How much does it cost to convert a vehicle so it can be towed behind a motor home?

We are considering trading in our 26 ft trailer on a motor home. But we still want to be able to share the driving. Ive seen motor homes pulling vehicles, but it looks like work must be done to the towed vehicle. We have a Toyota Tundra and Im considering this option.

Any advice.


DrifterWI:

Few vehicles can be flat towed without major preparation.

Look in your truck’s owners manual.

I don’t think your truck can be flat towed.

Oh_billy_oh:

Search your year of vehicle followed by “flat tow”. Road Master makes a “dingy” guide going back to the mid 90’s. You should be able to find a PDF for each year in the google results. The guide lists what vehicles can be flat towed and what recommendations each manufacturer has to flat tow.

jcalvinmarks:

You’ll be better off finding a small used 5-speed coupe and setting it up to tow. There are relatively few automatic transmissions that can be flat-towed. When we started towing a vehicle, I picked up a 2005 Hyundai Elantra 5-speed for about $2,500. If it’s under 3,000 lbs, you don’t need supplemental braking in most states, which makes everything easier.

You’ll need a towing baseplate to have something on the car to attach the towbar to. They generally run about $500. It’s a couple hours of work to bolt it on yourself, or another couple hundred to have a shop do it.

You’ll then need a tow bar. If you’re going with a small, light car, then a smaller, lighter tow bar can be used. You can get a reasonable bar for as little as $600, and they go up from there depending on features, and it should include safety chains.

For tail lights, you’ll either need to wire in a diode set, or you’ll need to run a separate wire set and second bulb and socket, or use magnetic tow lights. Any of these solutions shouldn’t be much more than $100.

SBR_AK_is_best_AK:

Vehicles either can or can’t be flat towed. If they can, it’s usually going to need a brake system, and the tow bar ($2000 give or take).

Google the year and 2wd or 4wd man or auto can flat tow for your truck.

lagunajim1:

I’ve towed two different Wranglers behind two different motorhomes. It’s easy, but it does take $2000-$3000 of preparation.

A tow bar “system” requires the tow bar itself attached to the receiver on the back of the motorhome, and a baseplate made specifically for the model of the tow vehicle to be installed on the tow vehicle that the tow bar connects to. This is installed by removing the front bumper of the tow vehicle, the baseplate is bolted to the chassis, and then the front bumper reattached. In simple terms, the tow bar drags the tow vehicle around by pulling it by its frame.

Simple electrical wiring is installed in the tow vehicle that connects to the rear lights of the motorhome – the kit costs under $100 but running wires from the front to the back of the tow vehicle can sometimes be annoying.

Depending on state law for your home state you may be required to install a braking system on the tow vehicle so the brakes are controlled by the motorhome. Some of us also consider this an important safety measure whether it’s required or not. Usually costs around $1000-1500 depending on how the motorhome controls the brakes (electrically or via air pressure from motorhome air brakes).

Most important thing is your tow vehicle must be “certified” by the manufacturer as flat-tow capable (without modification). Usually 4-wheel drive vehicles are included in this because they have a “transfer case” that can be put into neutral. There should be a baseplate available for essentially any vehicle that can be flat-towed, and the baseplate comes from the company that makes the “tow bar system” — there are two primary companies for this: Blue Ox and Roadmaster. I’ve owned both, and they are both fine choices – each has its fans of course..

Set up properly with good equipment flat-towing is easy and great!

beccadahhhling:

We rented a uhaul car tower, we already had the hitch on the motor home so it wasn’t too bad.

AdChemical1663:

Depends on what year your Tundra is. We flat tow our Wrangler with a towbar and a Brake Buddy, no other vehicle prep needed. 

Source: Towing behind motorhome?

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