tow dolly?

jvandyke · 06-21-2006

Is it okay to transport a GT on a tow dolly for, say 150 miles?

spdkilz02 · 06-21-2006

i would say so, mine was brought to me from GA...

just unhook the driveshaft before u tow...

jlthunder · 06-21-2006

Originally Posted by spdkilz02

i would say so, mine was brought to me from GA...

just unhook the driveshaft before u tow...

I understand you should do this with an automatic, but is it required for a manual transmission?

RallyBob · 06-21-2006

Originally Posted by jlthunder

I understand you should do this with an automatic, but is it required for a manual transmission?

Nope. You can leave it alone if it's a manual.

spdkilz02 · 06-21-2006

well they did that just because it was such a long trip and they didnt want to take the chance of the tranny slipping into gear on the way up...

dcm013 · 06-21-2006

Originally Posted by RallyBob

Nope. You can leave it alone if it's a manual.

Bob, what's different about the Opel manual trans. that allows you to tow it w/o disconnecting the driveshaft?

I've never had an Opel box apart, but I've seen a number of other rear wheel drive manual transmissions that have burnt up from being towed. The mainshaft just spins inside the speed gear bearings, and since they aren't getting splash lube from the countergear spinning around in the oil as they do in normal operation they simply overheat. Results can be ugly - locked rear wheels, etc. I definitely would not recommend towing any RWD manual with the driveshaft connected.

I also watched John Gresley unload his GT from a dolly at Carlisle a couple years ago and drive away with no problem after towing it 750+ miles from WI so I know the GT seems not to have this problem.

I can't imagine it has an oil pump. Is the lube level high enough to oil the bearings?

Don

RallyBob · 06-21-2006

Originally Posted by dcm013

Bob, what's different about the Opel manual trans. that allows you to tow it w/o disconnecting the driveshaft?

I can't imagine it has an oil pump. Is the lube level high enough to oil the bearings?

Don

Opel says in the FSM's that you only have to disconnect the driveshaft if it's an automatic. Definitely not an oil pump in there!

Knowing that the oil pan is nearly flat and the gear oil fill plug is a decent distance from the bottom of the pan, there's probably a lot of oil slinging going on there. I have never confirmed this firsthand, but I can check tomorrow as I have a 4-speed torn down I can measure.

I do know of one former Opel rally driver who towed his Opel on a car dolly to every event he ran over 8 years. Closest rally to him was 60 miles away, but one year he towed from Virginia to Maine nonstop with no issues, I'd guess 700 miles each way.

yiger · 06-22-2006

Speaking of towing, I'll be towing my GT from CT to NJ on Saturday! With the exception of about 8 weeks in 2004, this will be the first time I've had my GT out of storage and in the same state as me since 1999! I'm pretty excited, so honk if you see a blue GT on a trailer somewhere in the Northeast!
That being said, if anyone is in the Philly/Atlantic City area (I live right in the middle) who likes working on Opel brakes, let me know...

RallyBob · 06-22-2006

Originally Posted by dcm013

Is the lube level high enough to oil the bearings?

Originally Posted by RallyBob

I have never confirmed this firsthand, but I can check tomorrow as I have a 4-speed torn down I can measure.

I checked an open transmission, and the countershaft is nearly completely submerged in gear oil. The gears on the main shaft dip into the oil as well, so my thoughts are that there is a whole lot of oil 'slinging' going on inside the transmission, and it would appear Opel deemed this splash lubrication sufficient for towing.

Just my thoughts,
Bob

jlthunder · 06-23-2006

Originally Posted by yiger

That being said, if anyone is in the Philly/Atlantic City area (I live right in the middle) who likes working on Opel brakes, let me know...

