A List Of The Best Vehicles For Flat Towing Behind Your RV
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- Опубликовано: 1 фев 2022
- Lots of RVers like to bring along another vehicle for driving around town while they are camping. And a popular way to do that is by flat towing the vehicle behind the RV. But not all vehicles can be flat towed. So here is my list of the best flat tow vehicles that can be used on your RV travels. Don't miss it!
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Excellent video - Really like your straight forward presentation style
Thanks for the positive feedback Douglas. It's much appreciated!
First time I’ve seen one of your presentations. Well done. I subscribed
Welcome aboard Len. Glad you enjoyed the video and subbed!
Thanks for another great video. We flat tow a 2016 AWD Dodge Durango. This is our second Durango and we absolutely love it. It is great we can drag it with us.
That's great. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience with us!
Great video! I searching a car to buy for our new RV. Thank you so much! You have affirmed some of my decisions.
Glad it was helpful David. Thanks for watching!
Great video, thanks for all the useful information! I learned a lot.
That's awesome Dave. Thanks for leaving such positive feedback. It's much appreciated!
I had a 2013 Dodge Dart Manual that was flat towable. Nice light car.. and really fun to drive
Very cool Dana & Rick. A lot of manual transmission vehicles are flat towable. Thanks for contributing!
Thank you sir. This was so informational
So nice of you to say. Thanks for watching and leaving a positive comment!
Thank you for this video!
You are so welcome. Thanks for watching!
Great video very informative thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it Patty. Thanks for watching and commenting!
love our Mini Cooper with manual transmission for flat towing. 2500 lbs and a blast to drive. 40mpg highway.
That's another great choice Rick. I see lost of Mini's being towed. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Love our 2020 Ford Ranger flat towed behind ‘Melvin’, 2011 Jayco Melbourne 29D class C. Tows very easy, only 4300lbs
I've heard a lot of good things from RVers who tow Rangers. It's a really flexible vehicle to take on the road with you. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Good information, thanks.
I'm glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!
Great video again Duane. We purchased our Wanderlodge in Oct of 19 and took our first trip to Florida in Dec of 19. Since we didn't have a flat tow vehicle available we purchased a tow dolly. We liked the car and the tow dolly was OK but decided to get a flat tow vehicle after a year of wrestling the tow dolly. We flat tow a 2014 Equinox. It's a V6 AWD with hydraulic power steering. I wanted this set up to avoid any possible issues with the so called death wobble. So far we are tickled to death with the set up. Thanks for your video's I appreciate them so much.
Thanks for sharing your experience with an Equinox BSF. BTW, I was just talking to someone yesterday who wrestles with the "death wobble" on their flat tow vehicle. That's not a fun situation to experience. Just curious, what was the main reason that you chose to replace the tow dolly with flat towing instead?
Ease of hookup. We purchased our Wanderlodge in Oct of 19 and took a 500 mile trip to Florida in Dec of 19. We didn't have a flat tow car so we decided to use a tow dolly for a while to see how we got along. My father used one behind his motorhomes for over 20 years so I knew them pretty well. After a year we decided to get the Equinox and flat tow for the ease of hook up. Much more expensive than the tow dolly but worth it IMHO.
We stopped our death wobble by doing a new suspension in our Jeep wrangler 2008 but we fixed so many things in this jeep, it’s very upsetting and no comfort! And it’s noise too, and we have to disconnect the ignition switch when towing because that the 2008 doesn’t have the ignition switch feature for flat towing
Honda Element---hands down the best tow vehicle..I put my pit bike inside it...
Thanks for the suggestion Gary.
We flat tow a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek 6-speed manual behind our Wayfarer and love it. Over 5000 flawless miles.
Great to hear Pete. Thanks for sharing!
Until something happens and you void the warranty….we just walked away from purchasing a 2022 manual Crosstrek after we were told that we would void warranty if something happened. Hope all continues to go well for you!
@@KerrinGolden that may be the case, but the owner’s manual clearly states that the manual Crosstrek can be towed, unlimited distance, unlimited speed. I guess we’ll find out if the occasion presents itself.
Thank you Duane for another great informative video. When we bought our new Entegra Vision last September, I started searching for a tow vehicle and a way to tow it. A tow dolly seemed like a good idea, but when getting to a campground, I would need to disconnect and manually moved it someplace to store it. The vehicle that I wanted to tow is our 20 Subaru Forester which we love, but with a CVT it can only be put on a trailer with all wheel off the ground. I decided to go with a tow bar system and I ended up buying a used 17 Chevy Spark with a manual transmission. The little Spark is so light and I don't even know it's behind us. I bought an RVi3 portable brake system which works great and then I bought magnetic rear lights for the brake and running lights and a Blue Ox towbar setup which my son installed the baseplate and it all works great. Thanks again for all your informative videos.
Sounds like you have it all figured out! The Spark is a great towable compact car. And I'm glad you had someone in the family to install the baseplate and save you money there. Thanks for sharing your experience here!
I just ordered a 2022 manual Chevy Spark to flat tow behind the motor home I plan to buy this spring (my Chevy Trax, which I love, cannot be flat towed). The salesman told me that they will be discontinuing the manual-transmission option for the Chevy Spark very soon. And I noticed the ones with automatic transmistion have a CVT. So if anyone wants to get a new manual-transmition Chevy Spark, you probably need to order it very soon.
