Flat towing vehicles

[Odetymes]

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!

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Google the owner's manual for the exact vehicle, year, and model. Look under recreational towing.

 

[Av8r]

The only definitive way to know whether a vehicle can be towed is to check the owner’s manual, usually under the heading of “Recreational Towing”.

In the last few days, RV Life came out with its annual list of towable vehicles, but even it tells you to check the manual.

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

 

[Just George]

Search online, for the owners manual for the specific model and year vehicle you are considering. Many manufactures have the owners manuals available online. Review the manual for terms like "recreational towing", "dinghy towing", etc. For me the owners manual is the final answer.

 

[DennisT]

Yes, check the owners manual. From the Jeep perspective, we bought a 2022 Cherokee Trailhawk to tow - easy to setup when towing and nice around town.

Did have to go to the Trailhawk to get the transmission that is able to be put in neutral to tow.

 

[SherryB]

Agree with others...I just googled owners manual for a 2024 Ford Escape Hybrid and found it easily...then scrolled to the recreational towing section. The fully electric ones appear to be ok, the regular ones not. That was just for research before I responded to your question, I'm sure you can find them all to look. When I bought my 2020 Ford Edge, before I made the purchase I insisted on seeing the owners manual, looked through it and confirmed it was ok. I had already confirmed it online but just wanted to double check while on the lot before signing on the dotted line.

 

[Chiefbob]

We flat tow a Ford Escape hybrid and it works great. We don't even feel it behind our coach.

 

[Trav_lr]

We have a Trailhawk. Baseplate install was a chore, otherwise, set up for towing is simple. Also have had 3 wranglers. Baseplate install was simple and straight forward. Tow set up is the easiest.

 

[Meagle]

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 tow a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid with my Winnebago Forza. It is an excellent "TOAD" to tow behind the RV. The set up is easy. There are no battery disconnects or fuses to remove. All you have to do is go to your setting in the car and press neutral tow mode.

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!

We tow a 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid behind our Winnebago Forza. It is very easy to set up and tow. After hooking up the tow bars, etc., all you do is go to your settings in the car and press neutral tow mode. There are no fuses to remove and you do not have to disconnect your battery. Simple and easy. Another advantage is that it is a nice car to drive and gets excellent mileage.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

@Odetymes I caution you to verify in the owner's manual for the specific vehicle you are looking to purchase. With all the confidence in the world, I can say that I tow a Canyon with absolutely no problems but without knowing the year and model that statement is useless. Like a great man once said, "Trust but verify".

 

[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 Dutchstar]

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?