We're looking to buy a motorhome and need a car to tow behind it for local transportation while traveling.

For a variety of reasons, our 2002 S2K is an attractive choice for the purpose, but the manual says it should not be towed flat (four-wheels-down.) Most manual transmission cars can be towed flat.

For cars that cannot otherwise be towed flat, there are often mods that can will enable that, for example lube pumps for the automatic transmission. I note that Roadmaster makes a baseplate for towing a 2002 S2K.

Has anyone towed their S2K? What kind of mods did you make?

I've searched at lot for an answer and the only success story I've come up with is this one: http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2923397 Note the 10/24/2011 post. Most everyone else advises against it.

Any experience out there? Any success stories?

Thanks!

Wayne

 

Maybe get a dolly type trailer so the wheels are not spinning while towed.

 

Get a trailer to town it 4 wheels of the ground.

 

Why? In the post the guy put 15,300 miles(towing and driving, post 13)
http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2923397
on his S with no damage to the car. If you can't back up a m/h with a trailer or just the car it will take a lot of work to get your rig with a trailer out of a wrong turn or dead end road. I drove truck for over 26 years and I did have to break a set of doubles to get out of a situation(not fun in the cold and rain). You see cars and suv's being towed all the time without any wheels off the ground. The one thing I don't know is if your towed miles add up on the odometer with the key in the off position in the car? No way you could hurt the diff but if the trans has a pump that runs off of the input shaft, that can cause damage to the tranny for lack of lubrication. But with that guy towing the S for almost 10.5k miles I dought you will hurt anything in the S by towing it.

ROD

 

I don't see in the manual where it says it should not be towed flat - not specifically, anyway. It does say a flat-bed is the only way it should be transported to avoid body damage, it says nothing about damage to the diff or trans. It also says connecting tow hooks to the frame or suspension could damage those components:

Flat-bed Equipment - The operator loads your vehicle on the back of a truck. This is the only way your S2000 should be transported. When you contact the towing agency, inform them that you have an S2000 and that a flat-bed is required.

Emergency Towing Wheel Lift Equipment - The tow truck uses two pivoting arms that go under the tires (front or rear) and lift them off the ground. The other two tires remain on the ground. Because the S2000 sits so low, the body could come in contact with the ground and be damaged. This method of towing is unacceptable.

Sling-type Equipment - The tow truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around parts of the frame or suspension and the cables lift that end of the car off the ground. Your car’s suspension and body can be seriously damaged. This method of towing is unacceptable.

That being said, read this:

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/985...tial-problems/

You could disconnect the driveshaft for the long hauls if you're concerned about trans damage.

 

Excellent point! I did not read the part about flatbed being "the only way your S2000 should be transported" to be limited to emergency situations, but rather any transporting other than driving on its own. Your reading may be right. I guess it would be more accurate for me to say that the manual is ambiguous on the question of towing the S2000 four-wheels-down behind an RV.

The manual for my Sierra 1500, by contrast, clearly states that the 4WD version can be flat towed behind an RV, but that the 2WD version must be towed with the rear (drive) wheels on a dolly.

The manual for my wife's Accord is also silent on the matter of towing four-down, but I know for a fact that it cannot be towed that way without damaging the automatic transmission. For wrecker service, it says flatbed is best, lifting the front (drive) wheels is acceptable, but lifting the rear wheels is a last resort. With the front wheels on the ground it must not be towed more than 50 miles nor faster than 35 MPH.

Maybe the S2000 can be flat towed, but I would feel much better if I heard from others who have done so successfully. I asked on an RV forum and no one had done so (although one said he had sold his beloved S2000 because, like me, he had concluded that it could not be flat towed.)

I thought maybe this forum might be where I could find a few success stories to give me greater confidence about trying it.

Thanks everyone!

Wayne

 

Rod – It’s my understanding that, yes, the odometer will register the miles the drive wheels are rolling when flat towed with the engine not running.

Wayne

 

Honda says to tow with the rear wheels off the ground because it can damage the differential. Perhaps that guy in post #13 got lucky.

 

last I read or heard, anything with a torsen diff should not by towed with whatever wheels are the drive wheels with those wheels on the ground

 

Not understanding why someone doing this regularly wouldn't buy the proper equipment to avoid towing the car on it's own wheels.

Something like this is not only cheap to own but makes quick work of using the car, unclip, unchain and go. Having moved cars like this over about 3,000 miles of driving on several occasions I wouldn't do it any other way. Also saves you the trouble of flatting your towed cars tires, wear and tear on suspension plus the added benefit the tires on a trailer are cheap!

The proper trailer will also have a brake assist unit to help keep it all under control.