• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

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

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
jjsole said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
ShawnD1 said:
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.
Click to expand...

so how did your tranny break exactly?
 
ShawnD1 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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".
 
ShawnD1 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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:
 
jlee said:
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:
Click to expand...
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.
:colbert:


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".
Click to expand...
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.
 
ShawnD1 said:
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.
:colbert:
Click to expand...

Actually, what I was saying was this:
jlee said:
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:
Click to expand...
 
ShawnD1 said:
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.
:colbert:
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Mxylplyx said:
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.
Click to expand...

I think quite a few of us are making fun of the idea of towing a car one block...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top