Tire test?

[Fletcher]

Need to go grab my 76 02 from a field in Northern California where it’s been sitting up on plywood wrapped in tarps for several years.  Trying to decide between a budget-friendly car dolly and less-friendly flatbed car trailer.  Visually the tires look good with good tread, but sitting as they have I wonder if they’re up to 800ish miles of tow.  Is there a simple way to test their viability?

[MitchaPaLoOza88]

I would check the date codes on the tires. I really wouldn't risk anything older than like 8 years for a long journey. Thats pushing it too. Then look for any dryrot or cracking.

 

Also Note: Dollying a rear wheel drive car is just added wear. Your transmission to back will be spoolin the whole time and who knows the condition of fluids and bearings and stuff.

 

My suggestion

U-haul trailer and U-haul dolly are pretty much the same price. Like $60 a day unlimited miles. So I always just play it safe and get the trailer.

Edited July 8, 2020 by MitchaPaLoOza88

[MitchaPaLoOza88]

Bring a come-along as well. I somehow always manage to forget mine

[Fletcher]

1 hour ago, MitchaPaLoOza88 said:

U-haul trailer and U-haul dolly are pretty much the same price. Like $60 a day unlimited miles.

I gotta look again but when I looked last week it was 600.  But I quoted pickup there and drop off here.  Maybe I should rent it locally and drive it down empty...

[beammmer]

As I've said before.  If trying to do it on the cheap, you will pay in the long run.

 

Don

[albatcha]

Definitely check getting the trailer locally and bringing it with you and back, that's always cheaper when I look and that's how I've done it when renting from uhaul.

 

Tires are risky, even if they look fine they can be critically damaged just from aging and how badly they've aged can be different place to place tire to tire.

 

I think six years was the point at which many tires started having significant sooner failures while gradually increasing the load on the tire in laboratory tests.

 

And do you know while sitting if the tire sat deflated for any period of time? That can also damage the structure.

[zinz]

Another thing to prepare yourself for is the brakes being locked up and the car being very difficult to move. If the emergency brake was engaged the entire time it sat dormant, you can bet the rears will be locked up... The shoes will stick to the drums. You might be able to free them by turning the adjusters on the back of the brake backing plate. Figure 104 below... there are two adjusters, the front one is kinda hard to get to behind the trailing arm.

 

 

Bring friends, big friends, to help push it around.  A tow strap can help to pull the car and try to break the brakes free.  Be sure if you use a tow strap to only loop it thru the front subframe under the engine and NOT the trailing arms...those are easily bent.  

 

Maybe you'll be lucky and she'll run right up the trailer.  

 

Ed

[Conserv]

3 hours ago, MitchaPaLoOza88 said:

 

Bring a Unimog as well. I somehow always manage to forget mine...

 

Fixed that for you, Mitch! ???

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2020 by Conserv

[MitchaPaLoOza88]

2 hours ago, Fletcher said:

I gotta look again but when I looked last week it was 600.  But I quoted pickup there and drop off here.  Maybe I should rent it locally and drive it down empty...

Oh ya that's way to much. I just picked somewhere in Northern Cali and this was my quote. Pick up and drop off in the same location. The extra gas towing the empty trailer won't really add up all that much.

 

Edit: If you use U-Haul make sure all your vehicle lights and trailer connection is working beforehand. It's touch in go whether they care or not, I was denied once for blinkers not working.

 

Edited July 8, 2020 by MitchaPaLoOza88
Tip to not ruin your day

[TobyB]

Personally, I think the panic about tires is based on leaving a car sitting in a parking lot in New Mexico for 18 years.

Which is why trailer tires DO seem to come apart with some regularity- they sit loaded, outside, for ages.

And you always think, 'oh, I just put tires on that a couple of years back....'

 

 

The tire failures I experience seem to be based on tire brand and abuse- smacking curbs really does seem to shorten life.

 

But they 'age out' in grip far before they explode on me.  As in, I've only had one tire come apart, like, ever.

And that was something ancient that I'd bought used for $25 years before.

 

And towing a 2002 2- down isn't particularly stressful on the tire.  

 

IF IT WAS ME, I'd take 2 'known ok' wheels with me.  But I have several dozen of those...

 

But then, I'd also unhook the CV shafts and gut the brakes before towing, just because it's easier to do

in a controlled situation.

 

t

not sweating much.

[Son of Marty]

Your clutch is probably stuck too and will need to be popped loose by putting the car in 2nd gear and rocking it while some some one holds the clutch down.

[uai]

no text necessary

 

Edited July 8, 2020 by uai

[Fletcher]

Thanks, guys.  I'm well convinced.  "Just say no to Dolly!"  ?

It's coming home on a flatbed. 

Glad I asked both for the guidance of flatbed and for the price of the flatbed! 

U-Haul as posted herein, is indeed a mere ~$55 a day if rented locally.   Bizarrely, I can rent the thing for a week and a half for what they wanted to rent one and drive it point to point.

[Fletcher]

3 hours ago, Son of Marty said:

Your clutch is probably stuck too and will need to be popped loose by putting the car in 2nd gear and rocking it while some some one holds the clutch down.

transmission will be in the trunk, but no worries.. definitely coming home on a flatbed ?