RVs or motorhomes are great for camping and the easiest for long travel but not much for daily driving. That’s why campers rely on towing ‘toad’ on their vehicles so that they can access smaller wheels for regular trips or sightseeing. It’s not unusual to see large RVs pulling smaller transports behind them. Unfortunately, some models are not ready for flat towing or dinghy towing than other vehicles due to their setup and restrictions. So what is the best vehicle to tow behind an RV among campers?
These escape pods make campers’ life much simpler when visiting. But beforehand, we’ll explain a few things to consider before towing a vehicle behind your RV.
RV Tips and Tricks – Towing guide
- Check towing rules where you are going- From state to state, these rules are subject to changes. You have to ensure that you consult with the Authorities to check for regulations according to each State or place where you’ll be staying.
- Be sure that you are covered with an insurance policy – Accidents can happen even if you double-check towing your vehicle so you need to make sure you have an adequate insurance policy. Unforeseen events, especially vehicular accidents, and damages will be easier to deal with and cover.
- Check the towing capacity – Your RV’s towing capacity to pull your vehicle needs to be checked and considered. Ensure if your hitch can maximize a full load of your small transport or will not snap off along the journey.
- Avoid tailgating – Always inspect your brakes and leave enough braking room between your RV and the vehicle in front of you. You want to avoid sudden stop or slamming the brakes as this may cause unexpected accidents.
- Check your rear visibility – Before traveling, make sure to have a spotter or a reliable way of checking your smaller vehicle while you’re driving. Your towed transport will be unclear and eclipse from your view, especially if you’re triple-towing. You may have the option to install a wireless webcam at the back of your RV or use a wireless tire pressure sensor to watch the rig you’re towing carefully.
Ways to Tow your Vehicle
There are a few ways to tow your vehicle:
- Tow bar – this method is called ‘four wheels down.’ The vehicle behind your RV is towed with all four wheels on the ground. An inexpensive option and used mostly for cars. Cables and safety chain tags and secure the vehicle to a specialized bar. You need to check the vehicle’s manual to see if it will work and fit the design of your tow bar. If required, you need to install supplemental light and braking system to signal or forewarn the driver behind you when you are stopping or turning. Note: there’s a bit of disadvantage using a tow bar as it limits the weight allowed to smaller vehicles.
- Flatbed or enclosed trailer – This method can be the best option for towing almost any vehicle. Though this is the most expensive method, you can use the flatbed to attach large SUVs or trucks, boats, or ATVs to your RV. You will have to buy an open trailer or outfit to tow a smaller vehicle. The advantage of these enclosed trailers is that they have their brakes and lighting systems.
- Tow Dolly – the front wheels are mounted on a dolly while the back wheels of the smaller vehicle stayed on the ground. This option is a good pickup if you don’t plan to buy a trailer, or your transport doesn’t fit a tow bar. These dollies have some weight restrictions that need to follow, but they have lighting and built-in braking systems.
What Is The Best Vehicle To Tow Behind An RV?
Many different types of vehicles can be towed behind an RV, but there’s one caveat: only specific transports can be flat-towed. Two-wheeled dollies or four-wheeled trailers offer the same relief to RVs depending on what suits your needs. In case you’re planning for light traveling, let’s find out what is the best vehicle to tow behind an RV.
- Towing a Boat – Small boats like kayaks, Sunfish sailboats, a Schooner, and canoes are more comfortable to pull by any motorhomes. Large class A motorhomes can tow heavy boats, but you have to consider some risks and factors in your driving. Your RV can pull longer boats, especially class B motorhomes, but keep in mind their weight and size restrictions. You can also take lightweight boats using the much shorter class C motorhomes, which do not block the view of your RV compared to class A motorhomes.
- Towing Cargo and Utility Trailers – If you are looking for flexibility and mobility, then towing cargo and utility trailers is a good option. You can haul cars, ATVs, motorcycles, extra camping gear, or anything that you can put using snowmobile trailers, enclosed cargo trailers, or dump trailers. Most RVers prefer us cargo or utility trailers to transport heavy equipment or giant camping gears.
- Towing a Car – Generally, any cars with a four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission that can be shifted into neutral can be towed behind an RV. You can check the owner’s manual to check if your car can be safely flat towed. Also, you will have to keep in mind the towing capacity of your RV. The best vehicles to tow behind an RV are Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Rams, and Ford F-150s.
The Jeep Wrangler offers a modest size and an adventure vibe to your travels. It is easy to flat tow and pull behind either class A or C motorhomes. Another good thing is the sturdy configuration of the steel in front of the Wrangler to hook any tow bar makes it an ideal vehicle to tow behind an RV. The Wrangler offers a balanced weight and easy to control, which lets you shift into neutral gears. Overall these cars came built with strong decouplers to secure the dinghy bars when traveling with your RV.
Conclusion
If you’re a regular RVer, you should check out the user manual if ever you need to pull or dinghy tow a vehicle. Know if your vehicle is towable to prevent jamming your tow bars or tow dolly. Now that you have learned what is the best vehicle to tow behind an RV, whether it is a boat or a car, you should always exercise extreme caution when pulling back a towed vehicle. Above all, safety first! Get more tips on RV living.