Flat Tow AWD

What has to be done to be able to flat tow an AWD vehicle? TIA.

I was stationed at Port Hueneme back in 1976-77. Lived in barracks then Silver Strand. What AWD? Should be in manual but could check Good Sam towing guide.
 
What has to be done to be able to flat tow an AWD vehicle? TIA.

Depends on the AWD vehicle; some can be flat towed, some can not. The Owners Manual will delineate the requirements and define if it is flat towable.
 
I flat-tow a 2017 Mini Cooper Countryman S All4 AWD vehicle with the 6-speed manual transmission. The owner's manual and the factory both say it cannot be flat-towed. They are both wrong.

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I did a pretty deep dive into this system to learn how it works. I also consulted with some real world Mini techs who specialize in repairing these cars. They all told me that there was no mechanical reason why these cars could not be flat-towed. The Mini/BMW legal department is the entity that says they cannot be flat-towed.

As 16ACE27 said, it depends on the type of AWD system your car has. The Mini has what is called a "Hang On" system. It is the simplest of all the various AWD systems used today. Many other vehicles also use this simple system design. The only active device in the system is an electromagnetic clutch that is "hung" on the rear differential. If that clutch has no power, it is disengaged. So just to be sure, I installed a switch under the hood to disconnect the battery when we tow.

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So far I have flat-towed this car over 3,000 miles with not a moment's trouble.
 
Can be and should be might be two different things. If your car is out of the manufacturer's warranty then it may not matter (to them...). If there should be an incident involving your towed car what might the insurance company say (if they figure out the manufacturer said not to flat tow)?
 
A 2017 car is long out of warranty. I have no concerns about that.

As for the insurance aspect of this setup in an accident, that would be a stretch. This exact same chassis with only front-wheel drive IS approved for flat-towing.
 
As for the insurance aspect of this setup in an accident, that would be a stretch. This exact same chassis with only front-wheel drive IS approved for flat-towing.
You've never experienced an insurance company using any means to avoid a payout?
 
Yes, I have.

But I'm not going to let that worry me into renting cars everywhere we travel. Been there and done that. What a pain!
 

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