Impact of towing a car

Haque · 18th May 2007, 12:38

Hello All

Yesterday, I had the to tow a ford icon with my baleno. This was the second time in the past 7 months. The distance towed:
1. 70kms from maddur on mysore road to bangalore.
2. ~40kms from hoskote to frazer town, bangalore.

Now I am beginning to wonder about the impact of this activity on the car chasis....

From the car's maintenance perspective ( my baleno ) was it the right thing to do? Anything that I should watch out for? Would be giving my baleno for service this tuesday. So got some time to identify potential problem areas...

guess what i am eager to hear is reassurance that towing is acceptable, no harm done etc...

Thanks
Haque

moralfibre · 18th May 2007, 12:42

More than the chassis I think your clutch would take a beating.

low_bass_makker · 18th May 2007, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by moralfibre

More than the chassis I think your clutch would take a beating.

Why.........the car would be in neutral while towing........

hari_rama · 18th May 2007, 13:06

@lbm, i think he means he had to tow an ikon with his baleno and not the other way round

actually i dont know much on the chassis structure and rigidity,if i make a guess it wont damage.because if it would had then the suzuki wouldn havent given an option for towing.and also the ikon weighs only around 900kgs rite??

wolfinstein · 18th May 2007, 13:17

Don't think its much of a problem, since the cars can log certain amount of weight as Small boat trailers abroad, However One should not put excess load on the engine, Such as AC

arunforu1 · 18th May 2007, 13:44

No damage can incurr on chassis while towing, unless you bump into tracting vehicle.

clutch damage????????

...how come..please explain!

I dont see anything damaging clutch while towing.....

tsk1979 · 18th May 2007, 14:47

Unless you are slipping clutch(For example towing a bus) its not going to have any clutch damage!
One scenario could be driving uphill towing another vehicle. Here you would have to slip clutch and hence problem, on a level road, with no slippage there is not going to be any clutch damage.

jango · 18th May 2007, 14:48

i doubt if there would be any problem, coz once the car gains momentum everything sets on rolling :-)

binz · 18th May 2007, 14:49

Clutch will fry a bit,..especially if your towing a much larger vehicle.Take care,..try not to strain the engine on the higway(I.e. high rpm lower gear OR low Rpm Higher gear)

Just yesterday fried the kine clutch pushing a honda with a mclaren

Btw,..why were you towing the ikon??

Haque · 18th May 2007, 15:04

Thanks for the opinions...just feel reassured... the reason why these doubts arose, were comments from a driver that towing is not desirable, as it might result in chasis strain. while towing, its not always a smooth ride especially in a stop-n-go traffic.

@binz: was towing my bro-in-law's car which broke down on the way to banglore.

Godfather · 18th May 2007, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haque

while towing, its not always a smooth ride especially in a stop-n-go traffic.

Agreed on the above point.. especially on uphill rodas your car will have greater strain..but this is only for a short while.. This should not have any effect on chassis.

Godfather

Vid6639 · 18th May 2007, 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godfather

Agreed on the above point.. especially on uphill rodas your car will have greater strain..but this is only for a short while.. This should not have any effect on chassis.

Godfather

lol!!! you drive a tow truck. obviously your car can pull anything without any problems. hehe.

Godfather · 18th May 2007, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid6639

lol!!! you drive a tow truck. obviously your car can pull anything without any problems. hehe.

Yeah..be happy i got it.. Helps to pull non mivec vehicles.

.

Godfather

BUSA · 18th May 2007, 23:53

Your car is not meant to tow any other vehicle. Check the owners manual, its clearly stated there.

zenopio · 19th May 2007, 00:23

guys even i towed my frenz zen with my zen..i had problems with the clutch later .....

18th May 2007, 12:38	#1
Haque BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 118 Thanked: 32 Times View My Garage	Impact of towing a car Hello All Yesterday, I had the to tow a ford icon with my baleno. This was the second time in the past 7 months. The distance towed: 1. 70kms from maddur on mysore road to bangalore. 2. ~40kms from hoskote to frazer town, bangalore. Now I am beginning to wonder about the impact of this activity on the car chasis.... From the car's maintenance perspective ( my baleno ) was it the right thing to do? Anything that I should watch out for? Would be giving my baleno for service this tuesday. So got some time to identify potential problem areas... guess what i am eager to hear is reassurance that towing is acceptable, no harm done etc... Thanks Haque
	() Thanks

18th May 2007, 12:42	#2
moralfibre Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: MH-12 Posts: 8,451 Thanked: 13,973 Times	More than the chassis I think your clutch would take a beating.
	() Thanks

18th May 2007, 13:06	#4
hari_rama BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Trichur Posts: 270 Thanked: 16 Times View My Garage	@lbm, i think he means he had to tow an ikon with his baleno and not the other way round actually i dont know much on the chassis structure and rigidity,if i make a guess it wont damage.because if it would had then the suzuki wouldn havent given an option for towing.and also the ikon weighs only around 900kgs rite?? Last edited by hari_rama : 18th May 2007 at 13:10.
	() Thanks

18th May 2007, 13:17	#5
wolfinstein BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 994 Thanked: 20 Times	Don't think its much of a problem, since the cars can log certain amount of weight as Small boat trailers abroad, However One should not put excess load on the engine, Such as AC
	() Thanks

18th May 2007, 13:44	#6
arunforu1 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 254 Thanked: 7 Times	No damage can incurr on chassis while towing, unless you bump into tracting vehicle. clutch damage???????? ...how come..please explain! I dont see anything damaging clutch while towing.....
	() Thanks

18th May 2007, 14:47	#7
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Unless you are slipping clutch(For example towing a bus) its not going to have any clutch damage! One scenario could be driving uphill towing another vehicle. Here you would have to slip clutch and hence problem, on a level road, with no slippage there is not going to be any clutch damage.
	() Thanks

18th May 2007, 14:48	#8
jango BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New York & kotayam Posts: 800 Thanked: 23 Times View My Garage	i doubt if there would be any problem, coz once the car gains momentum everything sets on rolling :-)
	() Thanks

18th May 2007, 14:49	#9
binz Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,306 Thanked: 431 Times View My Garage	Clutch will fry a bit,..especially if your towing a much larger vehicle.Take care,..try not to strain the engine on the higway(I.e. high rpm lower gear OR low Rpm Higher gear) Just yesterday fried the kine clutch pushing a honda with a mclaren Btw,..why were you towing the ikon?? Last edited by binz : 18th May 2007 at 14:51.
	() Thanks

18th May 2007, 15:04	#10
Haque BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 118 Thanked: 32 Times View My Garage	Thanks for the opinions...just feel reassured... the reason why these doubts arose, were comments from a driver that towing is not desirable, as it might result in chasis strain. while towing, its not always a smooth ride especially in a stop-n-go traffic. @binz: was towing my bro-in-law's car which broke down on the way to banglore.
	() Thanks

18th May 2007, 23:53	#14
BUSA Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,130 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	Your car is not meant to tow any other vehicle. Check the owners manual, its clearly stated there.
	() Thanks

19th May 2007, 00:23	#15
zenopio BANNED Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: hyderabad,london Posts: 441 Thanked: 4 Times View My Garage	guys even i towed my frenz zen with my zen..i had problems with the clutch later .....
	() Thanks