Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


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Post Info TOPIC: Tow 4 Wheels Down List


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Tow 4 Wheels Down List


Is there a list on the net anywhere of what can be towed 4 wheels down? Connie and are starting the research for our new daily driver and eventually we will become part time full timers like Bill and Linda with a home base and traveling several months at a time. At that point we will likely switch from our NH 5ver to a 30ish foot class C or small class A. We would like to be able at that point to have something we can easily tow without having to buy a new vehicle. 

Obviuosly we will verify the current specs of whatever we choose before buying…but a list of what to choose from would be easier than hunting specs on everything. We will likely want a hatchback or small SUV type so that we can store our bikes in the back vertically instead of laying flat as they are in our current Mazda. I was hoping to be able to refine the list before we start detailed research. 

Thanks. 

 



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http://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/ for anyone, with the current year free, and FMCA.com also has a list for its members.  The guides are by year and show vehicles the manufacturers allow towing.  Many others are towable and you can find out from http://www.remcoindustries.com/Towing/Store.php.  People will tell you that all manual (standard) transmissions are towable, but that is not true since some will not lubricate themselves without the engine running.  The next step after determining if your vehicle is towable 4 down is to make sure you can get a baseplate for it.  The two main tow bar manufacturers have lists, http://blueox.com/bx-r-baseplates.aspx and http://roadmasterinc.com/vehicle_guide/tow_bar_brackets.php.  

Many vehicles do require some kind of towing procedure, run before you start and often after 6 to 8 hours of towing.  This is for lubrication of the transmission.  In the past Chevrolet and Jeep did not require them, but they do now.



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Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
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You could try here for a start..

http://www.fmca.com/motorhome/towing

You'll need to sign up as a member first though



-- Edited by biggaRView on Monday 8th of September 2014 09:33:34 AM

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biggaRView wrote:

You could try here for a start..

http://www.fmca.com/motorhome/towing

 

If you do not have an FMCA account, you can't get to the guides.  In the past FMCA required you to own a motorhome to be a member, plus the membership costs money, kind of a chicken and egg situation.   We have had an FMCA membership since 2001, but we use the Motorhome Magazine guides since they seem more complete.



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Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Well I just learned something new.  Since we are not members of FMCA, I merely found that in a search and assumed all you need do was sign up to get the info.  You're right it's a kinda chicken and egg thing. I knew I saw a list somewhere and thought it was on the link I provided. Thanks for correcting me Bill.



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2017 RAM 3500 Laramie 4x4 CCLB, CTD, Aisin, B&W hitch, dually
2020 Keystone Montana Legacy 3813MS w/FBP ,
MORryde 8k IS, Kodiak disc brakes, no solar  YET!



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http://prodcontent.s3.amazonaws.com/2013DinghyGuide.pdf



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Thanks all…the motorhome.com guide downloaded fine and since it's free vs the fmca one I'll just start with it. Given that we want both towability for later and a tall inside to store our bikes vertically instead of laying down the combo of those two requirements cuts down on our available choices pretty drastically. Still through; there are a couple for us to look at and we can always insider the pickup with a camper top to turn the bed into a garage…would have no trouble with bikes (and kayak and miscellaneous other stuff) in there…although Connie will probably balk at a second pickup for her daily driver. The Subaru's are nice as well but not tall enough inside to carry the bikes standing up I don't think although I will have to go and measure one to make sure. Several of the Jeeps would be fine as well…as would the Tahoe but that's more than we would want to spend unless we had to.

I've got a start though.



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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We're going though the same exercise now of searching for a toad and I am not loving the idea of a pick up as my daily driver either!! However, the 2015 GMC Cannon is at the top of the list...(unfortunately it's not out yet!!) and the Jeeps are coming in a close second. Seems our criteria is similar with space and it really doesn't leave a lot of options. The Enclave is really nice....roomy, but a tad pricey as well!! I think with the Subaru's, they have to be manual according to the dinghy guide....which was a killer for me. Good luck!!



-- Edited by byseaandbyland on Saturday 13th of September 2014 02:23:12 PM

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Thanks; we will be researching this some more over the winter once we get down to Fort Myers…we did see a Jeep Liberty at a bar last evening (we happened to park next to it). Took a look in the back through the windows and with the rear seats down we would have plenty of space for bikes…and if IIRC it was towable; but if not most of the Jeep models are listed as being so. My wife likes the Ford Escort as well but it's not towable and I haven't measured to see if the bikes would fit vertical…my plan for the bikes is to pull the front wheel off and set up a 2x4 arrangement with some spare wheel axles and some L brackets to latch them into place…but we'll still need probably 30 inches of vertical clearance for them.

 



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Many vehicles that are not on one of those lists can be towed 4 down by modifying the vehicle. Remco, http://www.remcoindustries.com/Towing/Store.php  is a company that supplies kits to modify them. 

Jim



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Anyone know when the 2015 towing guides will come out?

Roy

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Just got the FMCA 2015 Towing Guide when I renewed my membership. Good to go.

Roy

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Let's Roll, America!

Fulltimer Class of Late 2015, with my beautiful bride, Lori.

2015 GMC 3500HD Denali DRW CC LB TrailerSaver TS3 Hitch

2016 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSB3, MorRyde IS, MorRyde Pin Box

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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HighwayRanger wrote:

Anyone know when the 2015 towing guides will come out?

Roy


 Got ours in the mail shipment last week.  It is in the Jan 2015 issue of Family Motor Coaching.

For those wanting to carry bikes, look at some of the small pickups - might be just what you need.

 

Barb

 



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Trying to make sure I understand the answers here. FMCA has a list but you must be a member. Motor Home's guide is for this year only or you can purchase previous years? We're looking to get out of the tow dolly deal and into 4 down but can't possibly buy anything new. Any suggestions for a 4X4 that would make an easy to set up 4 down toad?

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2002 Honda Accord (Ruby) with 2 kayaks & 2 bikes
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"FMCA has a list but you must be a member. Motor Home's guide is for this year only or you can purchase previous years?"

Yes on both. The Motorhome magazine guides have normally been more comprehensive. The best free method I know is to go to the http://www.remcoindustries.com/Towing/Store.php to find what is towable.  If you need more details you can then buy the particular guide from Motorhome magazine or join FMCA, $50 the first year, $40 afterwards.  



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Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003

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