QuestionA newer VW Touareg was towed by a San Diego California AAA service provider recently for an electrical problem. The owner's manual for a Volkswagen Touareg SUV suggests a flatbed carrier be used to transport this style vehicle to a dealership or repair facility. QUESTION: If a flatbed carrier is not available, can the vehicle be safely towed (without steering damage)from either end with dollies under either end as long as the vehicle is completely off the ground? The vehicle was dollied with rear-end of vehicle in the tow truck's wheel-lift and front wheels atop a set of freeway dollies. The tow operator installed wheel-lift ratchets and straps to the dollies and then to the vehicles tires only per vehicle code requirements in a manner standard with the towing and recovery indystry. QUESTION: Will dolly-ing the Touareg cause any problems to the steering components or four-corner all-wheel wheel alignment if totally off the ground and floating on it's own suspension? Question: Does locking the steering or tying the steering (to ensure the wheels remain straight and within the dollies) cause any further problem. We appreciate your timely response and opinion. Thank you.
AnswerWell, you are correct that the book says "flatbed recommended" but there are a lot of times and even places where use of flatbeds can not be used... (think about parking garages for the height issue)
Now that being said, yes wheel lift and dollies are approved methods of towing. Yes, especially in California where there are more RESTRICTIVE REQUIREMENTS on towing operations where the use of dollie tie downs are mandated (some places do not require them) there are very low incidents of damage being done to the vehicle when its secured with straps. I suppose that you can over tighten straps either using wheellifts and dollies just like you can on a flatbed tow truck.
Now if the steering or other parts are damaged while being over tightened then yes that can happen. Its not a prevalent today with straps as when only chains are used for securing to flatbeds.
As to if it can cause potential damages down the road, well only a fortune teller can attempt to give that answer. But I would really doubt it can happen.
Either way, you are correct it is riding on its own suspension and if the suspension can not handle being towed and tied down, how does it handle severe bumps and pot holes.
You can check out www.towspec.com and see online what the towing recommendations for your vehicle are, in addition to your owners manual. I wish there was an "AAA towing manual" online to direct you to, but the tow spec site is just as good.
