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.
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.
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.
BiggarView said
10:23 AM Sep 8, 2014
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.
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.
The Restless Youngs said
12:52 PM Sep 11, 2014
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
Neil and Connie said
10:23 PM Sep 12, 2014
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.
Jim01 said
05:52 AM Sep 13, 2014
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
HighwayRanger said
10:27 PM Jan 19, 2015
Anyone know when the 2015 towing guides will come out?
Roy
HighwayRanger said
10:02 PM Jan 20, 2015
Just got the FMCA 2015 Towing Guide when I renewed my membership. Good to go.
Roy
Barbaraok said
11:28 PM Jan 20, 2015
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
Sherry said
11:03 AM Jun 30, 2015
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?
bjoyce said
06:39 PM Jun 30, 2015
"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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
http://prodcontent.s3.amazonaws.com/2013DinghyGuide.pdf
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.
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
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.
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
Roy
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
"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.