Community Forums

dbeno · 11-30-2021, 04:52 AM

Soon to be first time owner looking for advice on towing with 2019 DS 3736. Was originally thinking of flat towing our GMC Sierra 1500, but now like the idea of an enclosed trailer so we have flexibility in which car we take on trips. We live in the Midwest. Plan is to be in FL for Jan/Feb and western mountain states during summer/fall. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

bentjm · 11-30-2021, 05:41 AM

We decided to flat tow a Grand Cherokee. We thought about an enclosed trailer so that we could bring my wife's 2014 Mustang convertible or my 1968 Camaro convertible. The hassle of dealing with the trailer - loading, unloading, dropping the trailer, hooking up the trailer, ... - was the ultimate decider.

JMcG · 11-30-2021, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bentjm

We decided to flat tow a Grand Cherokee. We thought about an enclosed trailer so that we could bring my wife's 2014 Mustang convertible or my 1968 Camaro convertible. The hassle of dealing with the trailer - loading, unloading, dropping the trailer, hooking up the trailer, ... - was the ultimate decider.

Dbeno,
Everyone has their own requirements on what they tow and how they tow it. Saying that, I have to agree with bentjm towing a trailer is just not worth the hassle.
JMcG
2016 VTDP 3725

Rev. Roy · 12-01-2021, 11:37 AM

Ok, a reply from one who uses an enclosed trailer. It does alter how you travel. I ask about the length of pull-thru sites. Many can't accommodate our 45 ft. RV plus the 20 ft trailer. If they can't fit I ask about a place to drop the trailer. This brings up another problem. If not still attached, you'll need to be able to secure the trailer, they have gotten stolen. I use 2 wheel locks as well as tongue lock. So why do we do it? I have "classic cars" that we take to shows.
The advantage of the enclosed trailer is, 1. you'll never get stone chips or a broken windshield from road debris, 2. trailers can be backed up or into a site, 3. you can carry extra stuff if you have the tow capacity, 4. you can load the vehicle up and stay dry on rainy days, 5. you're towing something that's principle purpose is to be towed not driven, there is no "procedure" needed to follow to set up for towing. I am contemplating getting a stacker trailer so I can take 2 cars.

DSDP Jeff · 12-01-2021, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbeno

Soon to be first time owner looking for advice on towing with 2019 DS 3736. Was originally thinking of flat towing our GMC Sierra 1500, but now like the idea of an enclosed trailer so we have flexibility in which car we take on trips. We live in the Midwest. Plan is to be in FL for Jan/Feb and western mountain states during summer/fall. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

We have a 2017 Dutch Star 3717 and tow a 2020 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited with Blue Ox hardware. Tows great and hardly know it's there. Weight is around 4,600 lbs. It only takes a few minutes to hook up and has provided us with tons of fun once we get to our base destination. It allows us to take on and off road excursions.

mmorgan · 12-07-2021, 09:22 AM

Like stated above parking and storing the trailer at your destination would be a major concern………But besides that when you think about it….it’s probably four or five times more work because at home before you leave you have to back up to the trailer with your motorhome and hook that up, then you have to put your vehicle inside the trailer and secure that with chains and straps etc., and you have to do the reverse of all that when you get where you’re going.
Securing a vehicle inside a trailer for travel would take a lot longer than hooking up a vehicle to a tow bar.
When I hook up my Chevy equinox, it honestly takes five minutes, you drive right up to the back of the coach hook up a tow bar, chains and lights and away you go.

Rev. Roy · 12-08-2021, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmorgan

Like stated above parking and storing the trailer at your destination would be a major concern………But besides that when you think about it….it’s probably four or five times more work because at home before you leave you have to back up to the trailer with your motorhome and hook that up, then you have to put your vehicle inside the trailer and secure that with chains and straps etc., and you have to do the reverse of all that when you get where you’re going.
Securing a vehicle inside a trailer for travel would take a lot longer than hooking up a vehicle to a tow bar.
When I hook up my Chevy equinox, it honestly takes five minutes, you drive right up to the back of the coach hook up a tow bar, chains and lights and away you go.

What do you need to do inside the Equinox to prepare it be flat towed? Most people ignore that part when saying it only takes 5 mins. I can load my trailer in less time. I pull it in, set the wheel chokes, and close the door. Like the OP was talking about, it is an "enclosed" trailer not an open one. The trailer either stays hooked up at home or parked next to the RV. In parks with pull thru or long back in sites, the trailer stays attached.

Mighty_J · 12-08-2021, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev. Roy

What do you need to do inside the Equinox to prepare it be flat towed? Most people ignore that part when saying it only takes 5 mins. I can load my trailer in less time. I pull it in, set the wheel chokes, and close the door. Like the OP was talking about, it is an "enclosed" trailer not an open one. The trailer either stays hooked up at home or parked next to the RV. In parks with pull thru or long back in sites, the trailer stays attached.

In can’t speak to the equinox but some toads have a pretty easy inside procedure. Mine takes under a minute for the Ranger. Press ignition button without pushing brake, push and hold brake, put vehicle in neutral, select flat tow from the left screen menu and hold “ok” to initialize. Screen confirms flat tow enabled, press ignition button to turn off vehicle. Depends on the vehicle.

bentjm · 12-09-2021, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev. Roy

What do you need to do inside the Equinox to prepare it be flat towed? Most people ignore that part when saying it only takes 5 mins. I can load my trailer in less time. I pull it in, set the wheel chokes, and close the door. Like the OP was talking about, it is an "enclosed" trailer not an open one. The trailer either stays hooked up at home or parked next to the RV. In parks with pull thru or long back in sites, the trailer stays attached.

You do not strap it down?