While traveling in your motorhome can bring a lot of fun and relaxation to your vacation, trying to maneuver one of these RVs, especially the bigger ones like a Class A motorhome, in a crowded city or down narrow streets can be a nightmare. While you may have invested in a motorhome to ditch a tow vehicle, you may still want to bring a primary vehicle with you to make quick trips into town or big city exploration a little easier. And if you don’t have a second driver, or if you want to save your second driver for giving you breaks during long stretches, you’ll have to use your motorhome for towing.
It’s not as difficult as it may seem, which is why RV Station - Colbert has provided you with some tips for towing a car with your motorhome. If you need additional advice, stop by our location in Colbert, Oklahoma, near Sherman and McKinney, Texas, and let our experienced staff know how we can assist you.
What to Consider
There are a couple important points of consideration that you’ll want to understand before you start looking into your options. Firstly, there’s always weight consideration. Overloading any part of your unit can lead to dangerous consequences. You’ll want to be aware of how much weight your motorhome can handle and what your hitch is capable of. Then figure out how much your commuter vehicle weighs and do a little math to decide if you’re making safe choices when it comes to towing.
The next point to check is what kinds of towing options are compatible with your vehicle. While some options listed are well suited for a variety of vehicles, this isn’t a hundred percent across the board. Your owner’s manual should have a guide to knowing which towing options are best for your vehicle.
Your Options
Tow Bar
We’ll start with a four wheels on the ground approach with a tow bar. Also known as flat towing or dinghy towing, this option is going to be one of your cheapest options as is. The bar itself won’t cost as much as some of the other options, although you will need to have a towing plate installed, which can cost extra. Other advantages include quick hitching and easy towing, as well as easy storage options. However, it’s also the most restrictive option you’ll have, as many vehicles are not suited for this kind of towing.
Tow Dolly
Next we bring two wheels off the ground with a tow dolly. This can be the front wheels or the back wheels, depending on what’s best for your vehicle. This option can be more stabilizing and make driving around with an extra vehicle behind you a little safer and easier, although turning and braking will still present a challenge to you. They’re also less restrictive--although you’ll want to confirm with your vehicle manufacturer--and not as expensive as your next option.
Trailer
As the only option that’s compatible with all vehicle types, some people may need to seriously look into trailers as their final choice. Trailers, whether enclosed or a flatbed, bring all four wheels off the ground, so your vehicle won’t have to adjust itself without a driver behind the wheel. It’s also significantly safer than the other options (though you’ll still need to spend some time learning how to drive with it). It’s going to be your most expensive option and present the most challenging storage needs, but it can also do more for you than just tow your primary vehicle when you’re out in your camper. You can also use trailers to transport other supplies and equipment, making them a uniquely versatile option.
Hopefully, this gets you started on finding the right towing option for you, but it can be a little tricky to make a final choice.
This information is for educational purposes. VIARV shall not be responsible nor retain liability for RVer’s use of the provided information. Prior to making any RV service decision, you are advised to consult with an RV professional.