Proper towing

I was always told that cars should be towed with their unpowered wheels
on the ground. Yet, I often see some motor homes towing a passenger car
with all 4 wheels on the ground. How does this work? Is my knowledge too
dated? How do you tow 4WD car?

Thanks,
Karl

 

Disconnect drive shaft(s), support with baling wire, hope the wire doesn't
break while going 65 mph ;-)

 

What year and model? And have you checked your Owner's Manual?

 

You buy the appropriate disconnect hubs. If the car is a Sube, you're
set. If it's an older Jeep (prior to I think 2003), you're probably
set.

Most of the motor homes that you used to see towing dinghies used 4WD
vehicles. Of course, at over $5/gal for diesel at 8 mpg, you don't
see many these days.

 

It's not about my car. I just happen to see a lot of those big motor
homes pulling cars and wondered how they do that without damaging the
powertrain. I doubt that those retired drivers would be up to
disconnecting and reconnecting anything under the car.
Karl

 

Last week a saw a big, bus size motor home pulling a fairly big SUV
which could have had 4WD.
Karl

 

Fair enough.

Manufacturers put not inconsiderable thought into what you might want to do
with your ride. Towing is one of those things. It would put a bit of a
cramp in sales if towing were impossible, so accommodation has been made
for that eventuality.

If the towed vehicle has a manual transmission, towing is a non-issue; just
do it, like the old Nike ads used to say. A manual gives not a shit what
you do to it. It's crude, simple 1908 technology and is quite tolerant of
vast abuse. If it's an auto on the other hand, there needs to be sufficient
flow of clean fluid to ensure that the tranny's internals won't cook. This
means the tranny needs to have a fluid pump or internal structure arranged
such that towing won't damage it.

Now. What automatic transmission Hondas may be towed behind another
vehicle? Honda vehicles classed as light trucks appear to be designed for
towing. No restrictions other than not exceeding 65 mph. Honda automatic
vehicles classed as cars? Towing not recommended! Don't ask me why the
difference.

 

I saw Willie's new bus Friday. Nice paint job, but this year it
proudly proclaims "powered by biodiesel".

Summer of last year, I saw a convoy of coach RVs all towing almost
identical H1s. Talk about pissing away good money after bad!