Need Advice on Tow vehicle and accessories

[Madame Boomer]

Hello everyone, I'm sort of a newbie, but not really. I've been on IRV2 since 2000 and hung out in the Texas Boomers camping forums all these years.

I recently sold my 5th wheel and purchased a 2017 Greyhawk 29MV. So I am a newbie with a motorhome! I have an appt on Saturday to test drive a tow vehicle. Since I am a solo owner/operator, I'd really appreciate your thoughts on the research I've done and trying to figure in all the factors of this daunting task before jumping off the cliff!!!

Based on 1) Good Sam's and eTrailor.com list of towable vehicles and 2) make, size, location of vehicle and price preference, I'm considering a 2018 Toyota Corolla IS.

For this specific vehicle, ETrailor recommends set up with a Baseplate, Nighthawk All Terrain tow bar and Stay-in-Play Duo supplemental braking system.

I appreciate any/all pro/con thoughts on this. This is my first time with a new to me motorhome and buying a tow vehicle! I need to feel safe on the road, have something that is easy to operate, etc and not make a huge costly mistake!!

[BroRob]

Originally Posted by Madame Boomer

Hello everyone, I'm sort of a newbie, but not really. I've been on IRV2 since 2000 and hung out in the Texas Boomers camping forums all these years.

I recently sold my 5th wheel and purchased a 2017 Greyhawk 29MV. So I am a newbie with a motorhome! I have an appt on Saturday to test drive a tow vehicle. Since I am a solo owner/operator, I'd really appreciate your thoughts on the research I've done and trying to figure in all the factors of this daunting task before jumping off the cliff!!!

Based on 1) Good Sam's and eTrailor.com list of towable vehicles and 2) make, size, location of vehicle and price preference, I'm considering a 2018 Toyota Corolla IS.

For this specific vehicle, ETrailor recommends set up with a Baseplate, Nighthawk All Terrain tow bar and Stay-in-Play Duo supplemental braking system.

I appreciate any/all pro/con thoughts on this. This is my first time with a new to me motorhome and buying a tow vehicle! I need to feel safe on the road, have something that is easy to operate, etc and not make a huge costly mistake!!

Greeting, things that I would do to help make my decision. Is the car your looking at already set up to tow? base plate, wiring etc. If not You may find one all ready set up. There is a RV toad page on FB that has many cars already set up to tow. I love the Blue Ox tow system my self. It is very easy to hook up and Go. I tow a 08 Mini Cooper S model. I can pull up behind my RV jump out and hook it up in 3 to 4 minutes and go. The mini just put in neutral and go. If the Toyota your looking at is not set up check on how long it will take to get a base plate. I have been waiting for mine for my Hyundai Veloster for over 6 weeks now. It is one of those down falls because of Covid 19 nobody can get help. I am going to do my own install but waiting to get the base plate built. when I purchased the car a couple of places said they had my base plate in stock. I purchased then then said had to mfg. That is something that you may consider. I love to flat tow that is what I would recommend, all 4 on the ground. If I was consider a auto that had to to dolly I would change to a flat tow. Just my experience. I've owned closed in car haulers, I owned tow dollies, I again nothing I like more then to flat tow. Just giving you my opinion. I've owned many RV's in the last 40 years. I like the light system that uses your tail lights on your auto, I don't like the mag light system big hassle. I wouldn't want to confuse the matter, but these our my thoughts. I trust you will make the right decisions and have awesome time in your coach. God Bless Rob

[Madame Boomer]

Thanks Rob for your input! It is overwhelming with so many factors to consider. I'll look at the FB page you mentioned and check others I'm sure are online for a complete set up. That would eliminate a lot of things. I'm calling a hitch place tomorrow that I used before on my 5th wheel to see if they have what I'll need in stock or can order it. Never dreamed that I might have to wait so long potentially!

[dizcom]

We've been using the Ready Brute with our Jeep Wrangler for our past two coaches. It's easy enough for one of us to hook or unhook by ourselves. Usually, if we have to drop the toad for a particular spot, I can have it completely unhooked and ready to drive by the time my wife checks us in. It rarely sticks and is super easy to free when it does happen. We bought it on recommendation of a friend that uses an older model and loves it. I was able to install everything myself in a few hours, plate, lights, brake, and application light in the dash of our coach. It was significantly cheaper than buying a separate braking system and tow bar. I imagine that there are others out there that are just as easy to use as ours has been, but I can't imagine that there's an easier one.

[TXiceman]

Sandy, you might want to check this Toyota page for flat towing Toyota vehicles....
Is it possible to tow my Toyota with all four wheels on the ground?

Looks like only the manual transmission is flat towable.

Ken

[hartlenb]

Originally Posted by Madame Boomer

For this specific vehicle, ETrailor recommends set up with a Baseplate, Nighthawk All Terrain tow bar and Stay-in-Play Duo supplemental braking system.

Our toad is different but we have the Nighthawk and Stay & Play. Get the fuse kit too - so it saves pulling fuses. Nighthawk is very easy to hookup and unhook.

