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Good Sam Roadside Assistance

What is the best vehicle to tow behind a diesel RV?

by pat
(jefferson city mo usa)

What is the best vehicle to tow behind a diesel RV with four on the ground?

ANSWER Hi Pat, before I go directly into answering your questions, let me take a moment to educate some of our visitors on some RV slang used when describing a vehicle that is towed behind an RV. In the RV world a tow behind vehicle is also known as a Toad or Dinghy.

Now to answer your question, I cannot tell you what the best vehicle is to tow behind your RV. Just like when you selected your RV, you had to decide which type of RV fit your particular lifestyle. You will have to use this same process to select your Toad.


If you are traveling with a family, you may have to choose a vehicle that fits all of them. If there are just two of you traveling together, you may want a smaller or sportier vehicle. If you do a lot of boondocking and you like to explore out of the way places you may want to choose a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get to those places. Some people choose to pull minivans and use them for extra storage for camping.

The fact that you want to be able to pull a vehicle four wheels down does limit your choices. Not all vehicles can be towed 4 wheels down as it could damage their transmissions, etc. You may not find the exact vehicle you are looking for. If that is the case you may want to consider a Tow (car) Dolly. If you use a tow dolly it really opens up the selection of vehicles you can choose from. But, again that is a choice you are going to have to make.

As I said the list of cars that can be towed 4 wheels down is limited. Motorhome Magazine has Downloadable Dinghy Guides that list vehicles that can be towed 4 wheels down. They have a guide for each year starting with vehicles manufactured from 2000 to present models.

I hope that this has been helpful in answering your question.

Do you have any suggestions or comments on this topic? You can add them to this page by clicking on the "Click Here To Post Comments" link located near the bottom of this page.

Happy RVing

RVing Al

Comments for What is the best vehicle to tow behind a diesel RV?

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Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Saturn
by: Anonymous

A great car to use as a tow on a car dolly is a Saturn Outlook, XE we have put over 10.000 miles and have never had any problems and we continue to use it ,its a great family SUV with plenty of room
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		The "Real" best TOAD
by: Enginator

I operate a website for Diesel RV and bus conversion owners. I have towed Fords, Hondas, Jeeps, Suzuki Samurais, pup trucks, etc but the absolute best and happiest towing is with a late model VW Vanagon Westy camper. They are dirt simple to tow with no mods required and they offer the amazing benefit of "Satelliting" from your big rig. We just park the Diesel rig in our target region and then buzz out to visit the surrounding 500 mile radius in the Westy. Of course a VW bay window or an older Splitty or a Toyota or Nissan camperized van would work but the Vanagons require no mods other than a hookup for the lighting. It is the absolute best of both worlds. Why more folk do not do this is a mystery! I suppose the dirth of decent camper vans is the primary issue. And the outrageous cost of used Westys. Enginator
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Truck
by: Max

I need to know if I can tow a truck I have not bought it yet. So I would like a 4x4 but it's not necessary. I was looking at a 4x4 Ford Ranger 2006. I've been look on the internet to see if I can tow it but I'm confused. I'll be pulling it with a 2000 Winnebago Chieftain 36L Diesel. I need a truck because in the back of it I'm hauling a handicap scooter.

So if you can suggested anything it would be very helpful.

Thanks

Max
m.iverson@yahoo.com
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Sonic
by: Anonymous

The Chevy Sonic is the best car to be towed 4 wheels down. It is light under 3000 so you do not need additional brakes.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		List look like this
by: Anonymous

1990-1995 Geo Tracker 4X4 with manual transmission
Saturn SL models
90's Jeep Cherokees 4WD
Chevrolet Colorado
Honda CRV 2001
Chevy Malibu 2002
PT Cruiser stick shifts are also towable. The newer Saturn VUE uses Honda parts and is towable and popular, the older one with the CVT transmission was not towable
2003 Honda Element AWD
Pontiac VIBE. Only the manual shift can be towed 4 down per owners manual
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. 3600#s, 32 MPG
Rating
starstarstar 		Just to name a few
by: Anonymous

Don't believe everything you read. Four wheel drives with manual transmission and wheel locks are a likely candidate. Manual transmissions are the key. Honda CR-V's, VW bugs, Jeeps and Toyota are a few models that I know of off the top of my head.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		todog
by: walt

don't believe all you read. chev just recalled the cruse.it can not be towed 4 wheels on the ground . the cobolt can as far as i know. call me if your stuck with a cruse and was going to tow it .i have a cobolt that i no longer need because of health reasons. possible trade. call 302-363-4428 walt in de.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		WHAT IS THE RIGHT TOWED VEHICLE
by: William Stanley Lane

i just got a 2012 Fiat 500 POP that is the manual transmission. It had a write up in the MotorHome mag. It can be towed with only the key in in order to unlock the wheels and the transmission in netural. I am 6' with room. right now 38 mpg.

Loveing it
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Need a Pull behind vehicle 4 down
by: Alan

I too I'm looking for a small car to pull behind my RV, 32Ft Gulfstream. It's just my wife and I. I have a friend that pulls a fuse and goes 4 wheels down, but he said that they do not make them any longer ( Saturn) I think. Does any one have suggestions?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Can"t find it
by: Anonymous

I went to the Magazine.com and could not find the list of toad vihicles.I"m not the sharpest at the computer,can you be more specific when one gets to the site.

Note From RVing Al: The problem is that Motorhome Magazine has changed the location of their Dinghy towing guides on their website you can now find it HERE. If you are looking for the previous year guides just go to the bottom of the page and you will see little icon like this 123 > >> that will take you go the previous years guides. I have also changed the link in my answer. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Well handled RV Al
by: Butch

Well handled, RV Al. Your original answer was right on. (No more coffee this morning for our friend!) lol
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you!
by: jr

Prepared for several hours of research but fortunately came across your article first! Thank you so much for the link, what a great starting point. Please please keep making the internet a better place and easier to use!

Comment From RVing Al: Thanks JR I am glad that you are finding our information helpful to you.

Happy RVing
RVing Al
Rating
star 		Answer the question!!
by: Anonymous

What a stupid answer. Don't just refer people to a magazine;answer the question! Small car list, SUV list, 4wheel drive list. It you don't know, say so!

Comment From RVing Al: Sure sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. :-) First there is no "best" vehicle to tow behind a Diesel RV. The selection of a Toad depends on the needs of the RVers that are going to use it.

The Mothorhome Magazine Webpage I referred them to lists all of the vehicles from 2004 to present that are certified by their manufacturers to be towed 4 wheels down.

So as per your request I must say "I don't know what vehicle would be best for Pat to tow" But, I am sure that the webpage I referred Pat to was helpful in finding a vehicle that would work for him/her.

Have A Nice Day ;-)

P.S. I am surprised that you did not take this opportunity to make your own vehicle recommendation

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