Bongo Fury

To tow, or not to tow? diesel pump solenoid failed, AA want to tow it (max 20mph), 2 miles to garage. I have heard that towing is not good on the 4x4..any advice, folks?

Derek

Ok if they keep the speed down and all four wheels on the ground, but personally I would like it on the back of a low loader.

Dr Fingers wrote:To tow, or not to tow? diesel pump solenoid failed, AA want to tow it (max 20mph), 2 miles to garage. I have heard that towing is not good on the 4x4..any advice, folks?

Derek

Seems to me the AA should respect the fact that 4x4 Bongos are not recommended to be towed and they should get their flatbed truck out. What's their problem with that?

Sorry to hear of solenoid problem. Did the engine just die?

Towing a 4x4 is not a problem, towing a Automatic could be a problem.

Good Luck

Phoned AA back, and politely insisted on a flat back: "no problem", they have arranged it. Patrolman was very good, did his best, but showed me his hi-tech internet thingy with latest instructions he gets re towing. Bongo auto 4x4 clearly shown as suitable for towing up to 5 miles at less than 20 mph.

"Checked glow plugs ok, no fuel to injector pipes, fuel to filter ok, voltage to stop solonoid ok but no current being drawn , suspect solonoid burnt out Mbr to call back for rcy"

Derek

Longer wait for low loader but best and safest option.
Hope its not too expensive getting it back on the road, good luck.

Bongolia wrote:Longer wait for low loader but best and safest option.
Hope its not too expensive getting it back on the road, good luck.

Glad AA obliged with the flatbed Dr Fingers. I agree, there's always that worry if it is towed, even though it is supposed to be safe within certain limits. Hope it gets fixed soon.

When I was called upon to tow a Bongo for a short distance I relied on the info in the Mazda handbook.

Bob wrote:When I was called upon to tow a Bongo for a short distance I relied on the info in the Mazda handbook.

But did you have bonus driven directors pushing you to meet targets on time and cost ha ha sob

More the promise of a beer after the job.

Automatics, as a rule, shouldn't be towed. That is a safe rule of thumb if you are not sure.

However if the engine will run & the transmission is in working condition you can tow it all day as far as you like as the pressure fed lubrication system will be working as normal. They can be towed without the engine running a short distance up to say 5 miles at very slow speeds - max 30 mph.

I once had an AA man deliver a Mondeo to me here which had been towed some considerable distance to me on one of those nice little dolly things the patrol vehicle have with the rear wheels lifted! When I pointed out to the patrol man the Mondeo was front wheel drive & the transmission will now be scrap internally (it was totally scrap, melted. Un-rebuildable) as he hadn't raised the front wheels, he got his laptop out & showed me his instructions which said to tow with the rear wheels raised.

Well the "4th emergency service" must know best . . .

Thanks.

Great post Geoff