Anyone Used An A-bar?

Does anyone have any experience of trying to drag an XM (dead or otherwise) using an A-Bar?
Obviously there are access and suspension issues to consider, but just thought I might save myself a lot of potential embarrassment if someone has already tried, and to find out whether they succeeded or failed.
Thanks for any help
Rod.

Is it an estate? Apparently you're not supposed to tow them with no suspension for some reason, according to the Citroen manual, forget why though.

In general, I'd be wary about doing it even on a hatch if the suspension was down, its very easy to trail the backside out of it on a road bump when the rear is flat (go on, ask me how I know )

No doubt someone will be along whos tried and / or failed at this in the past!

Ciarán

This post has been edited by Ciaran on November 07, 2007 04:20 pm

I pulled a CX back from South Wales once on a dolly I hired. About 100 miles.

It was a runner but no tax or mot so I started it and blew the suspension up before I set off. When I got back obviously the suspension was flat and the exhaust had been scraping the road! Other than that it was fine.

The problem with the estate is the longer overhang at the back making scraping the ground more likely, and inevitable if being winched on to a recovery vehicle apparently. Refers to case where loss of suspension pressure has occurred.

Robert.

I was a bit concerned when I was recovered by a spectacle towtruck rather than the usual flatbed type that had been used many times before, but the driver assured me it was OK
and it would have been IMPOSSIBLE to unload a flatbed outside my indies when we arrived there, just NO parking or turning space. Then again its a hatch and the suspension did stay up, couldn't run the engine due to alternator failure.

Is an A-bar like a spectacle thingy?

Thanks to those of you guys who've taken the trouble to share your thoughts and experiences.
Just to eliminate any confusion, what I refer to as an A-bar is a device that flat tows (all 4 wheels on the deck, no lifting involved) with rigid fixed attachment at two points on the front end (usually the suspension arms, but could be anything strong enough) The car then meekly follows and self steers (not forgetting to unlock the steering !!) behind the towing vehicle.
Have had a good look under the front of one of my cars and the track control arms are a long way back and quite shielded, so not sure whether they can be accessed by the tool that I have. There are , however two loops, presumably for towing, further forward which might be strong enough to attach to. Maybe a little try-out locally when I have time will provide some idea of whether this is worth persuing for retrievals further afield.
Unless anyone can tell me otherwise I'm also assuming that the usual rules apply to towing automatics. The only way I can think of getting round that is to dismantle the CVJ's in situ or take them out altogether and dealing with the attendant spillage.
This system has served me well in the past with more "conventional" aquisitions and is so much easier that using a trailer (the dismantled device fits easily into a car boot). It would be a boon if XM's could be done the same way.

I suppose if the car is working you could leave the engine running and that would ensure the suspension stays up? Did that with my 2.1 recently when the throttle cable snapped. Engine running to ensure brakes, suspension and steering, while my dad's Rover 400 struggled to tow me back to the house
Obviously different from an A frame, but so long as the car is secured I don't see there being a problem with having it idling.

The wee eyelets on the front of the subframe you refer to are for towing I think.
I personally wouldn't feel comfortable dragging it by the steering arms, but maybe they're capable of taking that kind of force, honestly not sure but I'm sure someone more knowledgable will know.

Ciarán

Thanks Ciaran, for yet more useful input. I may have mislead with my terminology (and shown my age!!) when referring to track control arms. Would not dream of towing on steering components, only the bottom/track control/suspension arms, not the track rods or anything else steering related. Apart from the strength issue, the car would not self steer unless everything was free to move.
I agree that running of engine to keep suspension up would eliminate the ground clearance problem if the option was available.
Am also following in your footsteps with driver's doorlock in my hand trying to stop it unlocking itself and telling dot matrix that the door is always open!! Happy days.......

Hi Rodders,

Not at all, its me who misread what you said!

As for the door lock and dot matrix message, I finally resolved that by unplugging the multiplug from the switch inside the door and giving everything a thorough drenching in electrical contact cleaner... well, as best as you can in that very limited space. I've not had the problem since.
Interestingly though, I have had minor oddities with other doors, but eventually traced these down to a weak / badly connected battery.

I can't remember if I posted the results in that original dot matrix thread, will have to check.

Cheers

Ciarán

Thats an interesting thing.. Xantias also suffer from this lock/unlocking problem, and it is 99% of the time a simple fact of unplugging the multi plug off the lock, WD40'ing it.. and refitting it to have it completely operational again. I've not experianced it much on the XM however...

Rgdss
citroenxm

I've towed both hatchback and estates using an A frame. Absolutely no problem. I've even stopped worrying about the ride height unless it's right down.

Remember to unlock the steering lock though!

You'll find the tow vehicle needs a fair bit of grunt. I use a 2.5 XM.

Piece of cake and you don't need a light bar if during daylight hours.

Good luck.

Could I ask which attachment points you use and what sort of distances the suspension will tolerate before dropping? (or is the "drop" only governed by the time it would take to sink if parked?)
Thanks Rodders.