Car towing

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dcrbtt

dcrbtt

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Jan 29, 2019
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I want to tow a car behind my 30" Class A. forest river FR-3 (not purchased at this time).

Talked to Ford, they stated anything being towed >1500 Lbs. requires a breaking system.

Ford also said my 2015 tourus can be towed 4 wheels down I just have to run the car for 5 min and put the car in drive and reverse every 360 miles that is ok but would a transmission pump work better?

Were can I get the system installed?

Any suggestions?
 
They're correct. There are plenty of auxiliary braking systems available for towing a car. If you google for "auxiliary braking system for rv" (without the quotes) you'll find all sorts of braking systems (works better with brake than with break), nothing to do with U-Haul. You might mention what car you're talking about, because not all cars (or pickups) can be towed flat (also known as four down), that is, without a dolly or trailer. Doing it wrong can cause big (mechanical) damage to your vehicle.

For flat towing, there are also tow bars made for the purpose, not just a random mechanical link of some sort.

Googling for "towing car with rv" (again, without the quotes) will bring up a YouTube video, as well as a number of links that can help educate you on the process and products available. Bear in mind, too, that your RV will have weight limits for towing, many RVs maxing at 5,000 lbs, some as low as 3500, but some (usually diesel) at 10,000 lbs or more.

And, of course, if we know what kind of car (and probably which RV, as well), we can provide more information and assistance too.
 
HD414 said:
Can't flat-tow a car with an automatic.
Click to expand...

There are a handful of automatic cars/trucks that can be towed 4-down as is, and more that can be towed by adding a Remco transmission lube pump or a driveshaft disconnect. We've towed with a Remco pump for the past 8 years...
 
HD414 said:
Can't flat-tow a car with an automatic.
Click to expand...
Be careful of blanket statements. Many 4-wheel drive automatics (including my Wrangler) can be flat towed without modification (other than base-plate and brakes), and many other with such additions as the lube pump Dutch mentions.

We really need to hear more from the OP about how he's equipped, before we can give much more info.
 
To answer the OP's question about installing a pump, Remco doesn't list a pump kit for his Taurus because it is towable 4-down as-is. That's assuming it's not the front wheel drive 4-cyl version that must be dolly or trailer towed.
 
"Talked to Ford, they stated anything being towed >1500 Lbs. requires a breaking system."

There is a line we used to use in another forum "Your Mileage May Vary".

So how does it apply here?  There are two different sets of laws. Criminal and Civil or Traffic and Other Civil (Traffic laws may be civil or criminal depending on .. your mileage may vary)  The Criminal and Traffic laws vary from state to state and sometimes city or county within the state.

So that 1500.... May or may not apply to you  BY CRIMINAL/TRAFFIC law.

Civil law:  Now this is a whole different court.  And a whole different set of laws.

US-Gear says that having a proper aux braking system on your towed can make up to a 30% REDUCTION in stopping distance.. So here is a thought

At 60 MPH you will slide.. all wheels locked.. 198 feet (Assuming a clear dry reference road) condition of tires does not matter by the way. Nor does the weight of the vehilce. A Yugo .. all wheels locked and a SEMI all locked.  still skid 198 feet  (Actual distance will vary with road surface however.. Police investigating accidents use a special measuring tool to check the "Skid Constant" (Concrete filled half tire with scales).

Now if you add 1/3 to that you now skid roughly 100 more feet... So if you hit the brakes 250 feet behind my stopped vehicle... WITHOUT AUX BRAKES.. My lawyer WILL explain the Civil Law to you.. SERIOUS CHARGES will be incurred.
 
dcrbtt said:
I want to tow a car behind my 30" Class A. forest river FR-3 (not purchased at this time).

Talked to Ford, they stated anything being towed >1500 Lbs. requires a breaking system.

Ford also said my 2015 tourus can be towed 4 wheels down I just have to run the car for 5 min and put the car in drive and reverse every 360 miles that is ok but would a transmission pump work better?

Were can I get the system installed?

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

first of all, don't believe what Ford says on anything concerning flat towing. The annual Motorhome Dinghy guide does NOT get updated, so be careful when consulting that.  I would go to Remco and use their info for starters.  Aux braking systems are required in almost all states for any towed car.  Several to choose from, I use a RVi system.  A tow hitch for the RV and a tow plate mounted on the towed vehicle will be required.  Blue Ox is well known brand for both.  All in all, expect to spend a couple thousand on this aspect once you find a towable vehicle.  Took me better than a year and I lucked into 2010 Ford Escape with a manual transmission.
 
decaturbob said:
first of all, don't believe what Ford says on anything concerning flat towing. The annual Motorhome Dinghy guide does NOT get updated, so be careful when consulting that.  I would go to Remco and use their info for starters.  Aux braking systems are required in almost all states for any towed car.  Several to choose from, I use a RVi system.  A tow hitch for the RV and a tow plate mounted on the towed vehicle will be required.  Blue Ox is well known brand for both.  All in all, expect to spend a couple thousand on this aspect once you find a towable vehicle.  Took me better than a year and I lucked into 2010 Ford Escape with a manual transmission.
Click to expand...

Remco list all versions of the 2015 Taurus as towable 4-down as is except the 4-cyl front wheel drive version with a 6F35 transmission which must be dolly towed. (or trailered)
 
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