posted
We have recently moved from a 5th to motor home and now need a toad. Does anyone know of a list of vehicles that can be towed flat with no modifications. thanks much lloyd
-------------------- Lloyd Posts: 8 | From: on the beach at teacapan mexico | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
There are a zillion listed at FMCA.com. You will need to be a member and then search for the towable charts. You can find a great forum related to motorhomes at www.fmca.com
-------------------- Bill Adams Winegard Company Posts: 15675 | From: Traveling the Western US | Registered: May 2003
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-------------------- HughesNet l Xplornet [Canadian] VAR l F1 D2 91/985 l Windows 7 Posts: 188 | From: Mission, BC Canada | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Both FMCA and Motorhome Magazine have an annual article (in the January editions) that covers that year's current crop of flat towable vehicles readily available in the US. There are others that can be towed, but the listing is ones the manufacturer states can be flat towed. If you are looking for a used vehicle, you can check back (on line) at either resource for the publication guide for the specific model year of interest (but it doesn't go back forever). Be aware of what your motorhome's towing capacity is and take that capacity into consideration when shopping around for your toad. You should probably stay in the 70-80% of capacity range (or less). In other words, you may be in love with a 6,000 pound car/truck and only have a 5,000 towing capacity. With 5,000 capacity, look for something around 4,000.
You will need base plates, tow bar, working lights, auxilliary brakes. Figure on around $2,000 for the extras to make a flat towable vehicle towable. Blue Ox and Roadmaster are the big players in the towing hardware stuff. Remco can tell you if a vehicle you want to tow (but isn't certified as such by the manufacturer) can be, and if there are additional modifications you will need to make (drive shaft disconnect, lube pump, etc.).
Gary
-------------------- DSL & Verizon Jetpack - formerly F1 Datastorm w/2-Watt BUC | D3 3.9.6w | HN7000s 5.8.0.82 | AMC9 - 83W/1290 H/H | 33Msps | BOW SL3 SWM HDTV | Linksys WRT54GS See my current location Posts: 1185 | From: Debary, Florida | Registered: May 2003
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We tow a Chevy Express Van. After recently throwing our "old" van off a cliff, we are having our new van outfitted with a Remco Driveshaft Disconnect, M&G Braking system, Road Master Baseplate and the necessary wiring to make the van brake/turn lights work in conjunction with the RV. It's an expensive undertaking but once setup it works great!
[ July 01, 2012, 07:06 AM: Message edited by: Bill Adams ]
-------------------- Bill Adams Winegard Company Posts: 15675 | From: Traveling the Western US | Registered: May 2003
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If you are into Jeeps, the manual 4X4 transfer case allows you to shift into neutral even if you have an auto tranny Jeep. Suzette's Jeep works well that way. We still have our 5th wheel but we would pull the Jeep Wrangler behind a motor home if we traded the 5er. The Jeep would work well in Teacapan!
posted
I don't think it is an accident that you see more Jeeps being towed than anything else. One note however: Prior to 2008, Jeeps have an ignition-key position that unlocks the steering wheel without turning anything on. From 2008 on, the unlock position also turns the electronics on and will drain a battery during a long tow. There are a number of solutions, including battery disconnects, trickle charging from the motorhome, etc, but if you are thinking used I would be looking at older Jeeps. Lots of good used Wranglers, Commanders, Cherokees and Liberties out there.
posted
In my 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the ignition switch is in the dash, not the steering column and you don't even leave the key in the ignition to tow. I'd be surprised if they changed this in 2008, but I have no information on that.
UPDATE:
I downloaded the 2012 GC Owner manual from Jeep and it seems the towing procedure on it is still the same as mine. Here is the last step in preparing it to tow:
14. Shift the transmission into PARK and remove the key fob.
Further, looking at the manual, it seems only the model with the Quadra-Trac II drive train can be towed 4-down.
quote:Originally posted by DonB: I don't think it is an accident that you see more Jeeps being towed than anything else. One note however: Prior to 2008, Jeeps have an ignition-key position that unlocks the steering wheel without turning anything on. From 2008 on, the unlock position also turns the electronics on and will drain a battery during a long tow. There are a number of solutions, including battery disconnects, trickle charging from the motorhome, etc, but if you are thinking used I would be looking at older Jeeps. Lots of good used Wranglers, Commanders, Cherokees and Liberties out there.
Jeep stopped putting in the steering wheel lock entirely about that time. There might be some '08 models with the new switch AND a lock, but later models don't have the lock at all.
Also, regarding another post in this thread, it doesn't have to be a manual transfer case (like the Wranglers have). The electric transfer case in the Command-Trak and Select-Trak transmissions also work. There's a little recessed button to use to get the transfer case into neutral. Not as simple as the manual version, but actually (physically) easier.
joe
-------------------- Cradlepoint MBR95, Sierra USB-250U (Sprint WiMax) 2008 Newmar King Aire 4562, 2012 Jeep Liberty Limited Jet We're here! Posts: 683 | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
My information is apparently old. Doing a search on the topic reveals that the lock went away at a variable time (depending on Jeep model) during the 2008 and 2009 model years. Many 2008 and perhaps some 2009 will have a steering lock with a key that does not have the unlock position, which is the problem I was talking about, but some 2008 and most 2009 will not have a steering wheel lock.
That said, a used Jeep in the '09-'10 range would be a really nice toad, as long as you check for the steering wheel lock in the early '09 ones. Our '10 Wrangler was a good toad, but the '12 Liberty is a much nicer car all around, as long as you can live with the loss of the more extreme off-road capability.
joe
-------------------- Cradlepoint MBR95, Sierra USB-250U (Sprint WiMax) 2008 Newmar King Aire 4562, 2012 Jeep Liberty Limited Jet We're here! Posts: 683 | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Chevy HHR automatic transmission put in "N" Pull #8 2AMP fuse or put a switch on it. Turn Key to ACC Hook up to MH and go. Around 3,300 lb Plenty of them on the market at a low price.
-------------------- Larry 99 34Q Discovery & 08 HHR LT2 Banks Powerpack F1 | D3 3.8.9 | HN7000S | 117/1070 |Hardwired through 8 Port Switch with WRT54 |Trav'ler Slimline SWM |Wilson SOHO Click here to see where I am Posts: 1151 | From: Homestead, FL | Registered: Aug 2003
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Yep, had an '04 Jeep Liberty 4x4 with the key "unlocked but ignition off" postition and manual transfer case. Great little tow car. Now I have an '11 Grand Cherokee with the Quadra Trac II and electronic transfer case. Put the transfer case in neutral with the push of a button, turn the ignition off and take the key fob out, and put the gear shift in park. The Grand Cherokee is a little heavier than the Liberty but it tows well and is very comfortable and roomy.
-------------------- Mel & Gerry Linville '05 Dutch Star 4009 & '11 Jeep Grand Cherokee F1/D2/HN7000S | 127W/1070 WB4ZIT View my current location Posts: 180 | From: Various | Registered: Oct 2004
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We just bought and set up a 2012 Chevy Equinox and are happy with it. It is a 4WD "crossover" SUV, as was our previous 2002 Honda CRV. It appealed to my wife more than getting another Honda CRV, which is still towable and very popular. We are getting better mpq, averaging about 24, than our old CRV. The Honda Fit is also towable. Ford took about all the 2012's off the towable list with a bulletin, including the Escape, Escape Hybrid and Fusion. Some 2012 Chevy Malibu's can be towed, some can't. You need to check by VIN number on Malibu since a friend just went through the effort to find one and is now towing it. There are choices out there.
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