Homemade VW car dolly - What is a good tongue weight?

[davidwinchell2 at sprynet.com (David L. Winchell, II)]

Mark,

Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are trying to do here.  If so, just
ignore this response. It sounds to me like you are wanting to make a tow
dolly like one might rent from Uhaul or Ryder.  These dollies all have the
front wheels locked down while the rear wheels of the vehicle are on the
ground. In theory the tow vehicle will track like any trailer. The stresses
of any turns would be on the dolly itself and not the vehicle that is tow. I
have moved cars this way several times in the past. A few times long
distances (for example: Aurora,CO to Central Florida.) Knowing how these tow
dollies work does not lead me to believe that undo stress is placed on any
of the systems associated with steering for the vehicle that is tow.

Like I said, I may have missed your point all together as I have not read
the entire thread, but hope that helps.

Dave


-----Original Message-----
From: scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org
[mailto:scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org]On Behalf Of Mark
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 3:18 AM
To: 'L F'; 'Scirocco.Org'
Subject: RE: Homemade VW car dolly - What is a good tongue weight?


-----Original Message-----
From: L F [mailto:rocco16v@netzero.net]
Sent: January 15, 2004 8:34 PM
To: Mark; 'Scirocco.Org'
Subject: Re: Homemade VW car dolly - What is a good tongue weight?

Coupla' things;
?
Since a dolly is really a four-wheeled trailer (with the car on it),
tongue weight would be inconsequential.? Don't worry about it.? (Look at
the big rigs with two trailers; the second trailer is a four-wheel and
it has zero tongue weight)
?
Second, if you bolt the wheels to the dolly (and don't lock down the
steering wheel), the WHEELS will take all the strain, not the steering
gear.???
(sounds like your problems are really non-existent!)
--------------------------


Here's where I still think there might be a problem:

In normal driving when you turn the steering wheel, the inside wheel
turns more than the outside, right?  Now lock both wheels in a straight
ahead position and "turn" the car behind them (as on a dolly, turning a
corner).  In this scenario the car is technically "turning" (if you
ignore the dolly beneath the car), but both wheels are locked to the
same angle.  My worry is that locking the wheels in a fixed position
could break something in the steering system since the inside wheel will
be prevented from turning more than the outside.

Thanks for the info on the tongue weight - I never thought about it that
way.  I think a bit of weight on the hitch would be good though...

Thanks!

Mark.
80 S
81 S  2.0 ABA/JH/4K
75    soon!


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