Tow Dolly - Disconnect Drive Shaft?

[AngliaGT]

I'd like your opinions - I'll be towing our MKIII Cortina
from Northern California to Olympia Washington.Do I need to disconnect the driveshaft?This is a manual transmission car.

Thanks in Advance,

- Doug

 

[jlaird]

Absolutely.

 

[DrEntropy]

I'd just do it for the sake of erring on the side of caution.

 

[rick_ingram]

Another "Aye"...disconnect it.

 

[Scott_Hower]

Yes.

 

[lawguy]

Absolutely.

 

[tony barnhill]

Anytime the rear wheels of a rear wheel drive car are turning without the engine/transmission pushing them is, in my opinion, a reason to disconnect the driveshaft.

 

[aeronca65t]

I'd tow it "backwards", with the drive wheels on the dolly and the steering locked.

 

[YankeeTR]

I must disagree....

I've towed dozens of vehicles (with my tow dolly) thousands of miles without disconnecting a driveshaft and have never seen any ill effect. In the last year I've towed cars from Texas, Ky (twice) Tennessee, Michigan and Minnesota. All with manual transmissions...all without a problem. As long as the trans has the correct amount of lube you will not have a problem. My brother flat-towed his Morris Minor 1500 miles to Florida back in the day without a hitch. And we used to flat tow or dolly our race cars back in the 60's and 70's with nary a problem.

Automatic trans? Now that's a different story.

 

[SteveL]

I must disagree....

I've towed dozens of vehicles (with my tow dolly) thousands of miles without disconnecting a driveshaft and have never seen any ill effect.

But this is a Ford, and a European Ford at that, which
have a tendency to seize the bushing in the tailshaft when
towed long distances with the driveshaft hooked to the rear
end... Speaking from experience here, you'll pull it for a
couple hours, drag it for 5 minutes, buy new tires when you
get to where you're going...

SteveL