@@Bonstergirl Thanks for the heads-up Bonstergirl!
@@Bonstergirl A Spark is a great choice, I have a 2017 stripped with manual transmission that I bought for 6k last year. The 2022 model is the last year for the Spark. The Spark is so light you don't even know it's behind you.
@@Bonstergirl ---we have a Chevy Sonic hatchback with automatic transmission, just a little bigger than the Spark, and it is flat towable with a few minor procedures pre-towing.
We just purchased our motor home and it has “saved” my mini! Husband has wanted me to sell it for awhile. Bingo! Flat towable and fun to drive!
Hi Diane. Yes, Mini Cooper's can also be flat towable. And they are loads of fun to drive too! I'm glad you "saved" yours ... :-)
Only manual transmission Mini's can be flat towed. I installed the base plate myself. Not hard just takes time.We went with a wireless brake lite system. Much better than trying to run wires from front to back and use a Brake Buddy. We love ours. Enjoy your travels.
We have a done the drive shaft disconnect in our Nissan Titan. Works like dream.
Yep, that's another way to get it done. Thanks for sharing!
We tow a 3/4 ton diesel with diesel pusher, pulls great
Wow! That's a pretty heavy toad. You must have a large diesel engine to allow that kind of towing capacity. Thanks for sharing your experience Tony.
When we were on the road for 3 years, at that time (and I still think is a good choice) were VW Bajas And VW dunebuggies. Both so light you can't tell there back there & both sticks with 4 cyl. & pretty good mileage & both style easily available on line.......
Thanks for that contribution Richard!
Some years ago Trailer Life or was it Motorhome mag held a survey of what people toad.
Hands down the #1 mostly toad vehicle was Jeep's Wrangler.
!
In our full-time RV travels, we see more Wranglers being towed than almost any other vehicle these days too.
The wrangler is the best Tow vehicular I bought my Jeep in 2010 with no intentions of RVing but I must have know I’d buy a 2016 Allegro Bus.
Well that really worked out great for you. Sometimes life just throws us a bone, huh? :-)
I towed my 1993 Isuzu Rodeo for over 60K miles until I wore out the rear output bearing in the 5 speed 4WD transmission. An easy fix. And after I freplaced that bearing I rebuilt the rearend and made it a full floater rear axle with manual lock out hubs at each wheel. That means I can dial out all 4 sets of hubs at the wheels and tow it as easy as a trailer. And I'm still flat towing the same Rodeo, and have close to another 25K miles on it flat towing it. The Odometer has 150 miles on it now. Love that truck!
That Rodeo sounds like a great flat tow vehicle now. Thanks for sharing that with us Curtis!
I also tow a 2020 Nissan Versa with a 5 speed. Works great
Thanks for sharing your setup Mike. Have safe and happy RV travels!
I'm currently looking for the most reliable vehicle on the list. I briefly thought about attaching a motorcycle to the rear rack. Your video provided me with valuable insights. One viewer mentioned that the Grand Cherokee isn't their preferred truck. Also, it's worth noting the excellent wireless accessory from Towaide designed to control pickup truck trailer lights.
I'm glad the video was helpful. Thanks for watching!
I Purchased a new Toyota Carolla stick shift new in 2016, easy hook up and great car as all Toyota products are.
Thanks for making that suggestion!
I had rented a Chevy spark a long time ago when I was at her place, and I love that little car and they get great mileage so I just bought one and I really like it. However I just learned it’s got to be 4 wheels up on a trailer. It’s an automatic transmission with the CVT transmission.
Hi Kathy. Sorry that version of the Spark didn't work out as a flat tow vehicle for you. Thanks for watching!
Nice summary, and yes - fewer and fewer cars are approved. One suggestion, while you drive and oriented to a Class A, it is easy to overlook as they can tow essentially anything. The first determination is what is the RV manufacturers stated towing limit for the RV - and it is NOT the trailer hitch rating which you always want to be more than the towing limit. Just because it has a hitch rated at 5000 (or 7000) lbs, doesn't mean you can tow it. While not that critical with E-Series Class C which should handle any vehicle discussed, the problem is Transit and Sprinter based RV's where most current models have a 4000lb (Transit) or 4250 (Sprinter) that their 5000lb hitch will easily support...as opposed to a 3500lb hitch that may be on the one exception I know of where the manufacturer reduced the tow rating to 2500 lbs. That would be the LTV rear twin with the huge rear garage over the bumper that will carry a lot of weight simulating hitch weight plus 100% supported by the rear axel since it is between the axel and the bumper. Prior generation Transits were 3500lb - I think. Assuming no exception like the LTV noted earlier, the simple formulae is GCWR minus CVWR. Once you know the RV capabilities/limitations then choose the vehicle. While many people tow 2d Wrangler and Cherokee Trailhawk with Sprinter/Transit RVs, they push the edge at 4200 lbs. If replacing an older toad and/or considering new vehicles, probably best to think of weight classes. For example within a 3000-4000lb weight class, there are only 5 vehicles that are "officially approved", Chev Trailblazer and Buick Encore GX twins but MUST be the 1.3L AWD model. Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape Hybrid including plugin, and Maverick Hybrid. The Escape 'twin' Lincoln Corsair plugin hybrid is approved but 4300lbs. You could do a similar grouping with 2000-3000, 4000-5000, and over 5000 weight groupings.
