Sonic Dinghy towing 4 wheels down

[Adonh]

Hello, I am new to the forum and I am considering buying a 2013 Sonic automatic transmission 1.8L engine for a personal car as well as towing 4 wheels down with my Motor Home. Based on the 2013 Towing guide the Sonic can be towed 4 wheels down with the requirement that fuse 32 be removed while towing. I have also verified this in the Sonic owners manual. I would like to hear from others on any issues or warranty problems with towing the Sonic 4 wheels down. Thanks

Don

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Dingy Towing Information

Don,

After checking the 2013 Here are some important things to
consider before recreational vehicle towing:

. What is the towing capacity of
the towing vehicle? Be sure to
read the tow vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. See below information on pgs. 10-77-78 in 2013 Sonic's Owner's Manual.

. What is the distance that will be
traveled? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how
long they can tow.
. Is the proper towing equipment
going to be used? See your
dealer or trailering professional
for additional advice and
equipment recommendations.
. Is the vehicle ready to be
towed? Just as preparing the
vehicle for a long trip, make sure
the vehicle is prepared to be
towed.

Good luck with everything! Hope to see you become an owner!

Vanessa
GM Customer Service

 

[Adonh]

The Tow vehicle will be a Class a diesel pusher with more than ample towing capacity for the the sonic. The Sonic will be towed with a Tow Bar with base plates attached to the front of the sonic from either Blue OX or another known tow bar manufacturer.

Don

 

[Papasonic]

The Sonic can be flat towed in either the automatic or manual transmission model with some special restrictions for the automatic. Read the details in the link below.

Can You Tow it Behind a Motorhome? - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Long-Term Road Test

Here is a device to simplify towing electrical connections.


Blue Ox Fuse ByPass Switch for Towed Vehicles - Mini-Fuse Blue Ox Tow Bar Wiring BX88272

 

[Adonh]

The Sonic can be flat towed in either the automatic or manual transmission model with some special restrictions for the automatic. Read the details in the link below.

Can You Tow it Behind a Motorhome? - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Long-Term Road Test

Here is a device to simplify towing by not having to remove the DLIS fuse.


Blue Ox Fuse ByPass Switch for Towed Vehicles - Mini-Fuse Blue Ox Tow Bar Wiring BX88272

Thanks for the information this confirms what I have read and heard form others. The Blue Ox By Pass Switch which makes the task of hooking by that much easier.

It sounds like the Sonic is the car for me.

Thanks again.

Don

 

[Papasonic]

After further review: The Sonic specific harness appears to still require fuse removal. I don't think that still would be a deal breaker. Some searches on the web describe adding a switch to control the fused circuit; somewhere easily accessible.

 

[djetton]

Towing 2012 Sonic

I purchased a 2012 Sonic LTZ to flat tow behind my Winnebago Class C motor home. I equipped the Sonic with a Roadmaster tow package and couldn't be happier. Wonderful tow car. I don't pull the recommended fuse but I do start the car and let it run for several minutes around midday when towing. No problems so far.

 

[Adonh]

I purchased a 2012 Sonic LTZ to flat tow behind my Winnebago Class C motor home. I equipped the Sonic with a Roadmaster tow package and couldn't be happier. Wonderful tow car. I don't pull the recommended fuse but I do start the car and let it run for several minutes around midday when towing. No problems so far.

Just curious on why you don't pull the fuse. I have ordered the Road master fuse switch for the Sonic and it should be here on Monday. That should make the process a lot simpler by just turning a switch from on to off. I just had the Road Master base plates installed and have only towed for a few short distances after following all of the instructions in the manual. It tows great. I still have to decide on supplemental braking for the Sonic.I am looking at the SMI Braking system since the previous Motor Home owner also had this system and the system hardware is for the coach is already installed. That will cut down on the installation cost some what.

AIR FORCE ONE | SMI Manufacturing Inc.

Thanks Don

 

[RJP]

4 down towing

Hello,

Just came from the Dealer and the 2013 Sonic can be towed 4 down but only with a manual transmission.