What do you need to know? It is a very basic system.

yiger · 06-24-2006

Just got back from towing my GT to my new home in NJ. I don't recommend using a UHaul 4 wheel trailer- the supports are far to far apart for the GT's narrow wheel base. Trust me, it's not worth the stress-
-as far as what I need to know about brakes, I'm sure I can find it all here with the Search function on the site, but don't be surprised to see me throw out some questions now and then.
J

baronbors · 06-25-2006

Originally Posted by yiger

Just got back from towing my GT to my new home in NJ. I don't recommend using a UHaul 4 wheel trailer- the supports are far to far apart for the GT's narrow wheel base. Trust me, it's not worth the stress-
-J

What problems did you have?

yiger · 06-25-2006

Almost embarassed to say, but in the dark of night, and in the pounding rain, the front driver-side tire slipped off the trailer and landed on one of the trailer axles (which was VERY fortunate for me- it kept the body from contacting the trailer at all). I was a great way to meet my new neighbors- knocking on doors late at night asking if they'd help pick up a car... It took 5 guys, and a really big lever to lift the thing back onto the trailer. What a mess... The plus side is that the car rolled away from the whole thing without even so much as a scratch, and I ended up meeting some of the world's nicest neighbors.
Jeff

weatherman · 06-25-2006

Hope you took out the extra insurance..lol We hauled a big dust collection unit for the gov't in a uhaul a couple of weeks ago and the dang thing shifted and we ripped the whole side out of the truck, but we had the insurance and the truck was covered

tomcat · 06-26-2006

I towed 2 opel gt's from Ok. to Tx. 400 miles at least. I used the u-haul tow dolly with the rear end on the dolly. I made sure the steering was locked. I also made sure to get the straps tight and the tires on the dolly correctly. I had no problems both trips.

jlthunder · 06-26-2006

Originally Posted by tomcat

I towed 2 opel gt's from Ok. to Tx. 400 miles at least. I used the u-haul tow dolly with the rear end on the dolly. I made sure the steering was locked. I also made sure to get the straps tight and the tires on the dolly correctly. I had no problems both trips.

I did the same thing, NC to PA, no problems back in '86

jvandyke · 06-26-2006

Why backwards? To avoid differential issues I assume, but why bother if we've decided it won't hurt it? I've got one nibbling my bait, if it pan out, and it's a pretty long shot, I just don't want to hurt it. Just treading water whilst hunting GT's. It is still open season on them, isn't it?

jlthunder · 06-26-2006

You hit the nail on the head. My rear axle locked up. We unlocked it enough to get it on a tow dolly.

Jeff

jvandyke · 06-26-2006

Your axle locked up because you dollied it?

jlthunder · 06-26-2006

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

My rear axle locked up due to a bad pinion seal. I then unlocked it and put it on a tow dolly with the rear wheels on the dolly so I could get it back home in PA.

The dolly had nothing to do with the axle locking up.

Jeff

opelgt73 · 06-26-2006

wow, You know I have never removed the drive shaft for towing. I towed a GT 700mi From Alabama, 600mi from Kansas, and all manners in between. Never had one lock up. It only takes about 10 minutes to remove it though.

I did have the axle lock up on a Jeep CJ-5 when I was towing it from Alabama. The axle slit out of the housing, the wheel with it. The rear of the Jeep hit the ground and there were sparks flying about 50ft behind me. Cost me about $700 to have a flat bed tow truck bring it back to Ohio.

06-21-2006	#1 (permalink)
jvandyke Opeler Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hudsonville, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,794	Unanswered: tow dolly? Is it okay to transport a GT on a tow dolly for, say 150 miles?

06-21-2006	#2 (permalink)
spdkilz02 1000 Post Club Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 1,734	i would say so, mine was brought to me from GA... just unhook the driveshaft before u tow... __________________ Adam

06-21-2006	#5 (permalink)
spdkilz02 1000 Post Club Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 1,734	well they did that just because it was such a long trip and they didnt want to take the chance of the tranny slipping into gear on the way up... __________________ Adam

06-22-2006	#8 (permalink)
yiger Opeler Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sicklerville, NJ Posts: 64	Speaking of towing, I'll be towing my GT from CT to NJ on Saturday! With the exception of about 8 weeks in 2004, this will be the first time I've had my GT out of storage and in the same state as me since 1999! I'm pretty excited, so honk if you see a blue GT on a trailer somewhere in the Northeast! That being said, if anyone is in the Philly/Atlantic City area (I live right in the middle) who likes working on Opel brakes, let me know... __________________ Jeff Support the Coast Guard, get lost!

