Is Dinghy Towing Behind Your Motorhome a Good Concept?
When you drive a big motorhome, you understand how difficult it may be to run errands or go sightseeing. Parking and navigating in a giant rig can flip easy duties into main ordeals. That’s why many RVers select to carry a passenger automobile alongside. There are three foremost methods to tow a automobile: trailer towing, dolly towing, and dinghy towing (additionally known as flat towing). The best and hottest methodology is dinghy towing, the place all 4 wheels keep on the bottom.
Dinghy towing is handy as a result of it requires much less tools than the opposite strategies. Simply hook up your automobile, arrange the auxiliary braking system and sign lights, and also you’re able to go. Whenever you attain your vacation spot, you may unhook and use your automobile inside minutes. This 2025 Dinghy Towing information covers all the things you want to know to soundly flat tow a automobile behind your motorhome.
Know Your Motorhome’s Towing Capability
Earlier than you begin dinghy towing, examine your RV’s towing capability. Overloading the chassis is unsafe and might shorten your RV’s lifespan. You’ll discover the towing capability within the chassis guide or on a label inside your RV.
A motorhome’s tow ranking is:
“The utmost weight restrict that may safely be towed by your particular automobile. This weight is calculated by including the RV’s gross automobile weight (GVW) with the burden of all passengers, cargo, and liquids in your tow automobile.” — Lichtsinn RV
Select a Car for 2025 Dinghy Towing
Not each automobile may be flat towed. Actually, many more moderen autos lack the fitting transmission for dinghy towing. Sometimes, you’ll want a rear-wheel-drive automobile with a guide transmission or a 4WD truck/SUV with a switch case that may be set to impartial. Towing the fallacious automobile may cause critical drivetrain injury.
Producer-Permitted 2025 Dinghy Automobiles
All autos listed below are 2025 fashions. Different, older fashions could also be dinghy-towable, however you’ll have to examine with the producer beforehand to verify. Do NOT assume that as a result of a mannequin is towable one yr that will probably be dinghy-towable the following. Permitted autos can change shortly and infrequently.
Sure autos have restrictions on the speeds at which they will safely be towed. Many even have particular directions which can be required by the producer earlier than you hit the street (or when you’re in route). Not solely that, however solely sure variations of some fashions listed may be flat towed.
Backside line: It’s important to examine your potential dinghy automobile’s proprietor’s guide for towing directions BEFORE you dinghy-tow it. You’ll discover a chapter about tow within the guide that comes with each automobile. It could discuss with “dinghy towing,” “flat-towing,” and even “leisure towing.”
Producer-Permitted 2025 Automobiles for Dinghy Towing
Listings compiled by Thomas Gowdin
Buick
Cadillac
- Escalade V (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
- Escalade ESV 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
- Escalade 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
Chevrolet
- Blazer 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
- Colorado 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
- Silverado 1500 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
- Silverado 2500/3500 HD 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
- Suburban 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
- Tahoe 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that hasa impartial and a 4WD Low)
- TRAX
- Trailblazer AWD
Dodge
- Durango (AWD with two-speed switch case)
Ford
- Bronco (N/A Bronco Sport)
- Edge 2.7L Ecoboost
- Ford Escape Full Hybrid Electrical Car (FHEV)/Plug-in Hybrid Electrical Car (PHEV)
- Expedition 4WD
- F-150 4WD
- Tremendous Obligation 4WD
- Maverick Hybrid Electrical Car (HEV)
- Ranger 4WD
GMC
- Canyon/Canyon Denali 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
- Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
- Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500HD/3500HD 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
- Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali 4WD (with a two-speed switch case that has a impartial and a 4WD Low)
Jeep
- Gladiator 4WD
- Grand Cherokee 4WD (with 4WD Low)
- Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer 4WD (with 4WD Low)
- Wrangler 4WD
Lincoln
- Nautilus Full Hybrid Electrical Car (FHEV)
- Navigator 4WD
Nissan
- Sentra (guide transmission)
- Versa Sedan (guide transmission)
- Z (guide transmission)
RAM
- 1500 4WD
- 2500 4WD
- 3500 4WD
Dinghy Towing Setup
For a secure and profitable dinghy-towing expertise, you’ll want some further specialised tools past merely a motorhome with a hitch receiver that may safely deal with the burden of the towed automobile:
- Base plate
- Tow bar
- Security cables or chains
- Breakaway change and cable
- Auxiliary braking system
- Wiring harness for sign lights or wi-fi magnetic LED lights
- Rock guard (optionally available, for particles safety)
Base Plate
A base plate gives a safe attachment level on the dinghy automobile for the tow bar. Some installations require reducing the automobile’s trim. When you’re not comfy putting in it your self, store round for a professional RV technician. Base plates are vehicle- and tow bar-specific. In style manufacturers embody Blue Ox, Curt, Demco, and Roadmaster.
Tow Bars
The tow bar connects your towed automobile to the motorhome. It ought to be simple to hitch and unhitch, and lock securely whereas towing. Some tow bars include detachable tabs, whereas others (like Demco) supply tabless choices. Tow bars can be found in several weight capacities, so select one which matches your automobile. Many may be folded out of the way in which when not in use. Blue Ox, Demco, Roadmaster, and Curt all make dependable tow bars.
Security Cables or Chains
Security cables or chains are important in case your towed automobile turns into indifferent. Prime manufacturers embody Blue Ox, Curt, Demco, Reese Towpower, and Roadmaster.
Breakaway Switches
A breakaway change prompts your dinghy automobile’s brakes if it turns into indifferent. It’s required by legislation in lots of states and Canadian provinces.
Auxiliary Braking Techniques
A braking system in your towed automobile ensures easy, even stops. Most states and Canadian provinces require them. In style manufacturers embody Blue Ox, Brake Buddy, Roadmaster, Demco/SMI, and RVi.
Rock Guards
Rock guards shield your dinghy automobile from particles. The three kinds of rock guards embody brush, cut up, and strong guards. Select the sort that most closely fits your wants.
Sign/Tail Lights
You’ll be able to set up a wiring harness to attach your automobile’s tail lights to your RV, or use wi-fi LED tail lights that connect magnetically. Wi-fi choices are simple to make use of and repeat your RV’s alerts.
Dinghy Towing is the Strategy to Go!
Dinghy towing makes RV journey extra handy. You received’t want to interrupt camp to discover or run errands, and also you’ll have a passenger automobile prepared for native journeys. With the fitting setup, dinghy towing is secure and simple. Put money into high quality tools and comply with producer pointers for a easy expertise.
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