Flat tow

Grasshopper21 · 06-26-2021, 03:03 PM

Flat tow.

What kind of vehicle do you flat tow? We have a Honda HRV and according to the owners manual this can not be flat towed. We would purchase a dolly, but that is just something else that needs to be stored. We have a couple of vehicles we can trade in, but just wondering what others do. It’s nothing we have to do now, because our delivery date for the the RV is Sept.

Thank you.

TurnerFam · 06-26-2021, 03:31 PM

all kinds of RV owners do it whatever way works best or easiest or cheapest for them - we've tow-dollied our 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude, for a short time, and then we 4-down 'toad' our 2014 Ford Fiesta FWD Automatic and lastly our 2014 Ford Focus FWD Automatic for 100,000+ miles.

many RV owners will swear by a tow dolly, it works for them. They've gotten used to how to hook it up, how to drive the vehicle carefully on it, strapping and chaining it, and working out how to give it 'tail lights', if the dolly doesn't already have them. All that is not always 'fun' to have to manage, but many do it every day. No worries.

others use a trailer, or someone follows in the vehicle, or they tow it 4-down. The cost, overall, for a 4-down option, like buying the tow-bar, the tow-plate installation, and the optional integrated tail-lights, is probably the same as owning a tow dolly, but it seems to be an easier and quicker route to towing your vehicle, and no worries about having to 'store' the tow dolly somewhere(trailers are even harder, but that's a whole different story). It is, though, a DEDICATED single-vehicle tow.

Try renting a uHaul tow dolly and try that for a while, you may find that you like that just fine. At least you'll know you're feelings and you can then 'decide' where to go from there, IF anywhere.

**EA37TS** · 06-26-2021, 03:52 PM

Try searching the forum for the hundreds of posts on this topic.

If your HRV is AWD you might not be able to dolly tow it and may have to use a trailer.

Bob Denman · 06-26-2021, 04:37 PM

How about a Jeep Wrangler?
Put the transfer case in neutral, and you're pretty much good to go!

**EA37TS** · 06-26-2021, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

How about a Jeep Wrangler?
Put the transfer case in neutral, and you're pretty much good to go!

Interesting that you mentioned the Wrangler. At an RV park earlier in this trip an individual came up while I was connecting the TOAD. He wanted to see how easy it was to hitch up a Grand Cherokee. He was towing a Wrangler and does not like it because it doesn’t have enough room inside. Talked to him for about 30 minutes.

Bob Denman · 06-26-2021, 04:53 PM

No doubt: they're not for everybody..

But if you only need a runabout for 2 or 3 people: it's tough to beat them!

WarEagleDan · 06-29-2021, 12:02 AM

Ford Ranger!

**EA37TS** · 06-29-2021, 01:28 AM

Anyone know if the new Bronco can be flat towed?

**16ACE27** · 06-29-2021, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grasshopper21

Flat tow.

What kind of vehicle do you flat tow? We have a Honda HRV and according to the owners manual this can not be flat towed. We would purchase a dolly, but that is just something else that needs to be stored. We have a couple of vehicles we can trade in, but just wondering what others do. It’s nothing we have to do now, because our delivery date for the the RV is Sept.

Thank you.

Did you see this 300+ post thread that answers your question?

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f9...ours-3015.html

It's great to see you are looking in the Owners Manual to verify flat towing capability. Unfortunately, the HRV and it's big brother, the CRV have not been flat towable since they have CVT transmissions, but there are several other cars, COVs (CUVs?), SUVs, and PUs that can be flat towed.

HMCSW · 06-29-2021, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EA37TS

Anyone know if the new Bronco can be flat towed?

Not the Sport but the other yes

HMCSW · 06-29-2021, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grasshopper21

Flat tow.

What kind of vehicle do you flat tow? We have a Honda HRV and according to the owners manual this can not be flat towed. We would purchase a dolly, but that is just something else that needs to be stored. We have a couple of vehicles we can trade in, but just wondering what others do. It’s nothing we have to do now, because our delivery date for the the RV is Sept.

