2020-Towinglineup FRV0120.Pdf

T0WABLE VEHICLES FOR 2020 TUCSON, ARIZONA, DELIGHTS BEING PREPARED WITH FMCASSIST ENHANCING THE RV LIFESTYLE JANUARY • Mountaintop Camping Blue Ridge Beauty . PAGE 134 UIDE S G FIT NE BE R E B M E M VOL. 57 NO. 1 • $14.99 US FamilyRVingmag.com THIS ARTICLE IS REPRINTED FROM THE JANUARY ISSUE The following information is intended to help motorhome owners select a vehicle that is approved by its manufacturer for flat towing. The information was gathered from automobile manufacturers and vehicle owners manuals and pertains only to 2020-model-year vehicles. The information may or may not be correct for earlier or later models. While every attempt has been made to present accurate information, continued vehicle improvements and production-line changes could alter the information and render it out-of-date. Before purchasing any vehicle, consult its owners manual to determine whether the vehicle can be flat towed behind a motorhome and what procedures must be taken to prepare the vehicle for towing. And check with the dealer to ascertain whether any service bulletins have been issued to update the owners manual information as it pertains to recreational towing. Also check with base plate manufacturers to determine whether that component is available for the vehicle you will be towing. Towing surveys for prior years are available at www.familyrvingmag.com. he majority of motorhome owners take along another vehicle that they use for transporta- tion once they set up camp. Having a second vehicle eliminates the need to unhook the Tmotorhome when it comes time to explore the local area, and it also provides flexibility for traveling to or parking in places not accessible to motorhomes. Since , this magazine has published an annual guide intended to assist members in selecting a vehicle to tow. Each guide is specific to one particular model year and focuses on the most popular method of towing — flat towing, or towing four wheels down (as opposed to using a dolly or trailer). The list that appears on the following pages represents -model- year cars, trucks, and sport-utility vehicles that manufacturers have indicated can be towed four wheels down behind an RV without significant modifications. BRAND/MODEL UPDATES Some vehicles from last year’s chart have been discontinued, or the versions are not towable because of design changes. Discontinued models include Fiat and c, as well as Abarth and c Abarth (which means no Fiat vehicles are flat towable). Also discontinued are Lincoln MKT, and Ford Fiesta, Flex, and Taurus. Because of model 32 • FAMILY RVing • JANUARY 2020 Reprinted from Family RVing©, January 2020 • 800-543-3622 • www.FamilyRVingmag.com Reprinted from Family RVing©, January 2020 • 800-543-3622 • www.FamilyRVingmag.com JANUARY 2020 • FAMILYRVing • 33 2020 TOWING LINEUP step in your discovery process. Also, see whether the manual for that vehi- you may want to check the “Technical cle is available to download. Forums” at FMCA.com to see Once you are confident the vehi- whether there have been reports cle is towable and you are com- about towing particular vehicles. 3fortable with the towing setup Following are some additional procedures and guidelines, ask a few guidelines: more questions before making the Before purchasing a vehicle, make purchase. Find out from the dealer, sure the dealership representative manufacturer, or owners manual with whom you are speaking how towing will affect the vehicle’s understands that you are looking to warranty. Manufacturers sometimes tow the vehicle and not to use it to issue revised instructions for flat tow a trailer. towing, so ask the dealer rep whether Next, and perhaps the most any service bulletins have been important step, is to request that released that relate to towing the 2you be shown a copy of the vehi- vehicle behind a motorhome. cle’s owners manual. Once you have If possible, have the vehicle the manual in hand, find the section weighed. Your motorhome has Ford Escape Hybrid that addresses four-wheels-down tow- 4been given a gross combination ing — often under a heading such as weight rating (GCWR), which is the “Recreational Towing.” (Do not con- maximum allowable combined changes, these vehicles are not fuse this with “Emergency Towing,” weight of the motorhome and the flat towable: Ford Explorer, GMC which may be possible four wheels attached towed vehicle. The accompa- Acadia, Kia Rio, Nissan Sentra, down on a limited basis for emer- nying charts include approximate Nissan Sentra Nismo, and Toyota gency purposes only.) This section curb weights as supplied by the man- Corolla (which means no Toyota addresses specific guidelines regard- ufacturers; however, optional equip- vehicles are flat towable). ing towing procedures, necessary ment and accessories can increase Vehicles added to the flat towables modifications, and safety issues