Anyone towing a Cruze four down

[DriVer]

Hey guys!

I was just watching this on CBS Sunday Morning.

At the General Motors Orion plant just north of Detroit, they're cranking out a new sub-compact: the Chevy Sonic.

"It's beautiful, and the plant's ready to roll," said Gerald Johnson, GM's manufacturing manager.

"Who is going to buy these products?" asked Jarvis.

"Everybody!" said Johnson.

The Sonic will be the only sub-compact built in America. But making it here instead of Mexico or Asia, where wages are much lower, required driving some hard bargains with the UAW. New hires start at about $16 an hour, half the usual salary.

==========

It looks like Chevrolet is coming out with a new sub-compact car called a Sonic. Maybe this one is flat four Towable. The car has an available 6 speed "manual" transmission. OK - Manual transmission - super light weight (I expect) should make for a good toad - but we'll see. Hopefully the automatic tranny in the car will allow for flat four towing. The dash looks somewhat like my Saturn Vue.

[Retiredblade]

Originally Posted by DriVer

Hey guys!

I was just watching this on CBS Sunday Morning.

At the General Motors Orion plant just north of Detroit, they're cranking out a new sub-compact: the Chevy Sonic.

"It's beautiful, and the plant's ready to roll," said Gerald Johnson, GM's manufacturing manager.

"Who is going to buy these products?" asked Jarvis.

"Everybody!" said Johnson.

The Sonic will be the only sub-compact built in America. But making it here instead of Mexico or Asia, where wages are much lower, required driving some hard bargains with the UAW. New hires start at about $16 an hour, half the usual salary.

==========

It looks like Chevrolet is coming out with a new sub-compact car called a Sonic. Maybe this one is flat four Towable. The car has an available 6 speed "manual" transmission. OK - Manual transmission - super light weight (I expect) should make for a good toad - but we'll see. Hopefully the automatic tranny in the car will allow for flat four towing. The dash looks somewhat like my Saturn Vue.

I hate to burst your bubble, but I already asked my GM rep. whom I have been dealing with concerning my Cruze. The Chevy Sonic is NOT TOWABLE 4 WHEELS DOWN with the automatic, do don't rush out and buy one.

[Justcruisn]

I see lots of conflicting info on dinghy towing a 2012 Malibu. My dealer assured me last night that it is dinghy towable with 4cyl and 6 speed auto. The manual says it is. There has been no bulletin, notice, or safety recall to contradict the manual, brochures, or what the dealers are saying. It would be great if a GM Engineer was monitoring here and could chime in with the "real" answer.

[paz]

Originally Posted by Justcruisn

I see lots of conflicting info on dinghy towing a 2012 Malibu. My dealer assured me last night that it is dinghy towable with 4cyl and 6 speed auto. The manual says it is. There has been no bulletin, notice, or safety recall to contradict the manual, brochures, or what the dealers are saying. It would be great if a GM Engineer was monitoring here and could chime in with the "real" answer.

That's good news if true. How about the 6 cyl w/ 6 spd auto?

Unfortunately, the manual said the Cruze was towable, too.

[rehtaf]

just got a call from District Specialist,they are building my 2012 Equinox

[Retiredblade]

Originally Posted by rehtaf

just got a call from District Specialist,they are building my 2012 Equinox

Good for you, I'm still waiting for my GM reps boss to answer his phone to get my deal going, those all day meetings and long lunches sure kill the day!

[Elkhartjim]

Originally Posted by paz

How about the 6 cyl w/ 6 spd auto?

I've towed my 2011 Malibu 6/6 for approx 3000 miles without any problems.

I do sometimes wonder...the manual says to start it at each fuel stop. Thats usually 600-650 miles for me but it could be half that for a gasser.

[jacmat]

Originally Posted by Elkhartjim

I've towed my 2011 Malibu 6/6 for approx 3000 miles without any problems.

I do sometimes wonder...the manual says to start it at each fuel stop. Thats usually 600-650 miles for me but it could be half that for a gasser.

I usually fuel at the end of the day or early in the morning before leaving. On average I drive 500 to 600 miles per day.
I tow a 2010 Malibu 4 cyl. 6 speed auto. So what I do is to run the engine for 5 to 10 minutes when I stop for lunch, otherwise I would tow it the whole day without running the engine.

[docj]

Ever since the issue with the Cruze arose, I've become more careful with my Malibu; I'm making sure to let it run for 5 minutes when hitching up and then every 3-4 hours while we are underway. The owner's manual is ambiguous since it provides no guidance other than the vague "run it when you refuel" statement.

