Blue Ox 2013 Dinghy Towing Guide - Manual (Page 10)

Things to Know Before You Tow
S
hould you choose (or already own)
a vehicle that is not fl at-towable as pro-
duced, there are retrofi t kits for many
models. One retrofi tter, Remco Manufacturing
(www.remcotowing.com) estimates 80 percent
of passenger vehicles can be modifi ed to serve
as dinghies with its line of retrofi t products.
For rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and some 4WD
applications, couplers enable the driveshaft to
be easily disconnected from the transmission
or differential by a cable or lever mounted near
the driver’s seat. These kits run about $750
and can be installed in about three hours.
A transmission-lube pump can be mounted
and plumbed into some automatic transmissions
to keep fl uid circulating while the vehicle is in tow.
Other FWD vehicles can be adapted using a
Remco axle-lock disengagement device. Check
Other Towing Equipment
Baseplate kits are designed for specifi c models, and
come complete with all mounting hardware.
2013 Guide to Dinghy Towing Sponsors
Produced by the editors of MotorHome for the publication’s April issue, the 2013 Guide to
Dinghy Towing was developed with assistance from the following companies:
Blue Ox Products
800-228-9289, www.blueox.com
Demco
888-689-1810, www.towdemco.com
Forest River
574-533-5934, www.forestriverinc.com
Hopkins Manufacturing
800-835-0129, www.hopkinsmfg.com
Roadmaster Inc.
800-669-9690, www.roadmasterinc.com
RVibrake
800-815-2159, www.rvibrake.com
Lube pumps allow towing of some
automatic transmission-equipped
vehicles not manufacturer-
approved for fl at towing.
with your dealer to make sure a specifi c modi-
fi cation does not affect the dinghy’s warranty.
Tow dollies also offer an alternative to fl at
towing, although they take up space in camp.
Remember that the dolly weight must be fi g-
ured in with the total weight of the dinghy.
Trailers track better than dollies, but they
take up even more precious space in camp.
Also, the weight of the trailer drastically cuts
into the total weight that can be pulled behind
a motorhome, thereby making this method a
distant third choice.
There are a number of other accessories
for dinghy towing. Some, like dinghy braking
devices, should be considered mandatory,
while others (such as rock guards and RV un-
derskirts) protect against road debris. These
components are addressed in
“Towing Accessories” (page
24), along with dinghy wiring
and lighting.

Modern baseplates are secured to the frame of the dinghy vehicle. While some installations are a little more
complicated, the end result usually is a clean appearance.
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