 Flat tow or trailer? |
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| grantsfo |
 Mar 24 2006, 02:02 PM
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#1
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Arrrrhhhh!  Group: Members Posts: 4,327 Joined: 16-March 03 Member No.: 433 Region Association: None  |
I'm going back and forth on the idea of flat towing or getting a trailer. If I get a trailer I will need to get a tow a larger vehicle. I truly dislike driving most trucks and SUV's as daily drivers due to my commute over twisty mountain roads. My driveway is not too trailer freindly as well. However I have plenty of room for a trailer.
So I can flat tow with my Audi A4 or sell the Audi and get a sports ute or car with more towing capacity. Biggest problem I see is that all the vehicles I would consider driving have a maximum towing capacity of 3500 lbs. I think that might be cutting it close once I get trailer fully load with the 914, tools etc. Is anyone towing a 914 and trailer with smaller SUV like a BMW x3 or a bigger station wagon? Man this whole race car thing is a commitment! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif) |
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| gopack |
Mar 24 2006, 02:12 PM
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#2
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CHEESEHEAD in CA, MARK Group: Members Posts: 744 Joined: 7-August 04 From: Folsom, CA Member No.: 2,472 Region Association: Northern California |
I dragged my 914, across the county on a uhaul trailer with a Honda Pilot. That vehicle has a 3500# towing capacity , and it was just fine in mountains and such!
got about 15 MPG towing Just my $0.02 |
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| Aaron Cox |
Mar 24 2006, 02:13 PM
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#3
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Professional Lawn Dart Group: Retired Admin Posts: 24,541 Joined: 1-February 03 From: OC Member No.: 219 Region Association: Southern California |
ive towed with a small nissan exterra....
all of 170 hp LOL |
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| JoeSharp |
Mar 24 2006, 02:17 PM
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#4
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In Irvine, Ca. May 15-18 Group: Members Posts: 3,947 Joined: 9-July 03 From: DeLand, Florida Member No.: 898 Region Association: South East States |
I like enclosed trailers. I can put a car flat towing a 914 in my trailer.
:PERMAGRIN: Joe Attached image(s) 
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| blitZ |
Mar 24 2006, 02:18 PM
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#5
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Beer please... Group: Members Posts: 2,223 Joined: 31-August 05 From: Lawrenceville, GA Member No.: 4,719 Region Association: South East States |
I have been towing my 3500 pound boat with my 01 Nissan Pathfinder, it has a 5000 pound towing capacity. It tows very well, I've gone to the FL Keys and back from Atl, GA several times, 1600 miles round trip no sweat. I can get 18 mpg around town if I take it easy, non towing.
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| Aaron Cox |
Mar 24 2006, 02:19 PM
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#6
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Professional Lawn Dart Group: Retired Admin Posts: 24,541 Joined: 1-February 03 From: OC Member No.: 219 Region Association: Southern California |
rofl joe!!! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) |
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| Spoke |
Mar 24 2006, 03:08 PM
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#7
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Jerry Group: Members Posts: 7,052 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None 
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My bud's truck worked real good. Found out later that a friend at work has a trailor and I could have saved the Uhual rental fees.
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| jhadler |
Mar 24 2006, 03:24 PM
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#8
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Long term tinkerer... Group: Members Posts: 1,879 Joined: 7-April 03 From: Lyons, CO Member No.: 529 |
I've been thinking about this one a while. I'm going with the flat tow route for a number of reasons. Pretty much all of them financially motivated.
Pros for a trailer: 1) You don't need to swap wheels at the event, just roll off the trailer. 2) Plenty of room for gear, tools, tires etc. And they don't stink up your ride home... 3) Peace of mind that if you have a major off or suspension failure, you can still get the car home. Cons: 1) Gas costs for twoing a big ol' trailer with a big ol truck go way up. 2) Storage of the trailer when you're not using it. 3) And unless your truck is also your DD, increased costs for extra insurance. And if it is your DD, higher gas costs from decreased milage. Pros for flat towing: 1) Don't need to store a big trailer anywhere, tow bar folds up and stores in the garage with ease. 2) Pretty much any modern sedan and/or wagon with some guts can tow comfortably. 3) Cheaper. Don't need to buy a $1500 trailer and truck to haul it with. Cons: -pretty much opposite of the pros for the trailer-... 1) Still have to swap wheels at the event. 2) Most of your gear will still need to ride in the car with you. 3) If you have an "off" or suspension failure, you may need to bum a tow from someone.... Choices... Keeping the money outlays low, I went with flat towing. My Volvo wagon has plenty of beans to tow with, and lots of storage space in back. That, and I really don't have a place to park a trailer. Remains to be seen how long that'll work out. But that's the route I decided to go with... -Josh2 |
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| turboman808 |
Mar 24 2006, 03:46 PM
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#9
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,718 Joined: 31-January 06 From: North Jersey Member No.: 5,505 Region Association: North East States |
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| Allan |
Mar 24 2006, 03:49 PM
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#10
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Teenerless Weenie Group: Members Posts: 8,373 Joined: 5-July 04 From: Western Mesopotamia Member No.: 2,304 Region Association: Southern California |
Or get yourself a tow dolly. If something does break at one of the axles you can flip the car around.
