Towing a 4WD car

[Jason4x4]

I'm not talking about my Jeep here. I have an old Mazda hatchback that is 4WD (true 4WD, not AWD) that my mom uses to drive back and forth to work back in WV. The clutch line gave out on it and left her on the side of the road today (fortunately she only commutes about 3 blocks to work ). She needs to have it towed to a garage, and I'm wondering if it would be better to tow it from the front or rear. Any suggestions? Does it matter? I'll have to be towed about 5 miles or so.

 

[redrooster]

I wouldn't worry if it is only 5 miles. If you are truly concerned, get a rollback.

 

[TwistedCU]

Ideally, you'd want to put the transfer case in neutral (if that's possible), then tow from the front. If not a rollback pretty much eliminates the possibility of damaging it.

Is the owner's manual gone? It should have instructions in there...

 

[Jason4x4]

You can't disengage the transfer case. It does have an electric center differential lock (normally 60% rear 40% front, can be locked into true 50/50). I ended up having a rollback pick it up. No, I don't have the owner's manual - it was gone when I bought the car. I have the shop manual but it didn't have any useful info in it as far as towing the car is concerned. The car is an '88 Mazda 323 GTX (one of 1,243 ever built between 1988 and 1989), in case anyone wondered.