Rear Wheel Drive.

Wellys and Mac
Wellys and Mac Forum Participant Posts: 447
100 Comments
edited June 2019 in Towcars & Towing #1

I'm looking at changing the car.

 I've only ever towed with front wheel drive, considering the wet weather,

If I bought the very desirable automotive sculpture with pornographic interior which just happens to be rear wheel drive, what pitfalls could there be?

Wet weather driving/Hill starts ?

 

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Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2019 #2

    I've towed with rear wheel drive and preferred them on grass CL sites by far. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2019 #3

    The only pitfalls of a rear wheel drive is the possibility of over steer when you're going round a slippery bend, but modern day electrickery in the guise traction control/stability control or similar will usually keep the back at the back rather than leading the way. 

    Hill starts are just normal starts with RWD unlike a FWD that can have the habit of loosing traction especially with a caravan in tow.

    Just learn where the ESP/TC switch is to turn it off ..... sometimes it's better to let a wheel slip a little.

    I've never owned a FWD tow car .....

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited June 2019 #4

    Why not get a 4x4 and have the best of both worlds.

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #5

    Ive towed with both front wheel and rear wheel drive cars. They do feel a little different, both when towing and when solo, but in my opinion one is not any worse or better, just different. I wouldn't let it be a major factor when choosing a car.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2019 #6

    I think on wet grass and particularly up a slope having the caravan weight over the driving wheels is better than having it over the non driven wheels when pulling away

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #7

    Completely agree with you EasyT.

    I may have just been lucky but it never caused a problem when towing with my FWD Audi, even on wet grass. Minor inclines never caused me a problem, I cant recall ever having to tow on up a substantial incline on wet grass so as i say i may have just been lucky.laughing

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2019 #8
    • A modern 4x4 with electronic control of the rear wheels ,we find , is the go almost any where vehicle and our 2ltr will still give over 40mpg when solo
    • And in the years we have towed from an Austin A55 through most UK makes To our latest auto of three Kia Sportages ((do not get the gutless petrol version)
  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2019 #9

    you mean a part time 4x4 then 😉

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited June 2019 #10

    that's a 2x4. 4 when needed. not a true 4x4 when all are used all the time.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2019 #11

    It is still far superior to standard 2 wheel drive if we are being "specific "and rear wheel 2 wheel drive is ok in good conditions but in poor conditions are normally at the front of the queue of frustrated front wheel drive vehicles and electronlcly conected 4x4 trying to get pastcool

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2019 #12

    we all used to manage with RWD as that was (almost) all we had.

  • davetommo
    davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
    edited June 2019 #13

    We all used to manage with coal fires and no tv but things have moved on

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2019 #14

    meaning what? FWD is 'better' than RWD? Formula 1 still use RWD .... perhaps they should all go FWD or 4x4 🤔 Funny how most high performance cars are at least RWD 😉

    FWD is just easier for manufactures to produce a drive train that can be slotted straight into a wide range of vehicles.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2019 #15

    Racing cars need multiple types of tyre to keep them on the road 

    Performance cars? Mostly rear wheel drive?  If also is where the engine is

    front wheel drive can handle most conditions better than rear drive as i have noted  with the quite a few of both types since starting to drive

  • davetommo
    davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
    edited June 2019 #16

    Formula 1 cars are made for haring round a track not driving on a road. I have never seen a formula 1 car tow a caravan.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2019 #17

    you could get through a couple of sets of tyres on your car too if you hooned it around a track flat out all afternoon.

    I agree that FWD can handle most conditions better with minimum input from the nut holding the wheel .... but rally drivers managed pretty well with RWD before Audi's Quattro wiped the floor with them.

     

    However, we're talking tow cars. I've seen a few FWD cars skipping up the hill on the approach to Burrs CC site if they'd had to stop on the hill. The weight of the caravan bears on the 'wrong end' of a FWD car

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2019 #18

    ha de hah! 😐

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2019 #19

    I think the mini showed how rallying should be donecool

    Towing by most  front wheel drive is minimal and then as you say it is who is behind the wheel that matters 

     I have been in really bad snow and ice ,with both rear and front wheel drive and know that a FWD is,  next to our old Fourtrack and our Sportage, where i would rather be in those condiions or any poor road conditions

     

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2019 #20

    but you can't do do-nuts in snow in a FWD ..... unless you go backwards! 🙄

  • Extugger
    Extugger Forum Participant Posts: 1,293
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    edited June 2019 #21

    RWD definitely better for towing than FWD but useless in snow. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited June 2019 #22

    I wouldn't say useless .... just a little trickier & requires a little more thought.

  • padmiester
    padmiester Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited June 2019 #23

    Have towed with both and would say I prefer rwd. Currently got BMW 3 series touring which is very stable when towing with little movement from the van. The extra weight of the caravan on the driven axle seems to offer more grip as previous fwd cars I have had too easily spun the wheels when pulling off, particularly in the wet. As previously mentioned this can help massively when on grass.

  • Extugger
    Extugger Forum Participant Posts: 1,293
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    edited June 2019 #24

    In the hands of the minority I would agree with you, but lets face it, 1/2" of snow and the country comes to a grinding halt!

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2019 #25

    But as mentioned, for the amount of towing most do, the front wheel drive vehicle will be the vehicle of choice next to our sportage

     Ps Have you got all the extras on your bmw? Just wonder how you check the c/van lights as most bmw it seems  turn indicators are not fitted as standardcool

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #26

    I suspect most people tow with FWD cars as they far outnumber the RWD cars on the market. Even the part time 4WD cars tend to favour drive to the front wheels. 

    Padmeister is correct in his description of the advantages of RWD. Again, when it comes to MH base vehicles, RWD is superior in terms of grip, handling and manoeuvrability but, like RWD cars, the vehicles cost more to produce. 

  • stephen p
    stephen p Forum Participant Posts: 194
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    edited June 2019 #27

    I thought they stopped making Ladas some time agowink

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited June 2019 #28
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • padmiester
    padmiester Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited June 2019 #29

    Sorry I am not really familiar with 'indicators'? Are they easy to find and what do they do?? 😜😁

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2019 #30

    It can be with one or two fingers either on the left or right at the end of the arm that is not holding the mobile phonecoolsurprised

    Ps it could well be in capitals in the user "guide?"in your BM welcome packwink

  • GlosJive
    GlosJive Forum Participant Posts: 80
    edited June 2019 #31

    In my area it appears most makes of cars haven't got the indicator package these days.