Towing a 2003 Chevy Tracker August 14, 2016, 09:00:30 pm We have owned a 2001 mid bath for almost three years. Like a lot of people new to RVing, we decided not to set up for a toad. Getting use to a larger Class C was enough. With electric bikes it has worked out pretty well but we have missed out exploring in the City and it's a pain to tear down camp for local travel, or rent a car. It seems a natural progression to eventually want a toad. Often traveling to Nashville with my Singer Songwriter daughter finally convinced me we need a toad.And then you experience the sticker shock of 4 on the road towing and try to understand all the hardware, electrical hookup and towing options. My daughter does drive a four wheel drive, automatic 2003 Chevy Tracker we could tow, but with almost 100,000 miles, I'm not sure she will have this car long term. Still in the short term the Chevy Tracker is the go to toad. DW drives a 2015 Fiat 500L automatic that is light weight but we would need to tow on a Dolly.I've been around in circles trying to decide between tow bar 4 down towing and towing with Car Dolly. I finally decided on a Car Dolly (based on budget, fact we do not always need toad, complexity of setting up 4 wheel down, and the flexibility of dolly for most cars). I ended up finding a used 2009 Kar Kaddy SS for $1300 in excellent condition. It has surge brakes and we can store under the back of RV when folded. I know the progression will continue and I'll someday graduate up to Blue Ox Tow Bar 4 wheel towing. I figure I can sell the Dolly and probably get what I paid for it.I pick up the dolly tomorrow. It was a complete pain to figure out how to connected to the outdated 4 pin connect that Lazy Daze uses. No local auto parts store sells a compatible plug converter to the flat 4 pin connector. I finally found a programable plug from Uhaul that lets you move wires around and has test lights. One problem solved.ADVICE NEEDED: How to tow a 4 wheel drive, automatic transmission, 2003 Chevy Tracker on a dolly?The Chevy owners manual states to load up to dolly with back wheels of Chevy Tracker. Put the transfer case in neutral, ignition key in accessory position, and use a steering wheel tie down strap once you have ensured front wheels are straight. The lock position of steering wheel is not strong enough and will break. The Kar Kaddy SS Dolly wheels actually turn which seems to be a unique feature. I just think this will be really strange towing a car backwards. I know it's an advantage to have the front wheels in the tow dolly as you have the weight of the engine to better hold things in place. Of course I will not drive faster than 55, check tire straps often and have back up chains installed. I guess I need to test this set up but it seems strange to pull a car backwards.Also why could I not put the Chevy Tracker front wheels on the dolly? I know it's a rear wheel drive but why is this different than four wheels down? I would need to periodically run the car to lube the transmision. I would put 4 wheel drive transfer case in neutral and I assume the transmission in park. Or would I damage car somehow?Any advice how to best tow a Chevy Tracker on a dolly is appreciated. (Other than sell your dolly immediately and go to a tow bar set up)LarryD
Re: Towing a 2003 Chevy Tracker Reply #1 – August 15, 2016, 10:14:42 am I'd follow what the owners manual for your vehicle states or another official document from Chevy. There may well be a valid engineering issue for the method they state. For most recent Jeeps that are flat towable, they CANNOT be towed using a dolly, only four down or on a trailer or flatbed. The reason for this is that the Jeep transfer case is designed to have both front and rear driveshafts turning at or near the same rate. If one set of wheels is off the ground, one driveshaft in the transfer case is spinning and the other is not. This will cause wear on the shaft where 4WD gets engaged. Chevy may have some design feature in their drivetrain which requires backwards dolly towing. For front wheel drive cars, dollies are really useful, since the rear wheels are free spinning.If it was me, I'd just set it up for flat towing. We find flat towing to be real easy. When we first got our LD and joined the Caravan Club lots of folks were flat towing Trackers, even with the LDs with the smaller Chevy V8s.Art(In the Black Hills for a while)
Re: Towing a 2003 Chevy Tracker Reply #2 – August 15, 2016, 12:59:52 pm Quote from: Larame SRT - August 14, 2016, 09:00:30 pmWe have owned a 2001 mid bath for almost three years. Like a lot of people new to RVing, we decided not to set up for a toad. Getting use to a larger Class C was enough. With electric bikes it has worked out pretty well but we have missed out exploring in the City and it's a pain to tear down camp for local travel, or rent a car. My daughter does drive a four wheel drive, automatic 2003 Chevy Tracker we could tow, but with almost 100,000 miles, I'm not sure she will have this car long term. Still in the short term the Chevy Tracker is the go to toad. DW drives a 2015 Fiat 500L automatic that is light weight but we would need to tow on a Dolly.Although I agree with others that 4-down is a far more convenient way to go, since you got the tow dolly, and want to see city sights, why go with the old Tracker instead of the Fiat? At least stay with the option of loading the most appropriate vehicle for the destination...Steve
