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Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Yahoo Message Number: 19180
I have seen many posts about toads and have done some research on the internet regarding toads that could be pulled with 4 wheels on the ground, but can anyone supply me with some makes, models, and years that they know do work for towing?

Thanks!
Kary

05 Inspire 36'
#51499

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19186
Kary: The very best source for towable vehicles is Remco. They manufacture pumps and driveline disconnects, etc. If you have a vehicle in mind, call their tech. dept. and they will give you the straight facts.
There have been several publications that have attempted to categorize towable-vs-nontowable but they are not reliable, in my opinion.
Examples: In 2000, I purchased a Lexus RX 300 after being assured by their tech people via telephone that the car was towable. Not so. The transmission went bye-bye after only 500 miles. They replaced it under warranty. Remco now makes a pump for that vehicle.
Also, Honda makes towable-friendly automatic transmissions in all their cars, yet only a few models will give you the specific instructions in their manuals.
Lastly, most folks assume that Toyota standard transmissions are towable. If you call their tech people, they will tell you that you can't even tow the manual transmissions without a driveline disconnect because of the lack of lubrication to the bearings. I have a friend who towed his 4wd Toyota pickup with a manual transmission and the bearings burned up causing a very expensive fix
IMHO, you can get the straight talk from the experts that make towing equipment. They will tell you if you need their equipment or not.

Larry
Intrigue
10762

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19187
Kary, if you are a member of FMCA, they have all of the past articales on Toads and you can get any year and a list of towables. The issue is January of each year. Just go to the year in question and look at the January issue.

John Bicknas 97 Magna 5416

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19188
Quote from: kary993
toads that could be pulled with 4 wheels on the ground, >

Quote
Kary
05 Inspire 36'
#51499
I am very happy with my '03 Honda CR-V, except I'm still looking for quieter tires!

Owner's manual details procedures (pre-tow routine) for towing the car. Short and sweet.
Jay

05 Inspire DaVinci 51457

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19194
Our '05 Jeep Grand Cherokee is great. Put the transfer case in neutral, transmission in park, turn off the key, remove it from the ignition, lock the doors, and go. Oh yea, hook up the tow bar and electrical connection. No fuses to muss with, no speed restrictions, no starting to circulate transmission fluid, etc. Also is a lot of fun on the backways and off-road.
Bob

'05 Intrigue Ovation #11872

Quote from: kary993
I have seen many posts about toads and have done some research on

the

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19195
ditto on the tracker we are on our second one and they are great tow cars, economical both to buy, own and operate and very comfortable and fun.
Ron 98 Allure 30185

allancolby@... wrote:

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19206
From: "kary993" kary993@...>

Quote
>I have seen many posts about toads and have done some research on the > internet regarding toads that could be pulled with 4 wheels on the > ground, but can anyone supply me with some makes, models, and years > that they know do work for towing?
Clickon http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/dinghytowingguide/index.cfm for *Motorhome* magazine's guide to dinghy towing 2002 through 2005 vehicles.
But check with the vehicle manufacturer (NOT a sales person, service manager, etc) for the real bottom line. This info is often found in a brochure at the dealership.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97
(still unsold)

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19207
From: "pelicanreef120" wjay@...>

(snip) > I am very happy with my '03 Honda CR-V, except I'm still looking for

Quote
quieter tires! (snip)
When *Consumer Reports* tests tires, they rate them on many factors including noise. The most recent tire test is in the Nov '05 issue. Check a news stand or library.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

(still not sold)

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19208
Kary,

We have a 2004 Saturn Vue, with the four banger. We bought it new for use as a toad. Easy set up, easy on gas, fairly inexpensive (17k) and the car weighs 3300#. We installed the unified tow brake, and its totally out of sight. All the seats fold forward, and is very good storage (bikes, golf clubs ect.) while being towed. Its a simple car, not a lot of glammer, but works well around town. No paint down low to chip. This car is a little under powered for high speed freeway driving. I think this car is one of the many good choices out there.
Jim

2005 40' Inspire #51225

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19213
Thanks for all the information fro all of you. It has been helpful.
It is unfortunate that we bought a Yukon Denali three years ago as it cannot be towed four wheels down due to the all wheel drive :(

Kary

05 Inspire 36'
#51499

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19219
From: "kary993" kary993@...>

Quote
Thanks for all the information fro all of you. It has been helpful.
It is unfortunate that we bought a Yukon Denali three years ago as it > cannot be towed four wheels down due to the all wheel drive :(
Maybe the following will give you an idea.
Once in awhile (but more commonly in the 'north' country, where Subarus are more common), someone walks up to me and says they didn't know that Subarus, all of which are all-wheel-drive, are flat-towable. I tell them that they ARE flat-towable ... no speed/distance limitation ... as approved by Subaru (I can e-mail the reference). BUT IN STICK-SHIFT FORM, ONLY!
They then sometimes moan that their Subaru is an automatic, therefore NOT flat-towable. That's when I make my suggestion ... that they find someone with a similar Subaru ... but with a stick-shift ... and see if the owner is willing to swap their stick-shift vehicle for one with an automatic transmission. Maybe with some incentive thrown in for good measure. I don't know if anyone's actually done that, but I've left some folks a lot more enthusiastic than they were before.
Bottom line ... maybe you can find someone who has a comparable, but flat-towable vehicle, and offer to trade vehicles with them.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

(still not sold)

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19221
From: "Dick Campagna" campagna@...> At the end of my previous message, I wrote the following suggestion to Kary:
Quote
Bottom line ... maybe you can find someone who has a comparable, but > flat-towable vehicle, and offer to trade vehicles with them.
I should've checked this first, but *Motorhome* magazine's Dinghy Towing Guide at http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/output.cfm?ID=952129 says that the 4WD Yukons are flat-towable, while the all-wheel-drive (AWD) models aren't mentioned.

So your target vehicle would be a 4WD Yukon Denali (or Chevy version), one that's otherwise similar to your AWD Yukon.
By the way ... *Consumer Reports* says that, "Only the 4WD models have standard ESC, which has prevented tip-ups in the government test.
Therefore, we only recommend the 4WD model for now." That may be additional incentive to trade your AWD Yukon for the 4WD version.

If you keep your AWD Yukon, "You be careful out there!"

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

(still not sold)
 

Re: Toads that are 4 wheels down towable?

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19232
Kary,

We tow a 2000 Jeep Wrangler automatic and its great. It's a little small but goes anywhere and you can always find a parking space. There is nothing special to do to it and no restrictions. It's also fun to drive around with the top down in pretty places.

Kathy

('06 Inspire due next month)