Flat Tow Opinion?

Topic: Flat Tow Opinion? (Read 2137 times) previous topic - next topic

Flat Tow Opinion?

July 13, 2022, 08:13:28 pm

Looking for the best vehicle to tow behind my 1996 U296. A am thinking about an LX 470. Any hep would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Brian

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #1 – July 13, 2022, 08:20:41 pm

Add a gx460 to your list too. Both great vehicles, but command stupid prices since covid hit. We found the best bang for our buck was ordering a new wrangler at one of the dealerships that'll still
do below invoice pricing. Absolutely love our rubicon.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #2 – July 13, 2022, 08:53:13 pm

We tow a 2016 Ford Explorer AWD. It does great, third row seating, roof rack, and twin turbo if you need speed. you can find them used, but it can only be a 2016, other years of this body style cannot be flat towed. It does require a battery disconnect.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #3 – July 13, 2022, 09:06:47 pm

We love our 2015 Lincoln MKT. There is a bit of having to run the car for a bit in drive and reverse before towing, but otherwise just hook it up, put it in neutral, turn the engine off and go. The speed limit is 65 mph, but since I normally drive at about 62-63 that isn't an issue.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #4 – July 13, 2022, 09:57:34 pm

Easiest cars I have pulled flat down was the 2000 Honda CRV and my current vehicle, 2018 Chevy Equinox. 35 mpg, nice drive and easy hookup. You do need a hot wire to run battery for juice or disconnect battery lead.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #5 – July 13, 2022, 10:39:22 pm

I am not quite as extravagant as you guys. I flat tow a 2003 Sunfire which is extremely dependably and light. I don't even have a braking system for it and have had zero issues

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #6 – July 13, 2022, 10:47:17 pm

we tow a 2015 jeep cherokee and a 2020 ram 2500 Just not at same time. If going to Arizona we tow Ram with Side by side on back, every where else we tow the Jeep
No problems with either, both have a neutral in transfer case
Chris

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #7 – July 13, 2022, 11:00:57 pm

We like our Jeep Wrangler. No steering wheel lock, so just put the transfer case in neutral and go.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #8 – July 13, 2022, 11:52:09 pm

Foretravel Axle Weights

It appears you have a 6k tow capacity. If your stock, a Toyota/Lexus LX/GX or 4 door Wrangler will be fine, but if you have larger tires, bumpers, rack, winch, etc, you will most likely cross that limit.

Also, know Toyota/Lexus do not approve of towing those 4wds but many people have done it with the tcase in N. You'll also most likely have to fab up mount points, base plates are not really made for them. Wranglers OTOH are widely supported.

That said, what are your uses for a toad? Where do you want to go?

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #9 – July 13, 2022, 11:53:32 pm

Small, light, AWD, ultra reliable, our 2005 RAV4 manual is great and under 3K. No transfer case but will go places other heavier vehicles won't.

A Luxus 470 in transfer case neutral or with a neutral kit would be the best of the luxury best. Toyota reliability. Just not inexpensive used. Other good Toyotas are also excellent.

As late as 2015, a CRV would be a more urban but good and very reliable toad.

Pierce

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #10 – July 14, 2022, 11:38:55 am

4x4 Chev Tahoe have to disconnect the battery. Friend tows GMC Truck (battery disconnect) Chev 1/2 ton pickup (battery disconnect), Jeep, Ford F250, Ford F150, Ford Raptor, or a Dodge Ram.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #11 – July 14, 2022, 12:48:38 pm

Since 1996 I have towed 2 Cherokees and 4 Grand Cherokees including my current '14 I always paid less than 3K except for the '14 which will in all likelihood will be the last towed I will need. Price and ability to get parts anywhere was my reason to use them.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #12 – July 14, 2022, 01:18:48 pm

Let me throw this in the mix. We do a lot of close camping. 200 miles or less and usually just for a long weekend. Most of the time it's not worth towing when we most likely aren't going to go exploring. Most of our trips are to do absolutely nothing other then cook and relax. On occasion it would be nice to go to dinner or hit a flea market etc or maybe run out of wine. We bought a Vespa scooter and I built a rack for it. Really light weight and easy to load and unload. It will run 60 to 65 mph with me and the wife. Sorry I don't have any pictures of it on the motorhome. Spoiler (click to show/hide)

^[1]

¹↵

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #13 – July 14, 2022, 01:30:33 pm

Quote from: dicksop – July 13, 2022, 10:39:22 pm

I am not quite as extravagant as you guys. I flat tow a 2003 Sunfire which is extremely dependably and light. I don't even have a braking system for it and have had zero issues

