Can You Tow an AWD or Lowered Car Incorrectly? (Melbourne Road Realities)

Traditional towing techniques are a death sentence for an all-wheel-drive vehicle, so it's important to consider how they work. As opposed to the two-wheel-drive car that sends power to only the front or rear axle, an AWD car has a very intricate system of center differentials, transfer cases and electronically controlled clutch packs that distribute power among all four wheels. If the towing company uses a standard wheel lift truck, which removes the front or rear wheels from the pavement, but leaves the other two wheels on the ground, you're in for a big repair or replacement bill.

If two wheels spin on the road at high speeds with the other two wheels held firmly on the truck lift, there's a huge speed difference going through the drivetrain.

The gears and clutch packs in the center differential will wear against one another and cause the transmission to be totally deadlocked in a few kilometers of driving distance due to friction heating, warping and seizing of the gear surfaces. Vehicles with permanent AWD systems must be picked up on a flatbed truck specifically made to carry such vehicles to avoid damaging the expensive transmission system. This will make sure that all four wheels are off the ground and completely stationary while in transit.

Physical clearance is the main hazard when driving a lowered sports car, luxury Euro sedan or vehicle with an aftermarket body kit around Melbourne during a recovery. Melbourne roads are usually very hard on drivers, as steep suburban driveways, aggressive speed humps and very deep gutters are common that are meant to catch lots of flash flooding.

The front bumper splitter, side skirts and low exhaust parts will violently scrape or break against the metal edge of the tray when a standard tow truck attempts to load a lowered vehicle onto a steep ramp angle. In addition, connecting the factory suspension control arms to a traditional steel chain can easily bend fragile steering linkages, destroy wheel alignment or shear through costly rubber bushings when the hydraulic winch exerts its enormous force.

A professional low clearance towing company has the necessary equipment to lower the tow truck to the ground with a low angle tilt-tray or slide-bed system that can press flat against the road surface. Heavy duty rubber ramps, custom wooden blocks or soft wheel straps will be used by the operators in place of steel chains. This process helps to protect structural bodywork and alloy wheels from aesthetic and mechanical damage during loading and protects the vehicle from damage to the surface.

When the vehicle breaks down in one of Melbourne's infamous urban traffic nightmare zones, the logistics of an erroneous tow are even more crucial. Think of the stress of getting a permanent AWD car stuck deep in a small parking garage with a low roof, in Southbank; or a lowered car stuck in a narrow laneway in Fitzroy.

These small spaces are too low to accommodate a large tilt-tray flatbed truck in the first place because of the height barrier. An inexperienced driver could just connect a winch cable and drag your car across the concrete ground while it is in park or has a dampener engaged and the tyres will split, and the parking pawl will be sheared completely free of the transmission.

In high-risk situations, these are managed by an experienced operator who is equipped with specialized low clearance extraction equipment, like heavy duty go-jack wheel dollies. The mechanical skates lift the whole vehicle off the ground, so it is not resting on the ground during the whole time the vehicle is being towed even though it is placed under all four wheels in the small parking bay.

This setup enables the asset to be unloaded into an open street where the larger tilt-tray truck can do so without scuffing the body panels and drivetrain. When you have a choice about who you select as your Melbourne operator, you want to ensure that you're choosing the right one to safeguard your investment.

Being stuck on the side of a busy Melbourne road and feeling the pressure to take the first tow truck that arrives is very stressful. But hasty decisions can result in disastrous mechanical results. When it comes to protecting such a high-dollar vehicle, it's time to take a deep breath and demand the utmost clarity from the dispatch coordinator before you give them permission to hook up.

If you call your local towing company, always mention the car's make, model, and car modifications immediately. Be sure to advise the dispatcher: "It is a permanent all-wheels drive vehicle, and it requires a flatbed tilt-tray," or "This vehicle is a great deal lowered and needs low angle loading ramps."

A good Melbourne towing service will be ready to detail if they possess the specialized equipment and operators required to perform the tow safely. When looking for an auto towing service, you should focus on their mechanical skills rather than their low pricing, and you can keep your car in good condition and keep your peace of mind while you make sure your asset gets to the shop in the same condition that you found it on the side of the road.

For more on why a rushed DIY hookup makes things worse, see our guide on DIY vehicle recovery, and if your AWD or lowered car has stalled unexpectedly, our car breakdown guide covers the first steps to take before the truck arrives. If you drive an electric AWD model, the same caution applies to electric vehicle towing, where flatbed transport is also the safer choice.