Towing

[Aren Jay]

Yes the manual says to flatbed tow a Marauder.

I had the same thing with Subaru because of the AWD.

But why can't you tow a Marauder backwheels off the ground?

[RF Overlord]

Page 162 of the Owner's Manual says:

It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Ford Motor Company has not
approved a slingbelt towing procedure.

If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.

[duhtroll]

'Cuz you'll probably tear the front plastic off because of the nose height (or lack thereof)


Yes the manual says to flatbed tow a Marauder.

I had the same thing with Subaru because of the AWD.

But why can't you tow a Marauder backwheels off the ground?

[burt ragio]

My guesss is damage to the transmission as well as the high dollar plastic nose potentially getting riped off.

[Aren Jay]

The transmission is going to get damaged how?

The front nose is not nearly as low as on the Firebird I used to have.

See for a Subaru this was not done because you have the front and back wheels connected and when the fron wheels are turning the back ones turn or try to and this screws up your transmission (automatics). Front or back end etc...

But with our Marauder the front wheels are not connected to the transmission. Just like with my old Mustang or my Firebird...

Is it because of the ballon bumpers we have?

[duhtroll]

Is the front end length (past the wheel) the same as on your Firebird?



The front nose is not nearly as low as on the Firebird I used to have.

[Aren Jay]

http://www.cousinlarry.com/images/cars/formula/z2.jpeghttp://www.cousinlarry.com/images/cars/formula/coolfront.jpg
Not my car but same year.

The front of the Firebird was lower and longer. When it had to be towed they would lift the back wheels but couldn't take it all the way up, do to nose. But they did tow it, no problem and no mention in the manual not to tow it this way.

I know it is was a lower front end because I used to scrape it on the road on certain intersections or driveways, which I do not scrape with my Marauder.

The Firebird had the little rubber damn under the nose too but that was sc***** off within two weeks.

The car looked awesome but had it's flaws. The doors being 5 feet long were a second problem.

I'm just wondering "why" we have to use flatbed towing. When I'm in the ditch or something and the AMA tow truck pulls up is it going to kill my Marauder to tow it, backend up? Or is it just a warning label to remove Ford from Liability when the bumper cover gets damaged.

[RF Overlord]

I'm just wondering "why" we have to use flatbed towing. As I quoted from the Owner's Manual in my reply above ^^^, Ford says you can use EITHER a wheel lift, OR a flatbed. The only form they don't recommend is using a slingbelt. I don't know the reason for sure, but I would bet it's more for cosmetic damage than anything else.

[duhtroll]

No offense, but anyone who tows either vehicle ass first is asking for it. Doesn't seem like the bright thing to do.

[Aren Jay]

Ahh the wheel lift I missed that. So the back end up is no problem but the sling belt likely will mess up your bumper.

I see.

Thank you.

[jgc61sr2002]

Flatbed is the only way to tow. IMO.

[PSG]

you can wheel lift them from the rear, but you have to keep the lift low because of the low height , you have to turn off the air bags but its not a problem, you can also wheel lift them from the front if you want to pull the drive shaft, reason being is that the front pump isn't turning unless the car is running so theres no oil lubing the trans, and if its in neutral with the wheels turning the trans intenal parts are spinning, hense alot of burnt up pieces, you can tow them in neutral frim the front if you leave the engine running , but it will set an abs code and you had better shut of the traction control, but you only normally do that when you get a police call at 3 in the morning and its raining and the guy is being a dick and you dont have the flat bed

[TiTo35]

Flatbed is the only way to tow. IMO.


I am with him ^^

[PSG]

flat bed is the safest , if the oporator can cet the car up on the bed without scraping the bumper covers on the ground , but sometimes you get in a situation where a flat bed is not availible , and there are other options, where the car can be moved without further damage.

[TAKEDOWN]

I'm paranoid...so I'll just flatbed it just in case, it's bad enough that you're already getting a tow and to add more possible damages...jeez!

[BAD MERC]

I drive a flatbed - let me put it this way. When I transport two vehicles, the bigger or heavier one ALWAYS goes engine forward, as far up against the headache rack as possible. Any car on the wheel lift gets carried by the drive wheels (with an even larger contact patch than sitting on the ground). The Marauder and most cars DO NOT have a locking steering column and even if it did you ALWAYS slide the seat forward, loop the seatbelt through the bottom of the wheel and latch it. Then slide the seat back to tighten the belt. This keeps the wheels straight even if the lock assembly breaks. In two-vehicle accidents FWD cars always tow on the wheel lift unless they are damaged in such a way that prevents this. Regardless of how low the front overhang is, it can be towed. Fords can be towed in neutral with the drive wheels on the ground (RWD only) for short trips at low speeds (under 50 or so). I have transported my Marauder on flatbeds and wheel lifts and never felt stupid doing so. An untrained or even reckless flatbed operator can damage a car by chaining it in the wrong holes or J-hooking the differential and mashing brake lines against it. If you get under the car and look behind the front wheels and forward of the rear wheels on MOST cars, near the outside of the unibody (or frame) you will see oval holes that are strong enough to pull the car in half.

[PSG]

your absolutely right , but the recomendation on those transmisions is no more than 30 mph and no more than 5 miles, so unless its absolutely unavoidable, i make my drivers do it the way i mentioned because it never fails, the trans goes bad a month later and they expect you to eat it because "a friend of a friend of there's told them that the wrecker guy broke your car" the other reason is that some of the other trans out there aren't as forgiving and i don't want someone else making a desision on which is ok and which isn't and if there wrong it cost me 2 grand, better safe than sorry