Question for those who have done some towing

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:02 am

I'm debating for next year at Carlsile if I should attempt to tow Christine on a dolly using my 00 Neon w/3speed. Of course I would stiffen up the rear springs,upgrade the brakes and install an auxilary trani cooler. My question is has anyone done this and is it feasable?
My other option which is a shot in the dark, is to borrow my fathers truck and trailor, but I do not know if this even an option yet.....

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:06 am

So you plan on towing a vehicle that weighs the same as the tow vehicle without upgrading the brakes, or an overdrive highway gear, or any beefed up components other than rear springs?

That is just asking for an accident...

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:15 am

I would think the brakes will become the issue here. The ATX might handle it, but stopping is going to be fun.
I haved towed a Raider with my XJ, and I am glad it was only for 35 miles. Having something that equals the weight of the tow vehicle, and the tow vehicle is not set up for said weight, makes for an interesting trip.
I would be afraid to travel that far. I would do the truck/trailer method, and consider the fuel costs as cheap insurance, that both vehicles arrive.
Not sure how much more a fuel efficienent another neon towing a neon would be. Rolling along at speed prolly better, but god help you if something sudden happens in front of you.

Better to pay a bit more, and be there...

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:23 am

TheRandom1 wrote:So you plan on towing a vehicle that weighs the same as the tow vehicle without upgrading the brakes, or an overdrive highway gear, or any beefed up components other than rear springs?

That is just asking for an accident...

Of course I would stiffen up the rear springs,upgrade the brakes and install an auxilary trani cooler

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:31 am

So I missed a part... still towing a vehicle with a vehicle that weighs the same amount and isn't designed for towing is a retarded idea.

If you can't drive the car or use your dad's truck, rent one.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:39 am

Even upgrading the brakes is only as good as the tires. I would get the stickiest/HD tires I could. You are asking a lot from tires meant to hold up a neon, to support stopping two of them.

Now if there was a way to put electric brakes on Christine, you would be fairly well set. The only thing would be setting them, so it doesn't fishtail, Or better yet have the tow dolly equipped with brakes, and strap her down well.

All in all tho, I would be afraid... to exceed 40 mph.

Dylan-00Blue · Post by **Dylan-00Blue** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:48 am

definately a bad idea this is why we use trucks that weigh much more then the vehicle we intend to tow stopping would be just aweful

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:03 pm

Tow capacity on A/T is 1000lbs. You're looking at FAIL.

TeckNeon · Post by **TeckNeon** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:33 pm

You won't make it up any hills at all. You will be stopped dead near Donegal/Somerset. Cost wise, you are better off renting a UHaul or whatever moving service you prefer to it and a car dolly to get it there. Or even try renting an SUV for 3 days via Enterprise with a hitch. I rented a base model Titan with a long bed to move from there and it was only $120 for 3 days. Unlimited mileage and had to put the gas back into it. If you are 25 years old or more, that's the way I would go.

I can't believe that the tow on a Neon is 1000 pounds. That's surprising to me. I would have guessed a lot less but that is a whole lot of undo stress on a 10 year old car.

DoubtedNeon · Post by **DoubtedNeon** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:57 pm

just drive it.. thats my .02

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 6:25 pm

TeckNeon wrote:I can't believe that the tow on a Neon is 1000 pounds. That's surprising to me. I would have guessed a lot less but that is a whole lot of undo stress on a 10 year old car.

It's 1500lbs if you have a manual.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 7:09 pm

I've done a lot of towing... and some heavy duty towing hauling 53 foot trailers around the country behind a highway tractor.

The weight of the towed load behind heavier than the tow vehicle is not an issue... what IS an issue is whether the tow vehicle has enough capacity in terms of braking and torque to be doing this safely... I say no.

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 7:17 pm

I would say it's a very bad idea. Rent a truck/trailer or borrow something.

LowNSlow · Post by **LowNSlow** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 9:49 pm

VERY bad idea...

I've towed several vehicles cross states....

Rent a truck It'd probably get the same gas mileage the neon pulling a neon would and it'd be so much easier.

