RV
Advice Q&A Towing and Towed VehiclesRV
Advice Q&A Towing and Towed Vehicles
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Posted
below is about 40% of the E-mail questions submitted to us during the time
frame (shown below) and the answers that are related to towed vehicles
and towing vehicles. You can send your question(s) using the form at the
bottom of any of our Q&A pages.
This page last updated January 18, 2009 containing letters emailed to Pete from October 22, 2008 - January 12, 2009.
Looking for a list of towable vehicles? Check our FAQs page.
We would like to tow a 2006 Lexus GX470-4wd. It has a transfer case. No one wants to commit to towing like a Jeep.
Dear Gary,
If the transfer case has a neutral position and you can buy a bracket kit for the tow bar I would say," Go for it".
Usually if the vehicle is not towable, they won't build the bracket kits.
You will probably be on your own as far as warranty goes, but if the transmission or transfer case fails, it still won't be as much of a loss as it was the day your drove your coach off the lot; so go for what you want.
We want to purchase a good tow vehicle for our new 36' Southwind RV. Can you suggest a couple of small SUV's?
Also is a BMW x3 towable?
Dear Lorette,
Honda CRV, Chevy Trail Blazer, all of the small GM 4x4's. I have no information on the BMW; I would check with the dealer.
The January FMCA magazine issue has the '09 Dinghy Towing Guide, which list most of the tow cars and what is needed for towing. Or you can go through our FAQs page.
I have a 2003 Gulf Stream 30' motor home, E450 with a V10. I'm wondering if it is okay to tow my 1997 Chevy Suburban 4wd with a automatic transmission?
Dear Rafael,
The Suburban is too large of a tow vehicle for your E-450. You're already maxed out with the 30' coach.
We currently own a 2001 Ford Escape, as well as, a 1997 Ford Southwind 32 foot motor home, Class A. Our Escape is 4WD, V6.
Can we tow it behind the motor home?
If so, is there any kind of equipment we need? We heard there is some kind of chip that we had to buy for it. We are very new to the RV aspect.
Dear Deb,
Check with your Ford dealer after market service to see if the neutral tow switch is applicable for your Ford Escape.
Is a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac V6 automatic 4 x 4 towable 4 wheels down? It has the 2 wheel/4 wheel high/low selector switch. What needs to be done to make it towable?
Dear Mark,
You need to have the Ford after market neutral tow switch installed. It's not an expensive update.
I have a good used Blue Ox base plate for it. Call my shop if interested toll free at: 888-471-9291
Can a 2002 VW Golf (gas) with automatic transmission be towed all four wheels down behind a class A motor home?
Dear Govind,
I am going to say no. But you might contact Remco to see if any of their equipment is applicable.
I have a 2003 GMC Sonoma, two wheel drive with a five speed transmission. My dealer said I can tow it without a disconnect drive shaft. Remco says I have to have one; who's right?
Dear Jerry,
I would probably trust Remco. Check your owner's manual under "dinghy towing" to see if GM list any precautions.
I have a 2003 GMC Sonoma pick up, 2 wheel drive, standard 5 speed transmission. The dealer I bought it from said that the truck could be towed behind a motor home with no problems. The motor home is a 2001 class C Chevrolet.
But when talking to people about this, I have received different answers, several people have said that I have to have a disconnect shaft.
Can you help with this? I want to be ready to go camping this spring.
Dear Judy,
I say check with Remco to be sure on the disconnect, but I think you will be okay.
Also, take a look at the M&G auxiliary car braking system. You will need auxiliary braking using the class C GM to tow the Sonoma.
I have a 2004 F-150 with 5.4 triton V8 pulling a 19 foot Trail Lite trailer at 3300 lbs. It seems "short in the pants" going down the highway and going up hills.
Would you suggest getting a pickup with a V10 or getting a diesel?
I need more power but am skiddish about gas prices. What do you think?
Dear Diane,
I think it's a toss up these days with the price of diesel and the initial cost of the truck.
I have a 1994 Winnebago Adventurer and need to know if they are equipped with the wiring to attach the brake system on the tow dolly to the RV?