That's a good point Larry. This video was not really meant to be a towing guide, but I should have been more careful about including the GVWR/GCWR ratings too. I outlined all of that in another video I made a little before this one - ruclips.net/video/OkWyFGtVveQ/видео.html Anyway, thanks for commenting on it here.
Going by most common ignores brand new vehicles. They 2022-23 hybrid Ford Maverick pickup is awesome, great mileage, great ride, with a tonneau cover you get extra storage and a great ride/ for most of us our flat tow may also have to serve as a daily driver. It is an automatic, not AWD, 3,600 pounds with easy setup.
Thanks for adding the Maverick to the list of flat towable vehicles.
Great video! One thing to consider is that in 49 States you do not need to have a brake assist in the tow vehicle if it weighs under 3,000 lbs. That saves $$ and is easier to hook up. The compact cars you mentioned fall in that category. And one car to mention is the Honda Civic SI (manual). It is a great flat tow vehicle and fun to drive and weighs around 2,800 lbs.
Thanks for mentioning the Civic Matthias. Super lightweight vehicles make towing a breeze.
I tow a 2019 Ford Fiesta. 1800 pounds. Hook up is a breeze because te transmission has a disengage for towing.
Some flat towable vehicles have extensive procedures to prep the road.
Ford Cmax with automatics are flat towable with minimal prep. They are somewhat heavy.
Thanks for that suggestion Ron. It's a nice addition to the list.
the jeep liberty and commander trail rated models can also be flat towed. Make sure they have a low lock transfer case.
Thanks for making those suggestions here.
Good video and info
I flat tow a Chevy Sonic it’s a compact car and yes automatic also. I think the hatchback Sonic is on of the smallest automatic cars that are flat towable. Note some Sonic RS models are not flat towable.
Thanks for the info Punit. I have heard good things about Chevy Sonics too.
We have a 2018 Sonic hatchback, auto transmission, and it's a great little toad.
The pre-2018 RS models are not flat-towable but from 2018 on the RS became just a decorative trim level and not the "souped up" version that the earlier RS models were. So from 2018 on, even Sonics with the RS trim can be flat towed.
@@ocny4468 Thanks for watching and sharing your experience too!
Our 1997 Toyota Tacoma works great for us!
That's great to hear Joseph. Thanks for sharing that with us!
Must add Suzuki Sidekick/Geo Trackers to the list! Mine is 4x4, 5spd, manual manual front hubs, 2,200 pounds and once unhitched can go anywhere you point it off road. Not for long freeway trips ideally... but can in a pinch.
That's great Paul. Thanks for making that contribution!
Great video 👍 would you happen to know what 2022 Suv models are flat towable? Mixed messages out there and thought you may have some info on new models. Thank you
Yes, there is a lot of conflicting information out there about flat towable models Doug. And it gets pretty hard to stay up with all of the details after a while. My list in this video is just the flat towable vehicles that are recognized as being the most popular for that purpose. But I don't try to stay up with all of the various vehicles that could possibly be flat towable. If you find any vehicle that is suggested for flat towing purposes I always recommend verifying it in the vehicle's manual or by calling the manufacturer to be sure. I wish I could be more specific, but in this case I can't. I hope you understand.
I flat tow a 2020 Nissan Versa with a 5 speed stick. It only weighs 2600 pounds. Records no miles from being towed. I really like the car. Gets 39.2 mpg when driving.
That sounds like a great towable vehicle Mike. Thanks for mentioning it!
We are looking into a small motorhome and I will get a nice aluminum trailer made to haul an Aptera with a 400 miles range. We will get the option to sleep in it to take it on side trips where many motor homes can’t go.
Sounds like you have your towing situation all figured out. Thanks for watching!
@@RVInspectionAndCare I’d make the trailer enclosed but with a low roof covered with solar panels. We have an Aire Traveler Inflatable Canoe we could take along with the electric motor and batteries. I do love to fish.
Air cooled Volkswagens have a lot to recommend them! If in dune buggy form brakes not required if light enough!
That's interesting Charles. Thanks for contributing to the discussion.
Very informative video. I find it a bit shocking that relatively few could spend a few seconds to hit the "Like" button.
I appreciate that Robert. I'm glad you took the time to like the video anyway!
The Chevy Sonic is flat-towable in both manual and automatic transmission versions and is only a little bit bigger than the Spark. The automatic version requires a bit more of a "routine" for towing than the manual one (removal of a few fuses and an easy procedure to follow) but really no big deal.
We have a 2018 Sonic Hatchback with auto transmission as our TOAD with a Blue Ox tow bar and baseplate and Patriot 3 braking system. Great for us and our two dogs.
We installed everything ourselves and yes, some minor cutting was involved but also wiring for the brake lights and signals. It took way longer than it should have but we have to wonder if an installer would have been as crazy meticulous as we were so even though it was a bit of a bear of a job we're glad we tackled it ourselves!
