Urgent replies needed..Towing a AWD?

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 4:50 pm

The last rally I rented a U-haul trailer to tow the car,but these things weigh over 2000lbs (with car and gear over 5000lbs)so the poor Xterra was at it's limit.
So I seen a tow dolley local(front wheels off the ground) and may buy that,plus I can store it in my garage.
Towing an AWD in neutral is bad news??? (I'm new to this AWD stuff) any damage to the driveline??
I did think to remove the rear drive shafts every tow,but that could be a pain to do everytime but safer..
I did want to buy it today hence to urgent.

Cheers

Chris

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:09 pm

The #1 question everyone will ask is... what transmission is it?

If it's auto, you can put a fuse in the FWD connector in your engine bay on your passenger strut tower and tow it with the rear wheels on the ground.

If it's manual, then you HAVE to have all 4 wheels on or off the ground. Towing it with 2 wheels on the ground will damage the center differential.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:18 pm

I believe Subaru's official policy is that automatics should never be towed with any of their wheels on the ground; either you need a trailer to put the car on, or you use a tow dolly for the front wheels and individual dollies under the rear wheels.

Manuals can be towed in neutral with all four wheels on the ground, though. Just make sure the ignition switch is in the accessory position.

Reference:
http://endwrench.com/images/pdfs/TowingInfoWin01.pdf

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:26 pm

Cheers guys! sorry I forgot to say it was a 5 speed MT,so you have answered my question.Either I remove the rear drive shafts or it's no go with the dolley!

Cheers

Chris

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:28 pm

What about just using a tow bar, like RV people do with their toads?

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:32 pm

oh, so maybe that's what's wrong with mine.. you can't tow an AWD AT on all fours? hmm... what should i be checking out now then? What kind of damage can i expect to see?

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:38 pm

How far was it towed, and at what speed? Was the engine running?

I think the damage would be limited to the multiplate transfer clutch... I'd guess that symptoms would be either torque bind or loss of RWD.

Post by **Legacy777** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:50 pm

You really shouldn't tow the MT's with all fours on the ground for extended distances or at higher speeds. How will it affect it....I'm not really sure, but I think I remember reading something about it.

The AT's, yeah, you're not supposed to tow with any wheels on the ground. The reason being is that the transmission is not getting any lubricant, and yes if you towed with the rear wheels on the ground, any damage "should" be limited to the clutch packs/rear extension housing. However the excess gunk/clutch material in the fluid could cause issues in other places of the transmission.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:59 pm

I dunno... I remember hearing something about Subaru advertising that the 5-speed Outback was great for people with motor homes since it could work as a toad and then explore the terrain whenever you get where you're going.

So do you think an AT could be towed with all four wheels on the ground if the engine was left running, since it would circulate ATF?

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 6:30 pm

OK the guy I purchased the car off,says don't even think about towing it on all 4"s or with the dolley.I going to travel about 300 miles to Laughlin.
So only thing I can do is remove the rear drive axles and then I can use the dolley.
Thanks again,this site as ever always has the answers!

Cheers

Chris

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 8:16 pm

umm.. it was only towed about 4miles altogether --that being trips from where it lay for 6months, then to my uncle's house, then to other uncle's shop, then back to uncle's house. All with speeds less than 30mph, and in neutral, engine not running. Damn.
Looks like the thing is fubar'd then. (shakes head) I was wondering why it felt more FWD-ish... So i'm gonna be needing a new/rebuilt 4EAT here soon..anyone know where I could find one?

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 9:04 pm

4 miles in neutral at low speed? There's a good chance your transmission is fine...

You'd feel torque bind when taking sharp turns at low speed.

You can check for RWD by lifting all four corners and idling.

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 9:07 pm

so like, i could put it on my uncle's lift and run it to see if all four wheels roll? I think that's probably what I'll do..
Thanks Vikash! One of these days, I'ma take a x-country trip and get out to see all of you.. I've never met any board memebers yet! And it's been almost a year!

Post by **Legacy777** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 9:24 pm

vrg3 wrote:I dunno... I remember hearing something about Subaru advertising that the 5-speed Outback was great for people with motor homes since it could work as a toad and then explore the terrain whenever you get where you're going.

So do you think an AT could be towed with all four wheels on the ground if the engine was left running, since it would circulate ATF?

Technically, yeah if you left the engine running and in neutral you could probably tow an AT car.

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 12:48 am

then what would be the point of towing it? why not just drive it.. if you're gonna have the frickin' engine run.. just drive it.

fishbone79 · Post by **fishbone79** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 12:58 am

Haha... I guess that means the question is... is it road leagal?

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 1:01 am

I was just thinking out loud...

I guess the chances of having a running engine and a rolling drivetrain/suspension are pretty slim.

Maybe if your brakes are hosed.

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 1:50 am

OK so I can remove the driveshrfts to tow it on the dolley.Do I need to put in some dumby axle ends so I retain the hub bolt? I know on some cars the the axle/hub bolt holds everything togther.

Chris

Post by **Legacy777** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 3:27 pm

why not just remove the driveline.....that'd be easier IMO then removing both rear driveshafts and having to re align.

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:28 pm

Josh
I did think of that,but it takes longer to remove the diff guard and all that tank guard stuff I have under there.Plus I don't want to put the LSD through any extra miles.

Cheers

Chris

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:51 am

Josh, there would be a problem with pulling the driveshaft.

1) If you just took out the center section, you'd lose the oil out of your transmission, and the rear half of the shaft would drag on the diff mount bracket thing as it spun.

2) If you just took out the rear half and left the center half, I would think you'd lose all the oil out of your rear diff, which wouldn't be good while you're towing and the gears are meshing.

Post by **Legacy777** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:37 am

forgot about the oil coming out.....oops

fishbone79 · Post by **fishbone79** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:28 am

Why would you lose all the oil out of your rear diff? Am I forgetting something?

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:27 am

The oil has to lubricate the bearings at the rear of the transmission/front of the diff. The only thing keeping the oil in is the driveshaft being in contact with the seal.

fishbone79 · Post by **fishbone79** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:34 am

You mean the center diff? If so, I understand that. If you were to remove just the rear portion of the driveshaft, though, why would you lose any oil from the rear diff? (of course, that would beat the snot out of the carrier bearing).

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Urgent replies needed..Towing a AWD?

Urgent replies needed..Towing a AWD?