Can you tow a Boxster? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

JackG · 06-19-2007, 11:31 AM

Even with those bumper brushes on the back of the RV's, the towed vehicles still get pounded by rocks and road debris.

Unless you just don't mind trashing your Boxster, an enclosed trailer is the only way you should ever tow.

racer_d · 06-19-2007, 11:39 AM

Anything is possible.. How much you want to spend (parts, preparation etc) is the key. A quality "new" dolly I think runs about $1000, maybe 800. A used steel trailer can be had for about $1200. Not sure how much insurance would be (trailers are historically cheap to insure)
My dad used to flat-tow his speedster and 914 back in the 1970s. I imagine on the boxster, to flat tow, you would need to make some ugly holes in the front bumper cap to mount the tow brackets.

Ideally, i believe, you would want to "dolly" tow Ass up to limit the wear on half-shafts/cv joints/transmission. However, this would mean you would need to remove the sterring lock on the column so the wheels could turn. Same would be needed for a safe flat tow as well. Plus, you would want/need some additional lights and signage to alert other travelers that the car is "in tow".

Not sure what year boxster you have, but lets guess that the average value of a used Boxster is maybe $25K, it sure seems stupid to "cheap out" on how you will haul it around, especially as it gets pounded by road grime, rocks, garbage etc that the motorhome spits up.

P-DUB · 06-19-2007, 02:02 PM

So I am getting the impression that no one has seen or tried to dolly tow a boxster with the nose up on the dolly like you normally would?

racer_d · 06-19-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-DUB

So I am getting the impression that no one has seen or tried to dolly tow a boxster with the nose up on the dolly like you normally would?

On 911's I have seen some dollied.. only ass up.

JackG · 06-19-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer_d

On 911's I have seen some dollied.. only ass up.

No miles accumulation on mechanical speedos, and no wear on the tranny and rear axles that way.. The front bearings do take a bit of abuse. They are running backwards for the entire tow distance, but are cheaper than CV joints, transmission parts, etc.

P-DUB · 06-20-2007, 05:26 AM

Thanks for the words of wisdom, that settles it, i am selling the boxster and getting a new Jeep Wrangler 4 door!

Dohertycm · 06-21-2007, 02:08 PM

The boxster sets too low for a tow dolly, Its the ramps that will hit the car.
U-Haul recommends you put it on a trailer.....I wanted to do the same thing
becaue i going to DALLAS tomorrow.....Boxster in tow on a trailer..

jsceash · 02-02-2018, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-DUB

So I am getting the impression that no one has seen or tried to dolly tow a boxster with the nose up on the dolly like you normally would?

I looked for a answer for this but could never find information on a tow kit. I have seen 2- 911 towed rear wheels down on tow dollies. I saw on the 924 sight that there were several guys flat towing to tracks. Last I was at Road Atlanta after a SCCA event in 2009. I could swear I saw a motor home leaving the track flat towing a Boxster but I could not find it after we left the track.

PatM · 02-05-2018, 01:34 PM

I towed, on a dolly, a 944 behind my classic GMC mh. Had to replace the rear wheel bearings, although the car had 110k miles on it..

BirdDog · 02-06-2018, 07:20 PM

Holy resurected thread Batman!

If it were me, I'd rent a full car trailer for the week (or however long you needed it) so you don't have to store the trailer between trips.

Back in the late 90's a friend and I towed my 87 Fiero behind his truck without any problems. Pretty sure I rented it from u-haul - there may be better solutions. We had no problem getting it on or off the trailer (my Fiero sat pretty much as low as my Boxster S), and had no damage of any kind from debris being thrown up by the truck.

I've owned several different mid-engine cars and I would never think of towing any of them ass up (ie backwards) on a dolly - the chance of the front end bottoming out (damaging the front bumper cover or even ripping it off!) is just too high because of the low ground clearance and angle to the ground. Towing front end up with the drive wheels on the ground - I'm pretty sure every maintenance manual I've ever owned said NOT to do that or risk transaxle damage. Might be ok with a manual tranny, but definitely a no-no with an automatic (or tip).

Maybe pick up a couple of cheap FRS radios and have someone in your party follow with the Boxster, or meet you at your overnight stop?

JackG · 06-19-2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer_d

Ideally, i believe, you would want to "dolly" tow Ass up to limit the wear on half-shafts/cv joints/transmission. However, this would mean you would need to remove the sterring lock on the column so the wheels could turn. Same would be needed for a safe flat tow as well. Plus, you would want/need some additional lights and signage to alert other travelers that the car is "in tow".

Not sure what year boxster you have, but lets guess that the average value of a used Boxster is maybe $25K, it sure seems stupid to "cheap out" on how you will haul it around, especially as it gets pounded by road grime, rocks, garbage etc that the motorhome spits up.

Agreed on everything except the steering lock. The steering wheel has to be either locked or restained somehow if you tow one "ass up" on a tow dolly.

Think of a "normal" car that gets towed ass down (fronts on dolly, rears on pavement). The rears do not turn, and don't need to turn, to be towed on a dolly. The fronts are also locked in this mode, as the dolly has a rotating plate that the strapped-down wheels sit on. No matter if they are fronts or rears. That's also why a tow dolly is nearly impossible to back up. It's double jointed... both the tongue and the swivel plate swing side-to-side. Can you say "jack-knife"?

The only thing free-wheeling steering would do when the fronts are on the ground and the rears are on the dolly, would be to let the steering go to full lock one way or the other. Then your tow car would be "crabbing" down the road while you try to travel straight ahead!!

jsceash · 02-02-2018, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackG

Even with those bumper brushes on the back of the RV's, the towed vehicles still get pounded by rocks and road debris.

Unless you just don't mind trashing your Boxster, an enclosed trailer is the only way you should ever tow.

I'm sorry this really is not true. We've towed 3 different Honda's and never had residual damage. all were new at one point when towed. which was at least 2x the value of a decade and a half old 986.