Tow Vehicles

[Busted Knuckle]

Robert, the HHR manual  says your supposed to put the car in neutral and pull a certain fuse that disengages the digital dash. Can't remember what fuse right off but I do remember it saying that.
It didn't mention anything about a driveshaft disconnect or pump so its probably not needed!
Ace

Ace,
I don't doubt that the manual says to pull a fuse at all.
But I do know Bob's been towing his HHR since before the first time I met him when he showed up @ our UC rally with it in tow.
I know he's towed it to FL twice since then and Choo Choo too & who knows where else. It may be something they just started putting in the manual or something Bob overlooked I don't know. But I do know he's been doing it with no problems so far.

But then again he does other things that they say can't or shouldn't be done also.
  BK 

[demodriver]

I am a Ford Guy,

I am sorry to hear that. 

[usbusin]

Robert, make sure it is a 2008-2009 Taurus X.  Here is the Owner's Manual instructions:

Note: If you tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground, follow
these instructions:
• Tow only in the forward direction
• Release the parking brake
• Place the transmission shift lever in Neutral (N)
• Turn the key in the ignition to the ACC position (refer to Starting in
the Driving chapter). The ACC position also unlocks the steering
wheel.
• Do not exceed 65 mph (105 km/h)
• Start the engine and allow it to run for five minutes at the beginning
of each day and at each fuel stop.

[artvonne]

  94 Jeep Cherokee. Put the trans in park, the T case in neutral and tow. Dont know how to make it any simpler. With the Jeep and its 4x4 capability, I can go almost anywhere, and its roomy enough to carry a wide variety of items I may need to carry. Ya never know what ya never know.

  I removed the steering wheel lock pin so the wheel wont lock, now I can pull the keys and never need worry someone could steal it. I wired it with diodes in the tail lights through an amber turn signal converter box, and put a standard 4 pin trailer plug in it so it tows and hooks up just like a standard trailer.

  Its tow and go and I can tow it behind almost anything. Next ill probably add some kind of tow brakes. 

[robertglines1]

Ace: on the HHr If memory serves me rite #11 fuse. your rite. what we do is put a toggle switch in line to break that fuse connect rather than pull.It also won't let you put car in park or take key out of ignition when pulled/switch disengaged---- didn't go into to much detail.  have more than 5 friends using HHR's as toads.   Bob

[JackConrad]

  94 Jeep Cherokee. Put the trans in park, the T case in neutral and tow. Dont know how to make it any simpler. With the Jeep and its 4x4 capability, I can go almost anywhere, and its roomy enough to carry a wide variety of items I may need to carry. Ya never know what ya never know.
    I removed the steering wheel lock pin so the wheel wont lock, now I can pull the keys and never need worry someone could steal it. I wired it with diodes in the tail lights through an amber turn signal converter box, and put a standard 4 pin trailer plug in it so it tows and hooks up just like a standard trailer.
    Its tow and go and I can tow it behind almost anything. Next ill probably add some kind of tow brakes. 

How difficult was it to remove the steering lock pin?  We really love our 95 Grand Cherokee. I have driven to some kayak access points in the mountains that required 4 wheel drive with no problems. We installed the M&G brake unit on ours. Found a used unit on www.hitchtrader.com   Jack

[robertglines1]

Sounds like to me favorite shopping trip time:::::::  Ck out Chev  HHR & Equinox  w/automatic for towing.  let us know what will fit and can be towed.  Remember you might be smarter than salesman

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Jack, have you ever checked to see if you can pull your key out after you have the steering wheel unlocked? I found that i could do that with my 87. The key and the cylinder were both worn down enough that the key would come out, but when i wasn't towing i could still be able to lock the wheel. A couple of years ago i had to replace the whole steering column with one from a wrecking yard that didn't have the keys with it. Bought a new lock cylinder and found that the new key would also pull out.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Should mention that after unlocking the wheel and pulling the key out, i always turn the wheel back and forth a few times to make sure that it is fully unlocked.

[H3-45]

Thanks to all for the information, It gives me a direction to start. I have been lurking here for a while and am glad I finally joined the knowledge here is priceless!

Robert

[Busted Knuckle]

Jack,
Pulling the lock pin is easy. Just pull the steering wheel, remove the cover plate, and on most models the lock pins is one of the first & easiest accessed items. Pull it out and reassemble the rest.
Shoot all the complicated things you've worked on or built for your bus this will be like a walk to the creek!
  BK 

[Oonrahnjay]

Should mention that after unlocking the wheel and pulling the key out, i always turn the wheel back and forth a few times to make sure that it is fully unlocked.  

     I use a spare "valet" key to unlock my steering lock and then I lock the doors with the regular key (after I turn the wheel back and forth a few times to make sure it's fully unlocked). 

[RJ]

Robert -

Welcome aboard!

IIRC, Towing World magazine (or one of the other RV-oriented publications) puts out an annual list of flat-towable vehicles, usually in the Jan or Feb issue.

Also, Remco (who makes driveline disconnects) has a list on their website I think.

Keep doing your homework, you're on a roll!

FWIW & HTH. . .

[prevosman]

H2 Hummer. Put the transfer case in neutral, transmission in park, pull out the key, lock the doors and go.

Until my wife went Lady Rambo on me we towed a Grand Cherokee.

[gumpy]

I have towed 3 different Ford Explorers (91, 03, 07). We used a driveline disconnect on the 91. Never again! On the 03 and 07, we had the neutral tow kit installed to allow the transfer case to shift to neutral. Very easy operation. Transmission is left in neutral, which forces the key to be in the off, but steering unlocked position.

I just recently (within the last 2 months) set up a 2011 Ford Ranger to tow. It too has a neutral tow kit to allow it to shift the transfer case to neutral, and also requires the transmission to be left in neutral which forces steering to be unlocked and key to off.  However, the neutral tow kit for this one was over $350 installed, and must be installed by the dealer. Basically, I think it's nothing more than an LED light installed on the dash, and reprogramming the shift computer, but that's what they charge! $250 for the part, and $100 for installation. Took them about 45 minutes to install it, once I finally explained to them exactly what it was they were supposed to be ordering for me!! (The tow kit for the last two explorers was only $25 and about an hour labor for installation.)

I loved towing the explorers. They both had the 3rd row seating, so we could get 6 people in there easily so packing the whole family in one vehicle for short trips was good, even if we were traveling in separate RVs. However, I just returned from a 4 week trip towing the Ranger, and have to say I've become a Ranger fan again (had an 83 for years and years). This thing towed like a dream. It's lighter than the explorers, and I really did notice the difference in the bus. I had to make a long journey in it while on the trip, and was surprised that it got a respectable 22+ mpg on the highway, doing 65-80 on cruise most of the way. That is compared to the window sticker which boasted a 14-18 mpg. It's roomy enough for my wife and I. The kids won't be traveling with us much in the future, and if they do, we'll take one of the explorers, instead.

Just my experiences...  FWIW...

craig