Congratulations on your new motorhome! Now you’re wondering which car is the best towable. Imagine traveling cross-country in your luxurious, brand new Newmar Bay Star 3124, or winding around mountain roads on your back-to-nature getaway in a Thor Motor Coach Four Winds 31F. When you get to the RV park or your campsite, you level your unit, roll out the awning, hook up, and life is grand. But what happens when you realize you forgot eggs for the pie you’re making? Or you hear about a really great swimming hole that’s too far to walk to? You don’t want to have to pack up and unplug every time you need to take a trip to the store, or drive around to see the sights.
Whatever your RV style, you’ll want to choose carefully when purchasing a towable car. Always be sure to check the car’s weight against your RV’s tow rating. However, keep in mind that if you’re towing your vehicle on a trailer, you’ll need to factor in the additional weight. To determine which kind of towable is right for you, start by deciding how you would like to tow: flat on a tow bar, on a tow dolly, or on a trailer.
Flat Tow
When you flat tow, you hook your vehicle up to a tow bar and auxiliary brake system, and all four wheels of your towable are on the ground. This is also called four-down or dinghy towing. (Towables are often referred to as “toads” or “dinghies”). Dinghy towing is a reference to the small boat that are often towed behind yachts.
WARNING: Do not flat tow a vehicle with an automatic transmission, it’ll get ruined. You need a manual transmission in your towable to tow this way. Be careful though, because not all manual transmission vehicles will work. You may need to consult the owner’s manual or a technician to determine whether the vehicle you’re interested in is four-down towable. In most cases, a rear-wheel vehicle with a manual transmission, or a four-wheel drive vehicle with a manual transfer case that can be placed in neutral will work. Also, don’t assume that a particular vehicle is four-down towable even if it was in previous years. Sometimes, manufacturer’s update the design which then makes the vehicle incompatible with flat towing. For a comprehensive guide to flat towable vehicles, check out Motor Home Magazine’s “Dinghy Guide” updated for 2019.
Jeep Wranglers have been a long-time favorite towable for many RV travelers. Plus, you have the bonus of being able to go off road. For something with great gas mileage try the Chevy Cruze with manual transmission.
Tow Dolly or Trailer
With a Tow Dolly, you can tow two-down, or with only two wheels on the ground. These will be the non-driving wheels. So if you have a front-wheel drive vehicle that can’t be four-down towed, you can tow with the rear wheels touching the road.
You can tow almost any car with a Tow Dolly or Trailer, as long as the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer don’t exceed your RV’s towing capacity. However, this method of towing is generally less popular with most RVers because there’s extra hassle involved. With the additional piece of equipment, you have one more thing to maintain, store, and deal with once you get to your campsite. However, if you’re hoping to not purchase a brand new vehicle, this might be the route you choose.
If you need help choosing a towable car for your motorhome adventures, contact us today. Guaranty carries a wide range of new and used vehicles at our Chevrolet Dealership and is the Willamette Valley’s used truck headquarters if you would rather pull a trailer. Guaranty also carries Toters! We can also help you determine if your current vehicle is towable, and your best overall towing option.
Photo: Edmunds.com
