2016-DINGHY-GUIDE Cover.indd 1/20/16 4:49 PM - Good Sam

2016-DINGHY-GUIDE Before You Tow.indd 1/20/16 4:51 PM - 10 -(Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK)4THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TOWthe motorhome/dinghy linkAn essential ingredient in safe dinghy towing involves a solid, properlydesigned and installed mechanical linkage between the coach and the towed vehicle.Hitch receivers, tow bars and baseplates mustall be in good working order, rated for the weightyou intend to pull and designed for the specificapplication.HITCH RECEIVERSCheck the rating of the hitch receiver to ensurethat it is suited for the heaviest load you intendto tow. If a receiver is already installed on yourcoach, the weight limits and class should bevisible on it.However, the ride height of a motorhomerarely matches up with that of the chosen dinghy, oftentimes necessitating the use of a dropreceiver to allow the tow bar to ride level. TheseAS YOU GO Observe the speed limitfor towing in each state orprovince you traverse. Maintain adequate stoppingdistance from the vehiclein front of you. A minimumfive-second interval is recommended. Avoid towing in snowy or icyconditions. Pay particular attention totraffic merging onto theare available in 2- to 10-inch variations. Receivers should be bolted (not welded) in place,using at least Grade 5 bolts and lock washers,locking nuts and thread-locking sealer.TOW BARSTow bars are available in two basic styles:A-frame or self-aligning. A-frame tow bars(offered as “solid” or “folding”), while themost economical, are designed to fit a limitednumber of baseplates (the mounting bracketsaffixed to the dinghy) or specific applications;however, the folding design will fit a widerrange than the solid design. These types of towbars are strong, but heavy, and require storagespace when not in use. Hitching is easier with ahelper to guide alignment.Self-aligning tow bars are available in twostyles: dinghy-mounted and coach-mounted.freeway, and be preparedto take evasive action toavoid “daydreamers.” Plan ahead — most flattowed dinghies can’t bebacked more than a fewfeet, so it’s necessaryto focus on easy ingressand egress. Most tow-barmanufacturers will notwarrant damage causedby backing. Dollies tend tojackknife quickly. It’s betterto disconnect the dinghyand drive to a safe place toreconnect.110 MotorHome 2016 GUIDE TO DINGHY TOWING2 Avoid having to make tightturns; they put a lot of pressure on tow bars. Towing in deep sand orgravel may cause the dinghy’s front wheels to turnto one side. If this happens,you must manually re-center them before continuing. Walk around the coach anddinghy to inspect all connections, check tire pressure(or use a monitoring systemlike the nVISION TPMS fromHopkins) and look for signs oftrouble every time you stop.3

2016-DINGHY-GUIDE Before You Tow.indd 1/20/16 4:51 PM - 11 -(Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK)Before You TowCoach-mounted units are the most desirable, asthere is less chance of damage when not in use— and hitching is a one-person operation. Highlyadaptable, self-aligning tow bars fit a broadrange of vehicles by attaching to model-specificbaseplates: Class III (5,000-pound) or Class IV(10,000-pound) models are available. Contacttow-bar manufacturers to find out if baseplatesare offered for the dinghy you plan to tow. Make sure your equipment is rated forthe dinghy’s weight and that you are notexceeding the motorhome’s gross combination weight rating (GCWR). Confirm hitch height is correct. Confirm all hitch bolts, tow-bar and baseplate fasteners are securely tightened. Confirm all hitch and wiring connectionsare engaged and secure; all safety chainsor cables are attached; and all lockingpins are properly installed.BASEPLATESBaseplates are perhaps the most critical variable in this link. While tow bars and, obviously,hitch receivers are intended for mass fitment,various brands, models and years of dinghyvehicles require specific baseplates and installation procedures, so proper selection andinstallation are essential.Installing a baseplate typically entails verydetailed procedures. On some vehicles, thebumper covering (fascia) must be temporarilyremoved. Some minor drilling may be requiredand the bumper covering and/or grille may alsorequire some trimming.On some vehicles, the baseplate installation process can be even more intricate. Forexample, the air dam may need to be trimmedor the factory-installed belly pan may requireeither trimming or permanent removal. Suchrequirements are described in the manufacturer’s fitment charts — hopefully eliminatingany unpleasant surprises at installation time.Today’s baseplates do a good job of blendinginto the exterior lines of the dinghy vehicle.Remember that all 50 states require properly Connect brake system and breakawaydevice. Check motorhome and dinghy for properfunction of taillights, brakelights and turnsignals. Check tire pressure on motorhome anddinghy — including spare tires. Make sure the dinghy is set up for towing:steering unlocked; emergency brake off;gear selector in the position specified bymanufacturer; ignition in proper position;lube-pump switch, driveshaft coupler,4WD transfer case and hubs (if applicable) in proper position.rated safety chains or cables to keep the dinghyfrom separating from the coach if the tow bar orball fails. Safety chains or cables must be connected securely to the dinghy and crossed underthe tow bar, then secured to the hitch receiver.They should be long enough to allow full turningwithout binding, but should not drag when slack.[1] Baseplate installation doesn’t require welding or specialized tools, but can be involved. If you have any reservations, have a professional do it. [2] To hook up using a telescoping tow bar, the dinghy vehicle only needs tobe near the center and mid-length of the bar. [3] Connecting tow-bar arms to the baseplate requires the use ofpins and clips. Then secure the safety cables and plug in the electrical umbilical cord. [4] Once the pins are in,the motorhome is driven ahead slowly (or the dinghy is backed up) to lock the arms in position.34MotorHome 2016 GUIDE TO DINGHY TOWING 11