[Isaac-1]

Don't get me wrong, but I often feel that etrailers suggested equipment is often driven by maximizing their profit while still giving fairly accurate advice. In this case I feel that while the Nighthawk All Terrain is a nice towbar it is probably overkill as you can buy the new etrailer house brand Towbar (built by Demco) with Roadmaster connector options for a bit over half the price of the Nighthawk, and still have a towbar rated for nearly double your actual weight. https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bar/etrailer/e44ZR.html



Otherwise Roadmaster makes a good base plate, and the Stay IN Play Duo is a very popular hidden fully integrated braking system, in addition to these items you will need a tail light wiring kit either in the form of a premade harness or one where diode packs must be spliced in.

[hoosierrun]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

Don't get me wrong, but I often feel that etrailers suggested equipment is often driven by maximizing their profit while still giving fairly accurate advice. In this case I feel that while the Nighthawk All Terrain is a nice towbar it is probably overkill as you can buy the new etrailer house brand Towbar (built by Demco) with Roadmaster connector options for a bit over half the price of the Nighthawk, and still have a towbar rated for nearly double your actual weight. https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bar/etrailer/e44ZR.html

Exactly my thoughts. The Nighthawk is the lighted towbar version that Roadmaster recommends for night time driving, primarily if you have to park in a parking lot and want to alert a driver coming at you from an angle. Is it really worth the additional expense?

I use the Falcon All Terrain. Also, double check the towability of the Corolla. I tow an older RAV4, but that was a pretty custom setup with a lube pump installed (no longer available). The manufacturers make base plates for a lot of vehicles that are not towable. I guess the reason is that older versions of the same models could be towable at one time.

The Stay and Play duo is a very nice braking system in that you don't have to remove any equipment from in front of the seat when you hop in the toad to drive away. It is costly labor wise to install.

Don't forget that you will need a harness kit with wiring and diodes for your rear tail/turn signals and hazard lights. That is more labor.

Setup is initially difficult and expensive, but once completed you tend to forget what was involved. Towing 4 down sure beats a towing dolly, especially if you do a lot of travelling and change camping sites frequently.

[Bagger97]

Originally Posted by Madame Boomer

Hello everyone, I'm sort of a newbie, but not really. I've been on IRV2 since 2000 and hung out in the Texas Boomers camping forums all these years.

I recently sold my 5th wheel and purchased a 2017 Greyhawk 29MV. So I am a newbie with a motorhome! I have an appt on Saturday to test drive a tow vehicle. Since I am a solo owner/operator, I'd really appreciate your thoughts on the research I've done and trying to figure in all the factors of this daunting task before jumping off the cliff!!!

Based on 1) Good Sam's and eTrailor.com list of towable vehicles and 2) make, size, location of vehicle and price preference, I'm considering a 2018 Toyota Corolla IS.

For this specific vehicle, ETrailor recommends set up with a Baseplate, Nighthawk All Terrain tow bar and Stay-in-Play Duo supplemental braking system.

I appreciate any/all pro/con thoughts on this. This is my first time with a new to me motorhome and buying a tow vehicle! I need to feel safe on the road, have something that is easy to operate, etc and not make a huge costly mistake!!

Since your looking at manual transmission toads, check out the Nissan Versa S 2021 model. Tows super easy and new costs no more than that Corolla.

[NLOVNIT]

Hi Sandy. Check out the dingy vehicle guides for several years back on Motorhome Magazine. That'll give you an idea of what's out there for both manual & auto transmissions as well as what will fit within your hitch rating as well as your CGVW rating.

I've kept Dave's 2014 CRV as it was already set up for towing behind both our Bounder & Phaeton & it will be light enough to tow behind the Class C I'm looking at. Only 2014 & older are flat towable, so those may be long in the tooth for you. If I'd have to get newer, I've got a Buick Envision & Chevy Equinox on my radar as they are both well under 4000lbs.

We had a Roadmaster All-Terrain tow bar & were very happy with it. It was wiped off & lubed after every trip. It never failed as I've heard Blue Ox's can. We had a Brake Buddy Vantage for well over 10 years & it did great. However, I'll look at something less bulky should I get Class C. The BB also gave me fits trying to get the connector off the brake pedal. It was very stiff & Dave had to do that for me....I didn't want to break a nail.

[Madame Boomer]

Ho Lori, thanks for your input on my question. I truly appreciate everyone's help as I wade through the mound of info that I've downloaded Motorhome, Escapees and eTrailer lists of towables by years and researched info that has been recommended here.

They all have basically recommended the same vehicles and I've narrowed down the potentials that I'm leaning toward.

What is overwhelming (understatement!!!) is by going online checking for recommended types of used vehicles, I have opened the gates to every car salesman in the state. My phone and email has blown up!!!!!

I'm sure I'll maneuver through this as I've maneuvered through other mountains these past two years and eventually the vehicle and all the set up requirements will align and I can focus on enjoying taking off on a trip with the new to me rv and toad!!!

[emoji3531] Sandy