[Lit]

Originally Posted by Retiredblade

I hate to burst your bubble, but I already asked my GM rep. whom I have been dealing with concerning my Cruze. The Chevy Sonic is NOT TOWABLE 4 WHEELS DOWN with the automatic, do don't rush out and buy one.

This is NOT true! I had a look see at the owners manual and YES it's towable 4 wheels down. It's much smaller than the Cruze, the 4 door sedan is a good looking car. Just remember it's new just like the Cruze, so it may take some time for the problems to show up.

I have just returned from the dealer to discuss my options with my Cruze, I'll get back as soon as I know what GM is going to do. I'm opting for an Equinox for my towed, it has a track record of being a dingy.

[Retiredblade]

Originally Posted by Lit

This is NOT true! I had a look see at the owners manual and YES it's towable 4 wheels down. It's much smaller than the Cruze, the 4 door sedan is a good looking car. Just remember it's new just like the Cruze, so it may take some time for the problems to show up.

I have just returned from the dealer to discuss my options with my Cruze, I'll get back as soon as I know what GM is going to do. I'm opting for an Equinox for my towed, it has a track record of being a dingy.

My rep looked it up and said it WASN'T, I remember looking into the Cruze owners manual and it said it was towable four wheels down, I remember asking the salesman before I bought it, "is it towable 4 wheels down?" "Yes" I was told. Only to find out a month or so later that it wasn't and got a letter with a owners manual insert saying it wasn't. If your so confident that a Sonic is towable, why don't you buy one? It's towable 4 wheels down, you say, buy one, then let all of us know how well it works! You be our point man, since you believe in GM!

[RVThere]

Just be careful thinking that the Remco is the answer to all your problems especially if you have a DP.

I installed a Remco trans pump on my 2008 Town & Country minivan a few years ago and have trouble towing when the air temp is over 80 degrees. Seems the heat off the back of the coach does not allow the Remco pump to keep the trans fluid cool enough and after about 1-2 hours of driving, the Remco monitor in the cab starts beeping that it has no pressure. Been back and forth with Remco and they don't have a solution.

Hopefully that will not be the case for the Cruze but after seeing a previous post about how the aerodynamics of the Cruze does not allow the trans to cool in its current state, I was reminded of my situation.

PS - I now tow a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

[Lit]

Originally Posted by Retiredblade

My rep looked it up and said it WASN'T, I remember looking into the Cruze owners manual and it said it was towable four wheels down, I remember asking the salesman before I bought it, "is it towable 4 wheels down?" "Yes" I was told. Only to find out a month or so later that it wasn't and got a letter with a owners manual insert saying it wasn't. If your so confident that a Sonic is towable, why don't you buy one? It's towable 4 wheels down, you say, buy one, then let all of us know how well it works! You be our point man, since you believe in GM!

WHOA! - What a rude response. My previous posting was that I physically had seen the owner’s manual for the Chevrolet Sonic, I stated and I shouldn’t have voiced a personal opinion; that it looked somewhat like the Cruze only smaller. I then went on to say that the problem of towing a Sonic may come up at a later date because it’s a new product.
The general manager of the dealer and I were walking through the showroom discussing my options with my Cruze as the Sonic was being unloaded off the truck. I verbalized your response of “hating to burst your bubble it’s not towable.” He told them to open the glove box and get him the owner’s manual, as I looked over his shoulder I also speed read the section in recreational towing. Unless there was a supplemental sheet which I didn’t see, it’s dingy towable.
iRV2 forums is a means for people to give each other help and knowledge with a generous helping of kindness, we are all in the same boat. You have posted several times asking “Did anyone settle the problem with their Cruze.” When I tried to answer your question to inform you of my progress in this thread you returned; IMO a caustic rave that made me think that you didn’t get your nap today!
I will never darken your door again I don’t need your rudeness. If you were on Usenet I would PLONK your handle. Good luck to you and anyone else who had purchased a Chevrolet Cruze to use as a dingy.

[energizer]

Here is the words from the Sonic Owners manual about RV towing. Dinghy Towing
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. Here is the site.
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13158698648203
These are the same words that appeared in the Cruze manual. Air flow will be the problem with the Sonic like the Cruze. I am waiting to hear from GM about an offer for a new Cruze with a manual transmission and changing over my tow bar bracket and lighting kit.