Amazon.com: NSA RV Products RS-5000 Break Away Device : Automotive
The life you save may be mine

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #14 – July 14, 2022, 01:37:12 pm

We flat tow a 2016 chevy Colorado diesel and has been great, no speed limit on towing but must disconnect battery. What's good is you don't loose any presets on radio or any saved navigation routes. There are a few steps to do before towing and after towing but not difficult.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #15 – July 14, 2022, 02:48:45 pm

I tow a Suzuki Sidekick. It's too bad they quit making them. It's light enough that legally
I don't need brakes but I put a Airforce one on anyway.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #16 – July 14, 2022, 03:23:08 pm

We tow a 2006 CR-V when we want convenience. We remove the 2010 FJ Cruiser driveshaft when we want to hit the trails.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #17 – July 14, 2022, 06:20:27 pm

Quote from: oldguy – July 14, 2022, 02:48:45 pm

I tow a Suzuki Sidekick. It's too bad they quit making them. It's light enough that legally
I don't need brakes but I put a Airforce one on anyway.

I've towed a '94 Sidekick and a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara; both were great cars, but I wouldn't recommend the Suzuki V6. We presently tow an '06 Jeep Liberty Renegade ((just over 60K miles on it) which gets terrible gas mileage, but we really like it. If Old Guy would sell his Sidekick, I'd buy it in a heartbeat - a fun go anywhere vehicle. Consider what you want to use it for - do you want to go offroad? If so, Jeeps are great, Suzuki are better but really hard to find in good condition.
We are looking at getting a new Escape PHEV, but it may be a long time before they are available.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #18 – July 14, 2022, 06:28:06 pm

I put and 2.3 lt. engine out of and Suzuki Aero in my Sidekick which makes it into a really
good car. You are right they are hard to find and they are going up in price.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #19 – July 24, 2022, 10:57:14 am

Toyota won't be bringing the Landcruiser to the US anymore, for now.
You will only see the Lexus models.

And the FJ Cruiser is also gone.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion? Jeep Liberty vs CRV

Reply #20 – July 24, 2022, 07:22:21 pm

My 2. Bits worth, lighter is better, currently tow a 05 Jeep Liberty, BUT, our last MH we towed another Liberty, then bought a new 14 CRV, was that a big difference, picked up near 1/2 mpg. Towing. Last. MH was a o11 Dutch star. Over memory 14,000 miles. CRV ...Liberty . Near 40, shady tttl. We were long haulers then.

Recently tried to buy a low miles 75,000. 014 CRV, they'd wanted what I had paid new for the same model.

Life is crazy, these days, 80's as we are now in short trip mode with our 99 Foretravel 295 40' guess will keep the title in the Liberty, if it gives out, (probably front end ball joints) Be standing there u get the title 2 sets of keys.

JEEP LIBERTY?!! As some one said above poor MPG running or towing, my thought exactly. Although it tows quick,easy .

Really not that bad, not off-roader, something to trade though, it's yours.

Love sorta our FT, what breaks is identifiable, using FT or MHT. unless u go to Houston Cummins, that was an $$experience??

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #21 – July 24, 2022, 08:53:38 pm

We tow a 4 door Jeep Wrangler and love it! It is a great versatile vehicle if you like to go exploring....

Keith

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #22 – July 24, 2022, 09:12:02 pm

If on a budget, there are tons of older stick shift cars that only need a tow bar mount welded up. Lighter cars will always cut the fuel mileage loss. I used to have a diesel Rabbit for a toad behind my old Greyhound. It got almost 50 mpg. If under 3000 lbs, no aux brakes are needed in many states. Check laws in states on your planned route.

Pierce

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #23 – July 24, 2022, 10:02:58 pm

If you tow a stick car without a neutral transfer case you will ruin the transmission. This applies to drive shaft cars not V Dubs. When the output shaft of the transmission spins when in neutral there is no lubrication taking place. The input shaft spins the countershaft and that lubes the main shaft. I found out the hard way back in the 60's towing my '66 SS After burning up the mainshaft I started pulling the drive shaft to solve the problem.

Re: Flat Tow Opinion?

Reply #24 – July 24, 2022, 10:59:45 pm

Some good info online for each car for towing. For our RAV4, I have to stop every 300 miles and idle it in neutral for 5 minutes. I've not forgotten yet.

The turbo 7.3 and Getrag 5 speed I put in my old SOB had been towed for a few hundred miles without idling it and damaged the 5 speed. He fixed it before I bought.

Pierce

Affiliate Notice