Supplement to Motorhome April 2020 2 BLUE OX APOLLO.Indd 1/24/20 4:04 PM - 2 - (Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(Black)
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2020-DINGHY-GUIDE_Cover final.indd 1/29/20 12:01 PM - 1 - (Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK) Supplement to MotorHome April 2020 www.motorhome.com 2 BLUE OX_APOLLO.indd 1/24/20 4:04 PM - 2 - (Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK) Ascent™ Avail™ BX4370 2” Receiver BX7420 2” Receiver BX4375 2-1/2” Receiver BX7425 2-1/2” Receiver • Lightweight Aluminum • All Steel Construction • 7,500 lbs towing capacity • 10,000 lbs towing capacity Premium powder 2” longer legs: Tow Capacities Patented non-binding coat accents smoother towing, from 7,500 lbs latches disconnect your coach. more room for turns. to 15,000 lbs. in rugged terrain. All Recreational Tow Bars Include: Safety cables & 3-year warranty. Baseplates Removable tabs on most baseplate models. Baseplate Tabs In Baseplate Tabs Out Find a dealer or buy your tow bar @ blueox.com 800-228-9289 2020-DINGHY-GUIDE_Intro.indd 1/29/20 7:10 AM - 3 - (Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK) THE MOBILE LIFESTYLE s a motorhome owner, travel options are create the dinghy-to-motorhome connection. virtually limitless. You can explore the coun- As highlighted in “The Essentials” (beginning on try in comfort and, whether on the road or at the page 18), connecting a motorhome and a dinghy RV park, you’re always a few short steps away can be a surprisingly smooth operation. It begins from a homemade meal and your own warm with a baseplate (which is actually a bracket af- bed. If you don’t like the park’s amenities or the fi xed to the dinghy vehicle). Next, a dinghy tow bar weather turns foul, you can pack up and move is placed in the motorhome’s hitch receiver and on. That’s the beauty of the mobile lifestyle. But then connects to the dinghy vehicle’s new base- even though your home-on-wheels can trans- plate. A number of accessories are also available port you to many favorite places with ease, there to help protect the dinghy while on the road. are limitations. When visiting popular attractions Properly wiring a dinghy vehicle is another or navigating narrow campgrounds and con- consideration. It is essential that the brake- and gested roadways, you’ve probably wished for a taillights on the dinghy work in concert with those method of transportation that’s a bit less white- on the motorhome, and there are a number of op- knuckle. That’s where towing a dinghy vehicle tions to do not only that, but also to help keep the behind your motorhome really shines. dinghy’s battery charged while en route. Check The good news is it’s never been easier to out “Juice to Go,” beginning on page 26. equip a dinghy vehicle and motorhome for road The fi nal component of safe dinghy tow- duty — you just need to do a little research and ing is a supplemental braking system. Today’s preparation. The 2020 Guide to Dinghy Towing is motorhomes can accommodate a lot of dinghy your one-stop resource for determining which weight. While many new chassis have tow rat- new vehicles are manufacturer-approved for ings of at least 4,000 pounds, certain luxury fl at towing, and also to learn about the equip- coaches have a gross combined weight rating ment and procedures needed to tow four-down. (GCWR) of 60,000 pounds or more — with up to Our 2020 listings section begins on page 25% (15,000 pounds) of that available for towing. 12 and includes vehicles that have specifi - Dinghy brakes are mandatory in most states cally been approved by the manufacturer for and Canadian provinces; besides, when extra recreational (dinghy) towing. While some ve- weight is added, there must be a way to slow the hicles are easy to tow, others require that very mass down without overtaxing the brakes on the detailed and lengthy procedures be followed motorhome. Portable systems can be installed before and during towing to prevent damage. in minutes, and permanent installations remain We’ve included some of that information in unobtrusive. To discover what’s available to slow the listings, but you will still need to check down a dinghy vehicle, check out “Put a Stop to the owner’s manual of the specifi c vehicle for It,” beginning on page 28. more detailed procedures. Motorhomes are the best way to tap into the Once you’ve confi rmed that a particular mobile lifestyle. Towing a dinghy vehicle ensures vehicle is dinghy-towable, the next move is to you optimize that mobility at all times. This guide only addresses 2020 vehicles. Guides for earlier model years are available at: www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides PHOTO: SHAWN SPENCE MotorHome 2020 GUIDE TO DINGHY TOWING | 3 2020-DINGHY-GUIDE_Contents.indd 1/29/20 7:11 AM - 4 - (Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK) CONTENTS 