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Roc

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Hi I`am a new owner of a 1970 TR6, Question for experts.
I would like to tow it behind my motorhome when I will drive down in florida this winter. So, do I have to do something special or only put the gear box on neutral?

TKS
Roc
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Welcome Roc.
Honestly, I would not flat-tow that Triumph by just putting the car in neutral.
At least not for the approximately 2000 miles that you have planned.
My choice would be a tow-dolly (with the rear wheels on the dolly....towing the car backwards). Or a proper car trailer.
For shorter tows, you could get away with just flat-towing in neutal or for a tow up to about 300 miles, you might be able to just disconnect the driveshaft.....but you are planning on towing a *long* distance.
I will tell you that I see people doing it all the time....I just don't think it's a good idea.
If you decide to flat-tow anyway, be sure to change the trans and final drive oil....that may help reduce some of the wear and tear.
 
Hi aeronca65t
Thank you for your awnser, I already have a dolly, it is a good idea, il will try to put rear wheels on the dolly to see what happens, thanks
Roc
 
Roc,
Does the car have wire wheels? If so, I'd be very careful about towing it in reverse. (The knockoffs can come loose, and then your wheel winds up passing you on the freeway!!!)

If you have steel wheels, you're fine.
 
Great point, Sammy! And not one that many would think about.

Mickey
 
I think Sammy had to sit up all morning to think of that one! I, for one, am impressed.

Bill
 
If you plan to use a two-wheel tow dolly (that is with just the two front wheels lifted off the ground and the rear wheels freewheeling on the pavement), I would consider removing the driveshaft.

By towing with the rear wheels on the ground, the rear wheels are spinning the output shaft of the transmission, but as I understand it the input shaft is what circulates oil in the transmission, so there is no flow of oil getting to the output shaft bearings when you tow the car this way.

Gearboxes can survive being towed just on the oil that is naturally retained on the bearing surfaces, but my understanding is the survival rate varies greatly from model to model. If you have any bearing problems to begin with, this is certainly going to make them worse. Eventually, things heat up, and failure will eventually occur. I read a tech-tip recently that indicated the TR8 5-speed transmission is very susceptible, and can't be towed any significant distance this way.

For across town you may get away with it fine. Cross country I would either disconnect the driveshaft or tow it with the rear wheels off the ground.

You may be able to just disconnect the transmission at the drive shaft flange (4 bolts), given there is enough room for the drive shaft to turn freely and you can support the drive shaft at the front end so it doesn't 'pole vault' on you.
 
Welcome to the TR6 ownership club. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy driving mine and working on it. YES, I truly do enjoy working on my TR6. So simple and keeps me off the street corners and bar stools. LOL
 
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