Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-16-2022, 12:48 PM   #1
Winnebago Watcher
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 2
Towing a car

Hello,

I have a 2015 Minnie Winnie 22R. It has an E-350 and GVWR 11,500. The GAWR is FRT 4600 and RR 7800. Interested in possibly towing a small car. My questions are 1) what’s the best tow assembly to get and 2) what are some good cars to tow with my camper. Appreciate any help. Thanks
Beanmanaus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-16-2022, 04:31 PM   #2
Winnebago Owner
 
Kelm130's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Posts: 211
We’ve used Blue Ox tow bars and mounting plates without issues for almost 15 years and tow a 2011 Honda CR-V behind our 2019 22M with the E350 chassis with no issues. The car weighs around 3200lbs.
__________________
2019 Minnie Winnie 22M | 2011 Honda CRV "Serenity Now!"
Kelm130 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2022, 11:38 AM   #3
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 9
You need to know the GCWR of your rig, which is the total of your LOADED motorhome PLUS the weight of the towed car.

Also, you need to know the tow rating of the motorhome.

With these two in mind, it will help narrow what you can tow.
ptronus31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2022, 02:50 PM   #4
Site Team
 
creativepart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Spring Branch, TX
Posts: 7,783
Then finding a car is up to you... new? or used?

Will this be a daily driver, etc.

When we first got a Class C we bought a used Fiat 500 with a manual transmission. It became our 3ed car and only to be used as a Toad not a daily driver. It was inexpensive, easy to tow and fun to drive - at first. After a year or two we tired of having 3 cars and insuring them etc. Plus when driven more than a few miles the fun was replaced by how small the car was.

So, we sold the Fiat and my daily driver and bought a brand new car that could be flat towed and that's been my daily car ever since. We now have towed my 2016 Lincoln MKX for over 50,000 miles and it's been good. The car's odometer shows 50,000 miles now but that's because the miles when towing don't register. We have had to replace the tires at the usual mileages because the tires do wear just like being driven.

Fewer and fewer new cars are flat towable and when looking at older cars you'll need to do careful research to insure that the car is indeed flat towable. Don't guess and do not let a car sales person tell you that he knows the car he's selling is capable of being flat towed. Always check first before you buy.

You'll need a Baseplate installled on the Toad and a Towbar for between the RV and the Toad. There are two major brands, BlueOx and Roadmaster, and a couple of minor brands, too. I have always used BlueOx but the choice is yours.

You'll need a way to activate the rear lights on the Toad - you can wire into the existing wiring, add new lights or add removable magnetic lights. And, you'll need an auxiliary braking system to apply the toads brakes when the RV brakes. These vary by simple mechanical, portable electric and built in systems.

Plan on $400 to $600 for the baseplate PLUS installation of about the same amount. $600 to $900 for the towbar, $200 for lights and $600 to $1,200 for an auxiliary braking system. We hear of people paying between $2,500 and $4,000 for a complete setup and installation.

Sometimes you can find these items for sale used. I got my first towbar for $300 used on Craigslist. And I found a local installer that installed the baseplate and lights for 1/2 of what a shop would charge. I found a $600 Aux braking system on eBay for $300. So, you can get things cheaper.

There are good guides out there for chosing a vehicle to flat tow - the two most popular are Jeeps and Honda CRV (pre-2015 after 2014 they are not towable). Just search for Flat Towing guide and you'll find a number of them. For used cars be sure to look at older towing guides for your car's year of manufacture. You might get lucky and find a used car being sold all set up for flat towning ready to go. They are out there but not always near where you are.
__________________
2017 Winnebago Adventurer 37F
2016 Lincoln MKX Toad
creativepart is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2022, 07:41 PM   #5
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 127
we tow a 13 Hyundai Elantra and it has proven to be a good tow vehicle light enough (less than 3000lb), has a good wheel base and width so it doesnt wander an dhas plenty of interior space so you are not crowded in and room for 2 extra passengers. It gets good mpg (have seen 40) has plenty of HP (140 direct injection). Back seat lays down if you need extra cargo space. Overall meets our needs. It is not a daily driver for us as it is our tow car and its only a DD occasionally. It stays in storage building with the rv and other vehicles my f350 and sons f150.


You dont say if limited to any trans but ours is a 6 speed manual as the autos can not be towed 4 down. As to tow accessories the guy we got the rv from gave us all he had purchased tow bar, accessories and the brake system. I bought the base plate from camp world when they had an install special ($35) thus I paid about 200$ more than I could have paid off internet, but the install price offset $$ for a 3d party to install with their prices running around $100/hr. CW would not install the brake set up so I did that myself, took a couple of hours no biggy



The car has as many tow miles as driven miles and is very capable in mountains or around towns.
I also have a ford ranger which I have plans to install a ladder rack so we can take a small boat to lakes with grand kids. I bought an invisibrake setup but was given a portable brake setup to use so I have the invisibrake system new in box for sale to help offset someones costs if interested.


SO anyhow yes many pieces can be gotten used off craigslist and stuff or even wrecking yards. I got the base plate for the ranger free from a guy on another website when he bought a new vehicle. again just havent gotten around to install yet.


you just need to determine your needs and capabilities in looking for a towed vehicle. Used prices have gone up greatly so you just need to look had. Our local craigslist had some used cars alreafy set up for towing so dont overlook that if needing to find one. Might give you and excuse for a trip if you find one?
hank857 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
tow, towing


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
For Sale: Tow Car 2010 Smart Car - Mesa, AZ Donb RV's and Tow Vehicles For Sale & Wanted 0 10-31-2021 10:52 PM
Flat Towing a Smart Car TBWard Towing, Hitching and Vehicles 3 05-21-2018 08:18 PM
Towing a car hauler with my 2013 Journey 42E dsbike Winnebago Class A Motorhomes 16 01-26-2014 10:16 PM
MPG change when towing a small car jamesranda Towing, Hitching and Vehicles 17 11-07-2013 07:23 AM
why not rent a car instead of towing? jdsr Towing, Hitching and Vehicles 22 03-22-2005 03:04 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:06 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.