subsince77 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I have a friend that runs a tow company. He was asking me if it is still OK to tow a Subaru with an AT with the rear wheels on the ground if the fuse has been installed to put it in FWD. I remember that my old book said that you could do that, but on the 09 the only application in the owners manual for the FWD fuse is when you have had a flat and are using the donut. Anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahDL88 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 It is my general practice to not let any AWD car be towed with any wheels on the ground, period. I have turned tow truck drivers away who said it wouldn't be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 The simple answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT! AWD of any kind should always be towed on a flatbed or with dollies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 When there isn't any pressure in the transmission (engine off) the rear section isn't connected to the rest of the transmission anyway. So FWD fuse or not doesn't make any difference. The reason you can't tow it with the back wheels on the ground is lubrication. The bearings in the transmission only get lubricated when the engine is running turning the tranny pump. If you tow it with the engine off you'd destroy the bearings. Now, in theory if you had the FWD fuse in, tranny in neutral, and the engine running........ Still a dumb idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnW Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I only do it if I remove the drive shaft and put a plug in the back of the transmission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 AWD subarus cannot be towed with 2 wheels on the ground unless you remove the drive shaft. autos trans cars should be flat bedded, all 4 wheels off the ground. manual trans cars can be done the same or with all 4 wheels on the ground with the trans in neutral. but never 2 up and 2 down with the drive shaft in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsince77 Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 Thanks. That's what I wondered all along. How could the fuse do anything when the car presumably isn't running anyway? I always had an MT before, and have never been towed professionally, but I did think I remembered reading about in my old owners manual. Common sense always told me I would insist on a flatbed - period. He came to the same conclusion yesterday when we were looking at my car. He has always used his flatbed for AWD cars, but had understood that in a pinch it could be done. Thanks for the confirmation. Loading up the bikes and heading up over the Sawatch range for some mountainbiking today. Fun driving, fun riding, I love this car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-3-2-4 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I had a dumb rump roast tow truck try to tow my car after I told him many of times the car wheels will lock up.. So dumb rump roast proceeded anyways to tow (about 2 miles to my house) and we hardly got 50Ft before he heard the rear tires skidding on the road (front end raised) SO I had to wait another 1 hr and a half for him to get the flatbed because he was the only one in town.. My thing is why not just get a flatbed out no matter if its FWD or AWD or RWD? it makes it failsafe.. And yes as soon as I replaced the fuel pump I did check the center diff and it was ok. having said that Ive never seen anyone use a dolly before.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I had a dumb rump roast tow truck try to tow my car after I told him many of times the car wheels will lock up.. So dumb rump roast proceeded anyways to tow (about 2 miles to my house) and we hardly got 50Ft before he heard the rear tires skidding on the road (front end raised) SO I had to wait another 1 hr and a half for him to get the flatbed because he was the only one in town.. My thing is why not just get a flatbed out no matter if its FWD or AWD or RWD? it makes it failsafe.. And yes as soon as I replaced the fuel pump I did check the center diff and it was ok. having said that Ive never seen anyone use a dolly before.. I've had my car towed with a dolly before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsince77 Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 I saw an 02 outback that I know being towed on a dolly about two weeks ago. I don't know how far they towed it, but I figured it was toast. I doubt any drive shafts had been removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-3-2-4 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 its nothing wrong with the car towed with a dolly as long as the rear is not on the ground and the front in the air and no wheels turning it as if it was on a flatbed. unless you mean one that is a hitch mount.. but still same rules apply the rear still needs a dolly of it's a hitch mount dolly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Let me straighten out what I meant by "Dolly". I get the idea you guys are thinking the thing you tow behind your pickup or motor home that you drive the front wheels onto so you can drag your car around. http://www.truckntow.com/pc-10126-147375-aluminum-steel-axle-wheel-dollies.aspx You often see these on the side of tow trucks, but most people have no clue what they are there for. Sometimes the tow operator doesn't even know. http://www.coolsprings.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/tow-truck.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsince77 Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 I may have used the wrong term, but yes, front in the air, rear wheels on the ground. I was told it was only towed a short distance, a couple of miles. Sounds like far enough to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Well there are several different contraptions that are all called "dollies". I was just speaking of one type in particular and wanted to be clear so others who may stumble across this in a search won't get conflicting information. Any tow, of any distance more than a few feet, with 2 wheels on the ground = bad news for an AWD car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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