Joey, Dinghy, hello!

[sCentralJoey]

Hi y'all! I found this forum looking for help with toad/dinghy/four-down/flat towing. I have a 27' Forester class C RV. I love it so far and I think a dinghy would make our trips even more fun. I live in the northwest USA.

[ependydad]

Are you looking for toad make/model ideas? Or are you looking to see if someone is selling one.

[sCentralJoey]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Are you looking for toad make/model ideas? Or are you looking to see if someone is selling one.

Both. I put up a classified ad and also posted in Towing, Tow Vehicles, Hitches & Toads

[aceinspp]

Welcome to the forum. Easiest toad to use and hook up is a jeep. Later RJD

[llr]

You need to figure out what class / size you want then start looking for options. If I ever go back to a MH I plan on using an F150 as a toad.

Even in certain models options can make some towable and some not. Generally most AWD and automatic transmission vehicles are not towable 4 down. Many 4WD and manual trans front wheel drive are towable 4 down.

[Tinytim35]

Welcome from Oklahoma!

[sCentralJoey]

Originally Posted by llr

You need to figure out what class / size you want then start looking for options. If I ever go back to a MH I plan on using an F150 as a toad.

Even in certain models options can make some towable and some not. Generally most AWD and automatic transmission vehicles are not towable 4 down. Many 4WD and manual trans front wheel drive are towable 4 down.

That sounds like a great plan, thank you. I'm thinking a manual Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla would be about the right size for me and my family. Light to tow, too. I found the "2019 Good Sam Guide to Dinghy Towing" with all kinds of great info. I also connected with my local RV service shop: they said they'll help me get parts, install, and set up everything for dinghy towing.

Do you know if the auto/electric/extra braking system is a hard requirement? It seems to be in some states based on what little I've read so far.

I'm hoping to tow something less than 1.5 tons behind my RV. It seems to have plenty of power for uphill and the brakes are fine, although I've been told "the brakes in that model are already overloaded".

I'm also wondering if a transmission lube pump is necessary if the dinghy has a manual transmission, or if those lube pumps are only for automatics. This article says they're only needed for automatics, I just want to confirm with folks in here since y'all got the relevant experience and expertise.

[sCentralJoey]

I found a tow-ready toad/dinghy on craigslist. Everything worked as expected during a test drive of the dinghy. We even did a test tow behind the RV (including dinghy brake lights and turn signals).

We took our first trip last weekend (~100 mi each way), and now the brake lights & turn signals stopped triggering the dinghy's brake lights and turn signals. Turning on my RV's headlights while towing turns on the dinghy rear running lights like I'd expect.

I need to get a hydraulic brake jack installed on the RV so it can actuate the existing Roadmaster brake system in the dinghy.

I'm going to take the RV and dinghy into the shop for service and to install a hydraulic brake jack. Hopefully they'll know how to make the dinghy brake lights & turn signals work while it is being towed, too. If anyone has any tips about these I'd be grateful. I'm going to check fuses now.

[sCentralJoey]

Yet another lesson learned: my class C RV has hydraulic brakes and the brakemaster kit in the dinghy is an air brake. Fortunately there's a retrofit kit (98300 is for hydraulic brakes).