Forum Discussion
4 Replies
- tyoungsExplorerWe 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
- BarneySExplorer IIIMoved to Dinghy Towing forum from Towing.
- lj2654ExplorerThis 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. - Johno02ExplorerThis 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”).
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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.
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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.
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