Towing full size pickup

Topic: Towing full size pickup (Read 1278 times) previous topic - next topic

Towing full size pickup

June 29, 2019, 05:15:47 pm

Looking into getting a full size pickup to tow flat. Wanting opinions from those that do or have towed these. Recommendation for tow bars, mounting brackets etc. Hoping to use M&God air brake system for brakes, but all else is in the air. Looking at crew cab short bed for length.

All opinions valued and respected.

Thanks in advance,
Larry

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #1 – June 29, 2019, 05:27:08 pm

Larry, I flat tow a jeep because it is 4 X 4 not all wheel drive but 4 wheel drive with neutral in transfer case. All trucks are not created equal when it comes to 4 wheel drive. I have an older Ford 4 X 4 that does not have a neutral in transfer case so I would have to put a disconnect on drive shaft in order to tow it. I am told the newer models of Ford and GM can have neutral in transfer case and I have driven a RAM (dodge) that does have neutral similar to my jeep. Check FMCA, they give an annual report on vehicles that are towable and what you have to do to get them ready to tow. To me the 4 X 4 with neutral in transfer case is just the simplest way to go with the least amount of additional equipment to add later
I'm sure others will chime in with their ideas --look over all of them and do what makes you comfortable and happy
Chris

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #2 – June 29, 2019, 05:28:59 pm

Larry, we tow a 2016 F-150 4wd thru the mountains here in Colorado with no problem. It is by far the easiest vehicle I've ever had to get into tow mode and the 400 Cummins pulls it with ease. Good luck with your search.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #3 – June 29, 2019, 06:43:25 pm

It's not a full sized, but we tow a Chevy Colorado 4x4 diesel. Can't help with the M&G because we use AirforseOne braking system

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #4 – June 29, 2019, 08:18:27 pm

I am towing a Chevy Silverado 4x4 with neutral, auto 4x4, low & high 4x4. Put in neutral, lock door and tow.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #5 – June 29, 2019, 08:21:57 pm

Larry,
I tow a Chrysler Aspen which is a full size SUV 6250 lbs. same weight as a 4X4 Dodge pick up. No problems at all. I have been towing this for 5 years. I use the ready brute tow bar rated at 8K, but it is a surge type brake, and while I am happy with it I think if I had it to do over I would use the air brake system as you only apply brakes on toad when applying brakes on coach. With the surge brake, brakes are applied with the retarder also.
Like previously posted be sure to get a unit with a transfer case that can be put in neutral.
Good luck with you search.
Jerry

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #6 – June 29, 2019, 08:38:07 pm

Waiting until the 2020 HD2500 crew cab 4x4 comes out and then will buy one and set up to tow. Have friend that tows 2019 HD2500 Tow bar is Blueox, the 10,000 lbs model. He uses a blue ox brake device that he has to put in the from floor board. I currently towing Tahoe with Blueox 10,000 bar and air force one brake. I like the air force one because all I have to do is plug in the air hose, connect the breakaway and move the brake petal all the way forward.

I can go from driving Tahoe to ready to tow in about 5 minutes, start to finish.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #7 – June 29, 2019, 10:06:55 pm

I have a 2005 Yukon that I tow. The key as said above, make sure you get a rig with a transfer case that can be put into neutral.

I can be hooked up in 5 minutes and ready to go. I do use the Ready Brake system and I am happy with it. Surge brake, but it does work well and I was comfortable installing it myself.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #8 – June 29, 2019, 11:32:22 pm

I tow a 2015 GMC 4x4 Crew Cab (7,800lbs) with no issues here in Arizona mountains. I have a Blue Ox tow bar and Air Force One braking system. As a side note on a 6% hills I'm 3 to 5 mph slower towing my pickup.
Steve

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #9 – June 30, 2019, 09:37:43 am

I believe all trucks may by Ford, Gm and Dodge are flat towable. Japanese trucks are not. I tow a little Chevy sonic it's perfect. I'm not an off road guy. I know jeeps are big favorites. I did enough off roading in the army.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #10 – June 30, 2019, 10:59:03 am

We tow a '15 2500HD crew cab Chevy 4X4, Blue Ox with M&G braking. It is easy to hookup and towing is not a problem either.
The only odd thing is having to disconnect the battery when towing. It is not a problem in itself but, remembering how to reset all the gizmos on the truck is a trip to the manual sometimes.

Glen

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #11 – June 30, 2019, 12:23:40 pm

Quote from: Marilyn and Glen Clark – June 30, 2019, 10:59:03 am

We tow a '15 2500HD crew cab Chevy 4X4, Blue Ox with M&G braking. It is easy to hookup and towing is not a problem either.
The only odd thing is having to disconnect the battery when towing. It is not a problem in itself but, remembering how to reset all the gizmos on the truck is a trip to the manual sometimes.

Glen

Do you know why the power has to be off?
On my Subaru it was stated that I needed to leave the key in the on position to prevent the wheel from (not really) locking. Found out later that on a Subaru the wheel only locks when the key is removed. In my system install a towing charger was added. It is powered on when the coach headlights are on and sends about 3 amps to the battery.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #12 – June 30, 2019, 12:57:36 pm

Chevy and Ford, 4X4 only. Chevy full size you need to verify you have (or order) a two speed transfer case.
I towed a 2007 Tahoe Z71 behind my 95 320. No problem, but you knew it was back there. And had M&G installed here in Central FL.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #13 – June 30, 2019, 01:40:46 pm

Quote from: bigdog – June 30, 2019, 12:23:40 pm

Do you know why the power has to be off?
On my Subaru it was stated that I needed to leave the key in the on position to prevent the wheel from (not really) locking. Found out later that on a Subaru the wheel only locks when the key is removed. In my system install a towing charger was added. It is powered on when the coach headlights are on and sends about 3 amps to the battery.

