My wife and I are moving from ND to NH. We're shipping all of our stuff via FedEx (I get a 75% employee discount), but that still leaves our two vehicles. We have a 2000 Blazer and an Oldsmobile Cutlass. I know Uhaul rents trailers for towing cars. Would I be able to tow the Cutlass with my Blazer? And if so, should I use 4WD or 2WD, and should I be in drive or 3rd gear?

 

What year is the cutlass...better yet, do you know the GVWR? It also largely depends on what kind of blazer you have (2-door/4-door/2wd/4wd/auto/manual) as to how much you can tow. You would definitely use 2wd, and with as much weight as the car should be, you should use 3rd gear.

Have you ever towed anything before? Also have you priced out what it would cost to have the cutlass (or blazer...whichever gets worse mileage) transported compared to the rental of the dolly + mileage?

 

Shouldn't be a problem provided you have the requirements of the tow dolly (hitch). The only reason you would need to drop down into 3rd gear is if you found that the transmission was constantly hunting between OD (4th gear) and 3rd gear.

Why not have the wife drive it?

 

I'm a faster typer

 

No, you just don't have anything better to do! LMAO! Me, I'm actually working.

 

I'd love to be working...but apparently these college degree things are important or something

Sitting through the 2nd hour of meteorology 101 lecture...

 

It's a '97 Cutlass. The Blazer is a 2000 4-door.

 

Automatic transmission, I can go in 4WD or in 2WD. 4 door.

 

Do they explain anything about how often meteorologists are right in that class?

Back on topic. If you do not already have a receiver hitch, you will likely have to get one. The bumper mounted tow ball is being frowned upon by many rental companies now and they try to push their receiver hitch mount on you.

 

Bumper mount ball is only rated to 3500#, receiver hitch would be 5,400#.

If you do tow it.
Install an auxilary tranny cooler, unless you have the factory tow package.
Like Kyle posted, if your tranny is hunting for a gear, downshift to 3rd gear.
NOTE: Some column displays show P R N OD(4th gear)D(3rd gear)2 1,
some show P R N D(4th gear)3 2 1.

Take it easy, its not a race you can win. You can make it no problem if you travel reasonable. Watch your engine temp, better yet install a tranny temp gauge in the tranny test port and watch your tranny temp. Tranny test port is above the shift linkage on the drivers side, 1/4" I believe plug. Remove the plug and install the probe in place of the plug and mount the gauge in the cab. Summit racing will sell you everything you need. The important thing is not to overheat the tranny.