[Fourdoor]

Can I just get one of the two wheel tow trailers that raise the drive wheels and let the non-drive wheels roll on the highway? https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/Tow-Dolly-Rental/TD/

I know this is probably in the owners manual, but the only stuff I could find was for short range towing like a tow truck to the dealership.

Thanks,

Keith

 

[freshcut]

I don't think how you tow the Volt makes much difference than any other FWD automatic vehicle. That said, riding on the non-driven (rear) wheels shouldn't affect anything. Just make sure you don't engage the parking brake.

 

[TheBlueFlash]

It is possible and won't harm the vehicle. Because of the low ground clearance, you'll most likely need some 2x4 pieces placed on the ground in front of the ramps to keep from killing your air dam and possibly the bumper. I had to do that when towing my previous Nissan Leaf and it has significantly more ground clearance than the gen 1 Volt.

 

[ClarksonCote]

Can I just get one of the two wheel tow trailers that raise the drive wheels and let the non-drive wheels roll on the highway? https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/Tow-Dolly-Rental/TD/

I know this is probably in the owners manual, but the only stuff I could find was for short range towing like a tow truck to the dealership.

Thanks,

Keith

Yup, as long as the front wheels are off the ground, that should be fine.

 

[jcanoe]

Then why does the Volt Owner's Manual specify that if the Volt must be towed that is should only be towed on a flat bed?

 

[Fourdoor]

Then why does the Volt Owner's Manual specify that if the Volt must be towed that is should only be towed on a flat bed?

Last time I had a volt towed was because it was unable to be started... if you can't start it you can't release the parking brake (I HATE electronic parking brakes) so the only way to tow it was on a flat bed.

That is why I specified moving vs emergency towing... my car starts and runs therefor no electronic e-brake to contend with. But, it is only $20 more for an open car trailer with all wheels off the ground from U-haul, so I may do it that way anyway. I didn't realize how small the price difference was.

Later,

Keith

 

[hellsop]

Then why does the Volt Owner's Manual specify that if the Volt must be towed that is should only be towed on a flat bed?

Because the kind of towing they're talking about there is "vehicle disabled" towing, and could easily include lifting the rear and towing with the front wheels on the ground. Which is absolutely a bad idea.

 

[jcanoe]

Because the kind of towing they're talking about there is "vehicle disabled" towing, and could easily include lifting the rear and towing with the front wheels on the ground. Which is absolutely a bad idea.

So is there not an issue of uneven weight stressing the vehicle if the front wheels are lifted off the ground?

 

[Mister Dave]

So is there not an issue of uneven weight stressing the vehicle if the front wheels are lifted off the ground?

No.

 

[Arcanox]

The reason you must lift the front wheels is because they are always connected to the motors, even in Neutral and Park (which won't work for other obvious reasons). Spinning an AC motor at high speeds without the control logic active can build up magnetic flux in the windings, and if that magnetic field collapses, it'll fry the whole motor controller and potentially demagnetize the permanent magnets. I learned this from a video about Toyota hybrids, which operate on the same principle. On an AWD hybrid vehicle, you must tow it on a flatbed or other towing device which would leave all 4 wheels stationary.

The Volt isn't AWD, so technically it can be towed with the rear wheels on the road, but there's got to be a reason why the manual states to only use a flatbed.

 

[TSquare]

The reason you must lift the front wheels is because they are always connected to the motors, even in Neutral and Park (which won't work for other obvious reasons). Spinning an AC motor at high speeds without the control logic active can build up magnetic flux in the windings, and if that magnetic field collapses, it'll fry the whole motor controller and potentially demagnetize the permanent magnets. I learned this from a video about Toyota hybrids, which operate on the same principle. On an AWD hybrid vehicle, you must tow it on a flatbed or other towing device which would leave all 4 wheels stationary.

The Volt isn't AWD, so technically it can be towed with the rear wheels on the road, but there's got to be a reason why the manual states to only use a flatbed.

Page 313 of my 2017 Volt manual give clear instructions on how to tow a Volt on a dolly.

 

[jcanoe]

Page 313 of my 2017 Volt manual give clear instructions on how to tow a Volt on a dolly.

You are correct. I was looking at page 311 and did not turn the page.