flat towing

[hullview]

does anyone know which auto can be flat towed with a tow bar. or where i can get a quick list before i go buy a new car.
thanks
hullview

[whodo]

Go to Motorhome mag. http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/ and scroll down the page and click on Dingy towing list. They go back a few years listing vehicles that can be towed 4 down.
If you have a vehicle in mind that isn't on the list, contact Remco towing, http://www.remcotowing.com/ they can tell you what is available to make the vehicle tow-able 4 down, sometimes a lube pump for the transmission other times a drive shaft disconnect.

[murffdog]

All I see in my travels are Jeeps and Subaru's, a few Honda's.

[bukhrn]

I think most (if not all) Saturns are towable 4 down.

[jpinlv]

Get a Honda CRV not to heavy, plenty of room & you won't need to go back for different things going wrong

Tried a Saturn (95) & spent lot's of time of time at the Saturn Dealer off & On (they do have good free donuts, etc & very nice employees & showrooms, chuckle )

[murffdog]

Get a Honda CRV not to heavy, plenty of room & you won't need to go back for different things going wrong

Tried a Saturn (95) & spent lot's of time of time at the Saturn Dealer off & On (they do have good free donuts, etc & very nice employees & showrooms, chuckle )

If you use a Honda CRV, be sure to get the shifting instructions before you tow. I don't recall the pattern but I'm sure someone will pop in here.

[cb5300]

I bought a 2007 Ford Explorer, and it flat tows great. I can't even tell it's back there.

[tbarker]

Look in the FMCA magazine. A few months ago they posted a list of cars that can be flat towed

[janetgary]

Just be careful and DO NOT believe the salesmen. We were told by Findley Honda in Kingman AZ that a Honda Civic automatic could be flat towed. We are seniors and were tired of the shifting with our jeep. They swore that they sold lots to RV'ers. By the time we drove all over the East coast and up into the Maritimes, we came up to a stop sign in New Brunswick and KER-PLUNK.
The whole transmission had to be replaced and we were stranded for a week.
After contacting the dealership, of course, they said..."We never said it could be flat towed and it is your word against ours". Very rude dealership and one who does not want repeat business.
I guess we can thank the Lord that we were just coming off a stop sign and not going at a high speed down the Hwy. It stopped so hard that it jerked the motorhome. And we are 40' MH. I feel I need to tell this story just to make sure that any other RV'er that bought a Honda Civic from Findley Honda in Kingman AZ can be forwarned.
Remco is a very reliable source. I sure wish we checked with them first and was not so trusting of the dealership. We learned our lesson and they for sure won't be getting any of our business or anyone else we know. Sure is sad how you can't take anyone at their word anymore.
We actually posted a complaint with www.thesqueakywheel.com and everyone who reads our complaint generates an email to the dealership.
Travel safe and keep a smile on your face and in your heart

[janetgary]

www.thesqueakywheel.com/complaints/2007/sep/complaint17334.cfm

This is a clickable link to our story if anyone is interested. Travel safe

[seeyagal]

Same with the Jeep Cherokee's make sure it has the tow package, our 1995 did and then we got a 2005 one and the new ones are not ALL towable 4 wheels down .With the new Jeeps you have to ask and make sure they have the tow package. All I have to do is put the transfer case in Neutral and have wiring going from motorhome to Jeep for the lights and have a Brake Buddy & blue Ox tow bar. Salesman did not even know that not all Jeep Cherokees were towable, he learned something new that day.

[clayl]

Back in 2002 I got the letter below from Honda. A few years later - maybe 2005 - Honda changed their position - supposedly because people were not following the procedure, damaging their transmissions and then making warranty claims.

Note the following statement from the letter below.

"CAUTION:
Severe automatic transmission damage will occur if the car is shifted from reverse to neutral and then towed with the drive wheels on the ground."

I have flat towed my Accord for over 50,000 miles with no problems and I have seen Civics being towed.
Did the salesman tell you about the procedure?


02/22/02
(all models except CR-V)

Dear customer:
Regarding your inquiry on towing your Honda or Acura automobile behind a motorhome:
For your vehicle, the Owner's Manual advises against towing at more than 35 m.p.h or for more than 50 miles. However, this recommendation exists primarily because Honda has not conducted formal tests at higher speeds and for greater distances.
We are not aware of any particular problems being caused by motorhome towing of Honda/Acura automobiles with either manual or automatic transmission, so long as proper pre-towing preparations are made and the vehicle is towed at legal highway speeds.

Manual Transmission

When preparing to tow your vehicle, make sure the transmission is full of fluid. Do not overfill.
• Release the parking brake.
• Shift the transmission to Neutral.
• Turn the ignition key to the ACCESSORY (1) position to release the steering wheel lock. Make sure that the radio and all accessories are turned off.

Automatic Transmission

When preparing to tow your vehicle, make sure the transmission fluid level is full. Do not overfill.
If Honda/Acura automobile with an automatic transmission is towed with the front or all four wheels on the ground, you must do the following every day immediately before towing:
• Start the engine.
• Press on the brake pedal. Shift the lever through all the positions (P,R,N,D,2,1).
• Shift to D, then to N. Let the engine run for at least three minutes, then turn off engine.
• Release the parking brake.
• Leave the ignition switch in ACCESSORY (1) so the steering wheel does not lock. Make sure the radio and any items plugged into the accessory power sockets are turned off so you do not run down the battery.
If you travel more than 8 hours in one day (including stopping time), you must stop and repeat the above procedures.
NOTICE:
The steering system can be damaged if the steering wheel is locked. Always leave the key in the ACCESSORY (1) position to prevent damage to the steering system when towing behind another vehicle.
CAUTION:
Severe automatic transmission damage will occur if the car is shifted from reverse to neutral and then towed with the drive wheels on the ground.

NOTICE:

Improper towing preparation will damage the transmission. Follow the above procedure exactly. If you cannot shift the transmission or start the engine, your vehicle must be on a flat bed truck or trailer.

If you tow a Honda/Acura vehicle with automatic transmission, the fluid must be changed every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Although experience has shown that the Honda/Acura transmission and powertrain are capable of being "motorhome towed", America Honda does not assume responsibility for any vehicle damage or liabilities incurred due to the towing device, towing vehicle, lighting hookup, or other towing equipment or towing procedures; any responsibility for these items is assumed by the owner/operator.
If you have additional questions, please call American Honda Motor Co. Inc. (National Consumer Affairs) at 800-999-1009.

[janetgary]

We do know the towing procedure, since we have been towing for a number of years. After this episode we contacted Remco and they said Civics could be flat towed up to the year we bought (2006), now they can not. I guess my problem was we trusted Findley Honda because they were so sure of it. Their attitude after this happened was very poor. We dealt with the problem ourselves and have learned not to take people at their word. I just want to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. Like I said it could have been alot worse if we were going 50 mph instead of just coming off the stop sign. Findley Honda has been very rude and has accused us of making everything up. Just very poor PR. Anyway, it is over and done with. My main concern was to try to see this doesn't happen to anyone else. So please be careful and don't believe anything Findley Honda (Kingman) has to say. They will take advantage of us seniors.