Thanks for the nice video Duane!
Thanks so much for sharing your towing setup with us. And I'm glad that your base plate and lighting install went well. If you have the time, doing it yourself can save a lot of money. It sounds like you have a great setup there!
The Ford Maverick Hybrid is a good option as well
Thanks for the tip Steve.
You must consider the weight of the vehicle one the towing capacity. Of the tow rig. That is the moist important factor when choosing a dinghy
Hi Paul. Thanks for sharing that point with us, and thanks for watching!
We use 2020 Chevy blazer , 47000 drove 42000 toad never missed a beat better leg room than our Escalade
Thanks for sharing your toad selection here. Have safe and happy travels!
A drive shaft disconnect can be installed on a 2 wheel drive vehicle to make it flat towable
Thanks for that tip Jack. From what I hear, many RVers who have used a drive shaft disconnect have been generally happy with them.
Very informative. We are first timers and have a new 2022 GMC Sierra 1500. Is there a video showing how to place the truck in tow mode with the 4 wheel drive?
Hi Keith. I checked but I can't find much about the 2022 GMC Sierra's tow mode out there. Either video or otherwise. I recommend that you read the manual carefully and if it still isn't clear, call GMC and ask for their help. Thanks for watching the video though!
Pull the rear drive shaft then you flat tow
We decided to use a tow Dolly because it was hard to find a flat tow with the car shortages-but in a new vehicle you can’t even Dolly tow everything-You have to do front wheel drive and the emergency brake must be able to be released during towing to allow the back wheels to move-To our surprise not all the emergency brakes can be released-now these emergency brakes are electronic and you can’t manual release them -We are Dolly towing a front wheel drive jeep renegade which is really a fiat 😄 I kid you not-it has been working out great-We reserve mostly pull throughs and rarely have to take the dolly off the motorhome -The renegade has a tubular axle and that allows really easy chaining -We just haven’t found the dolly to be a pain like many have said 😊🚌🇺🇸
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Mary. I agree that tow dollies get a much worse rap than they should in many cases. I know some full-time RVers that use a tow dolly all the time and are very happy with it. And in most cases it's a much less expensive way to tow when compared with tow bars and flat towing.
I have a dolly for the same reasons you list. Car shortage and have one that works. We have become proficient of putting car on and off. Only drawback is sometimes you need to pull in to a location by hand to store.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Eddie!
I dolly my 2010 Toyota Carolla. I grease it every 2800 miles. It’s worked great thus far. The issue is could really use some assistance in removing & lubing the top wheel plate. It’s heavy to do by self.
On the compact cars, you have to think about ground clearance, for example I think the Fiat only has about 4 inches, as does the Honda Fit, The Ford Fiesta is only 2500 lbs and ha 6 inches of ground clearance. I think the Nissan Versa also has better ground clearance. I used to tow a Hyundai Accent and that was very good, but they are hard to find in manual transmission. The other thing to think about is how easy is it to find parts on the road. I think the Fiat would be tough to find parts
That could be a consideration. But so far I've personally never heard any Fiat or other sub-compact car owners complain about either ground clearance or availability of parts on their travels. As long as you stay on major highways and don't do much boondocking, it shouldn't be a major problem.
I might be purchasing a MCI 102DL3 bus conversion and I own a Buick Verano which I plan to flat tow.
Hi David. I'm not seeing the Verano listed as a vehicle that can be flat towed. Have you checked the manual to verify that it's flat towable?
@@RVInspectionAndCare Not yet, but because Verano couldn't tow a travel trailer I decided to switch to bus Conversions and class A's to tow the Verano, but I think a dolly might be better.
@@a1700zz Good idea. Be sure to follow the directions for towing found in the vehicle's owners manual and you should be fine.
I flat tow a 2011 ford explorer awd, we have 5 of us with just our family so I need a 7 seater to transport us and a friend or mother or mother in law, you don’t really know it’s back there behind my 2018 Thor Venesian 40a diesel.
Thanks for the information about flat towing your Explorer James. Have safe and happy travels with it!
Also recommended is reading what Consumer Reports Magazine has to say about various candidates considered for flat towing.
Besides being the most overpriced vehicle on this list, Jeep has a high incidence of repair bills.
Something to think about.
For a small truck, one might try the new Ford Maverick, although it’s reliability is yet to be tested.
Thanks for those suggestions Irv. But the popularity of Jeeps for flat towing doesn't have anything to do with price or reliability though. They are uniquely capable for both around town driving and off-road adventures. And that is why many people use them as towed vehicles in their RV travels. Personally, I have known several RVers who have a Jeep that they flat tow and I haven't found any of them that are dissatisfied with their choice. And the sheer number of Jeeps being flat towed behind motorhomes indicates that they must be doing something right. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I am about to flat tow my 2013 manual kia soul 2600lbs cross country. I hope everything goes smoothly , but gassing up is going to be tricky if I don't plan ahead and pick good stations.
I hope you have a safe and fun trip!
The newer GMC Terrain from 2018 forward are NOT flat towing capable, but the Chevy Equinox is, at least this is the case for both the last time I checked.