 

[RJP]

The question I have is: does the odometer register when being towed 4 down?

 

[djetton]

The odometer does not register when car is towed.

 

[gsxr1000]

This is copy and pasted from the Sonic owners manual

Dinghy Towing RS Model with
Automatic Transmission
Notice: If the vehicle is towed
with all four wheels on the
ground, the drivetrain
components could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
tow the vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground.
The vehicle was not designed to be
towed with all four wheels on the
ground. If the vehicle must be
towed, a dolly should be used. See
“Dolly Towing” that follows for more
information.
Dinghy Towing All except RS
Model with Automatic
Transmission
When dinghy towing a vehicle with
an automatic transmission, the
vehicle should be run at the
beginning of each day and at each
RV fuel stop for about five minutes.
This will ensure proper lubrication of
transmission components.
To dinghy tow the vehicle from the
front with all four wheels on the
ground:
1. Position the vehicle to tow and
then secure it to the towing
vehicle.
2. Shift the automatic transmission
to P (Park) or a manual
transmission into 1 (First) gear
and turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. To prevent the battery from
draining while the vehicle is
being towed, remove the
following fuse from the
instrument panel fuse block:
(DLIS). See Instrument Panel
Fuse Block on page 10‑38 for
more information.
5. Turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
6. Shift the automatic transmission
to N (Neutral) or a manual
transmission to Neutral.
7. Release the parking brake.
Remember to reinstall the DLIS fuse
once the destination has been
reached.
Notice: If 105 km/h (65 mph) is
exceeded while towing the
vehicle, it could be damaged.
Never exceed 105 km/h (65 mph)
while towing the vehicle.

 

[GM_6T40_Trans_Engineer]

Just to emphasize, the RS model with an automatic is NOT dinghy towable.

 

[Maddog2020]

Sonic makes a good toad!

We got a used motorhome and set my Sonic up for 4 wheels down towing. We spent Christmas in Florida. I must say it towed great! I pulled the recommended fuse, 3 days of towing and it started right up.

On the way back the roads were heavily salted so the Sonic was quite messy! I may have the dirtiest Sonic ever.

I took it to the car wash and it cleaned up nicely.

 

[Maddog2020]

Here is a picture of what it looks like when not towing, totally worth it in my opinion to have the sonic when RVing.

 

[leader]

Hello,

Just came from the Dealer and the 2013 Sonic can be towed 4 down but only with a manual transmission.

Only partly correct. Here's the confusion: my Sonic manual says the RS version automatic version cannot be towed 4 wheels down, also known as dingy towing, but that the non RS version can be towed 4 wheels down. Verify before doing so but that's what I read.

 

[attrapereves]

I've always avoided towing a car with wheels on the ground. Although I suppose having all four touching is better than the rear two as hitting a pothole can knock the rear out of alignment.

When I moved cross-country a few years ago, I paid extra and rented a flatbed car tower.

 

[$ub$onic]

Well lucky for us. Nothing to really align in the rear. So nothing to worry about

 

[Blue hedgehog]

I've always avoided towing a car with wheels on the ground. Although I suppose having all four touching is better than the rear two as hitting a pothole can knock the rear out of alignment.

When I moved cross-country a few years ago, I paid extra and rented a flatbed car tower.

I'm not sure what you were trying to say here. "All 4 is better than just the rear, as hitting a pothole can knock the rear out of alignment" is it better in your eyes to hit the pothole with the front then the rear? The front is easier to knock out of alignment than the rear. But yes a flatbed trailer would eliminate worries about damaging your car.

 

[ahtoxa]

I don't think he's actually talking about the geometric wheel alignment. He's talking about the rear end of the car bouncing around when towed on the dolly and the overall contraption being less stable than having the car in question with 4 wheels on the ground.

There is always much debate for just about any vehicle on whether to dingy tow or not. My rule is simple - automatic trans gets towed only on a dolly or a full vehicle trailer. Manual trans can be dingy towed as well as any other way.