2016-DINGHY-GUIDE Before You Tow.indd 1/20/16 4:51 PM - 12 -(Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK) THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TOW Modern baseplates are secured to the frame of the dinghy. While some installations are more complicated,the end result usually is a clean appearance.other towing equipmentShould you choose (or already own)a vehicle that is not flat-towable as produced, there are retrofit kits for manymodels. A good percentage of passenger vehicles can be modified to serve as dinghies usingretrofit products that are on the market.For rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and some fourwheel-drive applications, couplers from REMCODSC (www.remcodsc.com) enable the driveshaftto be easily disconnected from the transmissionor differential by a cable or lever mounted nearthe driver’s seat. These kits run about 750 andcan be installed in about three hours.A transmission-lube pump sold by RemcoIndustries (www.remcotowing.com) can bemounted and plumbed into some automatictransmissions to keep fluid circulating while thevehicle is in tow. Bear in mind that modificationsto the vehicle may affect the warranty.Tow dollies also offer an alternative to flattowing, although they take up space in camp.Remember that the dolly weight must be figuredin with the total weight of the dinghy.Trailers track better than dollies, but theytake up even more precious space in camp. Also,the weight of the trailer drastically cuts into thetotal weight that can be pulled behind a motorhome, thereby making this method a distantthird choice.There are a number of other accessories fordinghy towing. Some, like dinghy braking devices, should be considered mandatory, while others (such as rock guards and RV underskirts) canbe considered conveniences. These componentsare addressed in “Towing Accessories” (page26), along with dinghy wiring and lighting.AB[A] Baseplate kits are designed for specific models, and come complete withall mounting hardware. [B] Lube pumps allow towing of some automatictransmission-equipped vehicles not manufacturer-approved for flat towing.12 MotorHome 2016 GUIDE TO DINGHY TOWING

