cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Best type of vehicle to tow behind a motorhome

Rhearv
Explorer
Explorer
Looking for suggestions on the best type of vehicles to tow behind a motorhome. All experience shared is appreciated.
28 REPLIES 28

dalerussel
Explorer
Explorer
We purchased a 2014 CRY because 2015 is NOT flat towable. We hooked it up last month as follows:
Blue OX base plate. It is really inconspicuous when the CRV is not set up for towing.
Blue Ox Avail tow bar. It is their latest and not supposed to bind when unhooking. It is also supposed to handle tight turns better. It is rated for 10K pounds, way overkill for us.
SMI Stay and play duo braking system. It is hidden (not portable) and only needs to be plugged in to an RV power cord when towing. It also needs both the motorhome brake signal to be on and deceleration to happen before it is activated.
Fuse master switch so I can deactivate the proper fuse without having to pull it.
We ran the toad brake light to the motorhome cab so it would be easily visible.

bennefim
Explorer
Explorer
Following this discussion closely since I would also like a small truck to tow. A lube pump was listed as an option. What does that cost and does it do permanent damage to the vehicle?

tenbear
Explorer
Explorer
You are welcome.

Be aware that the guide lists only vehicles that can be towed 4 down. If your SRX is not AWD or FWD It probably cannot be towed 4 down.
Class C, 2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan
Camped in 45 states, 7 Provinces and 1 Territory

pdvandusen
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the information.
Doug & Mary Ann Van Dusen and Chewy & Abby (the dogs)
2008 Chevy Silverado 5.3L LTZ 3.73, HD Trailer Pkg.
2008 JayFeather LGT 31E
Equal-i-zer, Prodigy BC and TomTom GPS
The dreaded Champion 3500/4000 Generator

tenbear
Explorer
Explorer
pdvandusen wrote:
I have a 2012 SRX and am looking into buying a Class A Moterhome. It this model of SRX able to be towed 4 wheels down?


The Motorhome 2012 guide to Dinghy Towing lists the Cadillac SRX FWD and the SRX AWD as being towable with the following restrictions.

Max speed 65 mph.

Run engine at the beginning of each day and at each fuel stop for 5 minutes.

Make sure your setup is capable of towing 5000 pounds.
Class C, 2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan
Camped in 45 states, 7 Provinces and 1 Territory

pdvandusen
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 2012 SRX and am looking into buying a Class A Moterhome. It this model of SRX able to be towed 4 wheels down?
Doug & Mary Ann Van Dusen and Chewy & Abby (the dogs)
2008 Chevy Silverado 5.3L LTZ 3.73, HD Trailer Pkg.
2008 JayFeather LGT 31E
Equal-i-zer, Prodigy BC and TomTom GPS
The dreaded Champion 3500/4000 Generator

Bobbo
Explorer II
Explorer II
kfinger wrote:
I would like to tow my 2006 Lexus rear wheel drive car with my Class A. Can it be done and what do I have to do to tow it?

If you start a new thread instead of hijacking this one, I will give you a website that will answer your question.

Bobbo
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

kfinger
Explorer
Explorer
I would like to tow my 2006 Lexus rear wheel drive car with my Class A. Can it be done and what do I have to do to tow it?

39standard
Explorer
Explorer
I just sold my 2003 Jeep Wrangler which I towed for five years with no problem.I went to Honda to replace the Jeep. Having read that the 2015 Honda CR V could not be towed four down, I inquired and was told by local dealer that it could. I went to the computer and pulled up the owners manual. On page 256 it stated that this vehicle cannot be towed four down. Previous Honda CR V's could be towed four down. I opted to purchase a new 2014 Honda CR V leftover. I am having it outfitted with lights and baseplate next week by Camping World. My warning is to be very careful buying a late model vehicle because of the CVT transmission.

We_retheRussos
Explorer
Explorer
tatest wrote:
Rhearv wrote:
I was a little vague on the question, we are needing to tow a small truck; i.e. Nissan Frontier or small Toyota. Does anyone have experience with any of the small trucks and whether or not an automatic transmission can be safely towed?


In small trucks:

Four-wheel drive Colorado, because it has neutral on the transfer case, and it is the right transfer case. The previous S-10/S-15 had a transfer case that could not deal with flat towing.

Manual transmission Frontier, 2WD or 4WD. The transmission makes it towable.

Manual transmission Ford Ranger and Mazda B, from 1993 to end of production, 2WD or 4WD. The transmission makes it towable.

Toyota says the manual transmission Tacoma is not towable, I know people who do so anyway.

Some model years of Dodge Dakota, if the 4x4 transfer case had a neutral position, Dodge said it was towable. Dakota also used a transfer case that did not have a neutral, it was an option in some trim lines.

For one or two years, Ford offered a neutral tow kit for some models of the Ranger with 4x4 and automatic. Not all drive train combinations, and not the same kit offered for the Explorer. Ford no longer offers this kit, which might have manipulated the locking hubs as well as the transfer case.

Other compact pickups the last 10-15 years, the transfer case, even if had a selectable neutral position, did not necessarily make an automatic transmission truck towable. For any given 4x4, you should to talk to an expert on transfer cases and hubs. Lately, with Chrysler brand engineering across Jeep and Dodge SUVs, you need to be sure of just how the 4x4 system works on a particular Jeep.


