Since my diff took a ****, I need to get my 7 from here at work to a guy's shop where I can hopefully soon replace the rear end. I have access to a flatbed trailer, and here at work we've got a forklift with 8.5' forks and adjustable spacing (can move them closer-farther apart.)

My intent is to use it to load the 7 onto the trailer, does anyone see anything wrong with this? What should I look out for?

 

Without looking under my car I'm not sure but I think the exhaust, drive shaft, and transmission are all in the way

 

As 82FanTC said, there could be too many things in the way. Exhaust is definately one to worry about, but the transmission sits fairly high and I think the rails under the floors will prevent the forks from contacting the trans. Driveshaft on the other hand will definitely get in the way. It may not look like it will with the suspension compressed, but once the rear axle droops when the weight is lifted from it, the drive shaft will become lower than the lifting points. Don't think the driveshaft will just rest wherever it hits either, there will be a lot of pressure on it from the rear springs pushing down on the axle which could bend the driveshaft. The driveshaft is only a hollow tube thats not much thicker than a thick exhaust pipe.

 

Right, that idea out the window then.

How would you get a 7 with a shattered diff on a trailer? The carrier is completely intact, didn't even leak oil, but the wheels only rock 3-5 feet in either direction.

 

use the forklift to lift only the rear end. Place the forks under the axle and lift and push it on.

 

get a buddy with a winch and a ****** block and drag it on

 

Didn't think about that.. I'll be able to get it on, but how about back off?

Don't want to flatspot my basically new tires by dragging it.

 

When you get home jack up the car on the trailer, change the diff, drive it off.

 

Using a forklift to put a car on a trailer sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Does that trailer have a set of ramps or fold down tail? If so, then just push the car on the trailer after hooking the trailer to a truck.

 

If I could push the car, I would tow it home. Diff is shattered so the wheels won't spin.

 

Can't you just remove the pumpkin then?

 

go rent some wheel dollys, get it towed.

 

Rethinking this a bit, probably the best way to do it is to get the dolly as mentioned and put the rear wheels up on it. Call up a tow truck and they can do it right.

What I mentioned may or may not work. I can't recall how far up the axle sits in comparison to the gas tank though. If the axle can be seen at your lifting points on the axle tubes, then it can be lifted with a forklift at this point. Just be sure to take precautions that the car won't slide on the forks.

As for removing the pumpkin, thats a no go as you have to pull the axle shafts out as well. The pumpkin bearings actually support the inner part of the axle shaft and the car cannot be rolled without it.

 

I can adjust the width of the forks from about 4 feet all the way to something like 10-12 feet... I can pick the car up anywhere you can imagine. Where would you place them?

I constantly handle 8 foot by 9 foot reels of coaxial cable weighing over twice as much as this car, moving it safely isn't going to be an issue, it's just lifting it without damage.

 

when i did towing i put cars on trailers to haul to scrap all the time via forklift. just pick up the read end by the axle and have a buddy steer the car up on the trailer. no tires will drag, and if you use a few blocks of wood you wont damage any bumpers or paint or anything. taking it off the trailer is just reverse of putting it on

wont do a bit o' damage to the car at all.


if you get it towed, just have them pick it from the rear.......it'll cost less. no need to put it on dolly's when the front wheels spin.