Towing a Honda Fit

[sledhead]

I flat towed for years and now because of gm I had to go out and buy a trailer to put my colorado on . at first it was a pain in the @$# getting use to it but now that I have done it for over a year it tows better then flat towing and I can and do back up + now I am legal because of the trailer brakes . with a honda fit you could use a single axle trailer with brakes , very light , small if you get a aluminum one

just an  idea   

dave

[PP]

I couldn't imagine towing a trailer or dolly around. Some parks just don't have the space for what is essentially 3 vehicles. Heck, some are tight with a single vehicle when it's 40 or more feet long. We tow our Mini 4 down and the only drawback is having to leave the key in the ignition so the steering can free wheel. I watch the rear camera whenever we're at intersections in case someone tries to jump in it. I did forget to unlock the steering one time and drug it almost a mile before I realized the front tires were smoking. Needed new tires anyway haha. I had an excuse, I'm old.

[Oonrahnjay]

... the only drawback is having to leave the key in the ignition so the steering can free wheel. I watch the rear camera whenever we're at intersections in case someone tries to jump in it. ...

     I got a "valet" key cut for my VW.  It won't open the tailgate or the glove box but it will unlock the steering.  The trick was to not get it "initialized" on the computer -- it will unlock the steering and you can drive around with the steering unlocked but if someone tries to start it with that key, it will only stumble for 2-3 seconds and go off then show a red key-symbol on the instrument panel next time some one starts the engine with a key that the computer recognizes.  Also, the "main key" will lock the doors using the key - I don't think it will lock the doors using the fob/remote is a key is in the ignition, but using a "dead" valet key, you can unlock the steering, protect from an engine start, and lock the doors with the working key.  This works well.  Dunno if it works with a Mini, though but you may be able to do something similar.

[PP]

Hey Bruce, we did that with our Liberty. But when I went to the locksmith's to get a 'valet' key for the mini I was told that if it goes far enough to unlock the wheel, it will have gone far enough to set off the alarm and it will take his services to set it right after that. Maybe he blew a little smoke you know where, but I do have to turn the key far enough that the radio and other dash lights come on before the wheel unlocks. But where I was going in the original post is that in the owner's manual it is not recommended for towing over 50 MPH. I've towed it almost 6000 miles and usually in the neighborhood of 60-65 MPH with no problems and for distances of around 300+ miles at a time.

[Oonrahnjay]

Hey Bruce, we did that with our Liberty. But when I went to the locksmith's to get a 'valet' key for the mini I was told that if it goes far enough to unlock the wheel, it will have gone far enough to set off the alarm and it will take his services to set it right after that. Maybe he blew a little smoke you know where, but I do have to turn the key far enough that the radio and other dash lights come on before the wheel unlocks. But where I was going in the original post is that in the owner's manual it is not recommended for towing over 50 MPH. I've towed it almost 6000 miles and usually in the neighborhood of 60-65 MPH with no problems and for distances of around 300+ miles at a time.

        I was afraid that there might be variations between vehicles (but, since the Mini is basically a German car, I was hoping that it might be enough like a VW for the same procedure to work) and I'm sorry that it doesn't seem like a valid option for your car.  I might not have read your post but the Mini is manual, right?
        I bought the towing baseplate for my first TDI from a member here.  He had towed his Jetta about 70,000 - 90,000 miles with no troubles but his missus wanted a Passat so they were trading the Jetta.  He said that sometimes he did the startup in neutral for 3-5 minutes thing, esp if they were doing many hours in a day, but mostly he didn't bother.  I understand that VW feels that they want to cover their you-know-whutts, but I just don't see that "splash lubrication" for a manual transmission isn't enough when there's no load on the gears and bearings.
        If it works OK to unlock the steering with the "good key", is it still possible to lock the doors with a spare key?  I just like having the doors locked (after I've finished my pre-towing checklist, of course -- I wouldn't want to drag my tires or anything and I need a checklist because I'm old).
       Good luck with working out something that does good for you.

[PP]

        I was afraid that there might be variations between vehicles (but, since the Mini is basically a German car, I was hoping that it might be enough like a VW for the same procedure to work) and I'm sorry that it doesn't seem like a valid option for your car.  I might not have read your post but the Mini is manual, right?
        I bought the towing baseplate for my first TDI from a member here.  He had towed his Jetta about 70,000 - 90,000 miles with no troubles but his missus wanted a Passat so they were trading the Jetta.  He said that sometimes he did the startup in neutral for 3-5 minutes thing, esp if they were doing many hours in a day, but mostly he didn't bother.  I understand that VW feels that they want to cover their you-know-whutts, but I just don't see that "splash lubrication" for a manual transmission isn't enough when there's no load on the gears and bearings.
        If it works OK to unlock the steering with the "good key", is it still possible to lock the doors with a spare key?  I just like having the doors locked (after I've finished my pre-towing checklist, of course -- I wouldn't want to drag my tires or anything and I need a checklist because I'm old).
       Good luck with working out something that does good for you.

Yes, it's a manual 6 speed 'S' model. I sat in the car with the key in the ignition and tried to lock the doors and they won't lock. Safety feature to keep you from locking your keys in the car I guess. On another note-I learned the hard way last week when the battery died in the Mini that you can't access it to replace it without a jump from another vehicle or battery because the rear hatch locks electrically and the battery is under the rear hatch. Newer models now have a lever under the rear seat to manually unlock the hatch, but my older model didn't come with that. I was fortunate enough to be able to reach the jumper cables and used the new battery through the engine compartment to work the electric locks so I could get the old battery out. What fun! At least it happened in a Bi-Mart parking lot and they just happened to have the right battery and it was on sale. Must be doing something right haha.