How to Tow a Car with Your RV

1. Understand your RV’s capabilities 

Before you hitch your car to the back of the RV, take the time to find your motorhome’s tow rating. You can find the maximum RV towing capacity listed in your owner’s manual, which indicates the total amount of weight your RV is capable of pulling. Never exceed this amount when connecting a vehicle to your motorhome.

Exceeding your RV’s capacity can put more stress on its engine, frame, transmission, and brakes than it can handle. When you add too much weight, you may notice that your RV has trouble accelerating or maintaining speed, loses some of its braking effectiveness, feels less stable, and is more difficult to steer.

You also need to abide by the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of your RV. This number indicates the maximum weight your RV can safely transport. You don’t need to count the weight of the vehicle you are towing towards this number, but you do need to include the weight of the trailer tongue, as well as anything else that your RV will be holding, such as passengers, water, and cargo.

The next step is to check how much your RV is capable of hauling by looking for a plate on your RV’s hitch that lists this number.

2. Determine how your “toad” can be towed

Did you know that the vehicle you tow behind your RV is often referred to as a “toad?” 🐸

Just as you need to be careful not to exceed your RV’s towing capacity, you also need to make sure that you understand the best way to tow your secondary vehicle.

Note: not all vehicles can be pulled behind an RV using the same method. For example, many all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles cannot be flat-towed — towed with all four wheels on the ground — behind an RV, as this may damage the transmission.

Be sure to consult your owner’s manual to find the manufacturer's recommended towing capacity. This should indicate whether you can tow your vehicle on all four wheels, with two wheels down, or with a flatbed trailer. If you cannot find this information readily, speak to your mechanic about the best option based on your vehicle's make, year, and model.

3: Check your hitch

Once you understand how much weight your RV can tow and how your particular vehicle should be towed, it is time to inspect the hitch on your motorhome. A hitch is used when you’re towing a car using a tow dolly or trailer, and most RVs come equipped with a hitch featuring a ball and a receiver.

If your RV does not have a hitch, there are options for adding a custom hitch to the motorhome. However, be sure to read the warranty information carefully before adding a hitch to your RV. In some cases, adding a hitch can invalidate your warranty.

There are several kinds of hitches, and each is suited for different weights and towing scenarios.

• Conventional/bumper‑pull hitch: A bumper-pull hitch connects to the rear frame of the tow vehicle. The hitch has a small receiver tube where you stick a ball mount and a hitch ball. The trailer has a matching piece called a coupler, which you can place over the ball. Once it’s on, you can lock it so the trailer stays securely attached and stable.
• Weight-distribution hitch: A weight-distribution hitch connects to a tow vehicle’s rear hitch. It has bars called “spring bars” that help distribute a trailer’s tongue weight across axles. Weight-distribution hitches still have a receiver tube for a ball mount and hitch ball, but the spring bars increase stability, especially for heavier loads.
• Sway-control hitch: A sway-control hitch is used when pulling a car on a trailer. This hitch is designed to keep trailers from fishtailing or swaying while they’re being towed, and it’s something you can add to conventional or weight-distribution hitches. A sway-control hitch attaches to your current hitch and adds hardware like friction bars and dampers, which both limit swaying.

4. Choose the right way to tow your car

There are three main ways to tow a vehicle behind your RV. Depending on your car, you might be limited in which options you can use. Before you try any of these methods, speak with your mechanic or research your vehicle’s towing options using documents from the manufacturer.

Four-down or flat towing

One of the easiest ways to tow a car behind your RV is the four-down method, also called dinghy or flat towing. This method uses a small tow bar to connect your vehicle to the RV. All four tires rest on the ground, and the vehicle simply trails behind your RV.

This method is popular because it doesn’t require any additional trailers, and it’s easy to set up once it's installed. However, continuously variable transmission (CVT) vehicles with automatic transmissions, and some vehicles with all or four-wheel-drive (AWD or FWD), cannot safely be towed four-down.

This is because flat towing keeps internal vehicle car parts rotating even when the engine isn’t on, and they aren’t receiving proper lubrication. This can damage critical parts by forcing metal to grind against metal with no protection. Once you’ve purchased an A-frame tow bar, baseplate, and flat tow braking system and scheduled an installation, flat towing will likely cost about $3,000-$5,000. 

Tow dolly

Another option for towing your vehicle is to connect a tow dolly to your RV. With this method, the front two wheels of your toad are loaded onto the dolly. Only the rear wheels roll on the ground, which means the front wheels endure less wear and tear than they would during flat towing, but the rear wheels take on impacts like potholes and on-road vibration on their own.

Tow dollies are a good choice for vehicles with front-wheel drive transmissions because they keep the front wheels off the ground, so they won’t harm the transmission by making the drivetrain turn continuously without proper lubrication. Many all-wheel drive, four-wheel-drive, and CVT-equipped vehicles, on the other hand, can’t be dolly-towed without causing damage to the drivetrain.

Loading your vehicle onto a tow dolly is a little more complicated than using a tow bar, because the ramp needs to be adjusted, the front wheels must be secured, and the front wheels and ramps must be aligned. Tow dollies also require extra storage space when not in use. You can typically purchase a reliable tow dolly for around $1,000-$4,500. 

Trailer

For AWD, FWD, and vehicles with CVTs, a trailer or car hauler will be your safest option. When you use this method, you simply drive your vehicle onto a trailer and secure it so that all four wheels are totally lifted off the ground. This eliminates the risk of damage to your vehicle’s drivetrain when parts spin without lubrication.

Out of these towing styles, trailer towing protects your vehicle the best. The wheels never make contact with the road while you’re transporting the vehicle, so its tires don’t get worn down and it won’t endure any suspension stress. You can also use it to tow toys like boats or ATVs and motorcycles. The downside of this towing type is that it can be pretty spendy. The price of a trustworthy car hauler can range from $2,000 all the way up to $15,000.

Visit Transwest to find a towing-ready RV

At Transwest, we carry premium RVs, many of which are ready to tow another vehicle. If you’re ready to hit the road with a toad, purchase a tow-ready RV, or stop by one of our service centers to find out if your existing RV can tow your vehicle.