Bigdog
Chevrolet added an electronic steering assist and if there is power to it when you tow, it will damage it. As with all things, there are multiple ways to deal with it. Some buy a disconnect that breaks the ground when activated. I just remove the truck battery negative cable and put the M&G ground in it's place. (Simple and easy)
Glen

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #14 – June 30, 2019, 02:59:25 pm

We tow a 2012 GMC Sierra 4x4. Shift to neutral and away we go. Don't know what the truck weighs but I also carry about a ton of tools it seems like. We use the 10,000 pound Blue Ox and had it rebuilt at Quartzsite last year after about 40,000 miles. The newer model GM started using an electronic power steering so the battery needs to be disconnected.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #15 – June 30, 2019, 03:02:30 pm

We use M&G on the last 3 Jeep Wranglers, 4600 Lbs. Works great.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #16 – June 30, 2019, 04:43:11 pm

Quote from: Marilyn and Glen Clark – June 30, 2019, 01:40:46 pm

Bigdog
Chevrolet added an electronic steering assist and if there is power to it when you tow, it will damage it. As with all things, there are multiple ways to deal with it. Some buy a disconnect that breaks the ground when activated. I just remove the truck battery negative cable and put the M&G ground in it's place. (Simple and easy)
Glen

Thanks for the clarification. Hadn't thought of electric steering.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #17 – June 30, 2019, 05:08:19 pm

Check Store : Remco to see what will work. Just for grins I put in a 4WD F150 with the diesel engine. Came back towable four down and to follow the instructions in the owner's manual.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #18 – June 30, 2019, 06:19:56 pm

So far, I've seen a lot of incorrect information on our Toyota RAV4. They don't list a manual transmission for our year and the year before and when they do list the manual, they say it must be trailered. The owner's manual clearly says it can be towed four down but must be idled for 5 minutes every 300 miles. Our 2005 has be flat towed since the day we purchased it. Wonder how many others they have wrong.

Pierce

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #19 – June 30, 2019, 06:49:19 pm

For those who are buying new (or at least new enough to still have some warranty left) the owner's manual IS the authority. For those who, like us, buy used, the experience of others may be useful. The Mini Cooper line is very popular as a towed (several Foretravels have them), but the owner's manual clearly says that they are NOT towable four down.

Sales people may or may not know whether or not a particular vehicle is towable four down, so looking at resources like REMCO or FMCA can help narrow your search. Asking for the experience of people who may already tow something you are considering is also good. I'd suggest that a general RV forum, such as Escapees or RV-Dreams would be a better place to ask than a brand-specific one (like this one) since there are more people there who may have experience with what you are considering.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #20 – June 30, 2019, 07:28:12 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – June 30, 2019, 06:19:56 pm

So far, I've seen a lot of incorrect information on our Toyota RAV4. They don't list a manual transmission for our year and the year before and when they do list the manual, they say it must be trailered. The owner's manual clearly says it can be towed four down but must be idled for 5 minutes every 300 miles. Our 2005 has be flat towed since the day we purchased it. Wonder how many others they have wrong.

Pierce

For a very long while, Toyota has just put out a blanket statement that NO Toyota is towable.

Subaru has this year done the same thing. Nothing on a Subaru manual transmission and transfer case system (oil bath & No pumps) has changed. It was corp lawyers.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #21 – June 30, 2019, 08:28:45 pm

BigDog,

Can't have been for a very long time as you can see not only from our Toyota 2005 owner's manual but also from the latest info sheet from the Toyota factory. It even lists the speed and distance before the engine must be idled before resuming towing.

Latest info from Toyota headquarters for all years/models, both automatic and manual transmissions: Is it possible to tow my Toyota with all four wheels on the ground?

Pierce

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #22 – June 30, 2019, 08:54:58 pm

For what it is worth, I have been towing a Toyota Avalon with a Remco Towing transmission lube pump for a decade. Even installed it myself. It is available for many vehicles.
Jim

2002 U320 42'

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #23 – June 30, 2019, 09:06:29 pm

Quote from: Jim Frerichs – June 30, 2019, 08:54:58 pm

For what it is worth, I have been towing a Toyota Avalon with a Remco Towing transmission lube pump for a decade. Even installed it myself. It is available for many vehicles.
Jim

2002 U320 42'

Probably should have clarified. I was only looking at AWD or 4x4 as I like to hit the dirt roads looking for photo oops.

Re: Towing full size pickup

Reply #24 – June 30, 2019, 09:16:38 pm

Quote from: bigdog – June 30, 2019, 09:06:29 pm

Probably should have clarified. I was only looking at AWD or 4x4 as I like to hit the dirt roads looking for photo oops.

Our RAV4 is AWD! As you can see on the factory recommendations png, it's limited to 55 mph while under tow. RAV4s are great for dirt roads or even trails, especially since they weight just under 3000 lbs. No low range but the gearing is slightly higher (numerically) than the 2 wheel drive models (also can be towed 4 down) Ultra reliable with going on 300K without any trouble. It's followed us to Mexico several times and across the U.S. twice behind the U300. They make 6 manual transmissions and two diesels but not for sale in the U.S. Too bad.

Pierce

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