Towed Vehicle

[Grumpy Grampa]

Hi. I have a 37.1 2017 Miramar. V10 6.8 Triton. What is a good compact tow vehicle.

I don’t want to use a tow dolly.

Thank you

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by smithgarnat@aol.com

Hi. I have a 37.1 2017 Miramar. V10 6.8 Triton. What is a good compact tow vehicle.

I don’t want to use a tow dolly.

Thank you

Towed vehicle.

A tow vehicle does the towing.
A towed vehicle gets towed. Hence the nickname "Toad".

How compact do you want?

Smart cars are towable
Fiat 500s are towable
Sparks are towable
Sonics are towable
Cruzes are towable
The list goes on and on.

I would have no problem recommending a Sonic as both a Toad and a daily driver. Others will make recommendations based on their experiences.

When you think you have made a decision but BEFORE you put the $$$$ down, look in the owners manual to verify recreational vehicle dinghy towing capability. Don't rely on what a salesman or other third party may tell you.

[Mr Sunshine]

A good place to start is a search for Motorhome magazine's annual guide to dinghy towable vehicles. There's a different one for each year. It also tells you the procedure to ready each car for towing. For example, some require removal of a fuse.

Ultimately it is the owner's manual that will be the final judge.

We have flat towed for years, and while it involves a significant upfront expense, it's a snap to hook up and unhook.

[Lt Keefer]

There is more to finding your perfect dinghy than looking at the list of approved cars on the internet. Neither is the owner's manual the final determining factor. Sales people and service techs at dealerships are also not a reliable source. I tow a 2021 Kia Soul and it is on no list and it's owner's manual says not to tow it behind a motor home. But Kia has issued a TSB that says any manual transmission or DCT transmission Kia may be used for recreational towing. How did I find this information, I contacted the manufacturers of the vehicles I was interested in owning and using as a dinghy. Kia was at the top of my list based on its warranty and when contacted they promptly responded with a case number, and a couple of days later, I had an email from the manufacturer authorizing dinghy towing and a copy of the TSB. Base plate companies sell products to tow vehicles that are on no lists. Why would they do that if the vehicles could not be safely used as dinghies? Expand your research and you may be pleasantly surprised.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by Lt Keefer

There is more to finding your perfect dinghy than looking at the list of approved cars on the internet. Neither is the owner's manual the final determining factor. Sales people and service techs at dealerships are also not a reliable source. I tow a 2021 Kia Soul and it is on no list and it's owner's manual says not to tow it behind a motor home. But Kia has issued a TSB that says any manual transmission or DCT transmission Kia may be used for recreational towing. How did I find this information, I contacted the manufacturers of the vehicles I was interested in owning and using as a dinghy. Kia was at the top of my list based on its warranty and when contacted they promptly responded with a case number, and a couple of days later, I had an email from the manufacturer authorizing dinghy towing and a copy of the TSB. Base plate companies sell products to tow vehicles that are on no lists. Why would they do that if the vehicles could not be safely used as dinghies? Expand your research and you may be pleasantly surprised.

No doubt. But the “approved” list is a pretty darn good place to start. If you can’t find something you like from that list you probably are being too particular. I agree that relying on the owners manual is not 100%. Shortly after I bought my Spark I got a letter from Chevrolet advising that the approved procedure had been changed. It’s still super easy but it’s interesting that they charged the process well after production.

[Lt Keefer]

Can't disagree Pete, but that approved list included a bunch of Fords a few years ago that folks purchased and ended up with busted transmissions. My point was to expand ones search and not lest the 'list' be the final arbiter.

[Capt.Tom]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Towed vehicle.



A tow vehicle does the towing.

A towed vehicle gets towed. Hence the nickname "Toad".



How compact do you want?



Smart cars are towable

Fiat 500s are towable

Sparks are towable

Sonics are towable

Cruzes are towable

The list goes on and on.



I would have no problem recommending a Sonic as both a Toad and a daily driver. Others will make recommendations based on their experiences.



When you think you have made a decision but BEFORE you put the $$$$ down, look in the owners manual to verify recreational vehicle dinghy towing capability. Don't rely on what a salesman or other third party may tell you.

Chevy Equinox to but most of the GM cars are limited to 65mph.
I tow a F-150 with no problems. I barely know it's there. Towed it from Florida to Houston and back last year behind my V-10 Miramar.

[ducksface]

I'm kind of different.
If we get a towed it's going to be a
Spitfire or Opel GT or a Pinto or Fiat 850.
Probably a nice pinto wagon or hatchback so we have a.c..
But
We saw a really cute new Fiat 124 convertible last year.
A towed should be fun more than utilitarian.

[taylorbob1]

Originally Posted by ducksface

I'm kind of different.
If we get a towed it's going to be a
Spitfire or Opel GT or a Pinto or Fiat 850.
Probably a nice pinto wagon or hatchback so we have a.c..
But
We saw a really cute new Fiat 124 convertible last year.
A towed should be fun more than utilitarian.

Are you going to fabricate a baseplate for one of those unique vehicles?
That is, probably do not exist on Amazon or other retailers.

[ducksface]

Sure,


I fabricate quite a bit.
The bins and winch mount in my signature thread were all me(except labor. Nephew did the put together, I handed tools and held positions.).
Frame horns are easy to attach to. Angle iron, a small bit of plate.

I think any welding shop could have one whipped out in a few hours.
All but the new fiat have real bumpers.

I sure wouldn't hesitate. The base plate making would be very common stuff.