Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle behind another vehicle - such as behind a motorhome. The two most common types of recreational vehicle towing are known as "dinghy towing" (towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and "dolly towing" (towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and two wheels up on a device known as a "dolly").
With the proper preparation and equipment, many vehicles can be towed in these ways. See "Dinghy Towing" and "Dolly Towing," following.
Here are some important things to consider before you do recreational vehicle towing:
| • | What's the towing capacity of the towing vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. |
| • | How far will you tow? Some vehicles have restrictions on how far and how long they can tow. |
| • | Do you have the proper towing equipment? See your dealer or trailering professional for additional advice and equipment recommendations. |
| • | Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you'll want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be towed. See Before Leaving on a Long Trip . |
Dinghy Towing
If you have a 3.9L V6 engine with an automatic transaxle, your vehicle cannot be dinghy towed.
For vehicles that can be dinghy towed with all four wheels on the ground, follow these steps:
- Position the vehicle to tow and then secure it.
- Turn the ignition to OFF.
- Set the parking brake.
- To prevent your battery from draining while the vehicle is being towed, remove the following fuse from the engine compartment fuse block: (20 BCM 1). See Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out for more information.
- Turn the ignition to ACC.
- Shift your transaxle to Neutral (N).
- Release the parking brake.
Notice: If 65 mph (105 km/h) is exceeded while towing the vehicle, it could be damaged. Never exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while towing the vehicle.
Notice: Towing the vehicle from the rear could damage it. Also, repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Never have the vehicle towed from the rear.
Dolly Towing
To tow your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and a dolly, do the following:
- Put the front wheels on a dolly.
- If you have an automatic transaxle, shift the transaxle to PARK (P). If you have a manual transaxle, shift the vehicle to SECOND (2).
- Set the parking brake and then remove the key.
- Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position with a clamping device designed for towing.
- Release the parking brake.
Notice: If you exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) while towing your vehicle, it could be damaged. Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) while towing your vehicle.
