How to tow an RV dinghy four-wheels down with a motorhome

I get asked many questions about towing a vehicle behind a motorhome, but perhaps the most common is “How do you know what vehicles can be towed with four-wheels on the ground?” Here are some tips.

You basically have three options when it comes to towing a vehicle behind your motorhome. You can tow the vehicle with all four-wheels up using a car trailer, with two-wheels up using a tow dolly, or with all four-wheels down.

In recent years towing with all four-wheels down, using a tow bar, has become more popular. Some of the reasons are the ease of hitching and unhitching, not having to deal with a trailer and that more automobile manufacturers are building vehicles that can be towed with four-wheels on the ground without modifications.

What Vehicles Can I Tow With Four-Wheels Down?
Some manufacturer approved vehicles can be towed four-wheels down without any modifications to the drive-train or transmission, but many more require some type of modification to tow it with all four-wheels on the ground.

Many vehicles with automatic transmission cannot be towed with all four-wheels down unless it is four-wheel drive, and even then it requires a transfer case that can be shifted into neutral. Front wheel drive vehicles with manual transmissions and most four-wheel drive vehicles with a manual transfer case are among the best choices for towing with all four-wheels down. Even if you have a vehicle that can be towed with all four-wheels down it’s quite possible that it will have towing speed and/or mileage restrictions. So where do we start?

Start by reading your vehicle owner’s manual to determine if the vehicle can be towed without any drive-train modifications. If the vehicle is approved by the manufacturer to be towed with all four-wheels down the owner’s manual will provide specific instructions on the proper procedures. If the manual does not provide specific instructions about towing with all four- wheels down check with the vehicle manufacturer. Your vehicle warranty could be voided from damage caused by towing a vehicle and not following the manufacturer’s guidelines. Do not rely on what a vehicle salesperson tells you. Almost all vehicles approved to be towed with all four- wheels down will include this information in the vehicle owner’s manual.

If you don’t already have a vehicle to tow a good resource to check on what vehicles can be towed with all four-wheels down is the annual “Dinghy Towing Guide” available at RVbookstore.com. Keep in mind that this is only a guide and it is your responsibility to make absolutely sure the vehicle you are considering towing can be towed with all four-wheels down, with no drive-train modifications, before you make a purchase or actually tow the vehicle.

The Dinghy Towing Guide includes manufacturer approved vehicles for towing without modifications that can be towed at speeds of at least 55 MPH and for distances of at least 200 miles without any special procedures. Pay particular attention to any speed or distance restrictions that could ultimately affect your vehicle warranty. Also pay attention to the restrictions and special instructions listed in the footnotes. The guide lists other valuable information like vehicle curb weights, fuel economy and base retail prices. Keep in mind the lighter the vehicle the better it is. It is easy to exceed a motorhomes receiver weight rating and the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). Note also that some models listed in their four- wheel drive version can be towed without modifications, but their two-wheel drive version of the same model cannot be towed with four-wheels on the ground.

Be sure to follow any special towing instructions or procedures found in the vehicle owner’s manual. You might be required to remove a certain fuse before you tow the vehicle, or to stop towing after so many miles and start the vehicle to allow drive train components to be lubricated. Following any and all special instructions can save you money and protect the vehicle warranty.

There are many reasons why some vehicles are not approved by the manufacturer to be towed with all four-wheels down. It may be that the vehicle will not track or follow the motorhome properly, or maybe a component in the drive-train could be damaged, and sometimes it is because of liability and warranty concerns. Another reason is the expense involved for a manufacturer to test and approve vehicles for towing with all four-wheels down.

The good news is, in many cases where vehicles are not approved by the manufacturer to be towed with all four-wheels down they can still be towed in this method by adding some type of aftermarket accessory. The most common problem is when the engine is not running components in the drive-train that require lubrication are not being lubricated. Towing a vehicle like this can result in thousands of dollars worth of damage, and/or possibly overheat and catch on fire.

There are specialty aftermarket products and modifications available such as drive shaft disconnects and/or transmission lube pumps that can be added so a vehicle is mechanically capable of being towed without damaging the drive-train.

If the vehicle you want to tow falls in the 20 percent that cannot be modified for towing, you still have the option of using a tow dolly or a car trailer. All vehicles can be towed on a car trailer, as long as you don’t exceed weight ratings, and most front wheel drive vehicles can be towed with a tow dolly.

For more in-depth information on towing check out my DVD Towing Behind your Motorhome.