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10-20-2014, 07:16 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 107
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Cadillac SRX as toad
I have heard from RVers who are towing an SRX however, most said all you have to do is push a button on the shift boot, but one said he used a screw driver to make it work. Now I'm confused. Can someone clear this up for me. I'm considering buying a 2012 or 2011 SRX with All wheel drive or Four wheel drive.
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10-21-2014, 07:10 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 4
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Look at page 10-102 and 10-103 of the 2011 SRX owner's manual. The steps are: Secure the toad behind the motorhome. Remove the shift lever boot by pulling up on rear of the trim plate. Use a small screw driver or tool to press and hold the manual release button the right front. Put the vehicle in Neutral.
At your destination, put the vehicle in park and close the shift boot.
__________________
Dave and Eva, 2003 38' HR Imp, 400 Cummings ISL, full of lots of stuff I haven't figured out yet! "Maybe I'm a dreamer, who's not awakened from his youth."
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10-21-2014, 08:07 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,295
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Dave and Edna times two. I have three years and many miles towing my SRX. Lift the boot, push release, shift lever to neutral...done. Should be a hook up tow bar in there somewhere. After seeing the Roadmaster tow shield system on a recent trip I would probable use their tow system and shield rather than Blue Ox. Blue Ox is a comparatively PIA to attach and is cheesey.
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Pcurt
2007 Fleetwood Bounder 38V
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10-22-2014, 07:13 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 75
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I guess that I am the quilty party that said to "put a screw driver into the hole" to allow the shift lever to be put into neutral. You may not need a screw driver if you have very skinny fingers but most of us do need something. I at first tried a key: too wide to fit. Could have used a stick but thought it might break. By now you get the picture.
Sorry to confuse you.
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10-27-2014, 07:37 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Kerrville, Texas
Posts: 402
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I have a small screwdriver that I use just to make it easier to push the button. But yes, it's just a button - slightly recessed. I just keep the screwdriver in the door pocket. Any small pointy object will work.
So, the steps exactly:
1) Get everything hooked up, then start engine (if not running) and with foot firmly on brake, shift to neutral, pull shift boot up from the back by hooking fingers and pulling up. (There's not enough slack to pull it up when in park, and it won't shift out of drive without the motor running).
2) Shift back to park, shut off engine.
3) While pressing button (upper right corner under shift boot, pull shifter back to neutral.
4) Double-check that you got neutral NOT DRIVE. You won't have a dash light to tell you, so visually double-check. You can tell as if it is in Drive it will move over to the manual shift notch, if in neutral it will not.
5) Check again.
GO!!!!
To reverse the process, just shift it back into drive BEFORE you unhook everything. This resets everything.
One other thing: If you use a seat-based brake system (Brake buddy, Patriot), be VERY aware not to trigger the automatic seat movement where it moves the seat based on opening the door or pressing the key fob. That really screws things up. You can either turn off the feature through the menu system of don't press the buttons on the key fob. One really handy thing: You can use the pedal positioning feature to adjust the brake system.
OK, I lied - one other little note. To protect the battery, Cadillac shuts off all the 12V plugs 10 minutes after the ignition is shut off - EXCEPT the one back in the cargo bay. So I just ran a 12V extension cord from the back to the front, under the edges of the seats. Problem solved.
Hope this helps, let me know if you have questions.
__________________
Niel & Carol Powers
Entegra Qwest 24R
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01-03-2015, 12:52 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 154
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We are new to RV'ing and will be part-timers for the next 10-15 years. I just bought my SRX, had durashield film installed on the front of the car and leading edges to protect from rock chips and such and now have to select the tow bar and braking systems.
Our DP Coach has an Ultraguard rock guard installed on the back and we will likely consider the addition of a Guardian and/or Defender for our Toad...Interested in your feedback on pros/cons.
Relative to braking systems, we like the idea of a direct system like the INvisibrake or Brakemaster but don't know the "con's" of these systems vs a portable in the SRX configuration.
We are leaning toward the Roadmaster towbars vs Blue Ox due to PCurt23's comments above but aren't clear yet which bar to purchase.
Any advice you can provide on all of these topics are greatly appreciated!
__________________
2008 Pacifica PC40E
Caddy SRX toad w/Blue Ox/Patriot tow setup
360 hp Cummings/Freightliner
FMCA-GOOD SAM
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01-04-2015, 01:36 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 75
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I tow a 2012 srx awd 4 wheels down using blue ox tow bars and a blue ox base plate. The wiring for the toad brake, turn signals and running lights are wired into the srx wiring. I use a permanently installed US Gear braking system in the srx
Now if you research these topics on this sight or others you will find as many people in agreement or disagreement to what I use. We all either love our systems or hate it. Mine I love. No, the blue ox tow bars are not a pita. works great. Easy to put on or off if you can follow directions. The braking system works fine and is adjustable proportional braking. Being installed permanently means "it's there" when you want to use it. So hook up your tow bars, connect your umbilical cord and cord for the breakaway switch. You are connected.
