Trailer versus dolly

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  • Escargo
    Low Range
    • May 2008
    • 65

    Trailer versus dolly

    New guy here, moving from WY to VA. Need to haul my lla 88 on either a U-Haul car trailer or possibly a car dolly. Several hundred dollars price difference, is it worth putting the miles on the rear end?
  • Willard
    Low Range
    • Jan 2007
    • 52

    #2
    For me that would be a tough call, i would think the car dolly would be fine, i would remove the driveshaft though. I doubt the extra milage will make a differance.

    Car trailers are great but heavy and i would imagine you will consume alot more fuel.

    Comment

    • Moose
      2nd Gear
      • Oct 2006
      • 226

      #3
      If using a dolly, you could just remove the rear half-shafts. You would need to put the drive flanges and dust caps back on to keep the crud out and the oil in. No wear on the rear diff at all then.

      Brett
      Series 3 88 Diesel Soft Top
      Ex-Mod 110 Tdi

      Comment

      • Daurie
        2nd Gear
        • Nov 2007
        • 251

        #4
        I pulled my S3 over 700 miles on a car dolly. It had a hard top with a rack and was fairly loaded with items to boot. The only issue I had was the wheel straps on the car dolly barely fit around the tires. I let out some air and got the strps to cinch. I still added some of my own safety backups. In all honesty I was a little over the reccomended weight but I had no issues. What are you pulling it with?
        '73 SIII 88"
        Turner 8:1 Engine
        NRP Exhaust
        Roverdrive
        RM Parabolics
        OME Shocks
        Warn 8274
        Pangolin4X4 bumper

        Comment

        • SafeAirOne
          Overdrive
          • Apr 2008
          • 3435

          #5
          I used a Budget truck rental car carrier to tow my 109 from the bottom left of the country to the top right--About 3000 miles using a 24-foot Budget truck to pull it @ about 10mpg if I remember right. It was a pleasure to tow--I'm glad they didn't have the tow dolly they were supposed to have reserved for me--I got a free upgrade to the car carrier.

          One note--Let your conscience be your guide, but you might not want to tell them that you're towing a Series Land Rover--In my experience, it's not on any rental place's "approved" list, and they will not rent it to you. I just looked at Budget's 2008 Towability guide and the approved model year listings BEGIN at 1986.

          I had to go on the rental companie's website, look at a list of "approved" vehicles, pick my favorite and tell them THAT was what I was towing. I magine this would have had an impact on my rental agreement should something have gone wrong, but it was worth the risk- I drove my 109 out there 3000 miles in 4 days; there was no way I was driving BACK 3000 miles!
          --Mark

          1973 SIII 109 RHD 2.5NA Diesel

          0-54mph in just under 11.5 minutes
          (9.7 minutes now that she's a 3-door).

          Comment

          • Bostonian1976
            5th Gear
            • Nov 2006
            • 750

            #6
            car trailer is very easy

            '67 sort of station wagon (limestone), '65 gray hardtop, '63 blue Station Wagon, '64 limestone station wagon in pieces

            Comment

            • Firemanshort
              2nd Gear
              • Nov 2006
              • 282

              #7
              Car trailer

              I have towed an S3 88" on a dolly and the Stage One 109" on a trialer.

              The Land Rover Centre in the UK moved my S3 88" using a trailer and towed with a D110. I can not find a photo of me picking it up with the dolly.

              Either way worked ok for me. I would consider tow vehicle limitations more than worry about a few miles on the Land Rover.