Thanks for sharing that information. As I mentioned in the video, not all models of Equinox/Terrain are flat towable. So you have to research them beforehand to make sure you get one that is flat towable.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Both motorhome magazine and Family RVing(FMCA) publish a yearly list of the latest models that are flat towable. Motorhome magazine has an archive so you can check that way for older models. Of course, the easiest way is to read the owners manual for recreational towing.
We tow the Chevy Sonic (automatic) unfortunately Chevy stopped making that model as of 2020
That's too bad. The Sonic is a great compact car. Thanks for sharing Andrew.
We have one as a toad too---love it!
Chevy HHR automatic .. the ULTIMATE TOAD
Yes, I see a lot of HHRs out on the road too. Too bad they stopped making them.
There’s a company out there that will add a switch to disconnect the drive shaft electrically, of rear wheel drive vehicles also
Thanks for that tip.
Hi Duane, Thank you for presenting such valuable information. We have a 2015 Honda CRV (Automatic) that we are considering prepping for dingy duty on our 2006 National Surfside 34B with the Ford V-10/Workhorse chassis. You mentioned that the 2014 and prior CRV models are preferred. Are the 2015 models un-towable for some reason? Thank you again! Safe travels.
As I understand it, Honda stopped putting flat towable transmissions in the CRV after 2014. The best way to know whether your 2015 CRV is flat towable or not is to look in the owners manual under the "Towing" section. If it can be flat towed it will mention it there. Be sure that you verify the towing status for your CRV before making any modifications to it. Have safe and happy travels in your '06 National!
@@RVInspectionAndCare Hi Duane, Your prompt response is very much appreciated. I did look at the CRV owner’s manual right after viewing your video, and it is pretty brief and clear.… “This vehicle is not designed for towing behind a Motorhome”. There must have been sufficient changes to the design between 2014 and 2015 like you alluded to. Guess I should’ve bought a 2014 CRV. 🙂 I will save the money on the tow package and buy a new camera system or some thing else. All the best.
@@thejackals1874 I'm sorry that you can't flat tow your 2015 CRV. But at least you know it now and can make different arrangements. RVing is all about compromise and adaptation. 🙂
The most Ford Hybrids are flat towable. Maverick, Escape, Fusion, etc...
We have the 2021 Escape Hybrid. Very easy to put into neutral for towing, and can be towed up to 70 MPH.
Good points Mark. I probably should have included Escapes in my list as I do see a fair number of them on the road. Thanks for commenting about them!
The Cmax as well. Like the CRV, you would be limited to used as it is discontinued. It is strikingly spacious and I get 45+ mpg, yes, really. I recently bought a Gladiator as well. We will flat tow either dependent on destination. The Gladiator is for when we go desert, mountain or beach. Cmax for northeastern or urban destinations.
I seriously also considered the new Ford Maverick pickup in hybrid as well but didn't want to wait for tow plate development.
Thanks for suggesting the Cmax too. It sounds like a great strategy to have a toad for different kinds of terrain in your RV travels. And yes, base plates can take more than a year before they get to market in some cases. I think you're going to love the Gladiator though!
@@RVInspectionAndCare The Escape is the one we are looking at since it has better tech than the Jeep and Ford makes infotainment updates for many years unlike Jeep. Also, most User Guides can be downloaded from manufacturers and cover flat towing
Thank you SIR! This is the video that I have been looking for! A few months ago it might have been a year ago you gave me a download that listed all the manufacturers Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda etc. with years and models that can flat tow. Do you still have that download? It was the best regarding all cars that can be flat towed. I am angry that I missed placed that video. THANK YOU DUANE! ABSOLUTELY SAFE TRAVELS TO YOU BOTH!
Hi Ron. Apparently I have misplaced that link as well. But Etrailer has a pretty good list here - www.etrailer.com/faq-best-vehicles-to-flat-tow-behind-rv.aspx I hope that helps.
Duane I found the link. Eleven months ago your video was RV Power Management Tips and Guide. I typed the link in but something happened and I couldn't send it back to you. I don't know what I did. Thanks for being the information guru! You are the best!
Duane, tried to send the link again. Is it again the rules for me to do that. It acted like it worked, I check back five minutes later and it was gone.
I'm going to try this again. Camper guide org best cars to flat tow. There's a few missing parts in the link, but I tried to get it back to you!
Yep, that link works great Ron. You just put dashes in between the words and it works just fine. It seems like the list only goes up to 2020, so you have make sure that the latest models still are flat towable, but it's an incredibly thorough listing of vehicles overall for flat towing. Thanks for sniffing that link out for us!
Great video! I'm planning to become an NRVTA inspector and next year, will buy a used 25ft Class C. I want to tow a vehicle that will be able to carry my mobile tech/inspector tools. Does your CRV work for that??? If so, what year is your CRV? Thx!
Hi Cathy! I hope everything goes smoothly for you in the certification process. More qualified techs and inspectors are certainly in need now. I am not a tech at this point so all of my RV inspection tools fit into 2 tool bags. And that means that my 2011 CRV handles them very well. But as a service tech you will most likely need more tools than I carry. I hope that’s helpful.
