Tow points

[jackrussell]

I recently needed a tow for my '83 944 due to a starter failure. The tow truck driver would not pull the car up onto his truck because he could not find a place to connect his chains to the car [trying to pull rear of the car up first]. Turns out it did not matter because we started the car with a short push backwards and bumping the clutch with the trans in reverse.
My question is: Where would you hook up to tow the car from the front and from the back, if necessary, without damage to the car?

[WestonP22]

There are two hooks down by the front sway bar

[pontifex4]

Weston - are those hooks only on early cars? I didn't see them on my '88 when I was in the same boat, and we ended up winching the car onto the bed of the truck using a nylon strap around the front control arm.

In early cars, you can probably get away with using the steel hooks which tow truck drivers have on their winches since the control arms are steel, but it would still make me a little uncomfortable. The rear is especially tricky. I ended up pulling mine backwards with the same nylon strap run below the rear trailing arm and around the torsion bar end, and I don't really recommend this.

The next day, I bought a tow hook online.

[many944s]

Shouldn't make a difference between early and late. All of these cars originally had "tie down" eyelets at the front and rear of the car, it was required for import into the U.S. in fact, that is how they were strapped to the boat on the way over!

I have seen several of them bent 90 degrees (parallel with ground) and I've even seen some of them cut/torn off. Afterall, thay are getting up there in age!

-Nick

[jackrussell]

Originally Posted by many944s

Shouldn't make a difference between early and late. All of these cars originally had "tie down" eyelets at the front and rear of the car, it was required for import into the U.S. in fact, that is how they were strapped to the boat on the way over!

I have seen several of them bent 90 degrees (parallel with ground) and I've even seen some of them cut/torn off. Afterall, thay are getting up there in age!

-Nick

Yes, my car has these "hooks" at the front, but I wouldn't try to tow with them because of potential damage to the front spoiler, A/C hoses and other components.
I'm sure they are tie downs for shipping. I don't see any hooks at all for the back.
Guess I'll have to fabricate some of my own!

I have seen some Porsche "tow hooks" on ebay. Has anyone used these? What do they bolt to?

[thekidd]

I towed my car (maybe 3 miles) and I think I used the eyelets that many944's is talking about. Does anyone have any pictures of these? Right in front of the A-arm, correst?
For the rear, I can picture in my head any eyelets in the rear. Have used a flat bed everytime. I think someone said that there are poles in front of the rear tires (torsion bars?) that can be used for towing, or to hook up for a flat bed.

[Ctan]

There are bolt on eyelets the go straight to the frame rails. These are ideal and required for things like Targa Newfoundland. I had to be recovered a while back and the wrecker crew used a pair of J-hooks linked in a Y-yolk hooked onto the torsion bar anchors to drag me onto the flatbed.

The anchors are in the rear wheel wells in front of the wheel. about an inch diameter and 5 inches long from the frame if memory serves. It's a solid drag point so long as they use a Y-yolk and not try to drag with a single hook. Then it's just dangerous lol.

[many944s]

True, the spoiler does flex a couple inches, but I have never seen it actually damage it. and I have had several of these towed to my shop over the years.

It's good to know local tow truck drivers, especially when someone askes them "do you know of anyone around here that even works on these"

Originally Posted by jackrussell

Yes, my car has these "hooks" at the front, but I wouldn't try to tow with them because of potential damage to the front spoiler, A/C hoses and other components.
I'm sure they are tie downs for shipping. I don't see any hooks at all for the back.
Guess I'll have to fabricate some of my own!

I have seen some Porsche "tow hooks" on ebay. Has anyone used these? What do they bolt to?

[Ctan]

I forgot t mention... I have the "Euro" front spoiler. I've only ever seen it on a car in the *********** catalogue. The Crew hooked through the lower outside intakes to the frame. We had to ragpad the spoiler but nil damage on the fiberglass nose piece.

[944Spec_bound]

just being a smartass