Car trailer versus flat towing

My DP is old and has always towed a trailer, 100,000+ mi on it and no trans problems....I BACKED it in here awhile ago. It was raining and I didn't have to get out. LOL

In my Honda CRV Handbbook page # 235 it says the CRV AWD Must Be Towed with all 4 wheels down!

As I see it, the only advantage using a trailer, you can back up. Other wise flat towing is my choice and always pay attention to where I pull into for escaping.

I would recommend that you flat tow the CRV. You have less weight behind you and you do not have to worry about getting a site long enough for the car and trailer or having to park the trailer somewhere when you get there. You would want to be able to tow the trailer with the CRV so you can park it if there is no room at the site.

I flat tow and trailer depending on what I am towing. I have towed more with the trailer and prefer it over flat towing. The key to using a trailer is planning ahead for a site that is long enough. In 10 years I was asked to park the trailer elsewhere once just because they didn't allow trailers at the site (no logical reason why).

I just changed back from flat towing to dolly towing. It is easier on the car, slows for a larger selection of cars, and can be used for other towing purposes. I cannot say that it is more work to get ready for towing, and there is less possibility to forget something that needs to be connected or installed (12 volt line to maintain the car battery and brake unit, etc.). I have a fancy dolly with a tilt bed and steering wheels (and a rock shield), and my vehicle feels much happier to be protected on the dolly than in the rock throwing area behind the motorhome getting its front wheels dragged into turns!

I vote for flat towing, its been our way to go for 12 years!
Once you try it, you'll like it!

the extra weight and finding a space to park the trailer is a hassle. the weight on the tranny is over time, a tranny killer. do 4 down and get a brake buddy.

lighthousemantn wrote:
We own a 35 foot Allegro Open Road Class A and our toad is a Honda CR-V. We're trying to decide whether to buy a car trailer or the tow plate, braking system, etc to flat tow the toad. I would like to get some input from the forum on how difficult/expensive it would be to find a campsite long enough for the MH, the 25 foot trailer, and the car if it was unloaded from the trailer. As always, thanks so much for your input.

You obviously haven't tried to tow before have you? I towed with a dolly last year didn't have that much problem with room at sites. I have a 2014 CR-V this year and it is MUCH EASIER to hook up and unhook. In all but 2 parks there was room to park the car on the site with the RV. There were NO places where there would have been room to park the RV car and trailer in you site. There may have been a couple that you could have left the trailer hooked up but most the trailer would have stuck out in the street. This means you would have had to find a place where you could back the trailer in with the motor home and back up and hook it up then load the car.
I just got back from a road trip I was in 40 different RV parks in the last 75 days.
You have one of the best cars to tow 4 down and that is what I do and that is what I recommend.
You can look on Ebay or craigslist for a used tow bar and brake buddy or other supplemental brake.I would by the base plate new but you might find one in good condition.
Bill

I avoid most problems by calling ahead. I've also got a 35 footer, and have both a tow dolly and a two axle open car trailer and have never really had the desire to flat tow. For a short period of time I used the trailer to hauled a classic car to shows, and yes, finding a place to park was an occasional problem, but again, I always called ahead for a spot. For normal RV use, we use a dolly and on the rare occasion parking it becomes a problem, I just drop it and back the RV up with the tongue under the unit.