Towable

[BT2 Zeke]

I have the opportunity to buy an older vehicle for a toad. I have the choice of a 1998 Chevy Malibu with an automatic tranny or a 2009 KIA Sportage 4WD with an automatic tranny.

I've been looking for conformation that one or both are flat towable. I would appreciate any and all help.

TIA

[okcnewbie]

I would try and find their manual online and see what it says.

You can also go here but you'll have to download the guide for each year.
https://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/

Etrailer can be a great help as well.

Good luck.

[theroc]

I'm certain that the Malibu can be flat-towed with an automatic.

I'm also relatively certain that the KIA Sportage will NOT be able to be flat-towed with an automatic ...if it had a manual transmission, I believe it would be okay to be towed 4-down.

As okcnewbie has suggested, you can check the owner's manual for each to confirm.





eta: I just looked it up, for the 1998 Malibu, it's approved and will state so in section 4-28, page 179 of the owner's manual. For the KIA, I didn't see it addressed but normally, a FWD with manual transmission can usually be towed ...and also, the 2009 KIA is listed in the Motorhome Magazine and the FMCA Dinghy Towing Guides as flat-towable with a manual but not with an automatic. So your only choice among the two is the Malibu.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Kia does not support 4-down towing for any of its 2009 automatic transmissions. Or any other year either.


The Chevy Malibu is listed in the 1998 Dinghy Tow Guide as 4-down towable.
https://images.goodsam.com/newmotorh...inghyGuide.pdf


You can view Dinghy Tow Guides back as far as 1990 at this site: https://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/