First off- Brand new member here. Just picked up a 2006 Fleetwood Revolution LE for our first motorhome. We're excited to get out and start using it soon! Went with a diesel pusher so I can tow my (heavy) boat, and tow a flat bed with Jeeps on it for off-roading events. I thought about Class C, or gasser Class A's, but went with the Revolution for the 15K tow rating so I can pull whatever I want.Anyways- I have a large flat bed that I can put 2 Jeeps on for offroad events. For any "regular" camping trips, when I want to bring a street vehicle with me, I'm really torn between setting up a vehicle to flat tow behind the motorhome, or buying a smaller aluminum car trailer like a 20 foot Featherlite 3110. Here are my thoughts on flat towing vs. towing a trailer:Flat Towing-Advantages:Don't need to store a trailer at a camp ground. (Are there places at camp grounds to store a trailer???)Disadvantages:Locked into your one vehicle that's setup to flat tow. What if I feel like taking a different vehicle that weekend??Trailer:Advantages:I can take any vehicle I want.If I borrow the motorhome to my Dad or a friend for the weekend, they can take their vehicle with them easily.Disadvantage:Need to store the trailer at the camp ground. Is this an issue? Are there places to park it at most campgrounds??What else should I be considering in my comparison??? I'm really leaning towards the car trailer route, I just want to be sure that I don't put a big limit on where I can go in case most camp grounds won't let you park a trailer there.

It is a bit more complex. If you go the auto transport (car trailer) will mean that the tongue weight will be much higher on the motorhome's hitch. Many smaller motorhomes are rated at 5,000# with 500# of tongue weight. Finding an auto transport plus car that is less than 5,000# is difficult. Even units that have 10,000# hitches require weight distributing setups. It can also be much more difficult to stay under the GCWR with a trailer vs. flat towing.

I've got a 15K tow rating. Weight distributing hitch is not a big deal, I have many of them already. My "normal" tow vehicle will probably be a Tahoe. The Featherlite 3110 is 2,000 pounds, plus the Tahoe is maybe 7,000??? Not sure on this.

Initially I thought tow dolly was the way to go but soon found flat tow was best and easiest. If you have the vehicle that can be flat towed great. Not all vehicles can be dolly towed either. Trailer to will be a pita.

Another thing to consider is the total combined length of your RV and the trailer. You need to check with your state what the maximum length is to be legal. In my opinion, for the benefit of the vehicle, it's better on a trailer. Besides, todays automobiles will continue to roll up miles, even if the engine is not running but wheels are turning. Also, you are right, you can take any vehicle with you on a trailer. I have not ever been in a campground that did not have an overflow parking area to park secondary trailers or second vehicles. You should have no problem parking the trailer at most campgrounds. If in doubt, always call the campground and find out if they offer a secondary parking area for the trailer.I've transported a couple cars for my daughter when she was in the military. I used a car hauler and towed behind my truck. Worked fine.

DutchmenSport wrote:Another thing to consider is the total combined length of your RV and the trailer. You need to check with your state what the maximum length is to be legal. In my opinion, for the benefit of the vehicle, it's better on a trailer. Besides, todays automobiles will continue to roll up miles, even if the engine is not running but wheels are turning. Also, you are right, you can take any vehicle with you on a trailer. I have not ever been in a campground that did not have an overflow parking area to park secondary trailers or second vehicles. You should have no problem parking the trailer at most campgrounds. If in doubt, always call the campground and find out if they offer a secondary parking area for the trailer.I've transported a couple cars for my daughter when she was in the military. I used a car hauler and towed behind my truck. Worked fine.The OP said that he was towing a Tahoe. Four wheel drive Tahoes with two speed transfer cases do not accumulate miles because with the transfer case in neutral the driveline is disconnected from the transmission. Most 4x4 vehicles are the same.

New to RV- Flat tow vs. Car trailer?? | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Mar 14, 2015
Towing four down is absolutely the easiest. I have not seen storage area's at very many campgrounds. I'm sure some have them but most don't. And, trying to get the trailer to the storage area and retrieving it can be a PITA.

DutchmenSport mentioned that some tow vehicles add mileage when towing but I think 99% do not. Have any of you had that happen?

CW, welcome to the forums!