6 26 DINGHY TOWING 2020 JUICE TO GO From compacts to pickups to SUVs, we How to make your dinghy vehicle’s offer our top picks for this year’s crop of and motorhome’s electrical systems new dinghy vehicles compatible while towing 12 28 DINGHY LISTINGS 2020 PUT A STOP TO IT Our annual guide to more than 50 The latest in dinghy-vehicle braking vehicles that have been approved by systems technology for improved the manufacturer for dinghy towing performance and safer travel 18 34 THE ESSENTIALS RULES OF THE ROAD All the hardware you’ll need to prep An at-a-glance reference for your dinghy vehicle for an enjoyable motorhome and dinghy-towing laws towing experience and requirements across North America Publisher Ann Emerson Advertising Representatives Editor-in-Chief Eileen Hubbard Lou Cicirelli, 954-297-9234, [email protected] Managing Editor Kristopher Bunker Scott Oakes, 847-229-6758, [email protected] Technical Editor Chris Dougherty Sue Seidlitz, 530-268-3005, [email protected] Art Director Rick Damien Kim Whitaker, 919-412-6325, [email protected] Photographer Shawn Spence Publisher Emeritus Bob Livingston MotorHome (ISSN 0744-074X) is published monthly by GS Media & Events (a division of Good Sam Enterprises, LLC), 2750 Park View Ct., Ste. 240, Editorial/Business Offi ce Oxnard, CA 93036. Periodicals postage paid at Oxnard, CA 93036 and 2750 Park View Court, Suite 240 additional mailing offi ces. The annual subscription rate is $19.97 per year Oxnard, CA 93036 in the U.S. For Canadian and International subscriptions, add $12 per year. Email [email protected] U.S. funds only. © 2020 Good Sam Enterprises, LLC. MotorHome is a registered trademark of Good Sam Enterprises, LLC. Unauthorized use of Advertising any of Good Sam’s trademarks is expressly prohibited. All other trademarks VP/National Sales Terry Thompson 847-229-6759 are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. 4 | MotorHome 2020 GUIDE TO DINGHY TOWING 5 ROADMASTER_TOW BARS.indd 1/24/20 4:03 PM - 5 - (Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK) Roadmaster makes towing safe, reliable & effortless. Falcon 2 NIGHTHAWK Solid stainless steel inner arms Easily stores in RV hitch Durable powder coat finish Version available to fit Blue Ox Non-binding technology Easy to connect & disconnect Aircraft-grade aluminum arms Towing safety Illuminating arms Power cord & cables included STREET PRICE: STREET PRICE: STREET PRICE: $625 $800 $1,125 Time Tested • Time Proven roadmasterinc.com (800) 669-9690 2020-DINGHY-GUIDE_New Vehicles.indd 1/29/20 7:10 AM - 6 - (Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK) DINGHY TOWING 2020 SUVS AND PICKUPS DOMINATE THIS YEAR’S LIST OF NEW TOWABLE VEHICLES, PLUS WE PICK OUR FAVORITE FLAT TOWABLES uite apart from being towable, a new speed transfer case, just as in previous years. dinghy vehicle has to look good and fi t your As you might expect, the new Suburban and needs and lifestyle. Tahoe will have more of everything than ever Sure, a used mail truck might be a great before. An all-new chassis featuring indepen- buy, and may even accommodate your kayak, dent multi-link rear suspension offers a longer but wouldn’t a new SUV look better? Plus, no wheelbase (more than 4 inches for the Suburban one will accost you for the package they never and nearly 5 inches for the Tahoe) along with received. Well, we’re glad you agree, because increased overall length (1.3 inches for the Sub- this year’s guide is chock-full of new vehicles urban and nearly 7 inches for the Tahoe). The that can accommodate just about any need, life- changes result in more leg- and cargo room, style or budget. This year, we’re doing things a especially for the smaller Tahoe; it gets 3 extra little bit differently, starting with calling out our inches of legroom in the second row, and a favorite new dinghy vehicles based on features, whopping 10.1 inches in the third row, plus an towability and overall coolness. Of course, that additional 10.2 inches of cargo room behind the doesn’t mean that’s all you have to choose third-row seat. In total, Suburban gets an ad- from: The 2020 listings (which begin on page ditional 23 cubic feet of maximum cargo room, 12) include everything from compact runabouts while the Tahoe gains 28.2 inches. An entirely to full-size pickups, all of which can be dinghy new “SUV specifi c” interior offers up to fi ve towed with the blessing of the manufacturer. display screens, including a standard 10-inch Ready to shop? Let’s go! diagonal central color touch screen (the largest in its segment); an available 8-inch diagonal in- Favorite Full-size SUV strument cluster; an available 15-inch Heads-Up Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe Display; and available dual 12.6-inch diagonal If you’ve always wanted a new Chevrolet Sub- rear-seat LCD displays, part of the rear-seat urban or Tahoe SUV, this is your year.