              The only bad tow experience I had was with a tow bar and trying to flat tow - but that was probaly driver error. Read this thread for more info ... http://www.roversnorth.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4425
              Last edited by Firemanshort; 08-23-2009, 08:37 PM.
              Firemanshort
              1980 Stage One
              (Past owner of 1973 Series III - Highlander)

              Comment

              • I Leak Oil
                Overdrive
                • Nov 2006
                • 1796

                #8
                I pulled my 109" on a dolly from VT. The straps didn't fit. Somehow the xfer case dropped into low range pulling away from an intersection. If I were to do it again I'd go with the trailer. Much safer. Is the price difference worth risking what you're pulling? I don't think so. Tell the rental place you're hauling a vehicle the size of a ford ranger...
                Jason T.
                Jason
                "Clubs are for Chumps" Club president

                Comment

                • 49coe
                  Low Range
                  • Aug 2008
                  • 32

                  #9
                  Another thing to consider is that the U-Haul trailer has surge brakes on it, while the dolly does not. Depending upon what you are towing it with, in terms of weight and braking power, this is an important consideration if you need to stop quickly. Basically, do you want 3000# pushing you forward or do you want that 3000#(now 5000# with the trailer) to stop itself. This is assuming that the U-Haul trailer brakes are actually working, a big assumption from my experience with them. Good Luck - Jeremy

                  Comment

                  • galen216
                    2nd Gear
                    • Nov 2006
                    • 236

                    #10
                    If you are towing the dolly/trailer with a u-haul or something, use the trailer. Good point about the surge brakes. I moved to Va two months ago and towed the Rover on a trailer with a 26' U-haul loaded with the house stuff. I had one time when someone cut me off and I was glad it was on a trailer.

                    Having said all that, using the dolly is no problem if you unbolt the rear driveshaft at the diff and tie it up.

                    Where in Va are you moving to?
                    74 SIII
                    96 Disco SE-7 5 Spd.

                    Comment

                    • Leslie
                      5th Gear
                      • Oct 2006
                      • 613

                      #11
                      I towed my 88" from Knoxville to Kingsport w/ the Disco... I was going to flat-tow it w/ a tow-bar, but ended up putting it on a trailer instead.

                      I've used a trailer several times shuttling projects around town, I do prefer a trailer, if one's available.

                      I would describe an 88" as being like a Jeep-CJ.... those are small and light enough that they don't have a problem w/ them being towed on their equipment..... (just don't let 'em know how much more a Series weighs....)
                      -L

                      '72 SIII SW 88"
                      '60 SII 88" RHD

                      Comment

                      • Bostonian1976
                        5th Gear
                        • Nov 2006
                        • 750

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Leslie
                        I towed my 88" from Knoxville to Kingsport w/ the Disco... I was going to flat-tow it w/ a tow-bar, but ended up putting it on a trailer instead.

                        I've used a trailer several times shuttling projects around town, I do prefer a trailer, if one's available.

                        I would describe an 88" as being like a Jeep-CJ.... those are small and light enough that they don't have a problem w/ them being towed on their equipment..... (just don't let 'em know how much more a Series weighs....)
                        that's what I did - I selected an early 70's Jeep from the UHaul list when putting in the reservation....
                        '67 sort of station wagon (limestone), '65 gray hardtop, '63 blue Station Wagon, '64 limestone station wagon in pieces

                        Comment

                        • Leslie
                          5th Gear
                          • Oct 2006
                          • 613

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Bostonian1976
                          that's what I did - I selected an early 70's Jeep from the UHaul list when putting in the reservation....


                          BTW.... the wife likes the windows in the transom over the garage.....
                          -L

                          '72 SIII SW 88"
                          '60 SII 88" RHD

                          Comment

                          • Bostonian1976
                            5th Gear
                            • Nov 2006
                            • 750

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Leslie
                            BTW.... the wife likes the windows in the transom over the garage.....

                            ha - not my house! it was another Rover fanatic's house......as I towed my truck away. very nice house - wish it was mine
                            '67 sort of station wagon (limestone), '65 gray hardtop, '63 blue Station Wagon, '64 limestone station wagon in pieces

                            Comment

                            • galen216
                              2nd Gear
                              • Nov 2006
                              • 236

                              #15
                              x3 on the Jeep, I used a 1975 CJ-5.
                              74 SIII
                              96 Disco SE-7 5 Spd.

                              Comment

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