Thank you for the info Duane. I have decided to shop for a CRV 2005-2012 (even before viewing this video) There are a few models... AWD, 4WD and fwd. Mostly finding the fwd option. Can the fwd be flat towed as well as the AWD & 4WD? Does if have to be manual transmission. Or is fwd the same as the rest? So confused. Also, is it difficult to hook up? I am a solo FT rv'er.
Hi Denise. We have a 2011 CRV that is FWD for flat towing and it has been a perfect toad so far. If you follow the instructions in the owners manual under "Towing" it will work just fine. We hook it up to the RV with a Blue Ox tow bar and it only takes about ten minutes or even less to hook it up and go through all of the setup procedures recommended by Honda to prepare it for towing. Whatever vehicle you consider for flat towing though, I recommend that you download the owners manual online and look up the recommendations for towing first. It will tell you what you can and can't do.
What you think about 1500 chevy silverado it's flat towable
Hi Julio. Chevy makes a great pickup truck. And if it is flat towable, I'm sure it would be a great toad as long as your RV and hitch can handle that kind of weight.
Duane, I have a 2012 Honda Fit with automatic transmission, I'd like to set up as a toad. The owner's manual makes no reference about procedures for flat towing. Although, I have found other information online that provides the steps for 2008 - 2013 Honda Fits with automatic transmissions. I wonder if you have knowledge of this particular vehicle type being flat towed. Thanks
Hi Tim. You might try this 2012 dinghy towing guide that lists the Honda Fit - webcontent.goodsam.com/DinghyGuide2012.pdf
Thank you. Very helpful@@RVInspectionAndCare
I would love to find a good condition Suzuki. These little buggies can get anywhere and are very lightweight.
Hard to find, especially in good condition.
Those are getting very scarce. But keep your eyes open and you never know what you might find!
We have a new Ford Bronco i have heard they are flat towable and way more comfortable than a Jeep
It appears that you can flat tow a new Bronco. Here is a site that explains how it is done - thebronconation.com/flat-towing-the-2021-ford-bronco-neutral-tow-mode-how-to/ As always though, it's best to consult the owners manual first to make sure the vehicle is flat towable and how to do it correctly.
Have a 2006 PT cruiser
Good suggestion Bruce. Thanks for watching and leaving us your recommendation!
How much does flat towing wear out your toad. Tires bearings brakes and debris from tow vehicle
Hi Bill. Certain toad components do get some wear while towing and you mentioned them. The brakes, tires, etc. But the good news is that the engine and transmission do not get any wear and tear. And they are the big ticket items. So I have been pleased to see how little overall wear our Honda CRV is showing after a few years of RV travel.
The most reliable vehicle listed is certainly the CR-V. We have one still going 16 years strong as a second vehicle. Never got around to flat tow it, though, but yes, it was the most popular compact SUV when were criss-crossed North America on our RV adventures.
It seemed overwhelmingly, at least in the past, it sub-compact cars like the Yaris, Spark, and others were what I saw the most. Makes sense for so many reasons to go tiny as your flat tow vehicle. I briefly considered a motorcycle on a rear rack but it was deemed less practical and not worth the bother.
Sadly this list contains too many 'Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' vehicles: Famously unreliable, hilariously overpriced. I guess all those owners spent all their money on a good RV. ;)
I agree about the reliability of the Honda CRV. We have one too and it has been a great toad for us. But my list is not really about the reliability of these flat tow vehicles. It's about the vehicles that are easy to flat tow and get the best reviews from their owners. And they also happen to be the same vehicles that you see being flat towed down the highway most often. Jeeps are incredibly popular among the RV motorhome community and I rarely meet anyone who has one who complains about it. They are not everyone's cup of tea, but for many RVers they fit the bill nicely, especially for off-road activities. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts on the subject with us.
@@RVInspectionAndCare I should have made it clear that I got the premise and understood the list of your video. I was just blanket bashing brands as a former chump neck deep in the automotive industry. Haha!
Higher towing capacity is certainly high up on my next RV wishlist. The desire for a towed vehicle grew over the years we traveled in our RVs.
Cheers, and thanks again!
@@ALAPINO Having a towed vehicle is a really nice way to travel in an RV. We love our CRV and wouldn't be without it. I just wish that they still made them to be flat towable. Unfortunately, Honda stopped that in 2014. But there are plenty of other good choices out there now. I appreciate you sharing your RVing experience with us!
I use to own a Honda Civic the worst car I ever owned…transmission and carburetor went before 60k. On my third Jeep that all have had zero problems and Jeeps are the best resale vehicles on the road.
I have both a Jeep cherokee (flat towable) and a Renegade (NOT). I find it very interesting that FCA never made the Renegade flat towable but its "under the body" twin the Fiat 500 was. They did have a stick version for a few years, but you couldn't flat tow it. The main difference is the 4WD vs the 2WD. But the Cherokee is flat towable with the auto tranny???
I've heard many people who first checked out Renegades before finding out they won't toad... If, Jeep had made the Renegade flat towable, they would have sold a million more I'd bet and I'm being literal with that number. They are a great daily driver with a bit extra for those adventures when away from home. Light, small and capable and pretty inexpensive also... Just a thought.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject. And thanks for watching the video!
