Towing VW 4 down?

[Dietrichfarms]

I'm looking at an 06 VW beetle, diesel, Auto for a toad, not sure if can tow with 4 down? Anyone have experience with? Any pros and cons?

[Timkar]

Don't know about "Beetle" but our "Golf" could not be towed four down. Only ones that could were the standard shift

[Ed Hackenbruch]

What does it say in the owner's manual about towing?

[bevans6]

It probably says you can't tow any modern beetle four down.  The stick shift ones apparently survive if you stop and start the engine every so often, but the auto ones can't be flat towed.  You can use a dolly for the front wheels though.

Brian

[Dave5Cs]

My manual says you can't tow my pickup but it was fine. What was really weird is that when I pulled the tranny plug to overfill it, it was already overfilled and the service manual said it took Dextron ATF 2 or 3 in a manual shift Chevy S-10. I didn't believe it until it cam out red.

Dave5Cs

[zimmysurprise]

My wife loves V-dubs but when I looked not one model was cleared for dragging. 

[bevans6]

The issue with not flat towing manual transmission vehicles, for those who care, is that the gear stack is usually kept locked still by the input shaft but the tail shaft or output to the axles is spinning the differential and the change gears.  They all have needle bearings that are splash-lubricated, but with the gears not rotating there is no splash so the bearings can burn up.  Over-filling can work, but sometimes you have to fill it way too high to do any good and the oil runs out the seals, which can ruin a clutch pretty quick.  The seals aren't designed to run underwater, so to speak, but only to deal with oil mist from the splash lubing.  Running the engine every once in a while spins the gears and splashes oil all over, and you are good for another hundred miles.  Manufacturers will never tell you this, they will just say "not allowed".

Automatics is a whole 'nother story.  Nothing good happens when you flat tow an automatic, but you can do it if you run the engine at idle the whole time you are towing.  Also "not allowed".

Brian

[chessie4905]

   Look into a Remco transmission lube pump for towing an automatic 4 wheels down.

[bcbusman]

You CAN'T tow bettle automatic. Get a manual one, they're way better anyway. If you really want automatic you can get almost any GM automatic car ( 4 cyl. , cavalier, cobalt, G5, grand am etc. ). Because even if you ad a pump and she burns and you will never know while towing.  Good luck

[digesterman]

Anyone know of any BMW or MBZ that is towable 4 down? Seems all the dealers say don't do it.

[wg4t50]

Timely info on stick shift bettle, had great luck with the stick rabbitt, also wondering about the Morris Miner or what ever its called.
Still tow the F150 for the golf cart or ATV. Looking to change one day.
Dave M

[bevans6]

Had a few brown pops, Dave?



Brian

[Dave5Cs]

Morris Mini, LOL
Brown Pops, Gotta love that!....

[Iceni John]

Anyone know of any BMW or MBZ that is towable 4 down? Seems all the dealers say don't do it.

I don't know if current M.Benz transmissions have two pumps, but my old (RIP) 1970 280SEL with the K4C 025 transmission had one pump driven off its input and one off its output, so you could push-start it or even tow it up to (I think) about 30MPH to bump-start it.   Very nifty.   Its owners handbook said it could be flat-towed, but I can't remember for how far.

BMW generally use ZF transmissions, as does my Audi;  however, my car can't be flat-towed at all because of its Torsen center differential.   I'll see if my 5HP19 transmission can be flat-towed  -  BMW uses the RWD version of it.

John

[Jeremy]

...also wondering about the Morris Miner or what ever its called.

Morris Mini, LOL

The Morris Minor and the Mini were different cars - although to confuse things, when it was launched, the Mini was officially called the Mini Minor - but very quickly just became known as the Mini

Jeremy