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diamonddogdogs's avatar
Jul 31, 2017

towing a Saturn Outlook XR

Can I tow a 2008 Saturn Outlook XR, front wheel drive, all tires down, behind a 2008 Pheaton?

4 Replies

  • We towed our Outlook for several years before we got our Buick Enclave. Outlook was a FWD - no issues , towed great, follow instructions from owner's manual
  • This is from the FMCA towing guide for 2008 Saturn Outlooks:

    Outlook Yes All-wheel drive 65 mph/None 4,905 lbs. 201.1 in.
    Outlook Yes Front-wheel drive 65 mph/None 4,700 lbs. 201.1 in.
  • This is copied directly from your Owners manual for the Saturn:

    Towing
    Towing Your Vehicle
    To avoid vehicle damage, a platform or flatbed trailer
    should be used to transport this vehicle. Consult
    your dealer/retailer or a professional towing service if
    you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See
    Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-7
    .
    If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
    for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
    see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
    Recreational Vehicle Towing
    Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
    behind another vehicle – such as behind a motorhome.
    The two most common types of recreational vehicle
    towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your vehicle
    with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly towing”
    (towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
    two wheels up on a device known as a “dolly”).
    4-27
    With the proper preparation and equipment, many
    vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy
    Towing” and “Dolly Towing” following in this section.
    Here are some important things to consider before you
    do recreational vehicle towing:

    What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
    Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
    recommendations.

    How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
    restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.

    Do you have the proper towing equipment?
    See your dealer/retailer or trailering professional for
    additional advice and equipment recommendations.

    Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
    would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll
    want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be
    towed. See
    Before Leaving on a Long Trip on
    page 4-16
    .
    Dinghy Towing
    If you have a front-wheel-drive vehicle, it can be dinghy
    towed from the front. These vehicles may also be
    towed by putting the front wheels on a dolly. See “Dolly
    Towing” later in this section.
    If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, it can be dinghy
    towed from the front. You can also tow these vehicles
    by placing them on a platform trailer with all four wheels
    off of the ground. These vehicles cannot be towed
    using a dolly.
    4-28
    For vehicles being dinghy towed, the vehicle should be
    run at the beginning of each day and at each RV
    fuel stop for about five minutes. This will ensure proper
    lubrication of transmission components. Re-install
    the fuse to start the vehicle.
    To tow your vehicle from the front with all four wheels
    on the ground:
    1. Position the vehicle to tow and then secure it to the
    towing vehicle.
    2. Shift the transmission to P (Park) and turn the
    ignition to LOCK/OFF.
    3. Set the parking brake.
    4. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY.
    5. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
    6. To prevent your battery from draining while the
    vehicle is being towed, remove the 50 amp
    BATT1 fuse from the underhood fuse block and
    store in a safe location. See
    Underhood Fuse Block
    on page 5-115
    .
    7. Release the parking brake.
    Notice:
    If you tow your vehicle without performing
    each of the steps listed under “Dinghy Towing,”
    you could damage the automatic transmission.
    Be sure to follow all steps of the dinghy towing
    procedure prior to and after towing your vehicle.
    Notice:
    If you exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while
    towing your vehicle, it could be damaged. Never
    exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while towing your vehicle.
    Once you have reached your destination:
    1. Set the parking brake.
    2. Reinstall the 50 amp BATT1 fuse to the underhood
    fuse block.
    3. Shift the transmission to P (Park), turn the ignition
    to LOCK/OFF and remove the key from the ignition.
    4. Release the parking brake.
    Notice:
    Don’t tow a vehicle with the front drive
    wheels on the ground if one of the front tires is a
    compact spare tire. Towing with two different
    tire sizes on the front of the vehicle can cause
    severe damage to the transmission.
    4-29

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