One of the most common questions I get is "does it matter how my car gets towed?" If you drive an all-wheel-drive vehicle, the answer is yes, a lot.
How regular towing works
A traditional wheel-lift tow truck picks up one end of your car and lets the other two wheels roll down the road. That's fine for some front-wheel-drive cars over short distances. But those two wheels on the pavement are still turning, and so is everything connected to them.
Why that's a problem for AWD and 4x4
In an all-wheel-drive vehicle, all four wheels are linked through the drivetrain: the center differential, transfer case, or coupling that splits power front to back. If two wheels spin while the other two sit still, those parts are forced to work against each other with the engine off and little or no lubrication circulating.
The result can be:
- Overheated or damaged center differentials and couplings
- Transfer case damage
- Transmission damage
- Repair bills that easily run into the thousands
That's why most AWD owner's manuals, including Subaru, Audi, and many SUVs, say to tow with all four wheels off the ground.
What about electric vehicles?
Many EVs carry the same warning. The electric motors are connected directly to the wheels, and spinning them while towing can damage the drive system. Most EV manufacturers recommend flatbed transport only. Check the towing section of your owner's manual.
Other vehicles that belong on a flatbed
- 4x4 trucks and SUVs, especially with full-time four-wheel drive
- Lowered cars, where a wheel-lift can crush the front lip or bumper
- Wrecked cars with damaged wheels, tires, or suspension
- Classic and collector cars
- Lifted trucks with oversized tires
- Any long-distance tow, where miles of rolling add wear even to 2WD cars
How a flatbed tow works
The bed of a flatbed (or rollback) tilts down to the ground. Your vehicle is driven or winched up onto it, then strapped down at the wheels. It rides the whole way with all four tires off the road, so nothing in the drivetrain turns.
Ask before they hook up
If you drive an AWD vehicle, tell the tow company when you call and make sure they're sending a flatbed. At Maverick's Towing & Transport, that's not a question: every tow we do is on our flatbed.
We tow across Cypress, Katy, and Northwest Houston 24/7. Call 346-377-7404.