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| GTeener |
Mar 24 2006, 04:09 PM
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#11
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914 Girl Group: Members Posts: 2,348 Joined: 25-June 04 From: SillyCon Valley Member No.: 2,249 Region Association: Northern California |
On the subject of trailering...
Where do the tie-down straps attach on the front & back of the 914? |
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| grantsfo |
Mar 24 2006, 04:09 PM
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#12
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Arrrrhhhh! Group: Members Posts: 4,327 Joined: 16-March 03 Member No.: 433 Region Association: None |
I was thinking a tow dolly might be a good compromise option. |
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| Allan |
Mar 24 2006, 04:12 PM
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#13
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Teenerless Weenie Group: Members Posts: 8,373 Joined: 5-July 04 From: Western Mesopotamia Member No.: 2,304 Region Association: Southern California |
I've only had my car on a trailer twice. The rest of the time (which have been many (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif) ) I've used a dolly. Doesn't take up alot of space and I can move it around alot easier that a trailer. |
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| jhadler |
Mar 24 2006, 04:15 PM
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#14
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Long term tinkerer... Group: Members Posts: 1,879 Joined: 7-April 03 From: Lyons, CO Member No.: 529 |
I've had bad experiences with a tow dolly (have the dents to show for it too...). So I wasn't even considering it for this plan.
pro: You can usually tow home even if you get broken. con: Maneuvering with one can be tricky, and if the stops fail (like mine did) you can wind up driving the dolly fender (or tire) into the side of your 914...(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) Either flat towing or dolly towing have one BIG downside. You -can't- reverse. Forward only.... A great tow vehicle would be the early '90's Buick Roadmaster though. No one really wants 'em that much. They're pretty ugly IMHO. But they've got the full blown Vette drivetrain. And get surprisingly good mileage. Cavernous too. Same car as the Imaplla SS, but in a wagon form... Yeah, I've thought about that one a little... Kinda cool, like a hearse almost, but not quite... -Josh2 |
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| GaroldShaffer |
Mar 24 2006, 07:51 PM
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#15
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You bought another 914? Group: Benefactors Posts: 7,627 Joined: 27-June 03 From: Portage, IN Member No.: 865 Region Association: None 
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My 03 Dakota Quad Cab does just fine.
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| GaroldShaffer |
Mar 24 2006, 07:52 PM
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#16
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You bought another 914? Group: Benefactors Posts: 7,627 Joined: 27-June 03 From: Portage, IN Member No.: 865 Region Association: None
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| DanT |
Mar 24 2006, 08:00 PM
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#17
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Going back to the Dark Side! Group: Members Posts: 4,300 Joined: 4-October 04 From: Auburn, CA Member No.: 2,880 Region Association: None |
Flat tow.
Your Audi could pull the 914....no problem total cost for tow bracket, tow bar and lights around $200. Empi superbeetle or drawtite tow bar. Nothing to store Hook up to one of these in two minutes and you are on the road. Attached image(s) 
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| d914 |
Mar 24 2006, 08:13 PM
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#18
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,333 Joined: 12-July 03 From: Atlanta, ga Member No.: 904 Region Association: South East States |
my old tow vechicle. 1990 chevy 350 dually. Picked it up for $9500, low mileage. Never an issue....Next one(still looking) Mechcanically restored 60-70's gm truck...$5000-7500 done...But this time flat tow, or a custom short trailer to just fit a 914.. The old traile was a pain around the house..
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| Trekkor |
Mar 24 2006, 08:42 PM
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#19
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I do things... Group: Members Posts: 7,809 Joined: 2-December 03 From: Napa, Ca Member No.: 1,413 Region Association: Northern California |
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| J P Stein |
Mar 24 2006, 08:55 PM
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#20
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Irrelevant old fart Group: Members Posts: 8,797 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Vancouver, WA Member No.: 45 Region Association: None |
3500 for the truck. 800 + sweat equity for the trailer.
460 auto w/90k mi.....12-13 mpg towing....or not (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) Attached thumbnail(s) 
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