Technical Flat Tow Questions

Scott & Heather · October 15, 2017, 12:19:54 PM

Our growing family and specific needs are changing so our Land Cruiser 100 series that we've towed for several years now (well over 40,000 miles) might be replaced by an AWD Toyota Sienna. I am looking for specific technical info from anyone who knows the ins and outs of the Toyota AWD system. I know that the FWD Sienna's can be towed 4 down with a lube pump installed, what mechanically might be different about an AWD model that might need extra lubing beyond a transmission lube pump?

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Lin · October 15, 2017, 03:02:25 PM

What does Toyota/owner's manual say about it? You could check with Remco too.

Scott & Heather · October 15, 2017, 03:22:01 PM

Of course toyota always says no. Even said no for my Land Cruiser which I have towed 40,000 miles without any problems. For them it's a liability. But I know if I don't take the necessary steps to properly lubricate things, I can definitely mess something up. What I'm trying to do is determine what physically needs lubrication during a flat tow situation besides the transmission in an AWD Sienna.

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luvrbus · October 15, 2017, 03:40:19 PM

I don't think any AWD can be towed 4 down without a Remco or stopping every 100 miles and going through the gears towing our Lexus Rx 300 for awhile I would leave it running on short trips

Scott & Heather · October 15, 2017, 04:22:17 PM

So Cliff my deeper question, is if we were to leave the van running and idling in neutral while we towed it, what exactly is going on that allows us to tow it while it is idling in neutral? Is it just the transmission lube pump? Aramco would take care of that.

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luvrbus · October 15, 2017, 04:56:13 PM

It keeps the pump running to lube the transmission, lol I paid 40g for the 300 in 1999 because I was told you could tow it for down before I got home Lexus set a letter saying no.I bought a trailer for it what a pain I gave up and bought a Jeep

Scott & Heather · October 15, 2017, 07:26:11 PM

Crazy. I hate the murkiness surrounding all of this. It's insane that a car made to travel on all four tires down the road can't be pulled on all four tires down the road.

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Lifes2short4nofun · October 15, 2017, 07:31:08 PM

I have flat towed a AWD Cadillac Escaledes and a AWD GMC Denali and used the Remco pump. I still seemed to develop a little hesitation in the transmission on both after some time. I have put a diveshaft disconnect on a Ford conversion van and a Lincoln Town Car. I finally went to a Suburban where it could disconnect from the factory with the 4x4 and it was so much easier.

windtrader · October 15, 2017, 07:51:56 PM

Scott,

Have you considered other similar style vehicles? Maybe an older, great condition mini-van that might be easier to tow. If you have a front wheel drive only car, at worst case, you can dolly the front wheels and have zero worries about the running gear.

Scott & Heather · October 15, 2017, 09:17:27 PM

Lifes2short, please tell
Me more. I'm interested in all the gory details of your remco pumps and trans hesitations etc.

Don, did the dolly years ago. Never ever going back. Flat tow is really the only way to go when you're full timing like us and also driving the kind of mileage we drive during our tours...I'm putting on 13,000 miles in three months on the coach this tour alone. Dollys, trailers, etc just don't work for this level of travel intensity. And we are trying to go for something newer safer tons of air bags, collision avoidance, blind spot monitoring etc with my two year old and another baby on the way.

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buswarrior · October 16, 2017, 07:21:28 AM

Who used to print that towed guide? FMCA?

Why AWD? All that extra complexity for what benefit?

Risk management vs cost control vs unknown towing wear

4x4 with a proper neutral transfer case?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

luvrbus · October 16, 2017, 07:25:49 AM

FMCA and Good Sam's both have tow able guide for vehicles fwiw, AWD live in their own world if you need 1 tire they want all four tires replaced

buswarrior · October 16, 2017, 07:32:04 AM

If I was given an AWD vehicle, I would politely trade it in.

Way too many lined up at the transmission shops.

4x4 and their transfer cases are bad enough...

I prefer to run my vehicles to high mileage, AWD doesn't seem to have the stamina for that duty in any sort of economically reliable way.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

luvrbus · October 16, 2017, 07:37:47 AM

I love the GM 4x4 SUV's for towing flip a switch remove the keys lock the doors and go

Lifes2short4nofun · October 16, 2017, 05:55:27 PM

Scott,

Both of my experiences running the Remco pumps and the traveling you are going to be doing you are going to have issues. My transmissions started to have a little slippage and I had about 50k miles driven on the vehicles and about 15k towed.