Best Flat Tow Vehicles In 2024

Motorhomes and RVs are great ways to travel to where you will be vacationing, as they are often very comfortable and have all the amenities you could want and more along your journey. The best part about them, though, is the fact that once you arrive, you won't need to unpack as you'll have everything you need and a rather comfortable place to sleep.

However, one of the biggest issues with RVs and motorhomes is the fact that they are almost always very large, which makes them very difficult to maneuver when you are navigating parking lots, side streets, or any other narrow gap. This is likely when you'll be wishing you just took the family car on vacation instead.

Thankfully, this doesn't need to be an issue, as there are ways that allow you to have the best of both worlds. Many modern vehicles can now be dinghy towed, which means that you'll easily be able to pull your car or truck behind an RV. So, once you get to your destination, you won't have to worry about making it around every corner.

Below we have listed the best truck and cars that can be flat towed so that you can tow one behind an RV on your next vacation.

How To Know If Your Vehicle Can Be Flat Towed

Depending on the type of vehicle you have, it can be quite easy to know whether it will be able to be dinghy towed without any problems. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, then it should be able to be flat towed behind an RV without any problems.

Automatic transmission vehicles that are two-wheel drive can be towed so long as the wheels driven wheels are lifted off the ground. All-wheel drive vehicles can't be dinghy towed unless the vehicle has a manual transfer case that can be placed in neutral.

There are quite a few four-wheel drive trucks with automatic transmissions that can be towed with their transmission set to park and their transfer cases in the neutral position, as these vehicles have been designed with flat towing in mind.

Vehicles with CVT transmissions also can't be flat towed on their driven wheels as this would also damage your vehicle's transmission, as the necessary parts aren't being lubricated unless the engine is turning over.

Rear-wheel drive vehicles shouldn't be towed with their rear wheels on the ground, but can often be towed on their front wheels instead.

Ultimately, the best way to know if your towed vehicle will be suitable for dinghy towing is by consulting the owner's manual, as the vehicle manufacturers will be able to tell you how their vehicles should be treated.

What Are The Benefits Of Being Able To Flat Tow Your Vehicle?

While you don't necessarily need to be able to flat tow your extra vehicle to bring it along with you on your next vacation, it can make life a whole lot easier for you.

If your vehicle does not support flat towing, then you can use a tow dolly or a trailer to load your vehicle up; however, this can be a hassle as you will need to have extra space to store this trailer if you aren't using it or once you arrive at the place you intend to stay at for your vacation.

Having a vehicle suitable for dinghy towing can make your life quite a lot easier, as you won't need all that much in the way of extra equipment. You will just need to attach a tow bar to the towed vehicle, which will allow you to hook it up to the tow vehicle.

Best Vehicles For Flat Towing

With all of these factors taken into consideration, we have listed the best flat tow cars that you can purchase in 2022.

Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler is probably one of the most iconic offroad vehicles of all time, and it also seems to be an extremely popular flat tow vehicle due to how simple it is to flat tow.

The Jeep Wrangler can be purchased with a manual transmission or an automatic transmission, but the entire range is flat towable. Customers will just need to consult their owner's manual to figure out exactly how to prepare an automatic Jeep Wrangler for flat towing to be sure that they don't damage the transmission.

The Jeep Wrangler isn't just great for dinghy towing, though, as Wranglers are famed for being able to go anywhere due to their excellent ride height and great offroad chassis. If you decide to vacation in a mountainous region with your RV, you'll be able to explore some of the rougher terrain the area has to offer with a Wrangler.

The Wrangler also isn't extremely large, so you won't have any issues driving it around town or finding a parking spot, so there is little wonder as to why the Wrangler is one of the most popular flat towed vehicles around.

Jeep Gladiator

This is the second of three Jeep vehicles on this list, as the brand seems to be committed to ensuring that their vehicles continue to be the most popular vehicles for dinghy towing.

When compared to the Wrangler, the Jeep Gladiator is pretty much the same vehicle in almost every aspect except one. While the Wrangler has trunk space, the Jeep Gladiator instead has a bed, which pretty much makes the Gladiator the truck version of the Wrangler.

There is, however, nothing wrong with that, as the Gladiator has all of the same great features that the Wrangler has, but it also has the added benefit of having a truck bed, where owners can store all of their towing accessories.

The Jeep Gladiator can be dinghy towed behind an RV just as easily as a Wrangler can and is also just as capable off-road. The only difference is that the Gladiator is a bit longer than a Wrangler, which will make it slightly more difficult to maneuver around town and fit into small parking spots.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

If you want an SUV that is just as capable as the other Jeep vehicles above but also has some slightly more luxurious amenities, then the Grand Cherokee might be right for you.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is outfitted with all of the latest off-roading technology, so you'll also be able to take it pretty much anywhere after you've towed it to your destination. You'll also be able to go anywhere in it in style and comfort, as it has a much more inviting interior.

The Grand Cherokee is also much sleeker, so it should be more comfortable and quieter at highway speeds, as both the Wrangler and Gladiator are very boxy, which means they won't be as aerodynamic.

You will just need to make sure that your RV will have the towing capacity to pull this large SUV, as while it can easily be flat towed behind an RV in theory, your motorhome will need to have enough grunt to get moving while towing this behemoth.

The Grand Cherokee is great for trips around town as it has a large cabin and trunk, and it is surprisingly easy to park and maneuver.

Smart Fortwo

While the Smart Fortwo is a very different vehicle when compared to the ones mentioned above, some variations of the model can easily be flat towed behind an RV without any hassles whatsoever.

