Help need recommendations for toad

[Cajun_jeff]

I'm new with this. Just acquired a HP and want to tow a car. I was planning on towing my 03 Honda Accord. Was told today that there is a problem with the oil pump on the auto transmission.

I need recommendations.

Cajun Jeff

[jerseyjim]

You might not have to wait that long (to find out if it can be towed) if you have a backup camera with a microphone: hook it all up and start moving. If you hear ANY noise from the car....that's a clue that the tranny ain't gonna last too long..

G'luck!

[Cajun_jeff]

The decision has been made. I have had my 03 Honda Accard set up for towing. I will give you reports. First long trip is going to be middle of Sept. We will be traveling from Baton Rouge to Rochester, NY and then back to Baton Rouge. Looks to be 3K miles. I guess I will know if the car can be towed by that time. If not you can find it on the side of the road.. 😞

Thanks for you input.

Cajun Jeff

[jerseyjim]

Some cars, like all-wheel-drive, as far as I know simply can't be towed 4 down. Others can be, with modifications. Still others can be towed right out of (or almost out of) the box.
Gotta do reasearch. Ignore most salesmen...they have no idea about this "specialty" use, they could care less, all they wanna do is sell the car. It's all up to you to find, pick and choose. When I was looking, I found GM has the most vehicles in the most price ranges to tow 4-down. Ford has some...but more difficult. I don't like Chrysler, so I ignored what they had (if anything). I'm not a Jeep fan...and Saturns are long gone.
My first 4-down toad was a 1996 Ford Contour 5 speed stick. Base plate, diode kit, a great toad. Then, after about 160,000 miles started the nickel and dime dance. So now...I tow 2 vehicles. A 2007 Chevy HHR automatic...basically pull a 2 amp fuse and go anywhere....and a 2011 Ford Ranger 4WD automatic. This toad required a $400 Ford Only "Transfer Case Disconnect Switch Kit", but no problems towing this, now, either.
Research, research reasearch and good luck.

[rr2254545]

Cajun jeff wrote:
Beverly and Ken, will contact you in private message.

Cajun Jeff

LOL secret stuff must be steath towing

[tatest]

Many people tow automatic transmission cars (including older Accord with 4 speed overdrive auto) despite the manufacturer's "yes" or "no" recommendations.

If it is out of warranty, you manage the risks yourself. If you break it, you fix it on your own dime.

Hondas of that vintage were once considered towable. Honda got hit real hard on an "implied warranty" class action with respect to the transmission used in the Accord (and several other cars). After that settlement, the towing policies changed.

I just recently set up my manual transmission Honda Fit for towing. I bought the Fit for that purpose, and because it is a nice size for single guy road trips, around town use, and airport runs to pick up 2-3 people. The automatic is also towable, per Honda's recommendation. The only other Honda recommended towable automatic, since about 2007, has been the CR-V.

Automatic transmission lubrication is not the only towability issue, as much as we'd like to pretend. Manufacturers recommend against towing certain car models based on experience with other types of damage, such as front suspension and frame components in unit bodies, despite the best efforts of towing equipment manufacturers to design towing attachments. Many unit body cars are simply not up to the task, there is no place to attach towing equipment that won't do damage when towing conditions get extreme.

[Horsedoc]

Honda Element! Best we ever towed!

[portscanner]

Jeep Liberty here.

[SRT]

Bobbo wrote:
I will never be without a Subaru to tow. The only drawback is it must be a standard transmission, no automatics.

Yup, have a '98 Outback. Have around 10,000 towed miles on it (now has 123,xxx miles). Almost as good as a Jeep for back roads ;).

[Cajun_jeff]

Going to look at a dolly tow, tomorrow. Really not wanting to go that way but might be a quick temp way to go. Still thinking this thing out.

[Queens_Carriage]

Yes I also was looking at the Subaru, But just tired of driving a stick. (Retired Truck driver.)

[Bobbo]

I will never be without a Subaru to tow. The only drawback is it must be a standard transmission, no automatics.

[Cajun_jeff]

Beverly and Ken, will contact you in private message.

Cajun Jeff

[my996duc1]

mowermech wrote:

WyoTraveler wrote:
We tow the Jeep Wrangler 2 door, manual tranny. Love the Jeep.

Me,too.

x3

_

[Beverley_Ken]

I know that it is against Honda's recommendations, but we successfully towed our 04 Accord auto tranny for years (probably 20000 miles) without any problems. Just follow the instructions for the CRV. After hooking up, with engine idling shift from 1st to 2nd to 3rd to Drive pausing a couple of seconds in each position, then shift to neutral, idle for 3 min, then turn key to ACC position and enjoy your trip. Repeat procedure every 8 hrs ( we do this when we stop for lunch or rest breaks.
When we bought 04 Accord, Honda did approve it for towing 4down, but changed there policy in 05 or so. We traded the tow dolly shortly after the Honda warranty expired.

Beverley & Ken