Can a four-wheel drive vehicle be towed?
3 Answers
Yes, but full-time four-wheel drive vehicles can only be towed using a flatbed tow truck. This is because all four wheels of a full-time four-wheel drive vehicle are driving wheels, connected by a single driveshaft. If any set of wheels is lifted, the other set will continue to roll, potentially causing damage to the transmission. Below are the relevant details: 1. Full-time four-wheel drive system: In the drivetrain of a full-time four-wheel drive vehicle, a center differential is installed to distribute power to the front and rear drive axles. Unlike part-time four-wheel drive or on-demand four-wheel drive, full-time four-wheel drive vehicles maintain power to all four wheels continuously while driving. The center differential adjusts the power distribution between the front and rear wheels based on road conditions. 2. Impact of towing: When using a tow truck that lifts the front wheels, only the front wheels are secured, while the rear wheels continue to roll freely. This causes the multi-plate clutch to engage more tightly, transferring kinetic energy from the rear wheels to the center differential. The center differential generates significant heat due to reverse friction, which can ultimately lead to burnout.
I've been driving four-wheel-drive vehicles for over a decade. Once, when my car broke down in the wild, a friend tried towing it with the wheels on the ground, which ended up damaging the driveshaft directly, costing me thousands to repair. Later, I learned that four-wheel-drive systems are designed in a very special way—having all wheels turning together can cause internal parts to rub against each other, so you should never tow the car with its wheels on the ground. The correct method depends on what type of four-wheel-drive system your vehicle has: if it's an on-demand AWD, you can just tow it by lifting either the front or rear wheels; for full-time four-wheel-drive vehicles, you must use a flatbed tow truck to lift the entire car. In such situations, it's best not to cut corners—calling a professional towing company is the safest bet. The owner's manual also provides instructions, and I always check the towing procedures before heading out to avoid trouble. Safety comes first—don't take risks trying to handle it yourself.
As an experienced driver, I've seen too many cases where people recklessly tow four-wheel-drive vehicles and damage the transmission, especially those off-road enthusiasts who insist on towing them forcefully. The reason is simple: the drivetrain components of 4WD vehicles connect the front and rear wheels, and inconsistent wheel rotation during towing causes excessive wear. You must first determine whether the vehicle is front-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive 4WD, then only let the non-driven wheels touch the ground when towing. For safety, keep the towing speed below 30 km/h and always turn on the hazard lights. The best approach is to consult a technician during routine maintenance—they have professional tools to handle such issues. In short, don't cut corners; respect the mechanical design.
