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

P-DUB · 06-19-2007, 06:02 AM

I don't mean to with a boxster, I mean tow a boxster behind something? We have a motor home and would like to tow the boxster behind the motor home and I was looking to see if it was possible to flat tow , or even dolly tow a boxster. If the answer is no, i will go on about my life. If the answer is yes, are there any issues or suggestions when doing so?

kabel · 06-19-2007, 08:44 AM

I'm no expert, but my initial thought would be it would hardly be ideal. If you really want the boxster along for the ride I am guessing your best solution would be a full car trailer behind the motorhome.

P-DUB · 06-19-2007, 09:38 AM

I agree, but I am trying to eliminate the additional room a trailer would take up at my place, the insurance on the trailer, and then there is the $5500 - $18000 stack of stripper tickets (depending on what you do for a trailer) for the trailer. I am just looking to see if anyone knows if it is do-able or not, and at this point, a trailer is out of the question, but would have been a good option if I wasn't in the situation I

am in.

djomlas · 06-19-2007, 09:45 AM

do the miles still get racked up if you tow the car behind you like that, all 4 wheels rolling?

mikefocke · 06-19-2007, 10:38 AM

AAA guide to towing a Porsche

My conclusion is that due to the low ground clearance, you can't get the right angle. My car was towed once after an accident and it was heck getting it onto the trailer, Can't imagine how it would have been towed conventionally.

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, 05:30 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!!

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..