Towing 4 wheels down

[acraig106]

Greetings,

My wife and I will be going full time Feb. 1st next year. I have a 2003 Mountain Aire 3778. It is gas, with an 8.1 L Chevy Workhorse.

What kind of vehicle can we pull 4 wheels down. I currently have a 2013 Ford Escape, all wheel drive. Our local Ford dealer says it can't be towed this way period.

Was wanting some input from those with practical experience and if it can't be done, what would the recommended vehicle be.

Thank you in advance for your assistance. We appreciate it.

[hohenwald48]

Go here and download the guide for the year in question.

Downloadable Dinghy Guides | MotorHome Magazine

I know there was some disagreement regarding the Ford Escape but don't remember any details. Do search and I'm sure you'll get plenty of information.

[JohnBoyToo]

only way to really know is to ask Ford, but better yet is to look in your owners manual for written documentation that you can keep.

I know my wife's all wheel drive '13 Explorer Sport CAN be towed 4 down with the 'special' instructions about setup and running to keep lubed...

[Rkesselus]

Here is what I tow. Dodge Dakota 4x4. I also know that Jeep 4x4, full size Ram 4x4. these are good as they have a neutral switch that puts everything in neutral including the speedometer. I pull my Chevy 10 with manual trans and my wife's manual shift Miata. I have an old model Brake Buddy for braking what ever we tow, kind of ridiculous to put it in the Miata.

[Knoxie89]

From this PDF: https://www.newmarcorp.com/wp-conten...dpbrochure.pdf

Based on those numbers you can tow 4,000 pounds (with the right hitch) if you fully load the RV to its max 22k lbs. If you're not at your max (you probably aren't) you can tow more. This all needs to be double checked though based on your hitch ratings and actual weight.

I personally tow a 2Dr JK Wrangler (~3800 lbs) on my FR3

[Freedom03]

I just started towing myself I bought a Jeep grand Cherokee very easy to toe all four wheels down you don't have to leave the key on disconnect any batteries pull any fuses very easy do some research and check it out I think you would be happy

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by acraig106

Greetings,

My wife and I will be going full time Feb. 1st next year. I have a 2003 Mountain Aire 3778. It is gas, with an 8.1 L Chevy Workhorse.

What kind of vehicle can we pull 4 wheels down. I currently have a 2013 Ford Escape, all wheel drive. Our local Ford dealer says it can't be towed this way period.

Was wanting some input from those with practical experience and if it can't be done, what would the recommended vehicle be.

Thank you in advance for your assistance. We appreciate it.

We love our Honda CRV AWD! If the Ford Escape does not specifically state in the owner's manual that it can be towed, I wouldn't do it, no matter what someone might tell you! It's not worth burning up a transmission!

[wildtoad]

We just started towing this time last year. Had my 2013 automatic Chevy Sonic outfitted for towing and its great.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Knoxie89

From this PDF: https://www.newmarcorp.com/wp-conten...dpbrochure.pdf

Based on those numbers you can tow 4,000 pounds (with the right hitch) if you fully load the RV to its max 22k lbs. If you're not at your max (you probably aren't) you can tow more. This all needs to be double checked though based on your hitch ratings and actual weight.

I personally tow a 2Dr JK Wrangler (~3800 lbs) on my FR3

Some manufacturers will let you tow a heavier rig if you're lightly loaded, others won't. It's not a universal thing and it's up to the RV manufacturer to say, not the chassis manufacturer. Some won't allow it due to added frame extensions or frame cut and weld.

[Knoxie89]

That's the brochure from the manufacturer. It gives gvwr and gcwr.

Those are the final numbers for tow capacity. They could limit you with a lower class hitch though, which is why I said it needs to be checked.

[C.Martin]

We tried a cartowdolly with our RAV4... it was a model that needed a key in the ignition. After the first trip...I wound up installing a "Toad Charge" to keep the battery in the Rav4 from going dead. Next trip wound up messing up the calibration on the electronic traction control system...$300 shop fee to recalibrate. That was IT!!! Got rid of the tow dolly after two trips.

Jeep Unlimited Sahara Edition...installed Blue Ox base plate, and tow bar...added SMI AF1 supplemental braking system...can't be happier. We have a 1upUSA receiver hitch mount bike rack on the back for Mtn. Bikes. A Saris trap bike mount that allows us to carry our carbon Road bikes in the back of the Jeep with the rear seat flipped down. Adding a Gobi Stealth rack to add a couple of kayak carriers to the top. A Jeep is the ultimate toy to complement your rig. There are so many different add-ons...whatever your pleasure, you can probably adapt a Jeep to do it.

I am extremely happy with our choice. It's not a European Touring Sedan by any stretch of the imagination...but my wife and I both love driving it...and it tows very nicely.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Knoxie89

If you're not at your max (you probably aren't) you can tow more.

See post 9 for the correct answer. You said you could tow more if the vehicle is lightly loaded which is not a universal thing.

[Rockwood27]

My best guess is that you will be limited to about 4K lbs towing if you don't exceed any chassis limits. I have a Winnebago on the 22K Workhorse chassis and my 6 month snowbirding weight is about 100 to 200 lbs under the GVWR. With one of my cars on its dolly, I'm about 25,800 lbs GCW. My UVW is about 18.9K lbs, so I have about 500 lbs more carrying capacity than your MH.

Yesterday, I sold the dolly and am seriously looking at the Chevy Sonic as a toad. The Ford Edge (6 cylinder only) is too heavy (about 4200 lbs). The "old" Chevy Equinox is about 3800 lbs, but the new 2018 Equinox has shed about 400 lbs and is a viable candidate.

[mhbell]

2007 Jeep Liberty and 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trail Hawk both are towable 4 down.
Mel