Towing 2011 CRV

Wandering view wrote:
I am going to tow my 2011 CRV with my winnebago view. Any advice will be gratefully accepted. Does 4 down towing an AWD vehicle rack up miles on the odometer? Why do they recommend unlocking the steering, doesn't that open up the possibility of the wheels turning and locking? I don't anticipate making 90 degree turns. All comments to this rookie will be appreciated. Thanks john mcd

Wandering view,
Well Sir, towing your CRV will be a piece of cake. We towed an '11 CRV for quite few miles and it worked flawless. The very first thing you need to do is, get the car all set up for it. That will mean getting a base plate and, wiring it up for lights. There's arguments all over the place on what kind of wiring you should do. Everyone's got their reasons why.

I wired our CRV so the stock tail lights worked as toad lights. No light bars, no drilling of the tail light housings and adding extra bulbs, no magnetic lights and wires hanging all over the place, scratching the paint up. I've drawn up a very simple wiring diagram for wiring a CRV up. It doesn't get any simpler than that.

That way, your CRV lights operate just the exact same way when towing it, as they do when driving it. And, that includes the amber turn signals and, the THIRD BRAKE LIGHT!

As far as how far to turn the key, do what the manual says! It's a fairly simple procedure. They (Honda) wants you to pull fuse number 34, if I recall. Well, that sucks big time. You have to be a contorsionist to do that. So, I did what many other RVers do and that is, add a charge line from the coach to the CRVs positive battery post. And of course, add a fuse in that line. Then, no fuse pulling is needed.

Scott

We've used three toads behind two Class C's. One of the toads would end up with its front wheels trapped hard in the wrong direction if the C made a sharp turn and came out of it quickly. The C had a short wheelbase but a long rear overhang. I don't think a View has much overhang and we seldom hear about toad wheels stuck hard over, so I don't think that will be an issue. Never heard of it happening with CRV, one of the best and most popular toads.

Read your CRV manual . . . there's a specific procedure to use when towing. ALWAYS unlock the steering, ALWAYS tow in neutral. And no, the odo doesn't register when you tow long as the ignition switch isn't turned on. You tow with the switch in the first position - once the car's in neutral, turn it as close to off as it will go.

And with the CRV AWD drive, you MUST town four down. Can't use a dolly.

al

You ABSOLUTELY should unlock your steering column. Your toad wheels will turn just as far as your RV front wheels will turn going around corners. They will not lock turned on pavement. It IS possible in soft sand going around a corner. And will almost always happen backing up. Some disagree but you can not safely back up a toad.