Community Forums

Kewpie · 06-10-2021, 01:58 PM

New at Motor-home ownership and traveling in an RV, Our Newmar 3014 Arrives next week, we need to find a small budget friendly vehicle for Flat towing. Can you experienced travelers please offer some suggestions on specific vehicle options, things to consider, etc? I understand we need a 4 wheel drive, I've been told a Transfer Active Drive. Thanks!

Shadowcatche · 06-10-2021, 06:06 PM

Reportedly a Subaru Crosstrek manual transmission.

Vongreg · 06-10-2021, 07:14 PM

4 wheel drive is not really needed. Not all 4WD are flat towable so do your homework before your purchase.

You can review these through the link as an aid.

https://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/

You won’t find a Subaru Crosstrek in the list but it is flat towable and a good choice.

amosnandy · 06-10-2021, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kewpie

New at Motor-home ownership and traveling in an RV, Our Newmar 3014 Arrives next week, we need to find a small budget friendly vehicle for Flat towing. Can you experienced travelers please offer some suggestions on specific vehicle options, things to consider, etc? I understand we need a 4 wheel drive, I've been told a Transfer Active Drive. Thanks!

I'm not sure why you need a 4 WD. Do you off road? or are you thinking because of the neutral in the transfer case.

I did not buy it for this particular purpose, in fact I did not even think it was flat towable, but I bought a 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid 2 years ago with 34k miles on it for $14,500. Reading the manual it gives specific instructions. Never had a manual that had a chapter "how to tow behind a motorhome" I'm having the baseplate, wiring and brakes put in now. The last 3 years I towed a 2 wheel enclosed trailer with my Harley in it, but that's getting to be a bit much so switching to a toad

If you want to go really cheap, and good luck finding one, a 2001 to 2007 Saturn flat tows. First trip to Mexico I bought one and flat towed it all over the place, until the transmission went, unrelated to towing. The differential bearings go bad and then the gears rub through the side of the transaxle and leak like hell. Had that rebuilt in Mexico for $600. Sold it last year and as far as I know it's still going.

And then there is always the Jeep. But your talking $$$$

wildtoad · 06-10-2021, 08:13 PM

Chevy Sonics with automatic transmission are good towed cars as is the Chevy Spark with manual transmission. If you want the flexibility to go off road then get a Jeep Wrangler.

D20 · 06-10-2021, 08:14 PM

I have a Honda CRV and it makes a good toad. Must be 2014 or earlier to be flat towable.

BobRay · 06-10-2021, 11:45 PM

The Ford C-MAX is a great towable and is very fun to drive. I have a 2016 Energi -- a plugin hybrid that will go about 20 miles on battery alone before the gas engine kicks in. I fill it with gas about twice a year.

I don't think it's necessary for the regular C-MAX hybrid, but to tow the Energi plugin version, you need to pull one fuse in the engine compartment.

akeagle · 06-11-2021, 12:16 AM

I kind of like what I see in Ford's brand new Maverick, but from all I've read about it so far nothing has been said about whether it is flat-towable.

Has anyone else seen anything about that?

MSHappyCampers · 06-11-2021, 11:45 AM

The Honda CRV is flat-towable through the 2014 models! We love ours!

JimBones · 06-11-2021, 12:04 PM

One thing to keep in mind about towing small vehicles is that they may have very low ground clearance. That is important because your tow bar generally needs to be level so you may need to use a drop down hitch adapter because the hitch on your motorhome might be too far off the ground. Depending on the geometry, the drop hitch may drag on the ground when entering/exiting some steeper driveways. Small vehicles are great though because they are generally light weight.

Isaac-1 · 06-11-2021, 01:04 PM

Before getting too far into this I think we need a few questions answered, like small and budget friendly? Used or new, if used how old?

Having said that I am currently shopping for a small, light, cheap TOAD. We currently have my wife's 2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland edition set up for TOAD duty, which works ok, but at about 4,300 pounds is a little heavier than I would like, also about 1/3 of my trips are solo trips, also my wife often flies one of both ways and meets me on trips, therefor a second cheaper TOAD is on our list.

For this I am trying to stay under $7,500, preferably under $5,000, with a weight under 2,800 pounds, and less than 10-12 years old, with either an automatic or manual transmission (automatic slightly preferred).

My prime candidates so far are: Chevy Spark (manual only), Chevy Sonic (automatic), Ford Fiesta (70 mph max speed, manual only), Honda Fit ( 65mph max tow speed, manual only), Fiat 500 (manual only), Mini Cooper (manual only, some model years notorious for engine failures) There are others that just don't make my list for one reason or another.

momdoc · 06-11-2021, 02:04 PM

We had a Hyundai Veloster 6 speed that we towed for 2 years. A fun sports car to drive.

oldnavycdr · 06-11-2021, 02:32 PM

That is just what I was looking for when shopping for my first toad. I cam across a 2009 Honda Fit in the site classifieds. Automatic and 4 down towable. It came equipped with a Blue Ox baseplate, tow bar and all cables. Great toad and very light. You will have to shop but they are out there.

OlYeller · 06-12-2021, 09:18 AM

I tow a 2007 New Beetle with a manual. 2,800#. Tows great, cross country 3 times. Have about 18,000 towing miles so far. I use a roadmaster tow bar and a brake Buddy braking system. They are cheap on the used market comparatively.