Flat towing vehicles

[mhbell]

Need help! Looking to purchase a flat towing vehicle and I've never seen so many contradictory statements! Looking at Ford/Escape Hybrid, Jeep Altitude/Trailhawk, and now the Chevrolet/Equinox. Even the salesmen are no help, can't confirm they can be flat towed, and I certainly don't want to buy and be sorry. Looking at new or a year or two old. Where can I get absolute confirmation that one of these and the particular car I'm ready to buy can be flat towed? Thanks in advance!

I've flat towed several different vehicles in the last 25 years. Jeep Trail Hawks You have to be sure that the transfer case can be put into neutral by pushing a button with a pin. AQny jeep dealer can tell you which jeeps are flat towable. Check with the service dept not the salesman. Also the older jeep liberty with manual transfer case. Honda crv up to 2014 I've towed the Jeep Trailhawk and the honda CRV. The Honda was the easiest to prepare for flat towing.
Mel

 

[Joe Hogan]

We flat tow a 2018 Ford Flex SEL. Simple and easy.
Place in neutral, cut 12v power (we use a solenoid 12v switch) and be sure emergency brake is off. Good for all day.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I have a RAM that can be flat towed. The manual is general, but the RAM website armed with VIN will answer the question based on build for that vehicle!

 

[Dutch Star Don]

Check the Manual as noted above......however, before signing the contract to any new car, grab the Manual and verify the car can be shifted to Neutral for towing. I'm sure a salesman would not object to running through the procedure for putting it into Neutral. The reason I say this......if you ever read the fine print on Manuals, the manufacturer has the right to make midyear changes. Ford has done exactly that until they figured out an update for some of their vehicles, especially the Broncos.

 

[Dutch Star Don]

Edit: that Clodhopper guy is always a minute ahead of me!

I met the Texas Clodhopper for the first time at a rally last month in Utah. You're right, he was always first at the rally too.....first to the dinner line, first to the hors d'oeuvres line, first to the dessert line, but both first and last to the wine line.

 

[Just George]

Dutch Star Don has the right idea regarding make sure the vehicle you are purchasing will in fact go into the proper configuration to be flat towed. The tricky part could be the owners manual. When I purchased my 2023 Silverado the printed manual that came with the vehicle was an abbreviated version of the full manual that is posted on the Chevrolet Owners manual web page. The paper manual that came with the truck does not have the section on flat towing as well as several topics that are covered in the "full" manual. Sooooo my advice is print out all of the flat tow / recreational vehicle tow portion of the online manual which may also need to include a section on putting the transmission / transfer case into the correct mode and take it with you to the dealer.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I met the Texas Clodhopper for the first time at a rally last month in Utah. You're right, he was always first at the rally too.....first to the dinner line, first to the hors d'oeuvres line, first to the dessert line, but both first and last to the wine line.

So what's your point?