Can any EV or Hydrid vehicles be towed 4 down?

[AZRenegade]

Currently there are no BEV’s that can be flat towed due to permanent magnet motors, there are a few patents filed now one by Ford showing a wheel hub that can be disengaged from the motor(s) think of the old manual 4x4 hubs you had to lock by hand…but maybe these will be electrically controlled and allow the wheel to free spin and not spin the motors, then it could work. Probably a few years away, but at least they are looking into it!

[pasdad1]

Originally Posted by Romil

They have to be a hybrid with AWD

Every one I showed WAS a hybrid that was flat towable. I was responding to a comment that said “good luck finding one” to show there are many for sale currently….. you might have to travel outside of your home city….but that is a given in this market.

The OP didn’t specify AWD as a requirement, and you don’t need AWD to make your hybrid towable.

[Rich123]

Originally Posted by Big-Foot

Maybe consider the new Jeep Wrangler Hybrid…
Wranglers have been the perfect toads due to their transfer case design. Put transfer case in neutral, then transmission in Park and the vehicle rolls without any resistance. I would be very surprised if Jeep changed how all that worked as I’ve seen a number of the new Wranglers used as toads.
My toad is a 2015 Wrangler (not a hybrid)..

I purchased a new Wrangler 4XE and it flat tows like a dream, EZ to get into tow mode absolutely no issues. Not cheap but nice option

[Romil]

Originally Posted by pasdad1

Every one I showed WAS a hybrid that was flat towable. I was responding to a comment that said “good luck finding one” to show there are many for sale currently….. you might have to travel outside of your home city….but that is a given in this market.

The OP didn’t specify AWD as a requirement, and you don’t need AWD to make your hybrid towable.

Thanks for the clarity.

[kdauto]

Originally Posted by Romil

We have a 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid that we flat tow behind our motorhome. Have been doing it since new and you only need to go to menu and disconnect the drive. You obviously haven't serviced Fords yet.

I do, even some 2022s. I don't need your snide remarks and insults. Reread the other posts on the previous page. Do whatever you want. If/when a 15000$ repair is needed, rethink this post.

Also, as to your smart aleck comment on the charge line, you may find out it has a hard time keeping up with the demand of electric brake actuators and key on draw. THEN watch the fireworks should tow mode disengage.

[RETPS]

We have been towing a 2013 Ford C Max hybrid for years with great results and zero mechanical issues caused from towing. The only problem we have ever had is that occasionally, the car will act like the starter battery is completely dead, even though it gets a constant charge from the coach. Just as soon as you connect jumper cables, it wakes up and all the dash displays activate, then it will fire right up with no need to leave the cables connected. I believe it's some kind of protective form of hibernation to keep from draining the battery, apparently because it doesn't always sense the charge line. Other than that little bug-a-boo, it's been a great toad.

[Wagtail]

I have a 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid that we researched before buying so we could flat tow. This vehicle has a CVT automatic transmission, regenerative brakes, and is gasoline/electric hybrid.
We have towed it for 5 years now, always pulling the owners manual and following instructions to get it into "four down, towing" mode. This mode enables a stay in neutral mode and disables the regenerative braking.
Very pleased with the vehicle.

Oh, and I specifically wired the toad lights to take power from the RV - no battery drain due to lights and the stay in neutral mode goes to sleep after a few minutes, saving more on toad battery power.

[varmonter]

Yes the Cmax can be towed 4 down

There may be something that has to be done to it b4 you can do this.

[Goodgrief]

We have a 2020 Escape hybrid and it has to be towed on a dolly.

[Romil]

Originally Posted by Goodgrief

We have a 2020 Escape hybrid and it has to be towed on a dolly.

No it doesn't. I have the same vehicle and it's flat towed.

[Romil]

Originally Posted by kdauto

I do, even some 2022s. I don't need your snide remarks and insults. Reread the other posts on the previous page. Do whatever you want. If/when a 15000$ repair is needed, rethink this post.

Also, as to your smart aleck comment on the charge line, you may find out it has a hard time keeping up with the demand of electric brake actuators and key on draw. THEN watch the fireworks should tow mode disengage.

I have air brakes. You don't know much about the towing of hybrids and I have 26 years of towing experience. I'm sorry you feel insulted because I gave you facts. Everyone is an expert. BTW I put a full size battery in the vehicle.

[Bogus JK]

I doubt there could be a blanket rule for this, other than to check the owners manual. There are too many different ways to design the drivetrain.

[dmastroluca]

Originally Posted by kdauto

I know about neutral tow mode. I wouldn't feel all warm and fuzzy about it. It seems many people tend to drain the battery on their "toads" and I'm not convinced neutral tow mode can be 100% reliably engaged with battery drain below a certain point.

I have been flat towing my 2017 Ford Fusion Energi for 2 years now with no problems. They released a software update that fixed any battery drain on the 12-volt battery. The battery drain on the high voltage battery has never been a problem.

[Steve 716]

If a car has an automatic transmission you probably aren't going to tow it four wheels down.

I have been towing a Ford Fusion Hybrid for years, first a 2017, then a 2019. The 2017 had electrical issues and Ford had to replace it. The 2019 is great. This car does not have a physical transmission. The electric motor serves as the transmission and that is why it can be towed four wheels down. Power isn't great but it gets you where you want to go. Figure around 36 mpg in the city, 47 mpg on the highway, and 44 mpg mixed. It steers like a BMW. It has an automatic engine on/off feature. I can hear when the engine turns on or off but there is absolutely no vibration and there is no delay when accelerating from a stop. The fastest Ford wants you to tow is 70 mph and I kept it to 65 mph, which also gave me better RV mpg. There is a shift sequence to go through before towing but it takes just a few minutes. No fuses need to be removed. The car is comfortable to drive and ride in. Sync 3 is very easy to use. The only thing I’m not crazy about is the limited trunk space as the battery takes up half of it. I towed the 2017 with a Brake Buddy system and the 2019 with an Air Force One.

Look for a Titanium trim as it has all of Ford’s safety systems except front bumper sensors, the leather seats are very comfortable, and it has some excellent features. I don’t recommend the Platinum version as it doesn’t drive nearly as well as the Titanium.