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Guide to Towing with Your Motorhome

Nov. 3 2020 How To By _____

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Motorhomes are known for offering a supremely convenient and comfortable camping experience, and one of the most useful features of a motorhome is its towing capability. Hitch your car to your motorhome the next time you hit the road, and you’ll soon discover the many advantages of having an extra vehicle on camping trips. Read on to learn all about towing with your motorhome.

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The Perks of Towing

Why bring your family car on RV camping trips? Many motorhome owners enjoy the greater freedom and flexibility an extra car provides. With a second vehicle on hand, you can leave your motorhome parked at your campground and explore your destination more easily by car.

That second vehicle allows you to make quick grocery runs without the hassle of packing up your motorhome, assures that you can safely navigate narrow streets and winding roads, and helps save on fuel compared to driving your motorhome everywhere. When you take all that into consideration, towing your car can seem like a practical and cost-effective way to enhance your RV vacation.

Weight Considerations

When preparing to start towing your car with your motorhome, your first step is to make sure the two vehicles are a good match. Check the following numbers to determine whether your motorhome is compatible with the vehicle you’re going to be towing.

  • Curb Weight: The full weight of the vehicle. This can usually be found on a sticker inside the driver’s side door.
  • Max Gross Trailer Weight: The maximum weight your hitch can handle. You can usually find this number on a sticker on your hitch. The curb weight of the vehicle you’ll be towing needs to fit within this limit.
  • Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: How much weight your motorhome can carry before towing. You can look this up in your owner’s manual. This number includes the weight of all the passengers and supplies you’ll have on board during transit. To stay within this limit, avoid overpacking and overcrowding your motorhome. 
  • Gross Combined Weight Rating: The maximum combined weight of your packed motorhome and the vehicle being towed. This number can also be found in your owner’s manual. Double check that the overall weight of your rig stays within this limit to ensure safe towing.

Towing Methods

You have a few different options when it comes to towing methods. Your best option depends on your budget and personal preferences.

  • Tow Dollies: The tow dolly is a small, two-wheeled trailer that offers a safe and stable ride for an affordable price. Your vehicle will have two of its wheels off the ground when being towed with a tow dolly. The tow dolly is compatible with most vehicles. There can be a learning curve when it comes to turning and breaking with a tow dolly, and some states require you to be licensed in order to operate one. Check the local laws at your destination before leaving on a camping trip with your tow dolly.
  • Tow Bars: Your motorhome will need to be modified with a towing plate in order to use tow bars. The process can be complicated enough to require the help of a professional, and this option is only available to cars with manual transmissions and four-wheel drive. After the initial installation, tow bars are quick and easy to use, which is ideal if you anticipate towing with your motorhome on a regular basis.
  • Enclosed and Flatbed Trailers: These are going to be the heaviest and most expensive options, but enclosed and flatbed trailers offer exceptionally versatile and secure towing. An enclosed or flatbed trailer can be used to transport any kind of cargo, not just your vehicle, and an enclosed trailer keeps your cargo safe from the elements. If you want plenty of towing options and your motorhome can handle the weight, an enclosed or flatbed trailer may be a worthwhile investment.

Have any questions about towing with your motorhome? Come chat with our qualified staff at Chesapeake RV Solutions. We take pride in serving our community in Chesapeake, VA, and our neighbors in Suffolk and Virginia Beach, VA.