Re: Towing a 2003 Chevy Tracker Reply #3 – August 15, 2016, 08:48:04 pm Thanks for advice above. I have to say it was one scary ride Cincinnati back to Columbus with an empty dolly. The Kar Kaddy owner manual indicates with a pin inserted to prevent wheel Turing it can be transported without a car. It bounced around way more than I was comfortable with so I ended up traveling back roads off the freeway. Felt lucky to get it back home.The Kar Kaddy 460 SS is definitely high quality. But a bit of a monster for me to maneuver in my storage location. I agree with advice it's probably best to follow Chevy Tracker owners manual and tow backwards as recommended. But I just can't convince myself to tow a car backwards. A quick trial ballon with wife over morning coffee did not go well when I suggested we tow her new Fiat. My car is a Chevy Volt and I think this is not a good toad candidate. I'm working through the transition straight to flat towing very painfully and fast. I got home and listed it on Craigs List. Lesson learned: since I have a Tracker to tow I really should just do it the right way and flat tow. A bad case of EBay trigger happy too late at night.I did read a lot about car dollies just not enough about how to tow a Chevy Tracker. I think if you are buying a Dolly the Acme model might be better choice for some as it's much lighter in weight. The Kar Dolly is really nice construction and built to last but too heavy for me to maneuver.
Re: Towing a 2003 Chevy Tracker Reply #4 – August 15, 2016, 08:50:48 pm I have never seen a car towed backward, it would be a conversation starter! Fiat 500! Too bad about that automatic tranny. I list for a Fiat 500 Abarth for our first toad.
Re: Towing a 2003 Chevy Tracker Reply #5 – August 15, 2016, 08:56:08 pm Quote from: Larame SRT - August 15, 2016, 08:48:04 pmThanks for advice above. I have to say it was one scary ride Cincinnati back to Columbus with an empty dolly. The Kar Kaddy owner manual indicates with a pin inserted to prevent wheel Turing it can be transported without a car. It bounced around way more than I was comfortable with so I ended up traveling back roads off the freeway. Felt lucky to get it back home.The Kar Kaddy 460 SS is definitely high quality. But a bit of a monster for me to maneuver in my storage location. I agree with advice it's probably best to follow Chevy Tracker owners manual and tow backwards as recommended. But I just can't convince myself to tow a car backwards. A quick trial ballon with wife over morning coffee did not go well when I suggested we tow her new Fiat. My car is a Chevy Volt and I think this is not a good toad candidate. I'm working through the transition straight to flat towing very painfully and fast. I got home and listed it on Craigs List. Lesson learned: since I have a Tracker to tow I really should just do it the right way and flat tow. A bad case of EBay trigger happy too late at night.I did read a lot about car dollies just not enough about how to tow a Chevy Tracker. I think if you are buying a Dolly the Acme model might be better choice for some as it's much lighter in weight. The Kar Dolly is really nice construction and built to last but too heavy for me to maneuver.You are supposed to lower tire pressure on a dolly when no car is on it. Bit of a pain having to find air when you put a car on. But it will stop the bouncing at highway speeds a bunch..Garry
Re: Towing a 2003 Chevy Tracker Reply #6 – August 16, 2016, 04:05:50 am Hi LarryD. You would tow the tracker on a dolly with the front wheels down because you could unlock the front hubs, and nothing but the wheels would be turning. I tow a '92 tracker with an automatic. Four wheels down in the forward direction. No dolly required, and pretty light weight. The transmission stays in park, the transfer case in neutral. I've always unlocked the front hubs, I have manual hubs. With automatic locking hubs, I believe you just back up some feet in reverse to unlock the hubs, then tow in the forward direction, again, with the transfer case in neutral. No viscous drive components in a '92, or a 2003. That's the difference in terminology between 4WD and All wheel drive (AWD). Some modern limited slip differentials do have viscous clutches that would burn up if one wheel's speed didn't closely match the other wheel. I'd ditch the dolly. I know of one Yellow 2003 Tracker that was successfully towed by a LD. It was owned by a member of the caravan club, who sold it to another member who didn't tow it. RonB
Re: Towing a 2003 Chevy Tracker Reply #7 – August 17, 2016, 10:51:41 am We have been towing a 2003 Chevy Tracker 4-down for quite some time. It takes about 3 minutes for the hook up / disconnect. We've had no problems. We use a SMI brakes system which is brainless - just turn on a switch to start towing and turn it off when disconnect.Bob & Cathy in Turtle'01 RK
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