13 DETHMERS.indd 1/20/16 4:58 PM - 13 -(Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK)

2016-DINGHY-GUIDE Intro.indd 1/20/16 4:48 PM - 14 -(Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK)By Chris HemerDINGHY TOWING 2016So you finally joined the RVing community and are looking for a car to towbehind your new motorhome. Or, perhaps you’re a seasoned veteran who just wantsa new vehicle to tool around in once at camp.Either way, you’ll find deciding what vehicle youwant to drive is the easy part; finding one thatis light enough to tow and is approved by itsmanufacturer for dinghy towing (also known asflat towing or recreational towing) can be morechallenging. As you shop, you’ll find that somemanufacturers still don’t understand the practice of dinghy towing, and fewer still dealers canadvise you of what is required to tow the vehiclein question — not to mention if it would be underwarranty should mechanical problems arise.That is why we’ve always advised potential buyers to ask the dealer for a copy of the owner’smanual before making a purchase, as this is theonly way to know for sure if you can tow the vehicle with the manufacturer’s blessing.The good news is, more and more manufacturers have made owner’s manuals available fordownload on the Internet. It started out with justa few, but now nearly every manufacturer publishes entire owner’s manuals for each vehiclein the lineup. That’s important, because now youcan not only find out if the vehicle you’re considering is towable, but also what special procedures are required to tow it without draining thebattery or damaging the driveline.The shift (no pun intended) away from manual transmissions means that fewer new vehiclesare towable nearly every year, but thankfullythere are always the old standbys as well assome fresh faces. We’ve highlighted some of thenew or significantly redesigned towable modelsfor your consideration below.Keep in mind that, even though a vehicle isn’tofficially deemed towable by its manufacturerdoesn’t necessarily mean it can’t be towed.Many manufacturers have simply never testedthe towability of their vehicles, so they don’tknow if they’re towable or not. But even the onesthat explicitly state their vehicle cannot be towedusually cite automatic transmission lubricationas the main reason. In these instances, an aftermarket lubrication pump from Remco (www.remcoindustries.com) might do the trick — thecompany has a substantial database of vehiclesthat can be upfitted with its products. Just keepin mind that the manufacturer’s warranty willnot cover any damage to the drivetrain caused bydinghy towing a nonapproved vehicle.5 (Above) IThe Chevy Cruze is the Chevrolet division’s best-selling global car. With a handsome redesign,upscale options and 40 MPG on tap, it will probably stay that way.14 MotorHome 2016 GUIDE TO DINGHY TOWINGPhotos: courtesy the manufacturersOld Standbys Remain on the List, While Some Fresh Faces Join the Fray

2016-DINGHY-GUIDE Intro.indd 1/20/16 4:48 PM - 15 -(Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK)In addition to helpful information like vehicleweight, speed/distance limits and price range,we also include a “special procedures” columnthat will help give you some idea of what’s required before (and sometimes during) towing.While we don’t have the space to list every stepfor every vehicle (some are quite lengthy), we’velisted the most important ones — the finite details can be found in the owner’s manual.If you will be choosing a brand-new vehicleas your dinghy, make sure that the equipmentnecessary to tow it is available through the aftermarket. You might find that a baseplate or otherapplication-specific hardware isn’t available forit yet. While you’re at it, ask (or research) what isinvolved in the installation of a baseplate; someof these bolt on with minimal modifications,while others require the whole front fascia to beremoved, along with modifications to the grilleor lower valance.With all of this in mind, here are a few of thenew dinghy-towable offerings for 2016.CHEVYPhotos: courtesy the manufacturersChevy has made numerous attempts at smallcar stardom, but seems to have finally made thegrade with its attractively styled and reasonablypriced Cruze — the brand’s best-selling globalcar. For 2016, the Cruze is larger and lighter,featuring an all-new 1.4-liter turbocharged engine with direct injection and start/stop technology that GM estimates will garner an impressive40-plus MPG. A class-leading 106.3-inch wheelbase creates more rear seat leg/knee room foryour passengers, and there are more standardfeatures too, including 10 air bags, a rearviewIf all you want is something practical, economical andreliable, look no further than the Chevy Spark. Redesigned for this year, its new 1.4-liter engine produces16 percent more power than the previous model.camera and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS.Available safety features include Side Blind ZoneAlert, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Keep Assist and Forward Collision Alert. The Cruze’scomfortable cabin also features next-generationChevrolet MyLink with smartphone integrationcapability, including a standard 7-inch diagonal screen and an available 8-inch screen withApple CarPlay and Android Auto coming later.The Cruze also offers available features that areuncommon in a compact car, including wireless phone charging, heated rear leather seatsand a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel.Perhaps most important to motorhome owners is that the Cruze is towable with a manualtransmission, and the procedures necessaryfor towing are minimal. Hot on the heels of thenew Cruze is the 2017 Cruze Hatch, a handsomefour-door hatchback that will arrive this fall. Itis not yet known, however, if it will be towable aswell.The family-sized Chevy Malibu has traditionally struggled to find its own identity in recentyears, but may have finally hit its stride with the2016 model. All new from the ground up, theCompletely new from the ground up, the Chevy Malibu is a familysedan that delivers on styling, features and passenger comfort.MotorHome 2016 GUIDE TO DINGHY TOWING 15

