Front Wheel Drive Towing (An Idle Observation)

A vehicle can pull a lot of cargo. However, stopping it, or keeping it under control around a curve or when a semi passes... completely different story.

Back in 1966 when the front wheel drive Olds Toronado came to town, one of the local RV dealers had one hitched to a travel trailer. He had the rear wheels of the Olds removed and the WDH torqued to make the car and trailer level. I lived near by to the dealer and it was not unusual to see him driving up and down the highway.

DCMAC, I see it all the time too. Scary.

The Olds Toronado was a much different animal than the FW drive mini vans of today!
GM used that front end (V8 and suspension to make a RV from (I believe) 1968 to 1974. Many of which are still on the road. It was a unique low riding RV.
I wish I had one!

Minivans can make great tow vehicles provided they are used within their capabilities. Pulling our Popup with our Sienna is great, but I wouldn't try a full-height TT with one. Love being able to have all of the room and get 16 MPG when towing at the same time.

Used one for towing a boat for a long time. The front wheel drive kept the drive wheels out of the algae on the ramps down in South Florida. I used to take the kids to Black point marina all the time to watch idiots trying to launch and load 5000 lb boats with low rider japanese trucks. We saw more than one slide in and have to be pulled out after the truck was half submerged.

WNYBob wrote:
The Olds Toronado was a much different animal than the FW drive mini vans of today!
GM used that front end (V8 and suspension to make a RV from (I believe) 1968 to 1974. Many of which are still on the road. It was a unique low riding RV.
I wish I had one!

Bob,

You are real close, the production of 12921 ran from MY 1973 to 1978.
Yes, the floor is 13" over the road and we didn't even bother using a step until I damaged a knee.
The front suspension is a lot like a Toro of the period, but there are very few interchangeable parts.
We know were about 8500 are today and most of those are still in service.
They do real well on dry pavement, but like any front wheel drive, the weight transfer works against us when trying to go in slippery places.

Matt

I think it has a lot to do with ignorance. I was there once. 5000 pound boat and a 1985 4 cyl 4 runner. Learned. Not the hard way!

I used to pull my PUP with a Front Wheel Drive Mini-van. but then it as under 2,000 pounds.

It seems to me that the problem with towing using a front wheel drive tow vehicle is the unloading of the steering and drive wheels.

That sounds to me like a very risky way to tow. Can you get away with it - yeah - maybe if and only if everything goes right all the time under all conditions you might find yourself in.

It wouldn't be my cup of tea.