How to Tow a Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle?
2 Answers
For manual transmission two-wheel drive vehicles, when in neutral gear, the transmission gears are not engaged, so all three methods can be used. Simply put the vehicle in neutral and release the handbrake. Use a tow truck with a lift or a flatbed tow truck. When using a tow truck with a lift, remember to lift the drive wheels—lift the front for front-wheel drive and the rear for rear-wheel drive. For full-time four-wheel drive vehicles, all four wheels are drive wheels. No matter which set of wheels is lifted, the other set will roll, potentially causing damage to the transmission.
When towing a 4WD vehicle, I pay special attention to avoid damaging the drivetrain. Since 4WD vehicles distribute power to all wheels, improper towing may cause transmission or differential seizure and damage. I first check the owner's manual to confirm specific requirements: some models need to be shifted into neutral or a specific towing mode; if the manual doesn't specify, a flatbed tow truck must be used with all wheels lifted to prevent rotation. For example, a friend of mine once tried to save money by using a regular tow bar, resulting in the vehicle losing control mid-tow and a broken driveshaft that cost thousands to repair. The lesson is: never start the engine during high-speed towing, and keep speed below 30 km/h even for low-speed towing. The key is to prioritize professional towing services as they have the proper equipment and insurance coverage. I also remind myself to maintain the vehicle regularly to reduce breakdown risks.