Safe travels,
MM.
msturtz
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
Ivylog wrote:
Most of us end up towing four down although with a trailer you can back up. With a 15K hitch I would not worry about using WD bars. With two Jeep's on a trailer you will probably be over the 65' max in many Eastern states but few if any have been stopped for being over length.
Welcome to the Forums where there is plenty of good free advice when they read all of your post... 15K hitch.:W

I have hitch and tow capacity envy....! :B
Ivylog
Explorer III
Mar 13, 2015
Most of us end up towing four down although with a trailer you can back up. With a 15K hitch I would not worry about using WD bars. With two Jeep's on a trailer you will probably be over the 65' max in many Eastern states but few if any have been stopped for being over length.
Welcome to the Forums where there is plenty of good free advice when they read all of your post... 15K hitch.:W
pulsar
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
DutchmenSport wrote:
...
Besides, todays automobiles will continue to roll up miles, even if the engine is not running but wheels are turning.
...

I believe that most modern cars do not "roll up miles" when being towed. Unlike the cars of my youth, modern cars have electronic odometers. At least, the three cars we have towed four-down, a Subaru and two Honda CRV's, did not accumulate miles being towed.

cwkoch,

For general RVing, I would not want to deal with a trailer. Some campgrounds will have pull-thru sites big enough for you and the trailer, if you are lucky enough to get one. Not many will have pull-thrus that will handle your coach, trailer, and car off the trailer.

Picture yourself, unloading the car, then backing the trailer into a storage site, Then reversing that process, when before leaving the campground.

We have towed with a dolly, because our toad could not be towed four-down, and have towed four-down. We would not like to go back to a dolly (or a trailer.)

Tom
msturtz
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
DutchmenSport wrote:
Another thing to consider is the total combined length of your RV and the trailer. You need to check with your state what the maximum length is to be legal.

In my opinion, for the benefit of the vehicle, it's better on a trailer. Besides, todays automobiles will continue to roll up miles, even if the engine is not running but wheels are turning. Also, you are right, you can take any vehicle with you on a trailer.

I have not ever been in a campground that did not have an overflow parking area to park secondary trailers or second vehicles. You should have no problem parking the trailer at most campgrounds. If in doubt, always call the campground and find out if they offer a secondary parking area for the trailer.

I've transported a couple cars for my daughter when she was in the military. I used a car hauler and towed behind my truck. Worked fine.

The OP said that he was towing a Tahoe. Four wheel drive Tahoes with two speed transfer cases do not accumulate miles because with the transfer case in neutral the driveline is disconnected from the transmission. Most 4x4 vehicles are the same.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
Another thing to consider is the total combined length of your RV and the trailer. You need to check with your state what the maximum length is to be legal.

In my opinion, for the benefit of the vehicle, it's better on a trailer. Besides, todays automobiles will continue to roll up miles, even if the engine is not running but wheels are turning. Also, you are right, you can take any vehicle with you on a trailer.

I have not ever been in a campground that did not have an overflow parking area to park secondary trailers or second vehicles. You should have no problem parking the trailer at most campgrounds. If in doubt, always call the campground and find out if they offer a secondary parking area for the trailer.

I've transported a couple cars for my daughter when she was in the military. I used a car hauler and towed behind my truck. Worked fine.
dezolen
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
Initially I thought tow dolly was the way to go but soon found flat tow was best and easiest. If you have the vehicle that can be flat towed great. Not all vehicles can be dolly towed either. Trailer to will be a pita.
cwkoch
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
I've got a 15K tow rating. Weight distributing hitch is not a big deal, I have many of them already.

My "normal" tow vehicle will probably be a Tahoe. The Featherlite 3110 is 2,000 pounds, plus the Tahoe is maybe 7,000??? Not sure on this.
msturtz
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
It is a bit more complex. If you go the auto transport (car trailer) will mean that the tongue weight will be much higher on the motorhome's hitch. Many smaller motorhomes are rated at 5,000# with 500# of tongue weight. Finding an auto transport plus car that is less than 5,000# is difficult. Even units that have 10,000# hitches require weight distributing setups. It can also be much more difficult to stay under the GCWR with a trailer vs. flat towing.

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New to RV- Flat tow vs. Car trailer??

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