Should I tow a 3000 lb vehicle with my small sedan?

[ShawnD1]

Towing with a rope/chain is always a bad idea if not illegal, but the transmission is the part of your car that you'd be over-stressing the most.

Imo, it's not worth jeopardizing the health of your car for a friend that simply wants to save a few bucks.

The transmission can't tell the difference between flooring it on the freeway on-ramp vs. flooring it to pull rocks up a hill.
Pulling a car won't damage the transmission unless you really try to flog it.

 

[sdifox]

The transmission can't tell the difference between flooring it on the freeway on-ramp vs. flooring it to pull rocks up a hill.
Pulling a car won't damage the transmission unless you really try to flog it.

so how did your tranny break exactly?

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Just rent something, it's gonna be cheaper than hours on the frame rack after you tweak the rear half of the unibody...

This, go rent a beater pickup at Home Depot for $50.

 

[ShawnD1]

so how did your tranny break exactly?

It's a Toyota. They make the worst garbage in the world.

you can follow the million page thread at Toyota Nation where dozens of corolla owners say the transmission is total garbage
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=377441

 

[Tristicus]

I push my cars around the yard all the time...just push it.

 

[Gillbot]

The transmission can't tell the difference between flooring it on the freeway on-ramp vs. flooring it to pull rocks up a hill.
Pulling a car won't damage the transmission unless you really try to flog it.

I'd bet it can. If you monitored load you;d see that flooring it is likely to be less stressful than the initial "take off" of starting the pull. There's a reason manufacturers list a towing capacity. It is simply harder on components than simply "flooring it".

 

[jlee]

The transmission can't tell the difference between flooring it on the freeway on-ramp vs. flooring it to pull rocks up a hill.
Pulling a car won't damage the transmission unless you really try to flog it.

Which is why there's no tow/haul button and/or no manufacturer's direction to shift out of overdrive when towing in a truck.

Oh, wait. There is. :hmm:

 

[sdifox]

Which is why there's no tow/haul button and/or no manufacturer's direction to shift out of overdrive when towing in a truck.

Oh, wait. There is. :hmm:

probably failed grade 10 science.

 

[ShawnD1]

Which is why there's no tow/haul button and/or no manufacturer's direction to shift out of overdrive when towing in a truck.

Oh, wait. There is. :hmm:

So what you're saying is that they put the L,2,3,D selector in my Corolla because they want me to lock the gears when I decide to tow other people's cars.

I'd bet it can. If you monitored load you;d see that flooring it is likely to be less stressful than the initial "take off" of starting the pull. There's a reason manufacturers list a towing capacity. It is simply harder on components than simply "flooring it".

My corolla has never towed anything and it doesn't even have a trailer hitch yet the transmission was completely ruined in less than 2 years. If the transmission is going to screw up like that even when not towing then you might as well get some use out of it and tow things while it lasts. Think of it like one of those "if you had only one day to live" scenarios. Do cocaine, stab that guy you don't like, say your last goodbyes, then tow your friend's car.

 

[AMCRambler]

One block. Do it. Attach the rope to the sub-frame under the rear of the car and you'll be fine.

 

[jlee]

So what you're saying is that they put the L,2,3,D selector in my Corolla because they want me to lock the gears when I decide to tow other people's cars.

Actually, what I was saying was this:

Which is why there's no tow/haul button and/or no manufacturer's direction to shift out of overdrive when towing in a truck.

Oh, wait. There is. :hmm:

 

[LTC8K6]

So what you're saying is that they put the L,2,3,D selector in my Corolla because they want me to lock the gears when I decide to tow other people's cars.

No, lock out overdrive when you tow...

And when you are driving in hilly areas...

And if you find that the trans is gear hunting a lot...

And when you fill the trunk up with large granite boulders...

Etc.

 

[hanoverphist]

why all the hate for rope towing? it isnt illegal as far as i know here in az, and if you have someone that actually knows how to get towed with a rope its a piece of cake. my friend with the 84 truck has been my best friend since high school. through the course of the decades we have known each other we have towed countless cars. we had a system down for it, hand signals and all. also had the knowledge that the other knkew what we were doing, so didnt second guess each other at all. the back vehicle initiates the braking, keeping the rope/ chain taut while the front vehicle slows to a stop. every car still has brakes, engine running or not. its mechanical.

the real damage comes from turning your transmission without power, which only really comes into play over long tows. a mile or 4 wont do enough damage to worry about.

 

[ShawnD1]

the real damage comes from turning your transmission without power, which only really comes into play over long tows. a mile or 4 wont do enough damage to worry about.

Unless it's up hill.

 

[Mxylplyx]

I think you people are way over thinking this. The car will be towed on a rope....for 1 block. Keep it slow, and just do it. You're likely putting no more stress on the tow vehicle than driving around normally with 2 large adults in the back. Where to attach the tow rope to the vehicle is a bigger concern than whether it would actually do it.

 

[LTC8K6]

I think you people are way over thinking this. The car will be towed on a rope....for 1 block. Keep it slow, and just do it. You're likely putting no more stress on the tow vehicle than driving around normally with 2 large adults in the back. Where to attach the tow rope to the vehicle is a bigger concern than whether it would actually do it.

I think quite a few of us are making fun of the idea of towing a car one block...

 

[jlee]

Unless it's up hill.

Incorrect. He's talking about the vehicle being towed.

 

[LTC8K6]

Call AAA...