Towing your sc300/400 behind a moving truck question
#16
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bwahahahaha...I would rent a truck and trailer just to tow my car like that...
Anyways...biggest thing you have to worry about when towing a car is the tranny. Automatic trannies do not dig towage. One thing to do is to unbolt your drive shaft from the rear end and tie it up out of the way. That way you don't lose any fluid from the shaft input. Not everyone trusts doing this, though, so draining your tranny and removing the shaft completely might be adviseable.
5spds can be towed without problems. Just put the tranny in neutral...obviously. It was suggested to me once that I stop every couple hundred miles and engage the tranny and drag her a short distance to get fresh lube on everything.
Next thing to worry about is clearances.I always remove my exhaust from the cat back, especially if it's shiney, to prevent complications. Bumpers and what not are a concern to, especially if the car is lowered. I usually protect my bumpers by using masking tape to tape a few layers of cardboard to the lowest parts of the car. Hopefully you'll notice you're dragging before you make it through the cardboard.
Anyways...biggest thing you have to worry about when towing a car is the tranny. Automatic trannies do not dig towage. One thing to do is to unbolt your drive shaft from the rear end and tie it up out of the way. That way you don't lose any fluid from the shaft input. Not everyone trusts doing this, though, so draining your tranny and removing the shaft completely might be adviseable.
5spds can be towed without problems. Just put the tranny in neutral...obviously. It was suggested to me once that I stop every couple hundred miles and engage the tranny and drag her a short distance to get fresh lube on everything.
Next thing to worry about is clearances.I always remove my exhaust from the cat back, especially if it's shiney, to prevent complications. Bumpers and what not are a concern to, especially if the car is lowered. I usually protect my bumpers by using masking tape to tape a few layers of cardboard to the lowest parts of the car. Hopefully you'll notice you're dragging before you make it through the cardboard.
#17
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Don't know if I'm too late on this, but it's definitely best to tow it with a fullsize trailer. I towed mine from Tampa a couple weeks ago, and wouldn't go any other route than a full trailer. Even with the car in neutral, if on just a tow dolly, it's possible a bump on the road could make the transmission jump into gear. Not cool. That along with all the other things that could happen, you should definitely spend the extra $150 to get the fullsize trailer.
#20
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Originally posted by TGRich
Switched over to the full size trailer today!
Switched over to the full size trailer today!
![Agreed](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/boink.gif)
![Woohoo](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/woohoo.gif)
Everyone will get a nice look at a fine piece of automotive styling on your trip... a full size trailer is almost like a pedistal for a beauuutiful sculpture.
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#21
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
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Ok, I've run into a potential problem with the tow trailer. It says the largest wheels that can go on it are 16's with a 265 width. I'm alright on the width b/c I have 255's, but I don't understand why they only can go up to 16's. It doesn't make sense b/c even though the wheel is larger, the tire profile is smaller which in turn makes it possible to have the 16 with tire equal in diameter to a 17 with tire.
Does anyone know why they would say this? I'm not too worried about it, b/c mathematically it works out, but its a little unnverving nonetheless. I really have no choice anyway since I have tt fronts and can't put anything smaller on there.
Tim
Does anyone know why they would say this? I'm not too worried about it, b/c mathematically it works out, but its a little unnverving nonetheless. I really have no choice anyway since I have tt fronts and can't put anything smaller on there.
Tim
#22
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The reasoning behind it is because of the straps on the front of the trailer to hold the car down. Since they go over the tires, they can only hold so large a tire. You should be fine if the math works out ok, but if you had anything larger you probably would have some problems.
#23
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yeah...the wheel size means nothing. What they're working off of is the 225/60-16 tire...which is the most popular 16" tire. As long as the rolling diameter of your current tires is the same as stock (which, if you did things propperly, should be) you should be fine.
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anhtuan904
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afguy0127, auto, car, disconnect, dolly, driveshaft, is250, moving, sc300, tow, towing, transmission, truck