Toad Vehicle...I’m so confused...help me please

[lynns24]

We flat tow our Honda 2003 Pilot which we bought new before we knew we would become RVers. There are only a few years that Honda has in their manuals that you can flat tow Pilots so it worked out well for us. We have the blue ox tow system and surprisingly the Pilots curb weight is right around 4400 lbs versus the jeep wrangler is right around 4397 if your worried about weight. We are thinking of selling it later this year. DH has the bug for a new truck to haul a small polaris ranger in to take to our snowbird destination in Florida next year. We hate selling our Pilot as it is a wonderful reliable vehicle but unfortunately we can't put the UTV on the roof of the Pilot ;-)

[Hodie Ho]

We have been flat towing a manual Ford Fiesta SE hatchback 2 years and have had no issues. We have Blue Ox towing system.

[salwolfe]

Originally Posted by psgrandpa1

What is a Cmax. Do you flat tow...and how. I don’t want to trailer
I didn’t think this would be so hard

There are many choices, aren't there?

A CMAX is a small Ford 4-door that might be called a hatchback, I guess. Designed for and first only sold in Europe, it sits higher than a sedan but is smaller than most SUVs. Ours is a gas/battery hybrid that we've had for 2 years and it's been problem free. We tow it 4 wheels down and simply put it in neutral after hooking to the tow bar system, and away we go.

Oh, we have an automatic transmission, called a CVT.

[salwolfe]

Originally Posted by Travelling Tom

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee the only vehicle available where all you have to do is press a button on the console to put the transfer case in neutral and you're ready to tow? No stopping to run engine every 200 miles, no need to start vehicle every morning and run for 5 minutes like some other brands, etc. That seems very simple, quick, and painless to me. Can anyone confirm my presumptions are accurate?

See posts 11 and 38 for lists of vehicles that can be towed. There are many of them, and each manufacturer specifies the conditions necessary. So, no your presumptions are not accurate as you have many choices and lots of these choices are simple tow behind products.

[Ohiosnowbird]

Originally Posted by psgrandpa1

I have a HONDA RIDGELINE ...CANNOT BE TOWED
I have a Lexus...suv hybrid...CANNOT BE TOWED

I WOULD PREFER A HONDA FIT...BEEN SHOPPING FOR DAYS, CANNOT FIND ONE
ONLY CERTAIN YEARS ARE TOWABLE

THE CRV...really crowds the weight.

We found one and love it. Keep looking, it is worth it.

[Ohiosnowbird]

Our fit is auto and we love it.

[Ohiosnowbird]

Honda fit 2009.

[PenJoe]

Originally Posted by Travelling Tom

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee the only vehicle available where all you have to do is press a button on the console to put the transfer case in neutral and you're ready to tow? No stopping to run engine every 200 miles, no need to start vehicle every morning and run for 5 minutes like some other brands, etc. That seems very simple, quick, and painless to me. Can anyone confirm my presumptions are accurate?

The Jeep Liberty is not longer made, but it has the console button to put the transfer case in neutral. When in neutral, the odometer is also disengaged. We have a 2012 Liberty that had 8,020 miles in Oct 2016 and it has been phenomenal daily driver and toad. DW at first was opposed to a toad, but when she was explained the benefits, she was for it. She now refers to it as "My Jeep". The last body style Liberty had side air bags which is a safety plus.

I installed an RVBrake battery tender wired to the center pin of the 7-pin wire harness. The Sunseeker keeps the battery charged while flat towing. It is wired only to supply power to the toad only when the Sunseeker ignition is on. We towed 1,700 miles over 4 days and the battery was fully charged when we arrived. Kept the Jeep keys in the RV and never started the Jeep during the trip. Cheap insurance.

[Boatrick]

My friend & I tow Suzuki Grand Vitara. Easiest ever, InvisaBrake and turn a dial on dash to disconnect drive train. Leave key on to unlock steering. Thats it!
It does weigh 3800 lbs.