Thank you.

Check Good Sam dinghy towing guides. They do one every year. Think of a car that you like and see if it is on the list. So depending on towing capacity of your rig there are dozens. We tow an Escalade ESV but only because we already had the car. It does work well for us as we have 2 dogs and grandkids that we take with us many times. Looking to get a Wrangler later this year.

pstandiford · 06-29-2021, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarEagleDan

Ford Ranger!

Agreed!!

mrsholyoke · 07-03-2021, 06:16 PM

We flat tow a 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid. Great mileage for our daily driver, and easy to tow. Happy hunting for the perfect set-up for you.

captjoe2 · 07-03-2021, 06:27 PM

https://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/

cgeace29.3 · 07-03-2021, 06:38 PM

2014 Honda C R V last year you could flat tow
Honda quality good gas mileage S U V room for taking extras of transporting folks

Nina@DuraFlap · 07-03-2021, 06:47 PM

We have done it every way possible.
If you can find a vehicle you like that can be towed, and can afford the cost of setting it up...do it.
The only negative is that you can not back up with it hooked up. So if you find yourself at the end of the road, in a tight spot or at a low tunnel you will have to stop traffic and disconnect to get turned around. This has happened to me 3 times in 20 years

Nobody honked.
We have a 2010 Honda CRV. May possibly look for a 2014 CRV since that is the last year the CRV was towable.

lwmcguire · 07-03-2021, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

No doubt: they're not for everybody..

But if you only need a runabout for 2 or 3 people: it's tough to beat them!

Sure have fun with our Wrangler, and usually only two or perhaps a grandkid in the back

lwmcguire · 07-03-2021, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurnerFam

all kinds of RV owners do it whatever way works best or easiest or cheapest for them - we've tow-dollied our 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude, for a short time, and then we 4-down 'toad' our 2014 Ford Fiesta FWD Automatic and lastly our 2014 Ford Focus FWD Automatic for 100,000+ miles.

many RV owners will swear by a tow dolly, it works for them. They've gotten used to how to hook it up, how to drive the vehicle carefully on it, strapping and chaining it, and working out how to give it 'tail lights', if the dolly doesn't already have them. All that is not always 'fun' to have to manage, but many do it every day. No worries.

others use a trailer, or someone follows in the vehicle, or they tow it 4-down. The cost, overall, for a 4-down option, like buying the tow-bar, the tow-plate installation, and the optional integrated tail-lights, is probably the same as owning a tow dolly, but it seems to be an easier and quicker route to towing your vehicle, and no worries about having to 'store' the tow dolly somewhere(trailers are even harder, but that's a whole different story). It is, though, a DEDICATED single-vehicle tow.

Try renting a uHaul tow dolly and try that for a while, you may find that you like that just fine. At least you'll know you're feelings and you can then 'decide' where to go from there, IF anywhere.

Great advice

We flat tow the F150 and use a Stehl dolly when we take the Escape. Based on the trip the best suited vehicle is used

the real advantage of flat towing is the very fast hook up compared to a dolly. Some folks are very fast with a dolly load but it takes me a good solid 15-20 minutes to load and recheck everything. You have to tighten or check the straps taking a bit more time than just walking around the rig

Tinman · 07-03-2021, 08:55 PM

I flat tow a 2018 Chevy Colorado and it works great. One other thing to consider in your decision is if flat towing you cannot back up. I’ve almost been stuck in a tight parking lot or getting out of a tight gas station. There is something to be said for the ability to back up if you need to without unhooking the toad.

71_340 · 07-03-2021, 09:30 PM

I bought a 2014 Ford Focus (automatic). Set up for towing myself (Blue Ox plate), separate light bulbs installed in taillights. Bought a used Blue Ox tow bar a RVibrake 2. I have less the $1500.00 in my complete towing set up (not counting the price of the car).

No way I would use a dolly, to bulky and a PIA to get ready. My car is ready to tow in about 10 minutes.

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