Cars That Can be Flat Towed Behind Motor Home

What is Flat Towing?

To tow a car behind a motor home, people sometimes attach the automobile to a trailer or an RV with a tow bar, or some type of dolly, and pull the car along. The car’s back wheels will be on the ground, but the front ones will not. While this type of towing works and is convenient, it has some problems. The rear tires of the car get worn much more than the front tires, and stopping the RV can be difficult.

Flat towing takes care of this problem. With this type of towing, RV drivers hook their car up to the back of the motor home and tow the car on all four wheels. The car looks as if it is driving but is attached to the motor home. Flat towing works nicely and keeps the tires on the car balanced. It also is more efficient, and thus uses less gas, because the car is moving on its own with a little tugging rather than having the RV pull the car.

Identifying Cars That Can Be Flat Towed Behind Motor Home

In essence, any car can be flat towed, but some models and designs work better than others. The concept of flat towing works best with cars that can be towed very closely to the ground. For that reason, cars that can be flat towed behind motor home vehicles tend to be smaller cars, such as Saturn models or other compact cars like the Toyota Corolla.

Sport utility vehicles, except some Jeep models, require a bit more legwork to set up but can be flat towed as well. The Ford Motor Company has a listing of the cars in their arsenal that they recommend for “four wheel down” towing. These cars work well with flat towing.

In general, a car with manual transmission can be flat towed farther than one with automatic transmission. Also, 4WD cars tend to do better than front- or rear-wheel drive cars. Be sure to look into information from your car’s manufacturer before you try to flat tow your car. Many manuals have step-by-step instructions to help you set your car up the right way.

Tips for Flat towing

• Put the tow bar low to the ground. If you put it low, then you will be able to get the car on the ground and straight. Any elevation of the car will lead to it possibly running into the car.
• Use manual transmission cars when possible because they are easier to maneuver as towing vehicles than those with automatic transmissions. If you are considering purchasing a car just to tow, then go for a manual.
• Always put your car in neutral! Once you have the car started, you need to turn it on and put it into drive and then neutral. The car will coast nicely. Be sure you put it in drive first (with your foot on the brake), or you will destroy the transmission from the car being in reverse but moving forward.
• Make sure your RV can handle the required carrying load. Check an online guide, such as Bob’s Travel Center for towing capacity. Also consult your owner’s manual or dealer with any questions regarding the ability of your motor home to tow your car.
• Do not leave your steering wheel locked. In your car, you can turn the key off or on, or use the center point, called the “I” point. Leave your key in that position to allow your steering wheel to move, a helpful decision if you need to stop suddenly.
• Look for accessories to convert non-four wheel drive cars to work for flat towing. These accessories are worth the cost because they will allow you to tow your car safely.

Flat-towing your car can be done safely and easily if you are careful about following manufacturer instructions and keeping your car and motor home, as well as towing gear, in good shape.