How to flat tow an AWD SUV?

[Nixonrv]

I have a 38 ft Monaco Knight with 330 Cummins Diesel. I have towed using a car hauler in the past for my car, but I need to tow a bigger vehicle so the while family can fit in it once we are at our destination.

I have a 2007. AWD Cadillac Escalade with 95k miles on it.

This is my question. I think the Main issue with towing the AWD is that there is no oil pump on when the engine is off.

What if I simply leave my car in Neutral and leave the engine running while I am pulling it behind the Motorhome ? That should keep the transmission and transfer case lubed right?

I am only going a total of 250 miles to get to my destination for my son's baseball tournament, the. We will use the SUV for about 3 days and the hook it back up and return home.

Do you think this will work? Just leave the engine running and in neutral. I will probably stop after a couple hours and check on it..... It's less than a 5 hour trip anyway.

Please let me know your thoughts. It is out of warranty so not worried about that. I already have a blue on tow system for it.

I really would prefer to flat tow and looking for a work around that I will probably only use a few times a year and never more than 300 a 400 miles

Thanks!

[Nixonrv]

I am driving with the family. So I called Remco today and they do sell a pump for the escalade. I called cadillac and they said the driveline needed to be disconnected or the bearings would burn up?


Not sure what to believe?

[atodalen]

It seems to me that if you leave the engine running while towing and have the brake buddy in place that you run the risk of flat spotting your tires. Normally one would bleed off the power brake system prior to towing to prevent this. I also think it best to have someone drive it or rent at the destination, just not worth the risk IMHO.
Al

[dverstra]

Have somebody else drive it and follow you. Why risk it?

[JimM68]

I just would not. Used to have a Silverado SS, it used the same transfer case as the escalade. No shifting, no 2wd, no neutral, nuttin.

It worked really well, even with the 275-40-20 eagle road tires, it was the most surefooted snow car I ever drove.

But no way no how would I ever try to flat tow it.

For just a couple hundred miles, have your DW drive it if you need it that bad.

[VinCee]

Why don't you just rent a car at the tournament destination? When you factor in gas, wear and tear and the possibility of the unknown you may be better off and with less expense.

[wildmanbaker]

What Jeff just said. You may also have issues with the traction control system and anti-lock brake system. Contact the manufacture to find out more.

Welcome to the forum.

[Daboo]

think I would just rent a car trailer from UHaul, et al, and not take the chance of screwing up the trans...bet the rental would be cheaper than a trans/trnsfer case...good luck.

[oldmattb]

MRUSA wrote:
"cautious driving leaving plenty of room to brake" is just self-deception. No matter how cautious you are, you cannot control what others do. There is no telling when another driver will pull in front of you, run a red light in front of you, or have a blowout in front of you. You need to be able to stop in all types of unexpected circumstances, unless you don't mind killing yourself or somebody else.

+1 on this!

I think we can "drive cautious" for maybe 20 minutes, and then we revert to our usual habits - traffic speed, answering the phone, eating a sandwich, wondering about the dogs at home, etc. How many times have you seen travelers "forget" they are towing and nearly hit another vehicle with their load?

When I work out stopping scenarios for our motorhome, I include a sudden rainstorm, a stopped semi around the corner, and a deer wedged under my front axle. I have encountered one of the three a few times. I figure two of the three, plus inattention to the details, could be a killer.

I was a real******driver when I was a kid. I walked away from things I probably shouldn't have. Now I try to make up for me and them!

Matt B

[Dutch_12078]

The Remco pump controller gives you plenty of warning if a pump fails for any reason, including forgetting to turn it on or connect the cable to the coach. In over 40,000 miles of towing with the same pump installed on two toads, we haven't had a single failure of any kind to date.

[Roadpilot]

A friend of ours also has an Escalade that they flat tow. They also went through three Remco pumps that failed. When the pumps failed they just let the car idle. It worked fine for them. Remco eventually solved the problem with the pump and it has worked fine for a year or two,

[Bumpyroad]

Ivylog wrote:
So far I have not read anything that would stop me from towing a Escalade with the engine running. .

then go for it as you obviously don't want/need advice to the contrary. at 95K, if the tranny goes out in 20-30K please let us know.
bumpy

[Ivylog]

So far I have not read anything that would stop me from towing a Escalade with the engine running. A friend tows one and he's on the third Remco pump that's failed while towing. Lack of this pump for X miles has not killed his tranny. Do you shift your Alison into neutral when stuck in traffic so the torque converter does not over heat it? Could idling in gear be the reason Caddy does not want it idle too long? Pretty sure a brake buddy has a gain control to adjust the amount of pressure put on the brake pedal. I agree having someone drive it would probably be easier than setting it up to tow once or twice a year.
In addition to the warnings below... the shorter the words the harder it is for me to understand it. NO being the hardest and and a little less difficult is CAN NOT. My Nissan Pathfinder can not be towed, but I DO. Back in the day when the front bumper was steel I towed many a car with the engine running.

[Bumpyroad]

for 250-400 miles, I would have a second driver just drive the "toad".
just got to jeff's post.
make that
x2
bumpy

[Lobstah]

Spizzer wrote:
Are you driving by yourself, or with somebody? For only 250 miles I would just caravan it there. Gets rid of all the issues with towing and causing damage....

Jeff

X2

Why take the risk for 250mi?

Jim

[Spizzer]

Are you driving by yourself, or with somebody? For only 250 miles I would just caravan it there. Gets rid of all the issues with towing and causing damage....

Jeff