SilverFoxes
RVF Supporter
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2023
- Messages
- 27
- Location
- Port Orange, Florida
- RV Year
- 2022
- RV Make
- Newmar
- RV Model
- Kountry Star 3412 DP
- RV Length
- 34'
- Chassis
- Freightliner Custom
- Engine
- Cummins 360
- TOW/TOAD
- 2024 Chevy Equinox AWD
- Fulltimer
- No
Hi All,
Very long story behind this. I'll try to summarize as much as possible.
My wife and I recently acquired a Newmar DP knowing we'd be looking shortly afterward for a toad that would be pulled with all paws on pavement. It's just the two of us these days so we weren't looking for anything major - we would be trading her DD and she doesn't care much for big vehicles, at least not beyond the motorhome itself. After a whole bunch of research, we settled on a decked out 2023 Chevy Equinox which we had to order since we couldn't find one on a lot that was even close to the trim level we wanted. It took long enough to get the car into the system that it wound up being a 2024 model. No biggie we thought. Our dealer told us there wasn't much difference between the '23 and '24, and flat towing was spelled out in some detail in the owner's manual. Then came the surprise.
As I started finding the equipment needed, I also started seeing things like "...not compatible with Equinox models equipped with Active Aero Shutters..." or just "air shutters". Sure enough, phone calls to various vendors confirmed that it could indeed be a problem and, yes, our new Equinox is equipped with that hardware. Other sources gave info along the lines of "with enough jury-rigging you can "probably" make it work". Not exactly inspiring for our confidence. So, now we own a brand new (not inexpensive) car that we would not have bought under any other circumstances. I mean, it's a very nice little SUV but it wouldn't have been at the top of a list as a DD for my wife.
That said, I suppose the essential questions would be - does anyone out there have any firsthand experience with a 2023 or 2024 Equinox that is equipped with aero shutters? Do they really cause available base plate hardware to be incompatible? Are we really going to have to do a hack job on the car to make towing it a possibility? Please chime in with any advice (before we lose our minds, if possible). TIA!
Very long story behind this. I'll try to summarize as much as possible.
My wife and I recently acquired a Newmar DP knowing we'd be looking shortly afterward for a toad that would be pulled with all paws on pavement. It's just the two of us these days so we weren't looking for anything major - we would be trading her DD and she doesn't care much for big vehicles, at least not beyond the motorhome itself. After a whole bunch of research, we settled on a decked out 2023 Chevy Equinox which we had to order since we couldn't find one on a lot that was even close to the trim level we wanted. It took long enough to get the car into the system that it wound up being a 2024 model. No biggie we thought. Our dealer told us there wasn't much difference between the '23 and '24, and flat towing was spelled out in some detail in the owner's manual. Then came the surprise.
As I started finding the equipment needed, I also started seeing things like "...not compatible with Equinox models equipped with Active Aero Shutters..." or just "air shutters". Sure enough, phone calls to various vendors confirmed that it could indeed be a problem and, yes, our new Equinox is equipped with that hardware. Other sources gave info along the lines of "with enough jury-rigging you can "probably" make it work". Not exactly inspiring for our confidence. So, now we own a brand new (not inexpensive) car that we would not have bought under any other circumstances. I mean, it's a very nice little SUV but it wouldn't have been at the top of a list as a DD for my wife.
That said, I suppose the essential questions would be - does anyone out there have any firsthand experience with a 2023 or 2024 Equinox that is equipped with aero shutters? Do they really cause available base plate hardware to be incompatible? Are we really going to have to do a hack job on the car to make towing it a possibility? Please chime in with any advice (before we lose our minds, if possible). TIA!