2016-DINGHY-GUIDE Intro.indd 1/20/16 4:49 PM - 16 -(Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK) DINGHY TOWING 2016Malibu features a longer wheelbase for greaterinterior comfort, yet at the same time is 300pounds lighter than its predecessor. A standardEcotec direct injection 1.5-liter turbo engine thatmakes 163 horsepower is mated to a six-speedautomatic, or choose the optional larger 2.0-literengine generating an impressive 250 horsepowerdelivered to the front wheels via an eight-speedautomatic. Both versions are towable, according to Chevrolet, with minimal fuss. As you mightexpect, the new Malibu offers many of the samefeatures found in the smaller Cruze, including10 standard air bags and available features suchas Forward Collision Alert, Rear Cross TrafficAlert, and available Automatic Parking Assist.Segment-exclusive OnStar 4G LTE in-vehicleconnectivity and available wireless phone charging help you stay in touch on the road.FIATThough not necessarily a new car, the sportymini compact Fiat Abarth and 500c (Cabrio)Abarth are officially approved for dinghy towingwith the standard five-speed manual transmission. Though not suited for more than two (theback seat is essentially a package shelf), the tinyAbarth is big on fun, with a turbocharged fourcylinder engine that churns out 160 horsepoweron regular fuel. For 2016, the Abarth modelsfeature the Uconnect 5.0 system with a 5-inchtouchscreen that enables hands-free calling viaBluetooth-equipped phones, as well as voicecommand control of the AM/FM stereo, optionalSiriusXM radio and navigation system. Weighingin at just a tad over 2,300 pounds, the diminutive Abarth can be towed behind just about anyThe Fiat Abarth may be cute, but it’s a serious performance machine perfect for two auto enthusiasts.The manual version is towable, and light enough to betowed behind almost anything.motorhome, and offers Italian-styled driving funwherever your travels take you.SCIONWhile the boxy but practical xB may have leftthe Scion building, the good news is that thereis an all-new model to take its place: the sportyfive-door Scion iM. Like its siblings, the iM is targeted at a younger audience, but mature owners will find there’s much to like about this newcar — including a reasonable price tag, roomyversatility and a “mono spec” trim level thatincludes everything you need, such as dual-zoneautomatic climate control, Bluetooth hands-freephone capability, a 4.2-inch multi-informationdisplay, power folding sideview mirrors and a60/40 split folding rear seatback. The six-speedmanual version is towable with hardly any prep,and comes standard with Hill Start Assist to prevent rollback when pulling away from a stop onan incline. The Scion iM offers sporty, contemporary styling with the practicality of a wagon. Its 1.8-liter four-cylinderengine is easy on gas, and the six-speed manual version is towable.16 MotorHome 2016 GUIDE TO DINGHY TOWING

2016-DINGHY-GUIDE Listings.indd 1/20/16 4:47 PM - 17 -(Cyan)(Magenta)(Yellow)(BlacK)4DINGHY TOWING WABLE TOWABLEW/ MANUAL W/ AUTOTRANS.TRANS.MILEAGECITY/HWY.4,724/4,92265 MPH/NoneN/AYes17/24-16/22 39,065- 48,440 Run engine at the beginning ofeach day and at each fuel stopfor 5 minutes. Remove the 15amp ECM fuse, 15-amp OnStarfuse and 50-amp BATT1 fusewhile towing.4,277/4,44265 MPH/NoneN/AYes17/24-16/23 37,605- 52,725 Run at the beginning of each dayand at each RV fuel stop forabout 5 minutes. Remove shiftlever boot. Use small screwdriverto press and hold the manualrelease button. Put vehicle inNEUTRAL. Once destination isreached, start engine and allowit to idle for more than 3 minutesbefore driving the vehicle.Reinstall shift lever boot.NoneN/AYes15/21 76,565- 92,945 Only four-wheel-drive vehicleswith a two-speed transfer casewith a NEUTRAL position and afour-wheel-drive LOW setting canbe towed. Negative battery cablemust be disconnected.APPROX.RETAILPRICE RANGESPECIAL PROCEDURES(SEE OWNER’S MANUAL FORDETAILED Escalade 4WD (all) 5,840CHEVROLETColorado 4WD4,140NoneNoYes19/25 28,080- 35,835 Only dinghy tow four-wheel-drivevehicles that have a NEUTRALand a four-wheel drive LOW setting.Disconnect the negative battery cable.Cruze3,08465 MPH/NoneYesNo28/42 16,995- 2

The Right Equipment Adds Safety, Simplicity and Convenience A drop receiver might be needed to keep the tow bar level. T raveling with a dinghy vehicle is almost a given with today's larger motor-