Best Practices For Towing Your Car With Your Motorhome

Equipping Your Motorhome to Tow Your Vehicle Can Be Easy When You Know the Basics

If you have been driving a Class A motorhome for some time you no doubt have come to the conclusion that it would sure be nice to have the freedom and convenience of towing along a small to mid-size vehicle.

Side trips are easier with a small ‘toad’ or ‘dinghy,’ as they are affectionately called, along for the journey. You don’t have to worry about breaking camp and unhooking the power and water connections every time you want to leave to go sightseeing, pick up groceries or even if you have a sudden emergency. Think about the advantages:

• Finding parking spots for a smaller vehicle is easier than parking an RV.
• Extra storage space; keeping in mind the car’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) if there is a rating from the car’s manufacturer.
• 24-Hour parking limits for motorhomes would not allow you to visit relatives and friends for longer periods.
• Fuel savings from better fuel efficiency driving a dinghy, especially on longer side trips.

Now that you know you want take advantage of towing a dinghy behind your 44-foot Class A diesel pusher, like our popular Newmar Dutch Star 4369 motorhome, let’s see the most viable ways to tow a perfect toad, like the Jeep Wagoner. But first be aware of a few things you need to ‘weigh in on’ (pun not intended) in order to ensure that you’re towing safely and responsibly:

• Max Gross Trailer Hitch Weight; how much weight the motorhome’s hitch is capable of handling, typically found in the motorhome owner’s manual.
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): again how much total weight the motorhome can handle in terms of cargo and passenger capacity
• Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR): the combined weight of the loaded motorhome (including fuel and water tanks), plus the weight of loaded toad, before departing.

There are basically three types of towing methods for you to mull over. Armed with the weight towing restrictions for your existing RV or the one you’re thinking about buying, now you are ready to decide which method would work best for your motorhome/dinghy set up.

Four Down / Flat Towing: It means all four wheels are on the ground while towing. Tow bars attached to the motorhome fasten to the special tow plates installed on the dinghy allowing all four wheels to roll flat on the ground. Only certain types of towable cars, trucks and SUVs are manufacturer approved to be flat towed. https://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/ is an excellent guide for researching recommended dinghy-ready vehicles for four down flat towing for year models as far back as 1990.  

Since not all car models can be safely flat towed, there are websites like Outdoorsy that list the best cars for flat towing. For example, check out their blog for 10 best tow cars for 2020. https://www.outdoorsy.com/blog/rv-towing-vehicles.

Once you know your dinghy is approved for flat towing, it’s important to have the tow plates installed professionally to ensure safe towing and to minimize any fascia trimming, etc. Independence RV is just that company with certified RV technicians who have years and years of experience installing RV tow equipment: https://bit.ly/3pZiTVE

Tow Dolly: If your car is not suitable for flat towing, consider investing in a tow dolly. Tow dollies are small, two-wheeled trailers that can tow your car and be pulled behind an RV. Tow dollies allow you to tow your car with the two front wheels off the ground. This is great for front-wheel drive vehicles and typically does not require any sort of modification or procedures. Although it does require more work and you will have to make room at home and the campsite for the dolly, it’s a viable option.

Tow bar and tow dolly companies like Blue Ox, Demco and Roadmaster all offer fit lists for vehicle year, make and models on their websites, as well as any additional lighting and braking accessories you might require for your particular tow vehicle you own or the one you are going to purchase. Let the RV towing experts at Independence RV help you make the right choice and accomplish a professional installation: https://bit.ly/3GIHg0N. They will also show you how to properly connect the tow vehicle so you can have full confidence and peace of mind as you rack up mile after mile with your dinghy in tow.

Car Hauler / Trailer Towing: If the first two options don’t work for your towable vehicle because you have an automatic transmission that you don’t want to modify for flat towing or a rear drive that is not suitable for a tow dolly then you might want to consider a trailer.

If you are towing with a car hauler, you will also need a few extra items:

• Ramps if the trailer does not include them
• Rachet straps for tie-down
• Brake controller if the trailer has electric brakes

If your RV did not come with a brake controller, you may need to purchase and install one. Call the experienced counter staff at the Independence RV Parts Department at (877) 281-8452 for a quote. They can help you choose the best braking system for your RV and trailer set up.   

In addition, your car hauler will require its own tag registration, trailer license and with some practice you’ll be able to back up your motorhome while the trailer/toad is attached. You won’t be able to do that with a tow bar or tow dolly set up. If that is a concern, consider finding mostly ‘pull-through’ campsites. Also once you reach your destination you may need to ask about detaching and storing the trailer somewhere within the campground.

Although all this might seem troublesome, a big plus for using a car hauler is saving the wear and tear on your toad’s engine and transmission while you haul it.

Know the Basics When You Tow

Keep in mind that the right towing accessories are the ones that work best with your vehicles. Safe towing relies on knowing your weight restrictions of your towing vehicle, as well as the tow vehicle. Also be sure to follow the manufacturers’ recommendations for hitches and accessories based on the makes and models of your vehicles.

Remember that no amount of add-on accessories you may consider can make up for being safe, thorough, and informed. When it comes to pulling an extra vehicle along, the most important thing to have in ‘tow’ is a sound knowledge of RV towing best practices.

For more helpful tips on towing your dinghy check out the Togo RV website blog: https://togorv.com/rv-living/the-ultimate-rv-towing-guide/.

In the market for the perfect motorhome? Search our website to see our full selection of new and used motorhomes. We also carry a full line of towing accessories including tow bars and tow plates, tow dollies and more. Independence RV Sales and Service, Inc., in business since 1985, is a destination dealership, attracting buyers from all over the country.

The bulk of our sales are new and used Newmar coaches, but we also carry many other brands of used Class C and Class A gas and diesel motorhomes. Over the years we have become the trusted full-service RV company for many repeat customers who come to us to trade up to a new coach or sometimes even downsize to a smaller unit.

Independence RV Customer Satisfaction is Job #1

Independence RV has received the coveted Newmar Diamond Award in the first three years of the award being bestowed on only the top Newmar Dealers in the country. Independence RV scored better than a 95% customer satisfaction level for the sales, warranty service and delivery presentation process.

We’re Located in Central Florida

If you are planning to stop in to see us, Independence RV is located in Winter Garden, Florida. We’re just up the road (SR 429) from the happiest place on Earth and a few miles farther will bring you to rest of Orlando’s theme parks and attractions. For directions Independence RV is located 1 mile west of State Road 429 (toll road) on the north side of State Road 50 (12705 W. Colonial Drive).