Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle behind another vehicle - such as behind a motorhome. The two most common types of recreational vehicle towing are known as "dinghy towing" (towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and "dolly towing" (towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and two wheels up on a device known as a "dolly").
With the proper preparation and equipment, many vehicles can be towed in these ways. See "Dinghy Towing" and "Dolly Towing," following.
Here are some important things to consider before you do recreational vehicle towing:
| • | What is the towing capacity of the towing vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. |
| • | How far will you tow? Some vehicles have restrictions on how far and how long they can tow. |
| • | Do you have the proper towing equipment? See your dealer/retailer or trailering professional for additional advice and equipment recommendations. |
| • | Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you will want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be towed. See "Before Leaving On A Long Trip" in the Index. |
Dinghy Towing
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it cannot be dinghy towed. See "Dolly Towing" for more information regarding towing your vehicle.
If your vehicle has a manual transmission, it can be dinghy towed.
When dinghy towing, be sure to follow the posted legal speed limit.
- Put the shift lever in Neutral.
- Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY to avoid locking the steering wheel. Make sure the audio system is turned off and that nothing is plugged into the power outlets.
- Release the parking brake.
After dinghy towing, let the engine idle for more than three minutes before driving the vehicle.
Do not tow your vehicle from the rear. Your vehicle could be badly damaged and the repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Dolly Towing (All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles)
All-wheel-drive vehicles must not be towed with two wheels on the ground. To properly tow these vehicles, they should be placed on a platform trailer with all four wheels off of the ground.
Dolly Towing (Front-Wheel-Drive Vehicles Only)
To tow your front-wheel-drive vehicle using a dolly, follow these steps:
- Put the front wheels on a dolly.
- Move the shift lever to P (Park) for an automatic transmission or Neutral for a manual transmission.
- Set the parking brake.
- Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position with a clamping device designed for towing.
- Remove the key from the ignition.
- Secure the vehicle to the dolly.
- Release the parking brake.
