Towing with Care

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Although motorhomes have become easier to drive over the years, the convenience and handling of a car or SUV are tough to beat. That's why many motorhome owners want the best of both worlds. They're the ones you see on the road towing another vehicle, behind their motorhomes. When they arrive at their destination, they have the freedom that only a car or SUV can provide.

While towing was once seen as a daunting task, new technology has made taking along a "toad" or "dinghy" easier than ever. If you'd like to hitch up a towed vehicle, the main challenge you face is deciding which towing option best suits your needs. Below are a few key considerations.

The Right "Toad": In general, the lighter the towed vehicle, the better for both your motorhome and the towing system. Towing is also easier if the "toad" can be pulled with its wheels on the ground and does not register miles while being towed.

Tow Bars and Tow Dollies: If your vehicle can be towed with all four wheels on the road, you'll need a tow bar to connect it to your motorhome. Make sure the load capacity of your tow bar is rated well above the weight of your towed vehicle. You'll also need to choose between the two basic varieties of tow bars: rigid A-frame (cheaper but less flexible) or collapsible (more expensive but easier to connect). If a tow bar won't work with your towed vehicle, a tow dolly may solve your problem. Tow dollies are low, wheeled frames that are designed to lift the drive wheels of a vehicle off the ground.

Safety Cables: If disaster strikes and your tow bar or tow dolly is disconnected from your motorhome, safety cables (or chains) will support your towed vehicle until you can pull off the road. Safety chains must be loosely crossed beneath the coupler, forming an "X" shape. The connection should be slack enough to allow for sharp turns but tight enough to prevent the cables from dragging on the ground.

Signal Lights: The brake lights, tail lights, and turn signals on your towed vehicle must operate in sync with your motorhome. If your towed vehicle is going to be a regular companion in your RVing, it probably makes sense to connect the lights of the "toad" to the wiring system of your motorhome. For a temporary solution, brake/signal light accessory kits may be strapped or magnetically connected to the rear of the towed vehicle.

Supplemental Braking Systems: If you're involved in a sudden stop or driving down a steep mountain road, you'll appreciate the value of a supplemental braking system. Moreover, supplemental brakes on your towed vehicle will reduce the strain on your motorhome's braking system. The heavier the towed vehicle, the greater the need for a supplemental braking system.

Towing Safety Checklist: Ready to roll? Before you hit the road, take a few minutes to review your safety measures.

• Have you followed your towed vehicle manufacturer's instructions for towing?
• Has the tow bar or dolly been checked for structural weaknesses or cracks?
• Is the tow bar or dolly properly connected, and are all pins and clips properly secured?
• Are all nuts and bolts tight?
• Are safety cables/chains properly hooked up, crossing under the coupler?
• Are the signal lights functioning properly on both vehicles?
• Is the transmission in the proper gear for towing?
• If necessary, is the drive shaft disengaged?
• If equipped, has the braking system for the towed vehicle been properly connected and tested?
• Has the towed vehicle's parking brake been released?
• Is the towed vehicle's ignition in the first "ON" position, allowing the steering wheel to freely turn?
• Is the towed vehicle locked and do you have a spare key?