We are moving forward with our plan to “hit the road” soon. One important task for motorhome owners is to determine how to tow a vehicle with their RV. That was a biggy on our TO DO list in terms of cost and decision making. We learned about different methods to tow our car. Then, we made our choice and began the process.
What was our reason for a second vehicle?
Ruff Road is a class A motorhome and we wanted a second vehicle for our journey. We have taken trips without a towed vehicle and in some locations that worked out okay, however as full timers we want the flexibility of a smaller vehicle to run errands, get to trailheads, sightsee, and of course to transport our toys.
We have heard of others who found that renting or ubering when they arrive at their destinations is more cost effective since you don’t always need a second vehicle. That is an option to research or consider if you are traveling in a motorhome. We have not tried that and with our two lovely shedding 55 pound dogs, I don’t think it’s even an option. Yes, we have the extra maintenance and the insurance on this towed, however the benefits for us outweigh these factors. So, we dived into how to tow our vehicle with our RV.
What are the different ways you can take a second vehicle with you?
There are four ways to take a second car with you while traveling in a motorhome. We explored each method when deciding how to tow our vehicle with our RV. However, the first method doesn’t involve towing at all.
- Your partner can simply drive the second vehicle. I know there are rvers out there doing this. We’ve done it ourselves on some trips. Pros: You have a second vehicle with you. You avoid the expense of adding a trailer, dolly, or tow system. Cons: You don’t have that ride time with your partner- that could be a pro for some, however. You will be paying more for gas/ diesel to cover miles in two vehicles. Your vehicle will experience more wear and tear driving the extra miles which could increase maintenance costs. Entrance to some campgrounds could cost more due to the second vehicle. Many campgrounds consider a motorhome with a towed car as one vehicle. While we haven’t had any experience with campgrounds that charge extra, they are out there and you could end up paying a daily fee to have that extra car. Cost: No extra cost for equipment.
- Another option is to trailer your vehicle. You would need to pull a flat trailer behind your motorhome with your car strapped to it. Pros: This one is probably the best to save wear and tear on your second vehicle. You can back up if you find yourself in a tight spot. A trailer can tow any vehicle. This is a quick way to just get rolling- no installation required outside of a hitch. Cons: You will need to find a place to store your trailer at your campsite. There may or may not be room at the site requiring you to park it at a designated overflow lot. We have limited experience with getting a car onto a trailer, however in our experience it is just a little stressful. Although with practice this should become fairly easy and straightforward. You will have the cost of the flatbed trailer plus maintenance and insurance. You also have the extra weight. Of course, you will need to purchase a tag yearly. Cost: $2,700 – $4,200 approximate costs, varies based on weight and size of the vehicle you are trailering
- The third option is to tow your vehicle on a dolly, two wheels on the dolly and two wheels on the road. Pros: This tow option will take up less space in your campsite. Dollies are cheaper than flat tow trailers and do not require installation of equipment that flat tow vehicles require. It is a quick and easy way to hit the road. Cons: This, for me, would be another stressful option driving the vehicle onto the dolly correctly and insuring it is strapped down appropriately. Not all vehicles can be towed by a dolly. Check your owners manual to determine if yours can be dolly towed. You will have to ensure that your vehicle’s running lights, brake lights, and turn signals are connected to the motorhome. Cost: $1,600 – $2,000 approximate
- The final option is to flat tow your vehicle behind you. We researched the other options but went with flat towing when deciding how to tow our vehicle with our RV. We really wanted to keep our truck but the only way we could have towed it was on a trailer or to back it onto a dolly- yikes. So we went with our older, but still great, Acura. Pros: You will not have to store extra equipment at your campsite. The tow bar folds out of the way and you are done. It’s easier (read less stressful for me) to hook up to a tow bar than the dolly/ trailer option. Cons: You can’t back up. Not all vehicles can be flat towed- check your owners manual. This method requires installation of a baseplate to connect the tow bars. It also requires the purchase of a braking system mandated by many states. Additionally, you will need to ensure that your lighting system is connected either through your vehicle or through magnetic attached lights. Cost: $2,363 for our system- Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain non-binding tow bar, Roadmaster baseplate kit, and Blue Ox Patriot II Braking System- purchased from etrailer.com. http://etrailer.com We had to add a six inch hitch adapter which added another $115. We did not pay for installation since we did it ourselves. Installation cost can be $1,200.
Moving on, we are flat tow ready!
Deciding how we would tow our vehicle with our RV was the first step. Then we purchased the equipment and made a date to install it. We “did it ourselves” or rather Gary and our son-in-law did it themselves. They installed the baseplate on our Acura MDX so we can connect it to our Falcon All Terrain non-binding tow bar. The install took about four hours and since they did the job we saved approximately $1,200.
I’ll admit that it was scary as Gary sent me pictures throughout the morning of our car in parts. However, it all hooked up fine except there were more than three inches from the center of the RV hitch receiver to the center of the base pin on the baseplate. This meant we had to purchase a high- low hitch adapter to ensure we were towing safely and to not void our warranty. Our next step is to tow our car to the dump station next week.
How do you tow your vehicle with your RV? Share any lessons learned or tips in the comment section. We’d love to learn from others. Our decision is based on our situation and of course, your decision on how to tow your vehicle with your RV will be based on your specific situation and your needs.
This brings us one step closer to finally “hitting the road”. If you want to see that baseplate install, check it out on our You Tube Channel, Ruff Road RV Life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpyvKQkis74&t=18s
Learn about us, who we are and why we are full time RVers. https://ruffroadrvlife.com/
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