rondeb
Pacific Northwest
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Joined: 05/06/2005
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We would like to use our PT cruiser as a 4 down toad. We have never pulled a car before so we know nothing.
Has anyone ever made an automatic PT cruiser their toad. What all has to be done, what do you need for tow bars, etc. Can someone list "everything" that I would need to do, have done to do this. Also, could you list all items that I would need ie. what kind of tow bar equipment etc.
Also, what would be the TOTAL cost to set up the PT as a tow vehicle including the equipment needed to actually connect the car to the RV.
Who would actually do this set up?
Thanks for anyones help that has done this.
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sch911
Rochester Hills, MI
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Joined: 04/13/2003
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PT Cruiser Owners Manual wrote:RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle (Flat
towing with all four wheels on the ground)
CAUTION!
Recreational towing on vehicle’s equipped with automatic
transaxle’s is not recommended.
NOTE: If the vehicle requires towing make sure all four
wheels are off the ground.
If your vehicle is equipped with a manual transaxle, it
may be towed with all four wheels on the ground, in a
forward direction, at any legal highway speed, for any
distance, if the transaxle is in NEUTRAL.
But some have had success using a Remco Lube Pump
Test & System Engineer (Thermal Systems incl. towing, Detroit 3)
2003 Damon Challenger 348 Class A - F53 Triton V10
Posted by Macintosh
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rv2go
Fulltime between Knoxville, TN and the coast.
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Joined: 12/26/2000
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As is, an automatic PT cruiser can not be towed 4 down. You would need to install a transmission lube pump. I would suggest that you get in touch with Remco and get their advice.
Winnebago Journey
TN Lic. RV 2 GO
1995 2dr. Hard Top Geo Tracker
www.rv2go.us
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JerryofWV
Charleston, WV
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Joined: 11/17/2005
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The automatic PT is not four down towable unless you add a transmission pump. You can tow a standard transmission without any modifications, but not the automatic.
In addition to the transmission pump, from Remco, which costs about $950 you will need:
A Base Plate that is made specifically for the PT, and should match the tow bar you get, cost is about $300
Tow bar that remains connected to your motorhome. The 3 major tow bars are Blue Ox, Demco and Roadmaster. Average price $600 to $800.
Lights on your PT. Either additional lights or sockets or wired into your existing lights with diodes so the computer system in the PT won't be damaged.
Supplemental braking system. These range in cost from $360 for the ReadyBrake to over $1000 for other systems.
The estimated cost for the above items is for parts only. If you're handy enough to be able to install them yourself that's it. If not, you can probably double the price at least. Most any RV dealer can provide equipment and installation.
I am towing a standard transmission PT and installed everything myself. If you have any other questions you can private message me.
Jerry & Dee Dee Pauley
1998 Pace Arrow 36S, 1 Slide, 1 Tag, 1 Triton V10, 2006 Pt Cruiser Toad
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have.
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GSF
full-timing in North America
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Joined: 06/04/2004
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JerryofWV pretty well summed it up. I called around and found a mechanic who had done the modification to a PT Cruiser before. It required cutting into the front end for installation of the baseplate.
The only problem I've encountered with the Remco pump is that it doesn't like cold weather. On really cold mornings, I have to drive the dinghy around for a while to warm up the engine compartment or the pump alarm won't turn off.
George
97 Airstream Land Yacht
01 PT Cruiser Dinghy
Cappy - Pekinese Burglar Alarm
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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JerryofWV wrote:The automatic PT is not four down towable unless you add a transmission pump. You can tow a standard transmission without any modifications, but not the automatic.
In addition to the transmission pump, from Remco, which costs about $950 you will need:
A Base Plate that is made specifically for the PT, and should match the tow bar you get, cost is about $300
Tow bar that remains connected to your motorhome. The 3 major tow bars are Blue Ox, Demco and Roadmaster. Average price $600 to $800.
Lights on your PT. Either additional lights or sockets or wired into your existing lights with diodes so the computer system in the PT won't be damaged.
Supplemental braking system. These range in cost from $360 for the ReadyBrake to over $1000 for other systems.
The estimated cost for the above items is for parts only. If you're handy enough to be able to install them yourself that's it. If not, you can probably double the price at least. Most any RV dealer can provide equipment and installation.
I am towing a standard transmission PT and installed everything myself. If you have any other questions you can private message me.
Taking the figures from the above, that's over $3000 to set the rig up for towing.
My flatbed trailer cost $2295, plus about $150 for permanent registration. I can take anything that will fit on the trailer, I don't have to worry about brakes or breakaway systems (they are there, good enough for COMMERCIAL applications!), I don't have to mess with auxiliary braking gadgets that may or may not work properly, and the trailer is VERY handy to have for many other things. Also, you can back up a trailer. Backing a four down toad or a dolly is NOT recommended (according to the manufacturers of towbars and dollys). some say they have done it. good for them. I tried it. Once. Never again!
You CAN get by just fine, much cheaper. For instance, you don't HAVE to buy a fancy towbar that "remains on the back of the motorhome". A perfectly adequate towbar can be purchased, new, for less than $200.
Yes, it will take a couple minutes longer to hook it up. I hook mine to the motorhome quite frequently by myself, without any great effort. No, you won't have the prestige value of the fancy one, and people will come up ans ask "WHY are you using that...THING!" (I just say "because it works, and it only cost me $145")
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 274,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '08 Subaru Outback
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited/Load Trail 16' flatbed
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