Towing without a trailer

[Paraphoe]

How would one go about towing a small car without putting said car on a trailer? Forgive me if this is a dumb question, I've never towed anything with my X before.

 

[Gadget X]

You can get a "tow bar", which attaches to the front of the towed vehicle. It then essentially turns the towed car into a "trailer".
I'll see if I can find a picture to show you.....

 

[Gadget X]

Here's a link to some in the JCWhitney catalog.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/tow-bars/c12393j1s17.jcwx

 

[Paraphoe]

Link not working...Got a part number?

EDIT: These?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/...1&statenval=1997+200016937&_requestid=2561868

 

[Gadget X]

Ok, must be something on their end that's screwed up, because your link didn't work either! I'll try this one more time.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/tow-bars/c...b|4529010132&gclid=CObjlqerm6ACFSgtswodlHIcdw

EDIT: yeah, that link works! just search for one that will work with the car you are towing.

 

[yellowford]

How far are you towing it, I've used a tow strap multiple times to get back to my house when my Jeep thought it needed to break all the time.

 

[Paraphoe]

Ok, must be something on their end that's screwed up, because your link didn't work either! I'll try this one more time.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/tow-bars/c...b|4529010132&gclid=CObjlqerm6ACFSgtswodlHIcdw

EDIT: yeah, that link works! just search for one that will work with the car you are towing.

Link still won't work :lol:. I just searched "tow bars" and got a page of "V" shaped things - that what I'm lookin for? Do they plug right into a hidden hitch?

How far are you towing it, I've used a tow strap multiple times to get back to my house when my Jeep thought it needed to break all the time.

No particular distance in mind right now, but I bring my new (used) Civic home tomorrow night, and I've never owned a second car before. Just wanna know that it's possible to tow it without a trailer should I need to move two vehicles at once, as I can't have a trailer in my apartment parking lot.

 

[Gadget X]

Yeah, it's the "V" shaped things. They look like just the tongue of a trailer or something. The two "arms" hook to the front of the towed car with a kit (may or may not be included with the tow bar, need to check on that), and then the other end just has a tongue hitch on it. It works just like any other trailer hitch and just goes on your trailer ball. Same kind of setup you see behind a lot of motor homes that are towing cars behind them.

 

[Paraphoe]

Thanks man. Worth looking into in the future.

 

[Gadget X]

No problem. Good luck with it!

 

[david alfaro]

I hope your car is a stick shift,you can't tow an automatic trans with all four wheels on the ground,you will be better off renting a tow dolly.

 

[Paraphoe]

Auto....can't tow it in neutral?

 

[my pos mounty]

You would have to check with the Honda dealer to see if that car can be towed "wheels down" or in neutral. Alot of the front wheel drive automatics can not be towed this way as it can overheat the transaxle.

 

[Gadget X]

That is a def possibility.....I hadn't thought about that. Maybe just get one of the tow dollies? would that be too big to keep at your apartment's parking lot? with the honda on the "dolly" it would probably still fit in a parking space, those hondas aren't very big!

 

[my pos mounty]

Seriously, ask the Honda dealer if it can be done.
You may have to buy what is called a "disconnect kit" that disengages the front wheels from the transaxle somehow.
My mother was what is called a "snowbird"..they would migrate north for the summer and south for the winter in the RV, towing the car behind them with a towbar. Most of them towed Saturns cuz they were cheap and could be towed wheels down, but there were others that towed HEEPS and Hondas, all of them wheels down.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Agreed- the tow dollies can typically be found for not much money, and it's a much better solution... I know the local UHaul sells them, as does Ryder. (Not sure about near you, but worth a check)

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Yes, check on a "tow dolly" it is a small trailer made to mount the front "drive" tires on and tow the vehicle, then if it is a front wheel drive, no neutral tow kit required.

 

[Verno]

Might also look into renting a tow dolly to get it home if you don't plan on towing it on a regular basis. FYI- Uhaul has issues with us, so you might need a friend with a pickup to "pick-up" the tow dolly for you/with you.

 

[Paraphoe]

Yea, I've heard all about the U-Haul issues. I'll just tell 'em it's a Mountaineer.

Thanks for the help guys, looks like it'll be too much of a hassle unless I can tow it with 4 wheels down. I can't have a dolly sitting around the apt parking lot.

 

[Hevyg]

If your not accustomed to towing things, I wouldnt suggest pulling it with a strap. Id put it on a dolly. Ive seen lots of folks tow front wheel drive vehicles in nuetral, its never a good idea. If your not worried about the towed veh rearending you, use a strap. If you dont mind future trans probs, tow it in nuetral. Save yourself a headache, use a dolly.
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