I flat towe a ford maverick hybrid truck and it takes thirty seconds to put in tower mode and is so light that you don't even know it is back there on take off and stopping
Thanks for watching the video and for sharing your experience with the Ford truck you are towing!
Subaru Crosstrek.
Thanks for sharing Robert. It's much appreciated!
4runner with manual transfer case
Thanks for making that contribution Justin.
What about the GMC Acadia
As far as I can tell Andrew, The GMC Acadia is not flat towable. But you can find out for sure by searching for the owners manual online, download it, and look under the "Towing" section. It will tell you if it can be flat towed or not. I hope that helps.
Hi can you flat tow a Kia Sportage 2.0ifwd thanks
Hi Daryl. Looking back over the past 5 years I can't find any mention of a Kia Sportage being flat towable. A few other Kia models are mentioned but not the Sportage. To be sure, just download the owners manual for the Sportage in the year you are considering and look under the "Towing" section. If it's flat towable, it will usually tell you there.
Can a 2012 Mini Cooper with an automatic FWD be towed behind my Class A?
Sorry but I don't know for sure about that one. I suggest that you check the owners manual under the heading of "Towing". It will usually tell you whether a vehicle is flat towable or not and any auxiliary requirements for towing that may be needed.
Hi: Good to hear your videos ,But somebody should talk about toy-haulers in other words, factories are far away from building toy-haulers for small cars . Why?There are lots of folks would love not to dingy any thing behind
Interesting point Jaoquin. We are starting to see some Class As with toy hauler capability now, so maybe it will catch on and become more popular. Thanks for sharing your observation on that!
With all of the EV on the market or "coming soon" do you have any info on flat towing any of those - is it even possible?
Hi Steve. So far we just don't know what we are going to get in that area. We will have to wait and see. The whole idea of EV RVs is in its infancy stage now.
FORD Cmax and Cmax enegi, we have had a 2012 Cmax energi and recently got a 2016 model. With this model we can tow it without the "engine" on since there is no mechanical transmission to the wheels and it is roomy and gets great mileage. The best thing with plug in energi is that when we are at an RV site we can "plug it in" at night so we get about 20 mi. without using any gas! @@RVInspectionAndCare
@@airacephillips8398 Thanks for sharing that information. It sounds like that's a vehicle that is working well for you.
what about the chevy suburban 4+4?
As far as I can tell Rod, it is flat towable as long as it is 4 wheel drive. None of the 2WD versions are flat towable. But as always, before you buy any vehicle be sure to download the owners manual and look under the "Towing" section to make sure if you can flat tow it or not.
@@RVInspectionAndCare thank you
Can I flat tow my 2016 Ford Fusion behind a Class C motor home?
Hi James. Just check the owners manual for the Fusion under the "Towing" section. If it is flat towable, it will usually tell you there.
How much does flat towing impact fuel economy? My gas 2007 Winnebago class c gets between 6-7 mpg on our trips.
You must have a Ford V10 engine in your Class C. Those things are very reliable but they are also gas hogs. Anyway, most people I know that flat tow say that it has little to no effect on their fuel mileage. I know that's the case with my rig.
@@RVInspectionAndCare yes, it’s the v10. That’s what I was thinking. I have the tow bar but not a suitable car presently. My crv is a 2016.
@@poodledad I wish that Honda had continued to make CRV's that were flat towable. They really are great little vehicles for RV travel. But as far as I know, the last year you can flat tow one of them is 2014. Ours is a 2011 and we trying to make it last as long as we can!
One option that may be of interest to some adventurous folks would be to forego the toad altogether and grab some electric two-wheeled commuting or off-road scooters. They can run for hours on a charge and zip right along the bike paths. My son commutes to work and school on one and loves it. He showed my scaredy cat wife how to ride and now she wants one too. For destinations with nice climate, they would be an interesting- and very economical option.
Good point. I actually see more RVers going in that direction these days. It's becoming a thing. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Unless you use the toad for shopping trips or transporting somebody who cannot ride a bike.
🎉🎉🎉
Thanks for watching!
Can a manual-transmission 2014 VW Passat be flat-towed (yes, the weights are OK for my RV)?
The best way to find out is to download the owners manual and check under the "towing" section. The manual will almost always tell you there if it can be flat towed or not.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Yeah, I tried that. The manual I was able to find online does not have a section for towing the vehicle. They've got a section for towing *something else* WITH the vehicle, but not on towing the car itself.
@@skillsonian That's kind of unusual. Here is a link to a 2015 towing guide that seems to indicate that VW does not have any models that can be flat towed - images.goodsam.com/newmotorhome/towguides/2015DinghyGuide.pdf
@@RVInspectionAndCare Yeah, I've given up on the VWs. Thx.
The predecessor to the Equinox/Terrain is the Saturn Vue and Pontiac Vybe. Great toads and very reasonably priced. IMO, Jeeps are over priced and more vehicle than a typical RVer needs. Jeepers like to tout their off road capability, but in reality the most challenging off roading most Jeeps see is the speed bumps in the mall parking lot.
Thanks for watching and adding these suggestions Jerry.