[dav7158]

I wanted a light car for my 30' Sunseeker that I could tow on all fours, to keep the weight down - my first MH and wanted to help the mileage as much as I could. It's my daily car so the rear seats are always down- especially when towing as it's loaded down with firewood and other necessaries.

I think the best advice I've seen here is to drive the options, check on towing weight, and to check with Consumer's reports.

Good Luck.

[Duckogram]

I tow a 2011 Smart Fortwo. It has been to 48 States, over 30,000 miles towed.
It weighs 1,410 lbs, gets 40mpg (91 octane) and does not require a supplemental
braking system except in Manitoba Provence. It dinghy tows and my DW hooks it up
by herself in 5 minutes. We use a battery disconnect switch for safety. The lights are
wired to work off the coach plug. And the best part; When we go out to dinner with
friends, they drive!

Edit: New 2800QS tomorrow. Will tow Smart home.

[psgrandpa1]

... best idea! Friends drive to dinner

Bought a 2013 Honda FIT Sport. 4 door. Hatchback

We’ve towed a FIT and a CRV with the Class A 40’

Downsized to MBS SUNSEEKER 2017... pick up Saturday

We’re happy, FIT is hard to find. Nothing above 13 tows.

Hope we enjoy the downsized life !

[psgrandpa1]

Originally Posted by psgrandpa1

Just purchased 2017 MBS SUNSEEKER 2400W

Need a toad!

Please Send me your trials and tribulations.

Confused!

FOUND IT !

2013 HONDA FIT. 4 door hatchback

We’ve towed a FIT before...so we know what to expect.

Thanks everyone who provided great suggestions. We reviewed each and everyone of them.

[KatanaPilot]

Originally Posted by psgrandpa1

... best idea! Friends drive to dinner

Bought a 2013 Honda FIT Sport. 4 door. Hatchback

We’ve towed a FIT and a CRV with the Class A 40’

Downsized to MBS SUNSEEKER 2017... pick up Saturday

We’re happy, FIT is hard to find. Nothing above 13 tows.

Hope we enjoy the downsized life !

Not sure where you read that. Our 2015 Fit 6 speed manual is approved for 4 down towing. The CVT version is not.

[psgrandpa1]

...wanted an automatic. We live in the Ozark mountains and don’t want to shift.

[DrJMB]

I toad a Mazda Miata with manuel **** Works great. Most of the places that sell the equipment also publish a book on what’s best to TOAD. I see a lot CRV Honda at RV parks.

[RacerRalph]

We tow a Scion XB, 5 speed, 2,400 lbs. I'm 6'2" and have plenty of room, back seats fold down to give great storage space. Love it!

[Dalin]

I see you posted picture of your camper and a toad behind it but never mentioned anything about it, I am wondering what kind of car that is and is there anything that needs to be done to it to be able to tow it. I am looking at a Chevy Spark with manual 5 speed. I thought it might tow easy, I used to tow a 1982 s10 truck behind my old Clas C rv...I have a newer class A now and finally have decided to get some kind of car to tow. I'm hoping a Spark will do the job.

[Ohiosnowbird]

Originally Posted by Dalin

I see you posted picture of your camper and a toad behind it but never mentioned anything about it, I am wondering what kind of car that is and is there anything that needs to be done to it to be able to tow it. I am looking at a Chevy Spark with manual 5 speed. I thought it might tow easy, I used to tow a 1982 s10 truck behind my old Clas C rv...I have a newer class A now and finally have decided to get some kind of car to tow. I'm hoping a Spark will do the job.

The toad is an 09 Honda fit. It is an automatic and we do not do anything special to it but follow the instructions in the book. We are very pleased with the vehicle and the way it tows.

[Bill and Gail]

We have a 2016 3010DS Sunseeker. We just bought a left over Ford Fiesta SE hatchback. The Fiesta S and SE models with automatic trans (not the ST model) are flat towable.