I'd let you use the ole' titan if I was local

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 10:55 pm

I agree with this thread, except that I think the 5 speeds are rated at 2000lb's. Pulling a lightened 1gn drag car is doable with no issue. Towing with the ATX is a bad idea. Even towing my 95 on a uhaul trailer with my Dakota was scary enough on the trip from NJ to MD.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:39 am

rent somthing do not tow it with another neon

had my friend tow a v6 firebird with a v8 t/a and he only did it for 20 miles but he almost lost it alot stopping was VERY VERY hard

bone-yard-racing · Post by **bone-yard-racing** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:17 am

Mookie (not sure if he is regestered over here) uses/used his 2gn acr to pull his 1gn R/T(the ex Don Howard car)

I belive Cory of modern used a box stock 1gn bought at a dealership in IL to tow one of his cars back to TX

The people of Eurpoe use cars much less stoudt than a neon to pull caravans and horse boxes.

Miley towed both Eugene and Harold briefly its not all that hard assuming you're not an empty headed retard (Chris I know you arent) we have this belief in America that you need a Peterbuilt to tow a garden trailer because people cant think gee maybe I cant stop exactly when I want.

A good master tow dolly is about 400lb so you're looking a good 3200lb and everything you have in the car that is asking quite a bit from a stock engine and gearbox. Set your rig up exactly how you are going to run to Carlisle and go drive around see how it feels at the end of the day you need to feel okay with it.

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:51 am

Thanks for all the info guys, I really apreciate it....
I guess I'm going to look into borrowing a truck and using my fathers trailor next year to haul Christine. I did consider driving her there but since I'm working on getting her to run on E85 for the upcoming bolt ons I don't want to chance not being able to fill the tank with anything else but E85 on the way to Carlisle.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 9:33 am

I'm fairly certain there's a trip planner on the E85 website. You could look into that to find stations along your way that you can stop at.

Post by **racer12306** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:44 am

3200lbs puts you at Class II at a minimum. Is a class II available for a Neon?

I've only seen a Class I which is rated at 2000lbs.

Red04SxtLuvr · Post by **Red04SxtLuvr** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:35 pm

I think you would be wise to go with a truck/trailer option. Towing anything always makes me nervous, espcially if I am towing the same thing I am towing with.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:48 pm

TheRandom1 wrote:I'm fairly certain there's a trip planner on the E85 website. You could look into that to find stations along your way that you can stop at.

i think you can to
if not grab a 5 gallon tank with e85 for backup and strap it into your trunk im sure theres stations on the way might have to detour a weee bit though

http://www.e85ethanolprices.com/index_route.php

check it out ^^

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:04 pm

They need to update that: There is one two miles from me that is not shown, (Been open for 6 months now, and another for a few years.) It shows the nearest one at 30 miles. I'm sure it depends on who reports their locations, but there are prolly more than shown. If I relied on that info, I would not make it to Carlise from my location, with out getting a bit nervous.

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:45 pm

Agreed I just check myself and I would fill up and get 300miles to a tank on a 350 mile trip which would leave me 50miles outside of New Cumberland with no E85 pumps around, closest I would see is 20miles south of New Cumberland according to that link above.

LowNSlow · Post by **LowNSlow** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:29 pm

Couple cans in the trunk yo

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:38 pm

Two 5 gallon cans in the trunk! It might be what I'm doing next year.

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:55 pm

invujerry wrote:Two 5 gallon cans in the trunk! It might be what I'm doing next year.

I considered that, but I would rather haul 2 5gal jugs of moonshine instead since I can always add that to a few gallons of gas to create E85 and what's left over we can use at the motel

The other reason of needing the car towed is incase something breaks next year since Christine is not going to be putting around N/A next summer. I'm not planning on breaking anything, but she's going to be a little crazy next summer....

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:03 pm

Is your neon a POS?

If no you'll be fine.

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:22 pm

fixitmattman wrote:Is your neon a POS?

If no you'll be fine.

If things go well next year she will be making to much power and start breaking things