Blue Ox 2013 Dinghy Towing Guide - Manual (Page 7)

FLAT TOWING
The fi rst and most essential step in selecting
a dinghy vehicle is to make sure it is approved
by its manufacturer for fl at towing (see “2013
Dinghy Roundup,” page 12). While you do
have other options — many passenger cars
or light trucks can safely be used as a dinghy,
provided a towing accessory (such as a trans-
mission lube pump) is available for that specifi c
model as an aftermarket add-on, or towing
on a dolly or trailer is planned — these vehicles
have been certifi ed for four-wheels-down tow-
ing without affecting their warranties. How-
ever, buyers should always fi rst confi rm
fl at-towability by consulting the vehicle’s
owner’s manual before the purchase is
fi nalized.
When selecting a dinghy, fi rst fi nd out the
maximum towing limit of your motorhome
and then determine which vehicles fall within
that limit. Towing limits aren’t the only factor
to consider, but they help to eliminate many
choices based on weight alone. The weight
rating of the motorhome’s hitch receiver is
another concern, although most are adequate,
and receivers can be upgraded. Keep in mind,
however, that an upgraded hitch receiver can-
not increase the specifi ed towing limit set by
the chassis manufacturer.
An economical four-passenger compact car
can double as a family’s second car when not
traveling, but even a larger SUV or sport truck
can be towed, providing its weight is within
the towing limit of your chassis.
Most fl at-towed dinghies track so well that
many motorhome drivers don’t even know it’s
there. Front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicles with
manual transmissions and most compact 4WD
vehicles with manual transfer cases are among
the easiest and most economical to tow. Plus,
they tend to rank among the lightest vehicles.
Some auto manufacturers also produce
FWD vehicles equipped with automatic trans-
missions that are fl at-towable. They are popu-
lar because towing equipment is readily avail-
able, and readying for towing usually involves
fewer steps.
But some vehicles do require special proce-
dures, such as starting the engine every 200
miles to circulate transmission fl uid. Note that
this cannot simply be circumvented by overfi ll-
ing the transmission before towing, because
the problem isn’t caused by lack of suffi cient
fl uid but rather by lack of oil circulation. Such
practices, although inconvenient, are designed
to prevent drivetrain damage and must be in-
corporated into the towing routine.
Another vehicle-specifi c consideration is that
towing some dinghies with the ignition switch
in a position that allows the steering column to
remain unlocked also leaves power applied to
various electrical circuits. Over the course of a
full day of towing, this can lead to signifi cant
battery drain. While stra tegies for dealing with
this vary by model, most fi xes involve tem-
porarily unplugging one or more fuses from
the vehicle’s fuse box before towing. A more
involved alternative is to connect the offending
circuit through an owner-added switch, allow-
ing these circuits to be made tow-ready by the
mere fl ip of a switch. A charge line from the
coach can often be a viable alternative.
A) Once the tow bar is pinned in the hitch receiver, make sure electric connections and safety cables are secure.
B) While driving your dinghy, this type of tow bar remains on the coach, tucked out of harm’s way.
Aventa LX from Blue Ox uses
a ball-in-socket design, which
allows the arms to swivel 360
degrees for quick hookup. The
tow bar is rated to tow ve-
hicles up to 10,000 pounds.
Demco’s Dominator aluminum
tow bar has a rating up to 7,500
pounds. Easy trigger release
and self-supporting arms pro-
vide convenient connection to
baseplate.
Things To Know Before You Tow
The Right Equipment Adds Safety, Simplicity and Convenience
Roadmaster’s aluminum
Sterling All-Terrain tow bar
is rated to handle vehicles up
to 6,000 pounds. Non-binding
design facilitates hookup.
Roadmaster’s Black Hawk 2
All-Terrain has a rating up to
10,000 pounds.
www.motorhome.com 2013 GUIDE TO DINGHY TOWING | 7 6 | 2013 GUIDE TO DINGHY TOWING
A B
P6x10-2013_dinghy_guide_what you need to know.indd 7 1/24/13 4:29 PM