Ok guys I am trying to move and this one thing is holding me down.?

Question

I have 2005 Nissan Armada that I am trying to pull with a u-haul. U-haul says my truck is too heavy for there car trailer. I decided on a tow bar, but they say flat towing with all wheels on the ground is not good for an automatic transmission. Is that something they just say. How can I beat this thing.

I don't want to have to make two trips from CO to NC that's too much.

Please someone help. Any information is good.

Thank you

Answer 1

i don't think that u can get rid of this problem

Answer 2

a tow bar can still work. if its a 4 wheel drive, just drop the front driveshaft and then its free wheeling. what about a car dolly, just pick the front wheels up, strap them down, drop the back driveshaft and then the back wheel will just float.

Answer 3

Go to a different u- haul agency or another similar company. I rented a two wheeled car dolly and pulled an Iternational scout across country. It weighs a lot more than your Nissan, I had no trouble. You have to check the tie down straps and safety chains about every 100 miles just to be safe.Also the nut that tightens your dolly or trailer to your hitch. If you go to a different U-haul agency, don't drive the Nissan.Tell them youre planning to pull a Toyota Tercel, a go-kart with a body.

As far as the transmission goes I,m nearly sure your Nissan is front wheel drive, if you put the front end of the car on the dolly the transmission can't be affected and will not damage your car. I'm, not familiar with that Nissan, If its, a 4 wheel drive youll need a trailer, also if it's a rear wheel drive a trailer would be best but you could use a dolly, You would have to put the rear wheels on the dolly and leave the car in neutral so it wont lock the wheels as it would on park You would have to straighten the front wheels and tie the steering wheel securely or the car will move from fight to left and cause an accident.No Nissan is to heavy for U-haul'ls dolly and especially one of their trailers. You can haul a Ford Expedition on one of their trailers, I hope some of this rather long answer might help If you have never pulled anything like that, be very careful and never foget what's behind you. Good Luck! Afterthought, A trailer woud be safer and easier to handle than a dolly.

Answer 4

Remove the drive shafts and tow it with a tow bar. They are not bs ing about the automatic.

Answer 5

Yes, that is correct, its not good to tow an automatic for lengths without the motor running.

As the previous poster said, you can remove the tailshaft, but make sure that you plug up your gearbox, otherwise all your oil will gush out.

You will probably also need to remove your shaft from the transfer case as well.

I wouldnt like to tow a car a long distance with a flatbar, is it possible you can see a trucking frm, or a towtruck driver, and have them take your car on a backload, or how about pay someone to drive the car down, and you pay their train/bus/plane fare home.

Sorry, not from the states so I dont know distances

Answer 6

You can flat tow (all wheels on the ground) only if you pull the drive shaft.  If you do that, have a baggy and a rubber band to put over the output shaft so you don't lose all you transmission fluid, or even better a junk yard yoke that will fit it.

Since it's rear wheel drive, you can't use a dolly because you can't get the rear wheels off the ground, only the front.  If you try to tow in neutral, well, let me quote from the book here:

Nissan Armada 2004-2007, Rear Wheel Drive.  Limits, front tow.  MPH = 0, miles = 0.

Rear wheel tow.  Limits.  MPH = 50, Miles = Unlimited.  And a caution, if the vehicle is equipped with a factory tow package (if it has a tow hitch on the back) it may may optional air suspension on the rear suspension.  Do NOT compress it while towing it.

Answer 7

I am not up to speed on cars anymore. If a rear wheel drive removing the drive shaft for a long tow prevents the transmission from turning.

The reason it's bad to have the transmission turning is that it will overheat without oil being pumped.