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04-13-2010, 09:15 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 33
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Flat Towing a Vehicle
Hey all... when thinking of buying a tow bar, and flat towing a second rig, does the vehicle being towed have to be a manual transmission? Would it work if it were an auto, and put into neutral?
I thought I've heard that if the rig in tow is an auto, it can be damaging to the drive train, but I don't have any experience with the idea.
Thanks
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04-13-2010, 12:02 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Long Beach, Ca
Posts: 985
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Re: Flat Towing a Vehicle
I inquired about this before. As far as I know, for automatic transmissions (2WD) you would need a tow dolly. For manual trans, you can flat tow it while in neutral.
Ray
__________________
???
"I do, cellularSTEVE" :o)
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04-13-2010, 02:36 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 199
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Re: Flat Towing a Vehicle
Several auto transmission cars can be towed. One is the Chevy HHR.
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04-13-2010, 10:00 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
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Re: Flat Towing a Vehicle
Some manuals cannot either. There are many years of Jeeps are good from the factory, manual or automagic.
Really you have to check each make/model/year specifically, and if it's popular there is usually an aftermarket part you can use to lubricate the transmission or fix whatever makes it not work.
Search for flat tow under my name... some of my first posts were about that!
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04-14-2010, 07:02 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Port Angeles Wa And Jackson Hole Wy.
Posts: 1,284
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Re: Flat Towing a Vehicle
If you tell me what your towing I can tell you what you can and cant do with it.
Ron
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Going where most dont
"one day at a time"
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04-16-2010, 06:25 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Flat Towing a Vehicle
My van can be flat towed - put the transfer case in 'NEUTRAL'
Mike
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Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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04-16-2010, 07:12 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
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Re: Flat Towing a Vehicle
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350
My van can be flat towed - put the transfer case in 'NEUTRAL'
Mike
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Mike, is it safe to assume you have an Atlas t/c? Advance Adapters recommends only flat towing a vehicle with an Atlas for 300 miles before it should be driven around.
Herb
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SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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04-16-2010, 10:12 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Flat Towing a Vehicle
Quote:
Originally Posted by BroncoHauler
Mike, is it safe to assume you have an Atlas t/c? Advance Adapters recommends only flat towing a vehicle with an Atlas for 300 miles before it should be driven around.
Herb
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Herb, I have Ford t/c. I hope I never again have to be towed. The first 50 miles passed easier for the van than it did for me.
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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04-19-2010, 07:53 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
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Re: Flat Towing a Vehicle
Quote:
Originally Posted by BroncoHauler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350
My van can be flat towed - put the transfer case in 'NEUTRAL'
Mike
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Mike, is it safe to assume you have an Atlas t/c? Advance Adapters recommends only flat towing a vehicle with an Atlas for 300 miles before it should be driven around.
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My understanding is the Atlas vehicle needs to be started and put in transmission gear to lubricate the Atlas every 300 miles, not because it wouldn't survive beyond this but because AdvanceAdapters has never tested it further. If you really have to unhook and drive around I need to know, because I basically just fire it up at every stop before removing the key (which I don't like to leave in the ignition while away from the rig).
The Ford T-Case may well be towable, but I don't thing that having a T-case is a guarantee that a vehicle can be flat towed.
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