? Tow car for Thor Citation

[Rockwall]

We just purchased a 2014 Thor Citation on the Mercedes sprinter frame and looking for suggestions on type of tow car we should purchase. We would like to flat tow but concerned about the braking system issue. We like the Honda Fit but may weigh to much without braking system.

[BFlinn181]

In some states, any 'trailer' over 2,000 lbs. must have brakes. I wouldn't tow a car or a trailer without brakes and a break-a-way system braking system. I don't know of any cars below 2,000 lbs except a Smart Car, so just about anything you tow would be illegal and dangerous to tow without brakes. Braking laws by state and province.

Besides various state laws, the law of physics says a body in motion tends to stay in motion. On a flat parking lot, start pushing any vehicle, then run around to the front and try to stop it. Momentum and inertia are powerful forces. If you don't want to try pushing a car, push someone in an office chair and try to stop it. A Mercedes chassis is just a large van, it's braking effort could certainly be helped by an auxiliary braking system in anything you tow. Besides needing braking on a Toad on hills and passes, it's important on flat roads to stop for pedestrians, animals, etc.

[Scarab0088]

Edmunds says the Honda Fit has a curb weight of just over 2300lb...but Honda does not currently recommend any models for flat towing that I know of. Here's a reliable list of flat towable cars:
http://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/

But first, the Sprinter based Citation line has a Class III hitch receiver (5000lb capacity), however the towing capacity has less than 5000lb available if you load the RV at or near the GVWR (max weight that can be carried upon the RV's tires).

GCWR (15,250) minus GVWR (11,030lb) equals dedicated towing capacity = 4,220lb.

And these Eurovan based RV's have a rather low OCCC (amount of "stuff" and people that can be carried within the RV) to take you to GVWR. The OCCC is on an orange decal by/on the passenger door.

Second, brakes are not required on toad cars in many places (check your local laws)...some jurisdiction's laws simply say the set-up must stop within XX feet. And this is rarely an item that is checked by authorities, until there is an accident.

But the reality is that brakes are smart for driving manners of the RV, and are obviously safer than without. Hope you get a supplimental brake system on the toad.

Best luck

[henryn]

When I had my 2014 sprinter citation, I towed a 2014 sonic. LT, by Chevrolet. Economical and easy to tow. Only needed to remove #2 fuse and used a blue ox patriot brake. Did 12000 miles with no problem. Worth a look-see?

[jfran304]

Check out the Chevy Spark with a manual transmission. Weighs around 2,243 lbs. No fuses to pull, just turn the key to the first notch (not accessory) to unlock the steering wheel, put in neutral and release the brake.

We paid $13K including tax, tag and title for our 2013 model new.

Jon

[Big_Boy]

I know you can flat tow a 2009 Fit with automatic. I don't know when this changed, but the 2009 is listed as towable in older guides.

I'd recommend auxiliary brakes. Keep in mind it is not just the mass of the toad but the % of additional mass that the toad causes above the GVWR of your Motorhome (I think it is about 11.3K?). Even a Fit will add at least 20% to your overall weight. Your MH brakes were not designed to handle this extra mass.

On the other hand, a large MH with a GVWR around 30K lbs is almost unaffected by an additional 2K lbs.