Dear Donna,
No, not unless a previous owner has wired it in.
If you have electric brakes on your tow dolly you will need to have a brake controller installed in the motor home.
Can a 2007 Honda Accord automatic be four wheel down towed? And can an 2008 Ford Focus be towed the same way?
Dear Kenny,
I think Honda now says, "No". Check your owner's manual and the dinghy towing guide (link of our FAQs page), for information on the Focus.
I have a 2008 Pontiac Solstice, automatic. Could I tow it 4 wheels down using a Remco lube pump?
Dear Danny,
Check with Remco to see if it's applicable or check the Dingy Towing Guide. Link for the latter on our FAQs page at.
Can my 1995 Nissan pickup manual transmission 4WD be towed without modification? The hubs are automatic.
Dear Adolph,
Yes, with the transfer case in neutral.
I want to tow a 2007 Malibu four wheels down with a 2008 Georgie Boy. The ratings seem OK, 5,000lb on RV and car is well under that.
What tow system would best meet my needs? Should I use a rock guard?
Dear Dave,
I like the Roadmaster tow equipment and the M&G car braking system. You want some type of rock guard on the back of the motor home.
I am trying to determine if I can tow four wheels down, using a tow bar, a 1998 Honda Accord 4dr Sedan 4 cylinder automatic transmission.
Dear Victor,
I say yes if you follow the procedure for towing in the owner's manual; or you can call Remco and they have a recorded message on their answering machine about towing Honda vehicles.
I currently pull a 2003 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 behind my 40ft Allegro bus. It has the push button feature to put the transfer case in neutral which is great. I am looking at new GM pickups now so I can put my golf cart in the bed and tow the truck, and none have that same feature as my Tahoe.
Does GM still have an available drivetrain that shifts to neutral for all four wheels flat towing?
Dear Mike,
Yes, most of the GM 4x4 pickups have a neutral position on the transfer case and are towable four wheels down.
I have a 2007 Chevy 1500 Z71 4-wheel door crewcab truck with 5.3 Vortec motor. I'm looking at a 27 ft Sunnybrook travel trailer. They said empty weight was 43 hundred plus.
Do you think that truck can handle this trailer, if not what would be my max size trailer for this truck?
Dear Tom,
I think your truck will do okay if you don't get carried away loading too much stuff.
If the 5.3 gets a little weak pulling it loaded there are plenty of after market accessories to improve the performance of the 5.3 liter.
I've set up my RV to tow a Ford 350XLT Econoline van. When I getting ready to tow, I have to turn my ignition key on a click to unlock the steering wheel. If I drive for more than several hours, the batteries on the van die.
Is there a way for me to charge/trickle charge as I'm towing? I have the Buddy Brake, as the law requires, and I'm plugged in with a 8 pin cable.
Dear Gerry,
You can run a charge line back from your motor home to the battery on the van.
What is the best way to tow a Dodge Caravan? A dolly with brakes? Or can it be modified to tow four down?
It is automatic, front wheel drive. I need to tow it behind a Damon Daybreak which has not yet been wired for a towed vehicle or trailer with brakes.
Do I in fact need brakes? Lazy Days made me promise on a stack of bibles I would only tow something with brakes.
Dear Paul,
Yes, you can modify the Dodge to be towed four wheels down.
I highly suggest having brakes for your towed vehicle.
I own a '79 Western Wilderness truck camper and have a '87 F250 extended cab to carry the camper.
I would like to get a newer truck and have been told that there are restrictions on how new of a truck will fit this camper.
Are there any problems that I should be aware of on this? How new can I go?
Dear Derek,
Measure width, length, depth and weight of camper and check out the specs on the new trucks. You should be able to find something that will work.
When towing a vehicle behind a Class A motor home, instructions are always to leave the key in "accessory" position. Doesn't this run the battery down if on a long trip?
Should we install a switch, or simply locate the appropriate fuse to pull/disconnect?
Dear William,
Depends on the vehicles. Some can be towed with the key in "accessory" or "off" position with no problems and some you are required to pull fuses or add switches to prevent battery drain. It's usually noted in the owner's manual.
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