per- the weight of the vehicle. So, make list for include the Ford Escape taining to the vehicle. Many manufac- sure that its weight will not push the Hybrid, Hyundai Venue, Jeep turers post owners manuals online, combined weight above the GCWR. Gladiator, Kia Forte, and Kia Optima. and sometimes, updated versions of It’s also a good idea to weigh your Kia issued an updated technical ser- the printed manuals become avail- motorhome (see “Weighing Your vice bulletin that says any front- able. If you have a particular vehicle in RV,” July , page ). Because of wheel-drive Kia equipped with man- mind, visit the manufacturer’s web- overloading issues, some motor- ual transmission or DCT (dual-clutch site and click on the “Owners” link to homes should not tow anything. transmission) can be flat towed. BEFORE YOU BUY Towing information may be difficult to obtain directly from the auto manufacturers, and often dealership sales- people don’t understand the concept of recreational towing or they have limited knowledge about which vehicles can be towed four wheels down. That’s why it’s important to do your homework when it comes to selecting your next towed vehicle. Think of the “ Towing Lineup” as the first Kia Forte 34 • FAMILY RVing • JANUARY 2020 Reprinted from Family RVing©, January 2020 • 800-543-3622 • www.FamilyRVingmag.com In fact, certain motorhomes may you will decrease the chances of a reduce the effectiveness of the brakes need to have their loads lightened potential problem while on the road. in emergency stopping situations, as before being driven solo. Safety is the most important issue well as lead to premature — and Check whether a base plate is for motorhomers when they operate potentially costly — wear on the available for the vehicle you plan their coaches. That’s why, for safety’s motorhome’s braking system. 5to purchase. The base plate, which sake, every motorhome owner who A supplemental brake provides must be installed on the chassis of tows a vehicle four wheels down stopping assistance to the tandem, the towed vehicle, provides a secure should consider using an auxiliary allowing the towed vehicle’s brakes point of attachment for the tow bar. braking system. Many motorhome, to slow the vehicle and reduce the The primary manufacturers of base chassis, and automobile manufactur- weight inertia that’s pushing for- plates are Demco (www.demco- ers recommend that supplemental ward against the rear of the motor- products.com; -¡-¡¢¢), Blue Ox brakes be used on any towed vehicle. home. Most of us have never heard (www.blueox.com; --), and Roadmaster (www.roadmasterinc. com; -¢¢-¢). The base plate, which must be installed on TOWING EQUIPMENT the chassis of the towed vehicle, provides a Once you’ve selected a vehicle for towing and determined that a vehi- secure point of attachment for the tow bar. cle-specific base plate is available, the next step is to purchase a tow bar and base plate. Several companies sell tow bars with varying convenience and safety features. The most important factor when selecting a towing package is to make sure it is rated to handle the weight of the towed vehicle. Have the initial installation done by qualified and experienced person- nel. Once installed, check the equipment frequently and use it only in the manner for which it was designed. As with any mechanical gear, proper Jeep Gladiator maintenance can increase the life of towing equipment. However, there A question that is often asked anyone say that the brakes on their comes a time when the equipment concerning supplemental brakes motorhome stop it too quickly. must be replaced to prevent a danger- involves the legal ramifications of Nevertheless, many of us have seen ous situation. Frequent inspections not using them. Not all jurisdictions what happens when brakes don’t will alert you to the need. mandate supplemental brakes on work quickly enough. When hooking up the towed vehi- towed vehicles, but when it comes to Although this guide focuses on cle, do not let yourself be distracted. four-wheels-down towing, safety vehicles that can be flat towed, there Also, get in the habit of checking the should be paramount. Your motor- is no single best way to tow. Each towing equipment each time you stop home’s brakes were designed to stop vehicle and each method has its for fuel or to take a break. Walk the weight of the coach. Add several advantages and disadvantages. If a around the towed vehicle to make thousand pounds of towed vehicle vehicle you already own or wish to sure the tires are properly inflated weight to the equation, and the purchase cannot be flat towed, it may and do not exhibit any unusual wear motorhome’s braking system is be possible to tow it on a dolly or patterns. Perform these safety inspec- being asked to do more than it was trailer, or have adaptations made to tions each time you’re stopped and intended.

Load more