06-24-2006	#11 (permalink)
yiger Opeler Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sicklerville, NJ Posts: 64	Just got back from towing my GT to my new home in NJ. I don't recommend using a UHaul 4 wheel trailer- the supports are far to far apart for the GT's narrow wheel base. Trust me, it's not worth the stress- -as far as what I need to know about brakes, I'm sure I can find it all here with the Search function on the site, but don't be surprised to see me throw out some questions now and then. J __________________ Jeff Support the Coast Guard, get lost!

06-25-2006	#13 (permalink)
yiger Opeler Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sicklerville, NJ Posts: 64	Almost embarassed to say, but in the dark of night, and in the pounding rain, the front driver-side tire slipped off the trailer and landed on one of the trailer axles (which was VERY fortunate for me- it kept the body from contacting the trailer at all). I was a great way to meet my new neighbors- knocking on doors late at night asking if they'd help pick up a car... It took 5 guys, and a really big lever to lift the thing back onto the trailer. What a mess... The plus side is that the car rolled away from the whole thing without even so much as a scratch, and I ended up meeting some of the world's nicest neighbors. Jeff __________________ Jeff Support the Coast Guard, get lost!

06-25-2006	#14 (permalink)
weatherman Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mont Alto, PA when at home Pittsburgh, PA when at school Posts: 129	Hope you took out the extra insurance..lol We hauled a big dust collection unit for the gov't in a uhaul a couple of weeks ago and the dang thing shifted and we ripped the whole side out of the truck, but we had the insurance and the truck was covered __________________ Toby Work is for people who don't know how to fish

06-26-2006	#15 (permalink)
tomcat gogtgo Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: austin tx Posts: 45	towed I towed 2 opel gt's from Ok. to Tx. 400 miles at least. I used the u-haul tow dolly with the rear end on the dolly. I made sure the steering was locked. I also made sure to get the straps tight and the tires on the dolly correctly. I had no problems both trips.

06-26-2006	#17 (permalink)
jvandyke Opeler Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hudsonville, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,794	Why backward? Why backwards? To avoid differential issues I assume, but why bother if we've decided it won't hurt it? I've got one nibbling my bait, if it pan out, and it's a pretty long shot, I just don't want to hurt it. Just treading water whilst hunting GT's. It is still open season on them, isn't it?

06-26-2006	#18 (permalink)
jlthunder 1000 Post Club Join Date: May 2003 Location: Salfordville, PA Posts: 2,143 Real Name: Jeff	You hit the nail on the head. My rear axle locked up. We unlocked it enough to get it on a tow dolly. Jeff __________________ 1972 Opel GT, Owner since 1983 2001 Saab 9-5 SE 3.0 Turbo V6 Weeeeeeeeeee!!! 1973 GT, Parted out, R.I.P. 1968 Kadette, Owner since 2006, Sold, 28 June 2008

06-26-2006	#19 (permalink)
jvandyke Opeler Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hudsonville, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,794	clarify Your axle locked up because you dollied it?

06-26-2006	#20 (permalink)
jlthunder 1000 Post Club Join Date: May 2003 Location: Salfordville, PA Posts: 2,143 Real Name: Jeff	Sorry for the misunderstanding. My rear axle locked up due to a bad pinion seal. I then unlocked it and put it on a tow dolly with the rear wheels on the dolly so I could get it back home in PA. The dolly had nothing to do with the axle locking up. Jeff __________________ 1972 Opel GT, Owner since 1983 2001 Saab 9-5 SE 3.0 Turbo V6 Weeeeeeeeeee!!! 1973 GT, Parted out, R.I.P. 1968 Kadette, Owner since 2006, Sold, 28 June 2008

06-26-2006	#21 (permalink)
opelgt73 crazy opeler Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 568	wow, You know I have never removed the drive shaft for towing. I towed a GT 700mi From Alabama, 600mi from Kansas, and all manners in between. Never had one lock up. It only takes about 10 minutes to remove it though. I did have the axle lock up on a Jeep CJ-5 when I was towing it from Alabama. The axle slit out of the housing, the wheel with it. The rear of the Jeep hit the ground and there were sparks flying about 50ft behind me. Cost me about $700 to have a flat bed tow truck bring it back to Ohio. __________________ Chris Indianapolis, Indiana

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