I’ve been reading about towing the car in the manual and something is missing

[gottagofast]

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_jo/GUID-FA9E3DC9-805C-45BD-A64D-C4B3F491B8C0.html

I hope I never need a tow but was just getting some knowledge incase I ever do

apparently Tesla thinks the tow truck will always be able to winch the car from the the front, it tells you to take the tow eye out and screw it onto the front of the car

That’s nice, so what do I do if the front of my car is facing a wall and they need to winch it from the back? Manual doesn’t say

 

[terranx]

Huh, never actually noticed that the model 3 doesn't have a rear tow point. The rest of them do. Looks like they added one for highland.

Probably they'd have to winch you from the suspension arms then.

 

[gottagofast]

Huh, never actually noticed that the model 3 doesn't have a rear tow point. The rest of them do. Looks like they added one for highland.

View attachment 1020991

Probably they'd have to winch you from the suspension arms then.

It says do not winch from suspension

 

[terranx]

It says do not winch from suspension

I guess you could put straps around the tires and pull them. Hopefully it'd be a relatively slick surface. Otherwise I think you'd just have to take the risk and toe by an arm or the subframe or something

 

[gottagofast]

I guess you could put straps around the tires and pull them. Hopefully it'd be a relatively slick surface. Otherwise I think you'd just have to take the risk and toe by an arm or the subframe or something

Maybe tire dollies and straps? Because it says to not drag the wheels

 

[terranx]

Maybe tire dollies and straps? Because it says to not drag the wheels

Sounds like it'd be a pain to setup if the car is stuck in the mud / snow and on an uneven / unstable surface

 

[gottagofast]

Sounds like it'd be a pain to setup if the car is stuck in the mud / snow and on an uneven / unstable surface

It also says dollies must be used if you can’t put the car in tow mode, dragging the car can damage the motors or brakes

 

[terranx]

It also says dollies must be used if you can’t put the car in tow mode, dragging the car can damage the motors or brakes

I'd rather take a risk with the motors or brakes (which should be able to handle being pulled a few feet regardless) than injuring or killing myself personally.

 

[dandelot]

Wouldn't a tow truck *qualified* to tow a Tesla already know the appropriate procedure?

 

[gottagofast]

Wouldn't a tow truck *qualified* to tow a Tesla already know the appropriate procedure?

Wouldn’t the manual tell you too?

 

[terranx]

Wouldn’t the manual tell you too?

I mean the reality is there is no approved Tesla method. You’ll have to improvise. A good tow truck driver can do so while minimizing damage to the vehicle. Likely by doing one of the things mentioned above