22
votes
Why is towing a manual transmission car, in neutral, with the drive wheels on the ground, considered safe?
Manual transmissions (most, but not all) lubricate not through a pump, but through the action of the gears and secondarily through the level of the transmission fluid itself. In some transmissions, ...
- 162k
13
votes
Towing a running vehicle?
Why not have someone drive it properly - fewer people crammed into one car and you can swap passengers at each stop - it seems a safer option...
- 34.7k
11
votes
Accepted
How can I flat tow a 2003 manual Jetta 5 speed?
No you cannot safely tow the Jetta as you'll exceed the towing capacity of your Outback. The Outback can tow (depending on the options) between 2,700-3000lbs. The weight of the Jetta by itself is ...
- 162k
10
votes
Is it ok to front suspended tow a 2017 Dacia Duster 1.5dci 4wd?
I found this in the owners manual for the vehicle, which says that it must not be towed with any wheels on the ground -
- 25.5k
8
votes
Why is towing a manual transmission car, in neutral, with the drive wheels on the ground, considered safe?
Because, in a manual gearbox (those that I am aware of) the method of lubrication is by splash as the layshaft sits in the oil, so there is no engine driven pump connected to the input shaft.
Same ...
- 34.7k
7
votes
Accepted
Why is tow rope elastic?
Tow rope is specifically made to be elastic because it allows for diffusion of energy when the rope is tightened.
Imagine towing with a chain, which has essentially no elasticity. While the chain is ...
- 1,169
6
votes
AWD Towing with Sling Type Truck
The reason you should tow an AWD either all 4 wheels on the ground, or all 4 wheels on a flatbed is because just having two on the ground means the differential is having to carry the, well, ...
- 18.6k
5
votes
When loading a car trailer how should the load be set?
You have to place things so, that the centre of gravity as low as possible, and in the middle of the trailer.(above the axles, but somewhat closer to the car) Try to place things close to each other. ...
- 2,954
5
votes
Accepted
When loading a car trailer how should the load be set?
You need the load to be forward on the trailer, but not completely. You want the main part of the weight to be centrally located on the trailer so the trailer is hauling the weight of the load. This ...
- 162k
5
votes
Testing nose weight - how level does the ground really need to be?
If you want to eliminate the angle of ground that visually looks flat, measure the weight then turn the whole lot around and measure the weight again. The mean average fo these two readings should ...
- 23.4k
5
votes
Accepted
What does the rated capacity of a commercial tow rope/strap mean?
It is rated for vehicles up to 4000kg...
It is not rated for lifting operations ie use as a sling on a crane...
It is not rated for KE recovery - kinetic energy recovery - where the stuck vehicle is ...
- 34.7k
4
votes
Accepted
How much can I tow with a 1997 Chevy Suburban?
According to Trailers.com, the max towing capacity for the 1997 Suburban is:
1500 4WD: 6,000lbs
1500 2WD: 6,500lbs
2500 4WD: 10,000lbs
The way you can tell what equipment came on your vehicle is by ...
- 162k
4
votes
Which is better lockup or non lockup converter?
If you are going to be towing, you want a lock-up torque converter. Heat is the bane of transmissions. Towing will add heat to the transmission. A non-lock-up torque converter will add more heat. With ...
- 162k
4
votes
Can towing a car damage transmission while the Parking Brake is on?
The last option is easily solved - straps and / or chains are used to secure the vehicle to the flat bed.
In fact these are usually used in all cases as the load has to be properly secured, this is ...
- 34.7k
4
votes
What are these square shrouds over these towbar nuts?
Those are captive nuts, if they are not rusted then the shroud stops them turning.
If they are rusted or seized then the nuts can rotate in the shroud and you will need to hold them with pliers or ...
- 34.7k
3
votes
How can I flat tow a 2003 manual Jetta 5 speed?
Yes, you can flat tow a VW Jetta. You will have to purchase all the hardware to install a tow bar on the front of your VW. This includes the base plate that mounts to the car, a rigid "A-frame" tow ...
- 9,005
3
votes
Where to attach ball hitch on 1989 10ft former U-Haul truck?
The ball hitch needs to be properly connected to the chassis - the step, unless it is a structural member, will not be strong enough. If you can't recognize a suitable member then go to a garage / or ...
- 34.7k
3
votes
Why is tow rope elastic?
All types of rope have a certain amount of stretch possible - the amount depends on the material and weave and this is good to absorb small shocks.
When towing, the person driving the car that is ...
- 34.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Okay to carry bicycles on roof without a roof-rack?
Bike racks are about safety and convenience.
These two go hand in hand because you can easily and securely mount the bike without thinking about how to strap it or where to strap it, etc. Having it ...
- 13.3k
3
votes
Honda Odyssey: Neutral/unlocked steering wheel without draining battery?
Install a battery disconnect switch.
The steering wheel should be able to move if the key is in regardless of if it has power or not. I've only once seen a mid-90's Kia with a ridiculous ...
- 1,945
3
votes
Towing a Bobcat
You'll need something with a Class III hitch to handle the weight of the trailer. Odds are good that if a Class III hitch is available the payload of the vehicle will handle the tongue weight, but ...
- 14.5k
3
votes
Testing nose weight - how level does the ground really need to be?
That's close enough! Especially if you're not pushing the limits.
Tongue weight influences the stability of the rig (too much and the front wheels may tend to lift, too little – especially with a ...
- 14.5k
3
votes
How to prevent automatic transmission damage when towing a heavy load without the towing package
Automatic transmissions use a torque converter to allow the engine to turn at a different speed than the transmission input shaft. This allows smooth shifting and it allows the engine to run at idle ...
- 255
3
votes
Towing a VW Bug or Chevy Corsair
The objective in towing a front wheel drive vehicle with the wheels on a dolly is to prevent unwarranted wear on the drive train, which would happen if the vehicle was flat-towed, that is, merely ...
- 4,960
3
votes
Accepted
What's the function of the two trailer sockets?
It's purely for power purposes. If you are just towing a small trailer you'll only need to use the black one , but if you also have a fridge and other high power kit on a caravan, then you will need ...
- 18.6k
3
votes
Tesla Model 3 GVWR minus curb weight 1,000 Pounds shy of official rating in EU
As to your first question: because the entirety of the car's GVWR is carried wholly by the car's suspension. Most of the weight of a trailer is carried by the trailer's wheels and suspension, and not ...
- 3,665
3
votes
Accepted
Can I tow an automatic car if the engine is on
As best I can tell, the A3 is a FRONT wheel drive vehicle. If so, then there is no issues towing it with the rear wheels on the ground.
That assumes, of course, that you are using a towing service ...
- 12.1k
2
votes
Accepted
What damage can one expect from towing an all wheel drive(awd) with 2 wheels down?
Read about how viscous coupling works
Your mechanic was probably partially correct. The coupling has nothing to do with gears and you may not feel partial degredation in functionality. But I can see ...
- 1,198
2
votes
Accepted
Subaru Outback (2004): flat tow with another Subaru if running? Fuel line repair?
1) Can you, or maybe would you try to, use a Subaru with a 2,700 lbs tow capacity to tow another Subaru that is ~3,500 lbs five blocks? The last block being up a bit of a snowy incline.
Normally, the ...
- 162k
2
votes
Trailer AFC converter turn signals blink together
Ok, so as @solar-mike suggested it looks like the converter is is faulty. I did some additional tests so I thought it might be useful to document here what I've done, someone else might be interested ...
- 409
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