Towing 4 down
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Rent a U-Haul car trailer; the C4 will fit with no problems. Or try a local equipment rental place.
If you look up under the front of a C4, you will find there is no real effective method to install a tow bar.
If you look up under the front of a C4, you will find there is no real effective method to install a tow bar.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
I actually have a car trailer, but its heavy and coupled with the ~3400# vette, too much. Im trying to justify keeping the 95 as a 2nd car for the GF and a Toad for the motorhome. I have a twin turbo C5 that is a semi DD.
Paint is not good anyway, but would I run a front Bra. The 76 GMC doesnt really kick up much debris being FWD and air/bogie rear suspension and fairly low in the rear.
C4cruiser, you are right...would need some engineering to mount the tow bar but its do-able. I will need to fabricate a removable intermediary bracket
Down the road I will probably look for a 4wd Tracker and either restore or sell the C4.
Paint is not good anyway, but would I run a front Bra. The 76 GMC doesnt really kick up much debris being FWD and air/bogie rear suspension and fairly low in the rear.
C4cruiser, you are right...would need some engineering to mount the tow bar but its do-able. I will need to fabricate a removable intermediary bracket
Down the road I will probably look for a 4wd Tracker and either restore or sell the C4.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
If a cluster gear in the trans does not turn when pulling the car the trans will not be lubricated. When flat towing a rear drive vehicle any distance driveshaft removal is the norm. Flat towing a front wheel drive automatic you need a pump in the trans cooler lines, PITA.
Suggest a trailer, if the motor home is under powered a tow dolly could work but you need to load the Vette rear wheels up & will probably drag the nose.
U-Haul has aluminum car trailers for rent.
Suggest a trailer, if the motor home is under powered a tow dolly could work but you need to load the Vette rear wheels up & will probably drag the nose.
U-Haul has aluminum car trailers for rent.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
Churchkey, are you aware of a specific problem with the C4 ZF trans?
Having been in the RV business I have set up many tow vehicles. You are right about the FWD automatics needing the PITA lube pump. The driveshaft removal or disconect is commonly used with RWD automatics but have never seen one on a manual nor ever heard of any problems flat towing a manual.
I did hear of some who used the disconnect to keep the mileage down. Not a concern with mine.
Don't want to use a trailer or dolly. I want to be able to drop and go with a minimum of fuss and have a vehicle that will be fun on mountain roads.
I realize some just cringe at the thought of using a Vette as a toad, but the cheapest vehicle is one you already own.
Having been in the RV business I have set up many tow vehicles. You are right about the FWD automatics needing the PITA lube pump. The driveshaft removal or disconect is commonly used with RWD automatics but have never seen one on a manual nor ever heard of any problems flat towing a manual.
I did hear of some who used the disconnect to keep the mileage down. Not a concern with mine.
Don't want to use a trailer or dolly. I want to be able to drop and go with a minimum of fuss and have a vehicle that will be fun on mountain roads.
I realize some just cringe at the thought of using a Vette as a toad, but the cheapest vehicle is one you already own.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
Cannot say for sure about trans lube while towing have not had a Vette ZF apart. Pantera ZF yes but its a trans axle.
Suggest contacting ZF Doc for info he is the trans Guru.
http://www.zfdoc.com/
Suggest contacting ZF Doc for info he is the trans Guru.
http://www.zfdoc.com/
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 350
Likes: 2
From: Huntsville AL
On the ZF6 the 5th and 6th gear idler gears spin on the countershaft and the driven gears are intregal to the main output shaft. When being towed the idlers are being back driven by the output shaft, providing sling lube to the back half of the case. With that said, the rest of the cluster is stationary, so you are not getting any sling lube at the front of the case from the cluster driven gear or the third gear driving gear which are both press fit on the cluster.
I'd be interested to know ZF Doc's recommendation on this question and would certainly defer to his opinion as he is a recognized subject matter expert.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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There is no way to pull a C4 that way.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 350
Likes: 2
From: Huntsville AL
That is not a very convincing argument. Care to elaborate? Is the issue ground clearance? Poor tracking due to the wide tires and stiff steering? Just the principle of the thing? Personal experience with a bad outcome?
Down around South Alabama you can tow anything that has a solid place to tie off a rope. You just have to make sure the hitch ball on the tow vehicle isn't too loose.
Down around South Alabama you can tow anything that has a solid place to tie off a rope. You just have to make sure the hitch ball on the tow vehicle isn't too loose.