Moss Motors, Ltd

I keep my B in Fort Myers, Fla, (it has never been out of Florida) I live April to November in Northern Michigan (Cheboygan) My problem: What is best (and reasonably economical) way to take it back and forth? Biggest sub-problem: my 2004 Buick Rendezvous CXL is All Wheel, and the damned trailer max is 1500 lbs! Suggestions? 10/11/06 Bob in Cheboygan

Roberto:  I live in Northern Michigan, too (Tawas).  And I've transported MGs and Porsches from Florida to here using a tow bar and a dolly before.  I think you should have no problem pulling an MGB with a tow bar even with your 1500 towing limit.  The problem is attaching a tow bar to a rubber bumper B.  On chrome bumpered cars it attaches to the bumper mounting brackets with the bumper removed.  I don't know how you could attach one to your car.  A dolly is an option, but means you're pulling even more weight (and is more expensive).  I'd also recommend taking everything out of the towed car (battery, spare tire, tools) to make it as light as possible.  You might want to consider adding a transmission cooler to your tow car as an added precaution.  I take lots of breaks when I'm making the trip because you really want to remain alert.  There's not much margin of error when you have no trailer brakes.  And tighten up everything whenever you stop.  Good luck.   Rob

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You can never be too good looking, too well travelled, or have too many cars.

tow bars atach to tie sown brakets or frame.

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79 MGB bright yellow

sorry that should be tie down brackets

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79 MGB bright yellow

I suspect your fellow Michiganite (?) is correct in that flat towing won't be an issue. However, you may want to consider removing the driveshaft if you're going to flat-tow it that distance. There is some debate about whether the transmission can be damaged by towing a B with the driveshaft engaged (i.e., the transmission gears turn but get no lubrication which requires engine power) - there are stories on both sides of the coin. Better safe than sorry, I say....

 

I also own an Audi and there has been a thread about towing on an Audi e-mail list I subscribe to. The issues is that most US Audi's are limited to 2000 lbs in the US, while the same car and equipment in Europe is rated at 4000 lbs! General consensus is that this has more to do with the litigious nature of US society than with any environmental differences between Europe and the US. S, I suspect that your car is capable of hauling more than 1500 lbs. A trailer hitch shop should be able to give you a better idea.

 

Dan D 

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Central NJ USA
'76 MGB Tourer Driver
'65 MGB Tourer Project
NAMGBR #5-2328
http://dans65b.blogspot.com/
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dibiase/Working_MG_Gallery.html

Very true.  I should have mentioned removing the driveshaft anytime you tow a car any distance.  Unless you're positive the rear bearing stays lubed.  I know there's a bit of disagreement on how much damage can actually occur in MGs, but it's worth removing the driveshaft for a little piece of mind.

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You can never be too good looking, too well travelled, or have too many cars.

My research of this subject for my 74 tells me the transmission is lubricated by splash . If the gears turn the transmision is fully lubricated and you do not need to disconnect the drive shaft.

bojangles