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pspeir
Novice
Sep 21, 2008, 6:21 AM
Post #1 of 15
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Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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I have a 1993 Chevy Blazer S10 RWD and am needing to tow it across country using a tow dolly with the front wheels off the ground. It seems I could just put it in neutral but I've heard I may have to disconnect the driveshaft. If so, how hard is this to do and...well, how would one go about doing that?
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dmac0923
Enthusiast
Sep 21, 2008, 1:20 PM
Post #2 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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for the distance your traveling i would def disconnect the driveshaft.
__________________________________________________
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2002 Ford Ranger
2004 Toyota Corolla
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1
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Jeff Norfolk
Enthusiast
Sep 21, 2008, 5:36 PM
Post #3 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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Yes you will need to disconnect the drive shaft or risk damage to the trans. It is not to difficult to remove the drive shaft itself, but if you tow the truck with it out you will likely leak trans fluid all over the place. There is a drive shaft disconnect that can be installed but it usually requires cutting the drive shaft and welding in new parts. It usually cost around $500 or so. If you do want to pull the drive shaft off then I would recommend dropping the pan on the tran and draining the fluid before towing. Good Luck
Jeff
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pspeir
Novice
Sep 21, 2008, 8:12 PM
Post #4 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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Thanks for the advice. I've been told by other people much the same things: I can either remove the entire drive shaft and install a plug of some sort or simply disconnect the driveshaft from the rear, where it connects to the U Joint, tie it up and duct tape the "caps" on the U joint. Though I'm not sure what caps are--I'm obviously no mechanic--I've heard it's only four bolts to disconnect the drive shaft, and surely I can figure out what to duct tape from there. I have to get under the car and check it all out, but surely there's a place to tie up the drive shaft. Although this seems fairly easy, any advice or comments on this course of action would be helpful. The move is budgeted down to the penny and I just don't have money to purchase a plug or the knowhow to remove the drive shaft. It seems the easiest course of action is the best in this case, and removing four bolts, tying it up and duct taping the caps seems easiest. But--is it the best?
Thanks again.
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pspeir
Novice
Sep 22, 2008, 3:47 AM
Post #6 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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Well...I'm speechless! Such a well thought out and in depth reply! I sincerely appreciate all the help I've received. Maybe now I should ask for donations so I can spring for the more expensive tow-dolly with all wheels off the ground! Lol...no, of course not. Actually I think the transmission could use a filter and fluid change, so maybe this is the time to get it done. One further question, though: Why would it be difficult to just tie up the drive shaft? Some people have said this would be a cinch while others, like yourself, have implied it would be difficult and not reliable.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 22, 2008, 5:37 AM
Post #7 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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Hope your eyes don't hurt - my middle name is VERBOS!
Yes - you could tie the shaft up - that's what I'd do but I have bars, brackets and clamps such that it wouldn't fall and if I didn't like my handiwork I'd take it off. Again - it's really only held from the back bolts to diff and the front just slides out but if it was secured VERY well it wouldn't. Keep in mind engine/trans will still move some relative to body/frame with bumps while towed too!
Tricky - I suggest taking it out for you. Can't risk that falling off as it could damage your own vehicle and then be a total street weapon. You have to plan to sustain pot holes and whatever road hazards enroute. Write this off as a trans fluid and filter service so you really take care of two things at once here. Also gives you a good feel for how good the U-joints are and you might find one or both ready to do also.
Be safe. Again - it is important. It is archived at this site somewhere with someone who had a problem after a long tow of perhaps about this same vehicle, did nothing with the driveshaft and it had ruined the trans!
Be safe,
T
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pspeir
Novice
Sep 22, 2008, 5:50 AM
Post #8 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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Okay, good advice all the way around. I'll take it all into consideration and make a decision. Likely I'll take the whole thing out. Seems the best way to go. Before I started this whole train of thought I knew nothing about drive shafts or U Joints. After watching Youtube videos and talking to you guys I feel like an expert! Which is good. I think I can do it. :-)
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pspeir
Novice
Sep 26, 2008, 8:04 AM
Post #9 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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I have one more question: It appears we'll have to tow the car initially between forty and fifty miles before we can disconnect the driveshaft. Will it hurt it to tow it this short distance in neutral?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 26, 2008, 8:38 AM
Post #10 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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Right out of an owner's manual for towing for a Ford (same ideas) suggests that it can in an emergency be towed in neutral at speeds up to 35mph for 50 miles. I still don't like that much.
If you do this A or B. With all care taken you could leave engine running or stop and run engine for a couple miles now and then along the trip. HEY - RUNNING AN ENGINE WITH THE VEHICLE UNATTENDED INSIDE IS DANGEROUS BY NATURE. That's not to say I suggest someone be in it either!
Guess: If you just stopped and ran the engine and engaged trans, R, N, D etc along route a couple times that would really help then back to N for more towing. The 35mph thing counts. I know that's annoying but pay attention. It's a pill but I'd probably stop every 15 miles and plain drive it.
The deal is that transmissions only have pumps in the front and are engine driven. If you are as old as dirt like I am you may recall ones with pumps on both ends! That pumping is what allow for hydraulically actuating everything in the trans, keeping it cooler and lubed. Just note that the old trick of pushing a car and putting it in gear with a failed starter to turn the engine won't work in an automatic as proof there's no hydraulic pressure to engage it. Manual trans would still "turn" the engine that way.
See if your own owner's manual has any special suggestions as well. This is discussed in all I've ever read,
T
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Sep 26, 2008, 8:41 AM)
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pspeir
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Sep 26, 2008, 9:18 AM
Post #11 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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Thanks for your help. I'll take it all into consideration. My owner's manual is sadly lacking in towing advice. It only tells you the best route to towing a manual or 4wd Blazer, but mine is automatic and RWD. Likely I'll end up driving 35MPH and stopping every fifteen miles or so to turn it on and shift gears. Other people have told me much the same thing.
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pspeir
Novice
Oct 7, 2008, 1:20 PM
Post #12 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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Thanks to everybody for all the advice and we did make it safely on our nearly 800 mile trip. The moment before I was to disconnect the driveshaft our neighbor, who--had I only known!--is a mechanic came over and said "why are you doing that? It's rear wheel drive, the steering wheel locks--just back it up and tow it backwards!" And so I did, and so it worked splendidly. Now we know that you can tow a 1993 Chevy Blazer S10 RWD backwards, so long as the steering wheel locks.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 7, 2008, 3:00 PM
Post #13 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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Quote from my prior post______________
"If this is just RWD not 4X4 then towing with drive wheels off ground would save all this. That or a trailer keeping whole vehicle off the ground."
____________
Glad the trip went well. I asked if this was just rear wheel drive if you could haul it with "drive" wheels off ground which is all any vehicle needs. Sorry that got lost is the length of the thread. I didn't know what kind of tow thing you were using but when towing rear only drive vehicles you then need to secure the steering wheel from turning which they do anyway if locking mechanism works properly but most would still suggest tieing it so it can't turn much if something were to happen.
Again - Glad to hear trip went well with no hassles,
T
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pspeir
Novice
Oct 7, 2008, 3:04 PM
Post #14 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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No no, that was absolutely my fault. Now that you bring it to my attention I do recall reading that. Somehow or another it slipped my mind. Well, it all worked out, and thanks again for all the help. I do appreciate it.
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 7, 2008, 3:23 PM
Post #15 of 15
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Re: Towing a RWD S10 Blazer
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Glad you made it to your destination safely. Here, have a beverage of your choice on me. (_)3
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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