To add to this great post, if you find the vehicle you want to tow, see if there is a transmission pump or drive shaft disconnect that is offered (how some people get around Toyota's not being tow friendly).
Planning on retiring and full-timing - check out our progress: http://www.weretherussos.com/

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
Rhearv wrote:
I was a little vague on the question, we are needing to tow a small truck; i.e. Nissan Frontier or small Toyota. Does anyone have experience with any of the small trucks and whether or not an automatic transmission can be safely towed?


In small trucks:

Four-wheel drive Colorado, because it has neutral on the transfer case, and it is the right transfer case. The previous S-10/S-15 had a transfer case that could not deal with flat towing.

Manual transmission Frontier, 2WD or 4WD. The transmission makes it towable.

Manual transmission Ford Ranger and Mazda B, from 1993 to end of production, 2WD or 4WD. The transmission makes it towable.

Toyota says the manual transmission Tacoma is not towable, I know people who do so anyway.

Some model years of Dodge Dakota, if the 4x4 transfer case had a neutral position, Dodge said it was towable. Dakota also used a transfer case that did not have a neutral, it was an option in some trim lines.

For one or two years, Ford offered a neutral tow kit for some models of the Ranger with 4x4 and automatic. Not all drive train combinations, and not the same kit offered for the Explorer. Ford no longer offers this kit, which might have manipulated the locking hubs as well as the transfer case.

Other compact pickups the last 10-15 years, the transfer case, even if had a selectable neutral position, did not necessarily make an automatic transmission truck towable. For any given 4x4, you should to talk to an expert on transfer cases and hubs. Lately, with Chrysler brand engineering across Jeep and Dodge SUVs, you need to be sure of just how the 4x4 system works on a particular Jeep.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
The best vehicle to tow is the one that best fits your needs when you are not towing it. That will be a type of vehicle, not a brand or particular model. If you must drive a Lexus, Cadillac, Porsche or BMW, you might be in trouble on towing.

It is convenient if you can find a vehicle of the type you need that is towable with little or no modification, and is not too heavy for your motorhome. That is more of a struggle for vehicle types, for example if you must be able to seat 7, 8 or more people. Twelve passenger vans e.g. weigh about 6000 pounds empty and need modification for towing.

I towed a Ford Ranger. It was a second car, my wife's car was an Accord and it took car of all our general transportation needs, while the small truck saw service getting me around town carrying the stuff I needed for maintenance of rental properties.

When my wife died, I gave her Accord to one of my daughters, got rid of the truck, and bought a Honda Fit to be my daily driver and towable vehicle. With one less person to seat, it still could carry the either of my daughters with spouse and children, and the usual collection of people and luggage on airport runs. An alternative for me would have been a manual transmission Versa or Fiesta.

Subcompacts like the Fit or Versa are too small for many people, though a subcompact MPV will carry as many people as compact cars and small SUVs, seating is tighter for five people and there is not luggage space for that many.

Next up are compacts, sedans like Cobalt, Corolla, Civic, Sentra and MPVs like CRV, Element, Matrix/Vibe. CRV is a real popular tow because through 2014 it needed only a baseplate and lights, and was for many people the smallest thing they wanted to drive, while being the heaviest thing their motorhome could tow (many are stuck at about 3500 pounds_.

Some mid-size cars work, particularly GM sedans in the Malibu class with 4-speed automatic. These weigh about the same as the lighter of compact SUVs. SUVs built on Malibu-size cars, like Equinox, Vue, Terrain and Escape are roomier than the sedans but also heavier, so you need to be thinking whether your motorhome is OK to tow 5000 pounds, or are you limited to 3500.

If your motorhome can tow 10,000 pounds, and you need eight seats, you can tow a Yukon XL or Suburban, with proper equipment. If you need to haul a couple of motorcycles, your tow could be a long-bed 3/4 ton or one-ton truck.

If what you want to do with your towed vehicle is explore 4x4 trails, then the most likely candidate is a Wrangler, though some of Jeeps SUVs can be equipped for varying levels of off-roading.

The most difficult situation is when you are limited to about 3500 pounds on the tow and you regularly carry more than four or five people. Possible solutions include the manual transmission version of the Mazda 5/MPV, the first generation Honda Odyssey (the little MPV Honda still sells in Europe and Asia), and Suzuki's Grand Vitara XL7, which is getting hard to find. One iteration of the Saturn Vue was based on the Grand Vitara, but I don't think it had a seven seat option. The last Vue was an Equinox, and had at most five seats.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

tenbear
Explorer
Explorer
IMHO your everyday driver is the best toad. No sense in having 2 different cars when one will do. Mine is a Subaru Impreza Sedan, manual shift.
Class C, 2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan
Camped in 45 states, 7 Provinces and 1 Territory

rk911
Explorer
Explorer
Rhearv wrote:
Looking for suggestions on the best type of vehicles to tow behind a motorhome. All experience shared is appreciated.


jeeps provided the model has a manually selectable neutral position in the transfer case. no time/distance/speed restrictions. what else could you ask for?
Rich
Ham Radio, Sport Pilot, Retired 9-1-1 Call Center Administrator
_________________________________
2016 Itasca Suncruiser 38Q
'46 Willys CJ2A
'23 Jeep Wrangler JL
'10 Jeep Liberty KK

& MaggieThe Wonder Beagle