[DrexlerMcStyles]

In a couple months I will be moving across country (Albuquerque to Portland, OR) and will be towing my 380sl on the back of the moving truck with the type of rig that has the front tires off the road but not the back ones. My question is: will I need to disconnect the driveshaft? or do anything else, besides put it in neutral?

 

[65 Strat]

Im pretty sure you would have to disconnect the driveshaft. Why not use a trailer? It pulls better and you don't have to do anything but drive it on strap it down and go. I have pulled with both and I much prefer the trailer.

 

[DrexlerMcStyles]

I didnt get the trailer because it cost twice as much. How much of a hassle is it to disconnect the driveshaft?

 

[macntex]

i overheard my mechanic talking about a car that was being towed in to him and he said he hoped they put the rear wheels on the trailer ottherwise he said there might be transmission damage

 

[smack]

They say in the manual, I think, not to tow them wheels down. There's not much rear-end clearance with a front wheel rig. If you have to use it, you will have to disconnect the drive shaft. Not a wise move, though. May end up costing you more in the long run.

 

[alabbasi]

You need to disconnect the drive shaft if your towing your car for anything more then a couple of miles or else plan on replacing your transmission when you get to Oregon.

 

[RadioTek]

In order to disconnect the driveshaft, you would have to remove it. Everything between the flexdiscs, including them. You would have to index the transmission and differential to the drive shaft in order to get everything back together properly. It sounds simple, but in practice is not. These cars are rather low to the ground as it is, so you would have the rear hanging pretty low. Right where it would be damaged going through a runoff channel in the road, a curb out of a gas station, or even a speed bump.

A trailer has surge brakes, which would mean that much less dead weight pushing you forward every time you tried to slow or stop. There are too many opportunities for something to go wrong on that long of a trip for me to risk it. The price difference for the trailer would be easily exceeded by the repair costs of even a minor mishap.

Plus, the 107 could be used to hold a few things that could be easily gotten to while on a trailer. If you tow by lifting up the front, anything in the car would lower your ground clearance, a commodity already in short supply.

Scott

 

[dawsman]

Good advice!

 

[DrexlerMcStyles]

Anyone out there have any experience with this type situation before?

 

[daryn]

Have someone drive the car out for you or put in on a trailer truck and let them do the deed.

 

[rowdie]

Yes and I trailer them or have them delivered on a trailer.

Don't take this the wrong way but you asked for advice and have gotten it. It may not be what you wanted to hear. It is up to you to make the decision.

Good luck on the move.

 

[65 Strat]

The trailer is worth every penny more on a long trip like your taking. Trust me, I know.

 

[DrexlerMcStyles]

The trailer is worth every penny more on a long trip like your taking. Trust me, I know.

Thanks, I'm just a little burned out on the constant troubles, issues and costs Ive dealt with with this car...

 

[nobby]

Thanks, I'm just a little burned out on the constant troubles, issues and costs Ive dealt with with this car...

Then maybe the car is not for you.
Trust everyone here that suggests a full trailer. It's a better, safer method and will not damage your SL.
A few more bucks for a full trailer vs:
1) Removing the full driveshaft and having the ass end bottoming out
2) Replacing a overheated transmission from NOT disconnecting the transmission.

 

[buckeyemerritt]

Good Grief Man

 

[ScottinSoCal]

Anyone out there have any experience with this type situation before?

Yes, when we moved from eastern Washington state to SoCal, and I opted for the full trailer behind the U-Haul. As others have pointed out, that let me load the car full of stuff so it was easily accessible during the (multi-day) trip. Much better than having to keep it all in the cab with me, or being forced to open the huge back door of the moving truck.

 

[DrexlerMcStyles]

Thanks for the advice. Ive changed my reservation to include the trailer rather than the 2 wheel dolly.

 

[DrexlerMcStyles]

Good Grief Man

Extremely insightful and of much help!!

 

[RadioTek]

You'll save yourself much trouble, worry, and inconvenience. Good luck, I hope everything works out fine with the move.

I had to tow a 4WD pickup from Des Moines to Phoenix with all 4 wheels on the ground, because it was too wide to get on a trailer. The problems involved were horrendous. Bad hitch, wrong truck, rotten weather, snow, ice, blizzards, and leaking tranny fluid. Then when we tried to get it back together......

I won't go into the details about when the hitch ball broke loose in Albuquerque.

Sometimes peace of mind may cost a litle bit more, but if you think about what can go wrong, it's cheap.

Just make sure to check over the tires on the trailer they give you, including frequent inflation checks.

My experience with U-Haul has made me quite cautious. Double check everything, before and often during.

Scott

 

[DANSMB]

I have towed many cars with a dolly and it works fine, it is lighter and easier to pull than a full trailer. On a rear wheel drive car it goes on the dolly backwards and you lock the steering and your done. having said that, if you have a cherry car I would get a full trailer and after the car is on it go to your local boat shop and have them shrink wrap it. if you tow it across country behind a truck it will be completely covered in dirt, salt and sand by the time you get out west. I used to tow a car behing my motorhome and it would be filthy everywhere including under the hood and inside the car.

Dan