Community Forums

Charming · 04-09-2022, 08:42 AM

Much to my chagrin I am in the market for a vehicle to replace my 2014 CR-V. We used to get a magazine that had the most recent list but I don't recall seeing one recently.

Where to look? Most of the websites I've looked at since I totaled my Honda this week gives generalities with a few specific vehicles that are out of our budget.

DH seems determined to get another 2014 CR-V. I would like a somewhat newer vehicle. He is also against pickup trucks and manual transmissions. As you can see available options are dwindling quickly.

Any suggestions will be appreciated, I will, of course, confirm from the manufacturers manual that any and all are actually towable with few modifications.

Paul P. · 04-09-2022, 09:02 AM

I did a google search, and found this https://www.roadmasterinc.com/produc...ghy_guides.php

Charming · 04-09-2022, 09:08 AM

Thanks, my google searches were primarily turning up things like Edmunds with the top 15 that usually included 15 cars or trucks that were too big or too expensive. And the links to Motorhome Magazine were returning 404 error codes.

153stars · 04-09-2022, 12:37 PM

I found good info and links have been posted to E-Trailer before.

**Spdracr39** · 04-09-2022, 01:40 PM

Looks like the go to at motorhome.com doesn't exist anymore. If you have a vehicle you are interested in towing google the owners manual for it and see what it says about 4 down towing. That's the best way to be sure.

theroc · 04-09-2022, 02:23 PM

I have saved each year of the Motorome Magazine Dinghy Towing list on a hard drive. I have from 1990 to 2020.

For 2022, the FMCA towing guide has been posted on the forum a few weeks ago...go HERE

So the only year I'm missing the list for is 2021 and I'm sure a member here has the FMCA list that might be able to provide that one for you.

So if you or anybody else needs any of the Motorhome Magazine Dinghy Towing Guides from 1990 to 2020, PM me and I'll get it to you.

JKC2020 · 04-09-2022, 06:18 PM

My DW and I have started looking for a toad this spring.

We're not part of the Jeep tribe, so didn't really look there, but many Jeeps are able to be towed with 4 down...

We are not looking for a pickup, but there are a fair number that can be towed with 4 down too (several different manufacturers) ... Just google the owner's manual if you find one you like to confirm the "recreational tow" status.

We found that the Ford Escape Hybrid and Lincoln Corsair Hybrid both are capable to be recreational towed (has our interest - smaller SUV). The hybrids are currently hard to come by, so may have to wait if ordering new...

Good luck hunting

Charming · 04-11-2022, 06:16 AM

Thanks all, using the Roadmaster link upthread, I have narrowed my search somewhat.

With our criteria of - No pick up, good mileage, not overly heavy (4,000 or less), and fairly cheap (under $30,000) we have a rather short list to check out. DH has thrown in another problem - he would prefer to keep it local. I don't think he realizes how limiting that will make the pool of available vehicles and the other half of the equation (me) might not be happy with the available options.

AJMike · 04-11-2022, 03:02 PM

I did not see any restriction about flat-towing or dolly towing, so it makes quite a bit of difference. If you are willing to dolly tow then there are a ton of vehicles that can be towed. If you are looking for a flat-towing vehicle then it is much more restricted. Similar with automatic vs manual transmission.

I believe that the 2014 Honda CRV was the last year that was flat-towable so if flat-towing is the requirement there are not that many choices.

We just went through all of that and, wanting to flat tow a new automatic, narrowed it down to a Kia Soul Turbo, Ford Escape Hybrid, Chevrolet Equinox, one of the Kia Forte models (can't remember which one) and a bunch of Jeeps. Ended up with the Jeep because we could not find most of the others and DW did not want the Chevy Equinox.

The flat towable Jeeps are all pretty heavy so they may not work for you.

mbrooking · 04-11-2022, 03:11 PM

FMCA always posts a magazine of tow behinds - granted you have to be a member to access...

https://familyrvingmag.com/2018/04/0...c-5cd5b38b6c98

AJMike · 04-11-2022, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJMike

We just went through all of that and, wanting to flat tow a new automatic, narrowed it down to a Kia Soul Turbo, Ford Escape Hybrid, Chevrolet Equinox, one of the Kia Forte models (can't remember which one) and a bunch of Jeeps. Ended up with the Jeep because we could not find most of the others and DW did not want the Chevy Equinox.

Just wanted to be clear in case anyone wants to this list. The Kias, both the Kia Soul Turbo and the Forte GT (found out which one it was), in their automatic configuration must have the dual clutch transmission (DCT) to be flat towable.

Charming · 04-12-2022, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJMike

I did not see any restriction about flat-towing or dolly towing, so it makes quite a bit of difference. If you are willing to dolly tow then there are a ton of vehicles that can be towed. If you are looking for a flat-towing vehicle then it is much more restricted. Similar with automatic vs manual transmission.

I believe that the 2014 Honda CRV was the last year that was flat-towable so if flat-towing is the requirement there are not that many choices.

We just went through all of that and, wanting to flat tow a new automatic, narrowed it down to a Kia Soul Turbo, Ford Escape Hybrid, Chevrolet Equinox, one of the Kia Forte models (can't remember which one) and a bunch of Jeeps. Ended up with the Jeep because we could not find most of the others and DW did not want the Chevy Equinox.

The flat towable Jeeps are all pretty heavy so they may not work for you.

We used a tow dolly for my every day ride, a RAV-4, for several years. We hated the thing. When we decided to trade in the 10 y/o RAV-4 we bought the 2014 CRV. It was a great replacement for the Toyota (in 2006 when we were car shopping it was not such a great every day vehicle for a Realtor, more truck like in the interior and ride).

My current list of potential replacements includes:
2017-2020 Buick Envision
2017-2020 Chevy Equinox
2017-2020 Ford Edge
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
2017-2020 Jeep Cherokee
2017 Jeep Patriot and Compass

DH will probably nix the Jeeps and the 14 page discussion about towing the Escape made my head spin, so that will narrow the list substantially.

matcoman · 04-12-2022, 05:48 AM

We tow a 2017 Buick Envision. All we needed to add was a fuse eliminator switch (https://www.etrailer.com/p-BX88272.h...model=Envision) which was an easy install.

Nice smaller SUV, easy towed set-up, decent mileage.

AJMike · 04-12-2022, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charming

2017 Jeep Patriot and Compass

DH will probably nix the Jeeps and the 14 page discussion about towing the Escape made my head spin, so that will narrow the list substantially.

I am pretty sure that you can not flat tow the Patriot or Compass if they have automatic transmissions. I am not sure about the manuals either.

We had a Jeep Renegade with an automatic transmission. A nice little SUV with decent gas mileage (about 30 mpg) but it could not be flat towed or towed on a dolly and, if we wanted to tow it, it had to be on a flat bed trailer. I don't know if the Patriot and/or Compass have similar restrictions but I am pretty sure that the automatic transmission models can not be flat towed as I don't think that they have a transfer case. I may be wrong so you might want to check that out, but not all Jeeps can be flat towed.