Tow a 5-spd AWD?

No.

Barry

check the manual but I think you can, with some speed/distance restriction maybe.

Carl

rpisnt7 wrote:

for a short period of time below 40mph, otherwise the heat build up from internal friction without adequate lubricaiton will destroy the tranny.

... and now for the rest of the story.

I assume they are looking at a "toad" (ie behind the motor home). The answer is, check the manual, since it's a "it depends".

Try looking at

From that page:

"Q: We want to tow an all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle behind our motorhome. What is required?

A: AWD vehicles, and 4WD vehicles that do not have a neutral position in the transfer case, should not, in most cases, be flat-towed without modifications. A trailer is the safest way to transport them. However, some can also be transported with the front axle on a tow dolly and with the rear driveshaft disconnected. That can be done with a device such as the driveshaft-disconnect kit made by Remco. "

My 2001 manual says not to flat tow the car as well. Your other sources have an awful lot of disclaimers. I think I would but my car on a trailer, unless it's worth little and I didn't care about it.

The thing that scares me the most is if the towed Subie loses air pressure in one tire. Could you feel that in the motorhome? You'd be trashing the drivetrain from that point on.

Barry

Bonehenge wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

If you download the actual guide and look up Subaru all models with manual transmissions are listed as towable (with no speed or distance limits) and all automatics are listed as not.

As always I would consult your owners manual as the final authority.

I also found this information on the web:

Towing a Subaru behind a motorhome or a tow-truck

The following is from Subaru "Helpline Update, 2/97"

There has been a change to the policy regarding towing of Subaru vehicles behind motorhomes. The following applies to 1990 through present model year Legacy (Including Outback), 1993 through present year Impreza (incl. Outback Sport), and 1992 through present year SVX. (Note: should also include 1998 through present year Forester. Joe)

Manual Transmission: All Wheel Drive vehicles can be towed with all four wheels on the ground or with all four wheels off the ground on a trailer but towing an AWD vehicle must never be attempted with only two wheels on the ground or two wheels on a dolly.

Front Wheel Drive vehicles can be towed with all four wheels on the ground in neutral or with the two front wheels off the ground.

Automatic Transmission AWD vehicles cannot be towed with any wheels on the ground. The vehicle can only be towed on a trailer with all 4 wheels off the ground and the transmission in park.

Note: always inspect and check your car: radiator, coolant, all hoses, all fluids, brakes, towing equipment, lights etc

Source

I saw that too, but in '01(4 years after the bulletin) limited slip diffs became standard on the 5 speeds, after being an option on the '00. I wonder how that would change things?

Can anyone tell me how down a tire on a towed vehicle has to get before it's noticeable to the driver? I've never flat towed any car myself.

I would imagine that 3 tires with 31 PSI and one with 15 would be really rough on the AWD system. Especially since this is a car that can't even take a donut spare or one new tire and 3 used tires.

Comments?

Barry

The point was made about a year ago (not by me) that the rolling circumference of a tire is largely independent of inflation pressure.

I've long felt that to be true. Not hard to test, but I've never bothered. In any case while the "radius at the road" changes when the pressure drops, the effective tread circumference (how much progress the car makes for one wheel revolution) should be essentially the same for most acceptable tire pressures.

If you're dead flat, the effective circumference approaches that of the rim, so there is clearly some effect. OTOH, once you've go enough air so that you're not driving on the sidewalls, I'd expect differences to be slight: The length of the tread is constant, and you're moving roughly that much each revolution.

The thing is if one tire goes flat while you're towing a vehicle, you are driving on the sidewalls, and, in addition to likely damaging the tire, you have a wheel speed that is different from the others, so could be damaging LSD or AWD parts as well.

driving on the sidewalls,

different from the others,

Right!

I'm wondering how that would be felt in the motorhome or bus doing the towing. Would it be immediately obvious, or would it require the highway patrol pulling you over to tell you?

Barry