Blue Ox 2013 Dinghy Towing Guide - Manual (Page 12)

T
he practice of towing another
vehicle four-wheels-down behind a
motorhome is still the most practical
way for motorhome owners to get around
once they’ve reached their destination. In the
early years, only a handful of manufacturers
recognized the practice, but by the year 2000,
it seemed that the movement was fi nally
gaining steam. Although some models have
withdrawn for 2013 (see sidebar, “Where
are they now?”), the demand for more fuel-
effi cient cars has expanded the fi eld of dinghy
offerings. Examples include vehicles by Dodge,
Ford, Hyundai and Subaru, which will suit a
variety of needs and lifestyles.
You’ve probably noticed that there are
other vehicles out there being dinghy towed
that aren’t on our list, and you may have won-
dered why. To put it simply, the vehicles in our
guide must be approved by the manufacturer
for dinghy towing in order to qualify. That
means the manufacturer is familiar with the
practice of dinghy towing, and has confi rmed
that its vehicle can be towed in this manner
without causing damage to the drivetrain or
otherwise voiding the warranty. Second, the
vehicle must be towable without requiring
signifi cant mechanical modifi cation (such as
disconnecting the driveshaft, for example).
Lastly, the vehicle must be towable at a speed
of at least 55
MPH
for no fewer than 200 miles
before some sort of prescribed startup proce-
dure is required to circulate fl uid through the
transmission and/or transfer case.
You’ll note that some vehicles will
appear and disappear from the list every year,
and that’s largely because of changes to the
vehicle and/or its drivetrain. In other instances,
a manufacturer may not have had time to test
a new vehicle’s dinghy towing worthiness in
time for last year’s guide, and has since deter-
mined that the vehicle is towable.
Keep in mind that we’ve made every effort
to check, and double check with each manufac-
turer to make sure that our listings are correct
and current. However, much of the information
we receive is preliminary when the guide is com-
piled, and can change by the time this issue goes
to press. Therefore, we cannot stress enough
that you check with the dealer to be certain
that the vehicle you are considering is
dinghy towable. Ask to see a copy of
the owner’s manual; somewhere
in the index, there should be
a notation for “recreational,”
“four-down,” or “fl at” towing.
If the owner’s manual states that
the vehicle is not towable, consider
something else, or be prepared to
modify the vehicle and probably void any
stated warrantees.
With all that being said, let’s take a look at
some of the new fl at-towable offerings for 2013.
DODGE DART
With old model names like Charger and Chal-
lenger making a comeback at Chrysler Corp.,
it should come as no surprise that it has added
another to the list: the Dodge Dart. All-new for
2013, the Dart is the fi rst child of the Chrysler/
Fiat marriage, based on Fiat Group architec-
ture. Built in the U.S., the Dart is available in
fi ve trim levels, 12 exterior colors, 14 interior
color and trim combinations, six wheel op-
tions, three engine options and three trans-
missions, although only the six-speed manual
version is deemed towable. It also was engi-
neered with more than 60 safety and security
features, including 10 air bags, four-wheel
anti-lock disc brakes, stability control, hill start
assist and more. Inside, the Dart features a
class-exclusive “fl oating island bezel,” which
houses an available 7-inch thin fi lm transistor
(TFT) LED customizable gauge cluster display
or the available Uconnect Touch 8.4-inch
touchscreen Media Center — the largest
touchscreen in its class, according to Chrysler.
FORD C-MAX HYBRID AND
C-MAX ENERGI PLUG-IN HYBRID
The Ford C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi
Plug-In Hybrid are two new environmentally
Dinghy Towing 2013
Fuel-Efficient Hybrids and Small SUVs Top This Year’s List
 HYUNDAI VELOSTER
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