57 chevy truck on tow dolly, & rear axle ?

[revedup57]

Does anyone know if a 57 Chevy 3100 truck can be towed with a tow dolly for a very long distance? Will the rear axle be ok? thanks

[azsnow]

It will be fine, just make sure you can secure the steering wheel (with a seatbelt or rope) or you will have an issue. I usually use a trailor from Uhaul rather than the dolly, it cost a little more, but less in gas and wear on your truck.

[dwcsr]

drop the drive shaft if its more that 50 miles.

[56hotrodred]

I second the pull the drive shaft if it is any kind of distance. And in fact if it is highway pulling get a trailer unless you plan on checking rear end fluid, rear bearings and brake conditions. I was pulling one once and the one of the rear brakes came apart on route. Did not lock up but made a mess of the drum before I got to a stop.

Better safe than sorry for not only you and yours but anybody else on the road.

56hotrodred (Barry)

[meter swinger]

I hauled a 59 burb on a tow dolly. Drop the driveshaft, even if your going across town, and go SLOW. My 1st choice would be a trailer even for a short distance, but dollys can be safe if you take your time. Inspect the hold down straps on the dolly. I sold a guy a truck once and he showed up with a dolly that had worn out straps. He wouldnt listen, and the truck came loose....not good.
Posted via Mobile Device

[mr48chev]

If you are renting a dolly a trailer usually isn't that much more. If you towing your truck that you have driven a lot and know that the tires and bearings are good you can probably get away with a dolly but for an unknown quantity I'd go with the trailer. Back when you could get project or parts rigs off Ebay pretty cheap I picked up several and on a couple was very glad that I had used a trailer. in one case the tires that looked good in the photos turned out to be in pretty rough shape and two of them would only hold air long enough to get it winched up on the trailer.

Years ago I bought two Camaro bodys minus engines in Texas (wish I had both of those now) with the idea of building my wife a car out of them. One had the C clip missing out of the left rear axle and everything worked fine until I got within a mile of the house and looked back and the tire was outside of the fenderwell. I jacked it up, shoved the axle back in and went on home but that was a lesson to me.

[revedup57]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like trailering it is the safest way to go.

[hopped up]

when towing my model A on a dolly i look back to see smoke coming from my coupe. pulled to the side and the lassenger wheel and axle had came out!! luckily i have fenders!! the fender was on top of the middle of the tire(smoke) got very lucky! no more tow dollys for me!
Posted via Mobile Device

[duwem]

Just wondering why you guys say to drop the driveshaft? Does the gear reduction (no a gear increase) in the rear end cause the shaft to spin super fast and is that the concern?

I haul my truck on a car hauler trailer.

Drove 7 hours to get it and 7 back. No problems at all.

[sweet70beast]

If it is an automatic the drive shaft needs to be taken out no mater what. With a stick you can pull it in neutral with the drive shaft installed however, you have the trans spinning too. It saves wear and tear possible internal damage on a marginal trans. If you know the trans is in good shape it won't hurt to leave the drive shaft in for short trips but, I would take it out for long trips for the peace of mind.
As I said an automatic will burn up if the drive shaft is left hooked up. The fluid flows when the engine is running but if it isn't (like when towing) there is no fluid flow and the friction will do tons of damage. With a stick the gears fling the oil everywhere whether the engine is running or it is being towed.