooting pool with a piece of rope.

If all you need to do is move backwards a few feet in order to re-angle forward, it's ok.

It's when you actually try to back up into a particular place that it becomes a real bugger. The car wants to turn on the dolly. With the help of some strong people pushing back on the car hinge to keep it straight, it can be done...barely.

Thanks. I need to back a car into my driveway and make a 90 degree turn to get it behind my house. With all the snow, I thought a dolly might be a better option than a trailer, but I guess not. My trailer will be snowed in for at least another month.

Yes

My old Mastertow had a pin that would stop it from swiveling. Now, the steering wheel MAY turn at some point. But if you are straight to begin with, you can back them up. I've done it for an entire city block.

Even when it started to turn (after the entire block back up...) all you have to do is pull it back straight again and start the process over.

Now, if you have to turn to bend around something, FORGET IT.

I wouldn't try it!

If this guy can do it...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coa4sWcDCXc

I remember trying to tow dolly my then girlfriends Toyota Camry home from Dayon University to Cleveland Ohio. I was borrowing my buddies 2003 Dodge Ram with a 6 speed and a Cummins (fun truck) The dolly was a U-Haul Special and i very clearly remember this was right around Thanksgiving break and the campus was stupid congested. I made a turn and made it a bit up the street and was greeted by traffic and streets so packed and narrow i could not make it to the end. Truck went in reverse. Backed up car went crooked. Forward to straighten the car. Back up. Car goes crooked. Forward to straighten the car. Back up. Car goes crooked.

Screw it.

Keep backing up the the car, car is sideways, dolly is cocked weird, the swivel is at full lock and the car is at oppoisite lock. Keep backing up. Tired of screwing with this and backing up traffic. The tires made some cries in protest and we just kept backing up. Tires screeching and we made it back down the street and got it around. FINALLY

Never had such a pain in the butt, aggravating, and tense situation.

Tow dollys are good for forward, not so hot backwards. (Unless swivel lock pin)

Good luck sir

I once rented a tow dolly for a local rental store (not a U Haul). The guy told me 10 times not to back up with a car on it. Then as I was driving off he yelled it again. I got the point.

Make sure that the wheels on the towed car are locked and then it is a normal trailer with 4 wheels and only one axis of movement (at the ball). Harder than a single or tandem trailer but not as hard as a articulating trailer.

It may be worth it to call a tow truck. I used to move some projects for people and what would be a pain for them was usually five minutes with the truck.

Wally wrote: It may be worth it to call a tow truck. I used to move some projects for people and what would be a pain for them was usually five minutes with the truck.

+1, I used AAA to get the 924 and the 951 parked in the garage without having to push them up the hill :)

You could use a tow dolly to get it home to avoid the big towing distance fee and then see if there is a local tow truck to move the car. Or borrow a friend to steer while you push the car with a truck around the back of the house, etc.

I know a guy who successfully did it. (Hey, I had no other choice at the moment.)

I shocked myself the first time I used my dolly, I had to park the car in front of another line of cars to get back down the driveway. To do this I had to make a 30 degree turn while backing. I had to right left the wheel constantly but in 5 min I had it parked. I am sure I will never be able to do it again.

A swivel lock pin is my next mode, but mainly for loading a dead car with a come-along.

If you take the key out and lock the wheels it isn't any worse than a grain wagon. It's all in thinking a couple steps ahead.

That said, for parking the car in your yard the old chain through a pipe would probably be a better bet. Then you can push with your truck facing the car instead of backing up.

Or get a couple more friends and just push it.

So you bought the 944, didn't you?

CarKid1989 wrote: Backed up car went crooked. Forward to straighten the car. Back up. Car goes crooked. Forward to straighten the car. Back up. Car goes crooked. Screw it. Keep backing up the the car, car is sideways, dolly is cocked weird, the swivel is at full lock and the car is at oppoisite lock. Keep backing up. Tired of screwing with this and backing up traffic. The tires made some cries in protest and we just kept backing up. Tires screeching and we made it back down the street and got it around.

Ha, Dave and I just had to do this a few weeks about when we picked up a car. As long as the dolly doesn't twist far enought to hit the body of the car just let it get jocked sideways then force it backwards with the tires screeching.

Keep in mind not all dolly's are created equal, I had a turn plate type and it was nearly impossible to back more than a few feet. I just got out an unhooked from the tow vehicle and pushed the dolly and car where I needed, steering by swinging the tongue. So long as the ground was fairly smooth and relatively flat it wasn't a big deal. I did manage to back a car up a hill into a garage once with an assistant. Very time consuming and difficult.

I do it frequently. When an old Demco dolly is your only method of transporting your old cars around you just kind of have to back up sometimes. Rule 1. Do not be in a hurry. Rule 2. You have to have enough room to pull forward and straighten it out A LOT. Rule 3. Do not be in a hurry. I get out and straighten the wheel of the towed car when needed. Rule 4. Do not be in a hurry.

mikeatrpi wrote: So you bought the 944, didn't you?

Nope. The mice got it first.

Sure try it once, within 20 minutes you will be digging your trailer out by hand.

I used one to bring home the RX5.0, I went out a week later and bought a real trailer.

I have a dolly … it's the only way I can tow a car (and keep said car at my house) a trailer can't get in and out of my driveway … and there's no place to put it, and no way to get it turned around

so I've learned to plan WAY ahead when I'm towing the CRX