# Towing an AWD Subaru

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/towing-an-awd-subaru/27258>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [March 4, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/towing-an-awd-subaru/27258 "2009-03-04T01:03:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![andy1234](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@andy1234](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andy1234)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/towing-an-awd-subaru/27258/1 "2009-03-04T01:03:37Z")

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I have been researching how to tow my 1996 Subaru Legacy L AWD. I have read that my vehicle should only be towed on a flat bed to prevent damage. I have contacted Subaru and read my owner’s manual and they also say that using towing dollies would also be acceptable. This seems to be a contradiction. Any thoughts?

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**Author:** ![useless123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/848f3c/32.png) [@useless123](https://community.cartalk.com/u/useless123)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/towing-an-awd-subaru/27258/2 "2009-03-04T01:06:20Z")

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Towing dollies or flat bed keeping wheels off the ground, therefore either of them would be fine.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/towing-an-awd-subaru/27258/3 "2009-03-04T01:57:37Z")

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They both keep the wheels from contacting the road so that eliminates the damage to the AWD system.

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/towing-an-awd-subaru/27258/4 "2009-03-04T02:25:42Z")

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You do not specify transmission.

You can tow a manual transmission Subaru AWD with all four wheels on the ground beyond the dolly or flatbed.

Automatic transmission must be towed with all four wheels off the ground.

The AWD is vastly different between automatics and manuals.

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**Author:** ![andy1234](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@andy1234](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andy1234)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/towing-an-awd-subaru/27258/5 "2009-03-04T02:43:37Z")

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Ooops. It is an automatic transmission.