Now sit in the driver's seat of the srx. Move your switch/knob for the adjustable brake pedal to put the pedal as close to the seat as you can. Now set you seat memory buttons both 1 and 2 to this memory position. Now your seat will not move nor will the brake pedal.
my 2012 does not require me to start the engine to move the tranny to neutral. Just put your small screw driver in the hole and move your shifter to neutral. your steering wheel and wheels will now be able to turn while under tow. Get out, close the door and you are ready to go.
Since the wiring is permanently installed your rear lights in your srx should be working. set up the switches to activate these in the m/h driver's area, and have your partner verify that they work. Drive away.
I installed the baseplate, braking system and lighting myself. I did this since I couldn't find someone in my area who had installed this before but were willing to learn at $100 to $130 an hour. so now I know how it all hangs together if problems develop.
Hopes this info helps.
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01-04-2015, 06:03 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,600
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2X on the USGEAR breaking system.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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01-04-2015, 09:00 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 8,302
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woodytrwo
my 2012 does not require me to start the engine to move the tranny to neutral. Just put your small screw driver in the hole and move your shifter to neutral. your steering wheel and wheels will now be able to turn while under tow. Get out, close the door and you are ready to go.
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I suggest you read your manual again. Your transmission is at risk of severe damage. On p. 10-94 of your manual it says: "For vehicles being dinghy towed, the vehicle should be run at the beginning of each day and at each RV fuel stop for about five minutes. This will ensure proper lubrication of transmission components."
__________________
Marc and Jill, Wellington FL
2013 Entegra Anthem 44SL
2018 Lincoln MKX
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01-05-2015, 04:42 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Kerrville, Texas
Posts: 402
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MRUSA14
I suggest you read your manual again. Your transmission is at risk of severe damage. On p. 10-94 of your manual it says: "For vehicles being dinghy towed, the vehicle should be run at the beginning of each day and at each RV fuel stop for about five minutes. This will ensure proper lubrication of transmission components."
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Interesting. I've got a copy of the service bulletin from the dealer, the pages from the book, and the recommendations from the dealer and from the regional manager. All are consistent - run for 5 minutes before leaving in the morning and once you stop at night. Nothing in between. And no problems ever.
As to the Blue Ox, I just like how their baseplate fits and looks. Of course, I didn't have to put it on - Blue Ox did that!
__________________
Niel & Carol Powers
Entegra Qwest 24R
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01-05-2015, 06:29 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 75
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MRUSA14
I suggest you read your manual again. Your transmission is at risk of severe damage. On p. 10-94 of your manual it says: "For vehicles being dinghy towed, the vehicle should be run at the beginning of each day and at each RV fuel stop for about five minutes. This will ensure proper lubrication of transmission components."
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Have no fear. I do read manuals.  How to you think that I got the srx in a position to connect the blue ox tow bars?  Started the engine and drove it into position. And I do not wait for a fuel fill-up to start the engine since I may not fill up again until tomorrow. So I start the engine while having lunch. And at the end of the day's towing.
The manual is wrong! Why wait until a fuel fill-up to start the engine up in the srx? 3 times a day (ie morning , noon and at the end of the day's towing) is far better.  at least imho.
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01-06-2015, 12:20 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 8,302
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woodytrwo
I do not wait for a fuel fill-up to start the engine since I may not fill up again until tomorrow. So I start the engine while having lunch. And at the end of the day's towing.
The manual is wrong! Why wait until a fuel fill-up to start the engine up in the srx? 3 times a day (ie morning , noon and at the end of the day's towing) is far better.  at least imho.
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I totally agree. Whoever writes these manuals must not be aware that many of us can go nearly 1000 miles without refueling. I run my engine every time I stop, after 3-4 hours usually, 5 hours maximum.
__________________
Marc and Jill, Wellington FL
2013 Entegra Anthem 44SL
2018 Lincoln MKX
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01-07-2015, 09:28 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 16,133
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What model years are good for towing an AWD SRX.
__________________
Jim J
2002 Monaco Windsor 38 PKD Cummins ISC 350 8.3L
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/5.7 Hemi
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01-08-2015, 10:50 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Kerrville, Texas
Posts: 402
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Some 2010's (not the turbo's, check the manual), all 2011 and beyonds.
__________________
Niel & Carol Powers
Entegra Qwest 24R
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