Steering lock broken. Caused by towing on dolly?

[wrapped]

After towing for 6months on dolly with no problems,went to unload car and found steering lock not working and couldn't turn ign.key had towed to dealer steering wheel lock pin not working there fixing it now,was this caused by towing or just a coincidence, any thoughts?

[Bob Denman]

If you were towing it with the steering wheel locked: I would guess that is where the problem may have started...
Whenever my Dad was dragging hi "Toad" behind him: always left the steering wheel unlocked.
Over 70,000 miles of no problems whatsoever.

[wrapped]

Thanks for your help but the dolly is a swivel plate and says to lock or tie steering wheel when towing.

[Bob Denman]

I'm sorry... I missed the part about it being on a dolly...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrbybKWwb7c

[Popfla]

The steering wheel on our toad, which we tow on a Master Tow dolly with a swivel plate, sometimes doesn't want to unlock unless we pull the steering wheel firmly while turning the key. It only seems to do that after we have made unusually sharp turns.

[wrapped]

That's what I was wondering,how the front wheels turn if strapped down and on a swivel plate. That's why I posted here to see if its happened to anyone else.

[Beau388]

I tow two vehicles without steering wheel locks on my Master Tow dolly. One day I was only moving 60 miles, so I did not lash my steering wheel so it would not turn or install the suspension chains. After driving 20 miles and stopping to by cheep gas on the way, I discovered front tires were all the way to the right and the wheel straps were very, loose. I figured in about another couple of miles I would have lost the truck.

[wrapped]

Was it a swivel plate dolly?

[be happy]

I tow my KIA on a swivel based tow dolly (roadmaster) and have never had the problem being talked about. I guess the idea is the straps that hold the tires to the dolly are there to help keep the front tires pointing straight down the road. To keep the steering wheel lock off do you not have to have the key in or something close to it?

I did run into a problem last year when I thought I was good enough to be able to back up. That little experience put a lot of pressure on the straps and it did try and turn the tires as I could see they were not pointed straight down the road anymore.

[wrapped]

That's why I think it's a coincidence, the tires are strapped straight and tight on swivel plate shouldn't put any stress on steering lock mechanism and I'm not seeing any problems from anyone else.

[10scDust]

Maybe coincidence and a rare circumstance.
What if in future, leave steering lock off, & strap the steering wheel so it does not turn, while towing on dolly that has a swivel plate?
There would be no stress' on the steering lock mechanism that way.
Just thinkin'

[wrapped]

Update,steering wheel lock replaced,towed on dolly to next campground in Lancaster Pa a lot of winding back roads no problems.

[AndyT1183]

Originally Posted by wrapped

Thanks for your help but the dolly is a swivel plate and says to lock or tie steering wheel when towing.

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I agree with you. We own a Demco KK460SS Kar Kaddy SS with a swivel plate. Demco also states to keep your steering wheel locked. Seem that this may have been a coincidence.

[RobertinLubec]

Originally Posted by wrapped

After towing for 6months on dolly with no problems,went to unload car and found steering lock not working and couldn't turn ign.key had towed to dealer steering wheel lock pin not working there fixing it now,was this caused by towing or just a coincidence, any thoughts?

What does your owners manual tell you to do? Before you do anything, I would check there or your local dealer first.

[wrapped]

Dolly instructions say lock wheel.

[RobertinLubec]

What about the vehicle owners manual. Ford has very specific instructions not to lock the wheel.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by RobertinLubec

What about the vehicle owners manual. Ford has very specific instructions not to lock the wheel.

What makes you think he has a Ford?

The Ford (or any other Owners Manual) can not tell you what to do with the steering wheel lock without knowing which dolly you are using to tow with; it can, of course, tell you the steering wheel has to be unlocked when flat towing, but that is not the topic of this thread.

[RobertinLubec]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

What makes you think he has a Ford?

The Ford (or any other Owners Manual) can not tell you what to do with the steering wheel lock without knowing which dolly you are using to tow with; it can, of course, tell you the steering wheel has to be unlocked when flat towing, but that is not the topic of this thread.

Don't know that it is, just using as an example of what expects when towing. Most manufactures have similar guidelines that can be very helpful.

[wrapped]

Nothing in owner's manual about towing on a dolly.