Towing Porsche in a trailer

[timw5747]

I tow my GT4RS in an Aerovault trailer so it’s a tight fit. I also tow a 2001 Cobra with a manual transmission in the same trailer. The Cobra is easy as you put it in neutral and let the electric winch pull it in and then tie down the wheels. Problem on the GT4RS is when you put it in neutral, you must leave the key on - I haven’t found a way to tow it in neutral unless the key is on. Sliding into window to put car in park is gigantic pain due to space constraints of trailer. Anyone have any suggestions? I’ve always towed other cars in neutral so transmission has no stress during transport so guessing someone else has figured this out and I’m just slow to learn…

[Bluebarchetta]

I towed my BGTS home from the dealer. Only thing I could come up with was using the parking brake (since it was cool/cold) to take some of the stress off the trans being in park. Like you, my race cars are towed in neutral. Also, don’t accidentally lock the car, lol

[blueline]

I tow my GT4RS in an Aerovault trailer so it’s a tight fit. I also tow a 2001 Cobra with a manual transmission in the same trailer. The Cobra is easy as you put it in neutral and let the electric winch pull it in and then tie down the wheels. Problem on the GT4RS is when you put it in neutral, you must leave the key on - I haven’t found a way to tow it in neutral unless the key is on. Sliding into window to put car in park is gigantic pain due to space constraints of trailer. Anyone have any suggestions? I’ve always towed other cars in neutral so transmission has no stress during transport so guessing someone else has figured this out and I’m just slow to learn…

Great question and one I hadn't even thought about since I have yet to tow the GT4 (or any Porsches) on my open-wheel trailer, something I may do at some point in the future. I'm going to look into this as there are a couple of people who will have an answer. If I find out anything of merit, I'll' post it here.

Welcome to Carpokes!

[blueline]

There is a bit of info on towing, flatbed loading, etc. in my Owner's Manual, so probably the same for the Owner's Manuals for 4RS and all other Porsches.

Section "Towing & Tow Starting" pp227 -229 also talks about using a flat bed so a bit of insight there (not a lot).

In the "Transmission" chapter there is a brief mention of Neutral use in a section on p232.

However, the section titled "Selector Lever Emergency Release" on p197 might be the fall-back when other options don't work. It's an emergency method to disengage the selector lever and the car is free to roll. Then again, I'm not sure I'd want to be doing that every time the car was going to be trailered.

I'll still ask around for what others are doing.

[WillyDaP]

Appreciate the info on towing and the pages to check in the manual. I don't have the space constraints of the gorgeous Aerovault trailer timw5747 has, as my ATC has quite a bit more room, but I may have to crawl out the window a couple of times before I get enough funds for a winch. Funds during retirement seem to limit my constant grocery list of items needed to fuel my road course desires! This is further compounded by the fact that many Carpokes keep posting more and more cool things that I have convinced myself I need, ha!

[timw5747]

Appreciate the info on towing and the pages to check in the manual. I don't have the space constraints of the gorgeous Aerovault trailer timw5747 has, as my ATC has quite a bit more room, but I may have to crawl out the window a couple of times before I get enough funds for a winch. Funds during retirement seem to limit my constant grocery list of items needed to fuel my road course desires!

WillyDaP - the winch has been a game changer for us. Used to drive cars into the trailer (not the Aerovault but the trailers I used to own) and perform some yoga stretches to slide out as gracefully as possible. Which wasn’t actually possible.

[timw5747]

There is a bit of info on towing, flatbed loading, etc. in my Owner's Manual, so probably the same for the Owner's Manuals for 4RS and all other Porsches.

Section "Towing & Tow Starting" pp227 -229 also talks about using a flat bed so a bit of insight there (not a lot).

In the "Transmission" chapter there is a brief mention of Neutral use in a section on p232.

However, the section titled "Selector Lever Emergency Release" on p197 might be the fall-back when other options don't work. It's an emergency method to disengage the selector lever and the car is free to roll. Then again, I'm not sure I'd want to be doing that every time the car was going to be trailered.

I'll still ask around for what others are doing.

I think you may be onto something with the selector lever emergency release. I’m going to dig into that further. Thanks!

[blueline]

There is a bit of info on towing, flatbed loading, etc. in my Owner's Manual, so probably the same for the Owner's Manuals for 4RS and all other Porsches.

Section "Towing & Tow Starting" pp227 -229 also talks about using a flat bed so a bit of insight there (not a lot).

In the "Transmission" chapter there is a brief mention of Neutral use in a section on p232.

However, the section titled "Selector Lever Emergency Release" on p197 might be the fall-back when other options don't work. It's an emergency method to disengage the selector lever and the car is free to roll. Then again, I'm not sure I'd want to be doing that every time the car was going to be trailered.

I'll still ask around for what others are doing.

I think you may be onto something with the selector lever emergency release. I’m going to dig into that further. Thanks!

Please let us know if you solve this.

I'm also still going to ask a few who should know if there are options or workarounds that are not in the Owner's Manual.

[WillyDaP]

Interesting thoughts as never thought there would be any issue loading in a trailer but likely can just ask my son, Ryan, as Porsche of Omaha delivers all over the US ( 5 ATC Trailers ) and I can't imagine there is that much of an issue -- heck, I think a couple of the guys loading the cars are my age ( insert ancient, ha).

Tim, I agree the winch is a game changer but the guy I bought my trailer from decided he wanted it so I need to get a new one and install. At present I am in the " State of No Funds " with a pre-paid vacation just paid for and Uncle Sam's meager monthly stipend and other monies are pre-spent for some months ahead. 0% credit cards are dangerous and I will need to stay as a 70+ year old gymnast, crawling Bo Duke style in and out of the window, for a bit, ha!

[blueline]

Interesting thoughts as never thought there would be any issue loading in a trailer but likely can just ask my son, Ryan, as Porsche of Omaha delivers all over the US ( 5 ATC Trailers ) and I can't imagine there is that much of an issue -- heck, I think a couple of the guys are my age ( insert ancient, ha).

Tim, I agree the winch is a game changer but the guy I bought my trailer from decided he wanted it so I need to get a new one and install. At present I am in the " State of No Funds " with a pre-paid vacation taken care of and Uncle Sam's meager monthly stipend and other monies are pre-sent for some months ahead. 0% credit cards are dangerous and I will need to stay a 70+ year old gymnast crawling Bo Duke style in and out of the window for a bit, ha!

Hazzard County indeed! Love the sentiments and definitely understand them too.