For those of us that do go off-road Jeep is really the only choice. I don't find them to be all that expensive personally. The Pontiac vibe you mentioned is a Toyota Matrix rebadged of which I own one (emergency car )and it is not flat towable unless you get the standard transmission which I would never do . However that matrix/ vibe is probably one of the most reliable vehicles out there. Too bad they don't make them anymore.
We've been FT for the last 4 years flat towing a little 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS 2.4l with the automatic transmission from coast to coast. The main advantage for me was that I already owned this little 30mpg economy car that's pretty quick too. I now have almost 450,000 miles on it under its own power (plus over 30,000 miles being towed) so it's pretty durable too for an inexpensive economy car. It weighs under 3,000 lbs. and is easy to setup for towing. I installed the baseplate and wired her up myself to save the dough. You must tow it with the transmission in neutral and the ignition switch in the accessory position, so you must either pull the accessory fuse or wire in a disconnect switch, like I did, so it doesn't run the battery down while being towed. That's all it takes. I took the back seat out to have a level floor to give more space and make it easier to store tools, water containers and such in it. If I were going to buy another toad it would be the Chevy HHR which uses basically the same chassis and engine as my 2.4l Cobalt but has more storage space inside. One thing to remember when setting up your rig for towing is that the tow bar should be as close to horizontal as possible. I accomplished this with a 2-inch drop hitch on my rig, but everyone's motorhome/toad combo will be different. Just be sure it's rated for the weight you are towing.
Thanks for sharing your Chevy Cobalt setup with us. It sounds like its working very well for you.
The Fiat that you show is a 500X not the 500 which is flat towable (with the manual transmission), the X is not.
My mistake. Thanks for pointing that out. :-)
Guy around here nobody uses a brake controller I have a friend that tow a Car they pull from Tenn to Calif without a brake controller and nev get stopped
Thanks for sharing that experience Joe.
Can you say that if any vehicle is all wheel drive it can Not be towed?
Well, actually an AWD vehicle can be towed but, as far as I can tell, only if all four wheels are off the ground. That means that flat towing and even two wheel tow dollies won't work for AWD vehicles.
@@RVInspectionAndCare thank you for the info. We have a Ford Edge and it’s AWD. We will look at the Jeep for a flat tow vehicle.
You can't go wrong with a Jeep that is flat towable. That's would be a great choice in my opinion.
If the hitch says 5,000 can you comfortably pull 5,000 pounds?
That just means that the hitch can handle 5,000 lbs. of weight. But you also have to make sure that your RV can handle pulling that weight too. If 5,000 lbs. fits within the towing capacity of the RV and the hitch is rated for that amount, you are good to go. But the weight limit for the hitch and the RV's towing capacity must agree to pull the full 5000 lbs. I hope that helps. :-)
@@RVInspectionAndCare thank you
Ford Focus is a great flat tow vehicle with 6 speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately Ford and many other Mfgs are not making those any longer … just like many RV Mfgs they don’t listen to the who use the vehicles. It’s sickening to say the least.
Thanks for sharing that suggestion with us.
I don’t need to know the vehicle I had put in the search what tow dolly his best to tow a Chevy spark that needs for wheels up. I guess you know Google didn’t do much of a job and neither did RUclips.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Kathy.
We have a JKU and a 2014 F150 4x4. F150 is way better than JKU.
Thanks for sharing your experience David!
I Tow a VW Thing
Interesting! Haven't seen one of those in a while.
CRV 2014 last flat towable year model, not pre 2014.
Thanks for making that clarification.
Doesn't that ruin the transmission of the vehicle towed?
Hi John. Flat towing will ruin the transmission of a vehicle that has not been built for flat towing. But there are several vehicles that are approved by the manufacturer for flat towing. That's what this video is all about. It lists several of the most popular flat tow vehicles in use by RVers today. Thanks for watching!
Chevy HHR automatic....
Thanks for adding that one to the list of flat towable vehicles too.
Thank you for your video! My Entegra Vision towing capacity is about 5000lbs, but my ram1500 is 5300lbs, is that ok to over 300lbs more?
Hi Koko. I never recommend exceeding the towing capacity for any rig. There is a reason why the engineers and the manufacturers of the RV established those guidelines. If we follow them, we are operating in a safe manner as we travel. If we exceed the provided limits, we are not only asking for trouble on the road, but we are also unnecessarily stressing our rig which usually leads to mechanical problems and repairs. In other words, I recommend to stay within the towing guidelines that your RV manufacturer gives you.
How about Toyota Prado 2006？
Sorry, but that's one that I really don't know about. I recommend that you search for the vehicle's manual online and then look under the "Towing" section. It will tell you if it is flat towable or not in most cases.
Fiat you need to tow it to the mechanic.
It sounds like you are not a Fiat fan. Of course, there are strong opinions about car brands, but I have also talked to several Fiat owners that love their choice as a towed vehicle. I guess you never know what you are going to get, but I see a lot of Fiats being towed out there these days.
Booo! I have a 2012 500 I bought brand new! Now have 97,000 miles and it’s the least problematic car I have ever owned. Don’t forget Fiat bailed out dodge from bankruptcy and turned the company around!
Jeeps may be popular but they gey the worst ratings by consumer reports.
That may be true but Jeeps are one of the most popular brands for flat towing that you see in use. And that was the purpose of this video.