Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: Transporting a Syncro
From:Aleksandr Milewski
Date:Sat, 24 Apr 1999 20:10:29 -0700

At 22:49 -0400 990424, Jim Davis wrote:
| In a message dated 99-04-24 21:30:14 EDT, markus@CYBERUS.CA writes:
|
| > How does one transport a syncro without an engine?
| >  Clearly a dolly won't work.  It'll try to drive itself off it the minute
| >  you move.  Clearly a flat bed would be best.
| >  Any other ideas?  This one would be going about 500 miles...
|
| Here's what the Bentley Repair manual has to say about towing a Syncro:
| ================================================
| C. MANUAL TRANSMISSION ( Syncro, All Wheel Drive):
| 1. Towing with only FRONT wheels on the ground:  NEVER!
| 2. Towing with only REAR wheels on the ground: NEVER!
| 3. Towing with ALL FOUR wheels on the ground:  Tow van for unlimited speed
| for unlimited distance.
| ================================================
| (Yes, unlimited speed.  Seems to me that could be awfully fast!)

OK, but flat-towing for any distance has problems of its own. (having a set
of self-steering wheels on your trailer can make things very funky)

I think I'd use a dolly under the front wheels and disconnect (remove) the
driveshaft. Put the transmission in neutral, and you should be fine, right?
What am I missing?

Obviously, a flatbed would be preferable, but one may not be available.
Also, Syncro+Dolly is within the towing capacities of a lot more vehicles
than Syncro+Flatbed. (Though the flatbed will likely have brakes....life is
full of little tradeoffs. ;)

Just my $0.02, no direct experience, etc, etc.

-Zandr
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleksandr Milewski                                              N6MOD
n6mod@amt.org                               http://www.amt.org/n6mod/