The electric versions of the Smart Fortwo will, unfortunately, need to be put on a flatbed trailer or a tow dolly due to the way their electric motors work. If you opt for a standard gasoline-powered Smart Fortwo, then you won't have many issues at all.

The Smart Fortwo is also the perfect vehicle to bring with you on an RV vacation if you're going as a couple, as you can store all of your important items in your motorhome and merely zoom around town in this tiny compact car.

The Smart Fortwo was built for the city, so parking and getting it around town will be an absolute breeze. You'll only run into issues if you decide to take it on any rough terrain, as its tiny wheels and low ride height will make you avoid some rougher dirt roads.

The best part about flat towing a Smart Fortwo is the fact that it weighs very little, which means that even smaller RVs and motorhomes will be able to haul it without too much trouble.

Ford Fusion

The Ford Fusion is a very practical, comfortable, and well-specced family sedan, which makes it a great all-around car regardless of whether you decide to flat tow it or not.

You can purchase a hybrid version of the Ford Fusion as well, which makes this flat towable car much more fuel-efficient when compared to some of the fuel-guzzling Jeeps listed above.

You can also get the Ford Fusion with a CVT transmission, but this version should not be dinghy towed, as CVT transmissions begin to work the second your car's wheels begin rotating. This means flat towing could cause serious damage to your transmission.

The hybrid model, on the other hand, only needs to be put in "stay in neutral" mode for it to be flat towed. Ford does, however, recommend that you start your Fusion's engine every 6 hours of towing or so and let it run for a bit, as this will allow important parts of your car to be lubricated and cooled.

The Ford Fusion will be a great vehicle to explore the nearby towns around you, as it is easy to park and maneuver, and you have enough space to bring along four extra passengers.

Chevrolet Spark

This cheap and cheerful compact car comes with a five-speed manual transmission, which means it doesn't have a tow mode, so all you really need to do is put it in neutral, fit the tow bar, and you'll easily be able to flat tow the Chevrolet Spark behind your RV.

While the Spark may not feature a huge, luxurious interior, it still has many modern amenities that most vehicle owners would expect, so you won't be missing all that much. Its smaller engine also means that it will be rather fuel efficient, so you may not even need to stop for gas until you get home after your vacation.

The Spark is also small and light, which makes it a flat towable vehicle that can be hauled by nearly any motorhome or RV. Once you get to where you're going, it is also great around town, owing to its small size and excellent maneuverability, so you won't struggle to get into any parking spaces either.

The only issue lies in the fact that you will need to know how to drive a stick shift if you want to get one that is flat-towable.

Chevrolet Sonic

The Chevrolet Sonic is another compact car from Chevrolet suitable for dinghy towing, but thankfully, the Sonic comes standard with an automatic transmission, so you won't need to know how to drive a stick to bring one of these along on your next RV vacation.

While the Sonic may seem small at first glance, it is easily able to accommodate four adults and some luggage without all that much trouble. This means that if you're looking for a small automatic hatchback to carry your family around in when you're on vacation, the Chevrolet Sonic will do the trick.

Its small size makes it one of the best flat towable vehicles, as most motorhomes should be able to haul it around without much trouble at all.

Once you arrive at your destination, you will easily be able to nip through sidestreets and get into even the smallest parking spots in your Sonic. Its fuel efficiency isn't great for the compact class, but it is still way more efficient than any of the Jeeps mentioned in this list.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is one of the most popular compact SUVs in the entirety of the United States for a whole host of reasons. The interior is a very nice place to be, as everything feels well made, the seats are large and comfortable, and there is plenty of space in the trunk.

You can get the CR-V in either all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive, with automatic transmissions being the only option when it comes to shifting gears. Thankfully, however, the CR-V can still be dinghy towed very easily.

You will merely need to follow a few simple processes, and then you'll be able to hook your Honda CR-V to your RV and be off on your next great adventure.

The CR-V will be great once you arrive at your destination as it gets great gas mileage, is easy to park, and shouldn't have any issues maneuvering around town.

Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 is a stylish little Italian hatchback that can be purchased with a manual transmission, which means that it is a flat towable vehicle. While the Fiat 500 is a little on the feminine side, it gets great gas mileage, has a nicely finished interior, and should be able to fit four adults in a pinch.

While you can buy the 500 with an automatic transmission, these versions will, unfortunately, not be able to be dinghy towed, so you'll need to know how to drive a stick if you want to haul one behind your RV.

The small size of the 500, once again, means that it can easily be flat towed by almost any motorhome. You also won't really need to break the bank to buy one, so if you're looking for a nippy little hatchback that's easy to park, great around town, and is flat towable, then look no further than the Fiat 500.

FAQS

Can you back up when flat towing?

Putting your RV in reverse and backing up when you have one of the flat towable vehicles listed above attached to it is one surefire way to damage both your motorhome and your car.

Tow bars are designed to only be pulled in one direction, and when your car is being dinghy towed, it will not be able to steer, so you may end up jackknifing.

How does a car steer when it is being flat towed?

When flat towing a vehicle, you will usually need to put it in tow mode or find a way to unlock the steering, as the steering locks will trigger if you don't.

Once you have done this, your vehicle will steer similar to the way a trailer does when it is pulled behind a truck.

How fast can you flat tow?

Many manufacturers recommend that you don't exceed 55 mph when flat towing, as this can increase the chance of something going wrong.

Final Thoughts

If you don't want to bring your RV around town with you once you arrive for your vacation, then there are plenty of flat towable cars, trucks, and SUVs that will allow you to do so. We've covered some of the best above, whether you're looking for a large off-road vehicle or something small to nip about town.

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