Towing Vehicles for Class A motor Homes

[Ray_O_Bree]

Hi All,

We are looking at doing a year long trip throughout the USA and require a 7 seat vehicle to be towed behind the RV. Any recommendations what will be the best type of vehicle for this trip. Can we put an automatic vehicle on a "TOW DOLLY" or is this not advised? Look forward to any advice or ideas.

Many Thanks

[ArchHoagland]

Enter car information to see if it is towable 4 down


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[GHOST1750]

Much simpler towing 4 down. Some places you may not have a place to park the dolly and it is so much simpler hooking up a 4down. I use a Falcon 2 and the hook up time is about 5 minutes or less. Good luck.

[Ivylog]

Many class A have a hitch only rated for 5000 lbs. Most end up towing 4 down, not on a dolly. No way would I have someone drive it, especially on a 12,000+ mile one year adventure.

[DSDP_Don]

Are you talking seven adults or adults and children?

[viajante]

We have a gas MH and tow a Ford Flex. It is big and will hold lots of stuff and people.

[Effy]

dinghy towing guides

[oldmattb]

DrewE wrote:

If you'll be spending relatively long times at each stop and moving long distances relatively infrequently, it may be practical to simply drive the additional vehicle rather than tow it.

That was my first thought! A group that big might enjoy bits of personal time. Mobile second vehicle good for getting food for upcoming rest stops, side trips for personal business, staying behind for a couple of hours to do laundry, time to gossip about the rest of the group...

Matt B

[2oldman]

They're also called Dinghys, and there's a forum for them here:

Dinghy forum

[stvdman]

MiniVan on tow dolly would be great! And like someone mentioned SUV's, like a Ford Explorer (seats 7 w/o being "fullsize") Lots of options and again, as previously stated, check tow capabilities of RV first.

From what I remember, our minivan was quite handy, even though we now own an Explorer.

Good luck!

[DrewE]

Any front wheel drive vehicle (that fits on the tow dolly physically) can be towed with a dolly, whether automatic or manual transmission. A minivan (with seven seats, of course) might be about the most reasonable option for toting around seven persons.

Some automatic transmission vehicles can be towed four down without modification, but probably the majority cannot. Many manual transmission two wheel drive vehicles can be towed four down, though a few cannot without modification. Some AWD vehicles can, probably more cannot. Most if not all four wheel drive vehicles with a transfer case that can be set to neutral can be towed four down. Any vehicle naturally can be transported on a trailer.

In terms of the ease of management, towing four down is the most convenient, and towing with a full trailer probably the least, and a dolly is likely somewhat intermediate but closer to the trailer than the four down side of things. If you do go with a trailer or a dolly, I would suggest getting the vehicle you tow outfitted with a trailer hitch so that you can use it to tote the dolly or trailer around the camp site/campground when needed. It's a lot easier to put it into a little corner with a smaller, more maneuverable vehicle than it is with a motorhome.

If you'll be spending relatively long times at each stop and moving long distances relatively infrequently, it may be practical to simply drive the additional vehicle rather than tow it.

[sch911]

Be more specific. What MH? Gas or Diesel? What Toad?
Most gas MH's will be limited to 5000# vehicles, and some only 4000#. Most diesel MH's will be in the 10,000# area.
For dolly towing most FWD automatics are OK, for 4 down towing most 4x4 vehicles with neutral transfer case are OK. Most RWD vehicles cannot be towed without modifications. But there are several exceptions out there.

Mods should move this post to the Toad forum...

[donn0128]

There called toads, or towed behined vehicles.
There are lota of small SUVs capable of holding 7 passangers that will work.
Yoir going to get lots of ideas. Manual transmissions are best, so unless you absolutely have to have an automatic look that direction.