After 24 years in the Navy, I've decided to retire and relocate to Texas with my wife. I'm a veteran of many moves, so this is nothing new. But now we have three vehicles and only two drivers. The scenario I would prefer is to have my wife drive our G35, and then I would pack up the Tundra with everything we don't want the movers to take (plus the dog and cat) and tow the S behind the Tundra. Since I don't own a car trailer, I've been researching rental trailers. The car carrier (drive up on ramps and tie it down) that U-Haul offers is not compatible for the S. U-Haul says on their website that it will cause significant damage to the vehicle. Budget's car carrier looks identical to U-Haul's. I'm not sure what damage could occur, but one possibility would be the suspension. Do the infamous "spring spacers" need to be re-inserted to avoid damage?
If anyone has any experience with towing their S successfully, I'd appreciate some good advice. Thanks.
Jack

 

Jack:

Congratulations on retirement (graduation) I retired from the Air Force in 1987 and just keep getting busier..... where is that retirement easy life. Back to the subject. I am assuming that you are talking about the car haulers that you simple drive the fronnt end up on and tow behind. I would suggest a true car trailer ie a 6 or 7 ft wide trailer aprox 16 feet long drive the car on it and tie it down you should not have a problem. I have not towed my "S" with my Tundra but I do tow a 6ft by 10 ft utility trailer often with a 2000 lb tractor on it and the Tundra does great. Mine is an '04 with the TRD sport package and the towing package, great truck . Other option would be to have it shipped there are companies that will do that enclosed and they are bonded. Over the years I have sold cars and folks have taken delivery through this means. Good luck. By the way what part of Texas are you coming to? My wife and I are 30 miles east of San Antonio. Take care Jack

 

how about ship the S in a covered truck.. would cost ~1k depending on distance tho

 

Thanks for the advice JackRabbit. The car carriers that I've researched are not very big, but do have two wheels (in series) on each side of it. After you drive your car onto the trailer, the ramps retract and you tie down the vehicle forward and aft with chains. The front wheels are secured with wheel straps. I can't imagine the truck that delivers the S to the dealer being much different in how they secure the vehicle on the truck, onload it and offload it. There may be clearance issues when you drive it up over the ramps though. You can help the angle by either backing onto the trailer or loading from a sloped entry. There is probably something to those spring spacers that come on our vehicles from the factory for shipping. I was hoping that one of our weekend racers would see this post sometime and let me know how they transport their S2000 to the track if they don't drive it.
Anyway, we are moving to a small town called Magnolia. It's 45 miles NW of Houston. Not sure what I'll do when I get there, but that's OK. We'll live right next door to our new granddaughter, so at least one of us will be extremely happy to leave beautiful Virginia Beach!
See you in Texas!

 

Congrats on your retirement........ Enjoy....

I've got 3 more till 20 but probably go till they kick me out.......

Get it shipped for just under a Grand..... OR.........Have your wife drive the Tundra towing the G35 and you can drive your S cross country......

ROAD TRIP!!!!

 

have a friend drive it or tacoma and fly him back?

 

I'm pretty sure the tranny oil pump is driven by the input shaft. So if the car was towed with the rear wheels turning, you'll fry the transmission.

 

Doesn't the owner's manual go as far as to say do not tow the S2000 at all? The only way to "tow" it is to flat bed that puppy.

By the way, I'll drive the S for you!

 

I wondered if the Uhaul trailer would be okay if you used wood 2x4s to help it up on the ramp. Is it only getting it on that's the problem?

 

Most of the car trailers (the type that the car goes all the way on)(as in no part of the car is on the ground or being towed) from the rental places state that the car must have 16" or less wheels.

http://www.pensketruckrental.com/per...tal/index.html
click on truck and car carrier at the lower right hand side of the page

JeffA