Towing with an RV

Spending some quality time in the great outdoors is a fantastic way to relax and unwind. And while spending all your time at your campsite and in your RV, you may need to run into town every once in a while for groceries or fun activities. This is easy if you bought a tow vehicle to haul your RV around, but for those traveling in an RV that’s completely contained, like a motorhome, you may want to bring a primary vehicle with you. Some choose to have one driver behind the wheel of the RV and another driver behind the wheel of the smaller vehicle.

However, you may not always have this option, or choose to have everyone in one vehicle. In this case, you’ll need to tow your primary vehicle with your RV. This is a little different from towing you might do in a smaller vehicle, so here at Broadmoor RV, we’ve provided some tips for towing with an RV. If you need additional help, or if you’re still looking for the perfect RV, stop by our location in Pasco, Washington, near Seattle, Spokane, Wenatchee, and Richland. 

Flat Towing

There are a few different ways to tow a primary vehicle using an RV. Firstly, you can do what’s called flat towing, or towing with all four wheels on the ground. This will require you to go out and invest in a towing kit that you can hook up to your RV so you can safely do this, but it does allow for more secure towing. The turn radius is generally better and they’re easy to hook up. However, you won’t be able to backup with it and not all vehicles can be towed on four wheels.

Dolly Towing

Dolly towing involves using a trailer to lift the front two wheels off the ground. It solves any problems that may come up if your RV isn’t equipped for flat towing, and is much cheaper than getting an entire towing kit. Some dollies even come with electric hookups for braking and signaling. The downside to towing with a dolly is that sometimes it doesn’t adjust well to the weight of your vehicle and prolonged stress can loosen the straps.

Trailer Towing

Trailer towing is probably the easiest, but the more expensive, way to tow your primary vehicle. While you’ll need to shell out some extra money at first, it’s definitely a more secure way to tow your vehicle. Plus, you can use it for more than just your primary vehicle. You can bring powersports equipment and extra supplies on your trailer. Not to mention, they come with their own braking and lighting system.

Pros and Cons of Bringing a Primary Vehicle

So now the question is, should you bring a primary vehicle? Firstly, if your primary vehicle puts you in danger of exceeding weight limitations, then leave it at home. No amount of convenience is worth the hefty fines you’d get if you were pulled over. You may also choose to leave it at home if you don’t want to spend the extra money on towing kits. There’s generally less hassle when arriving at and leaving a campground, and it can save you quite a bit on gas. And you’ll also want to keep your length in mind and where you’ll be going. Some roads and highways won’t allow certain vehicles because they’re too long, which could mean you if you’re towing a primary vehicle.

However, having a smaller, primary vehicle is incredibly convenient. You’ll be grateful for it if you want to explore a busy city or if you want to make quick trips to the store. Not only will maneuvering narrow streets be difficult, but finding adequate parking may be nearly impossible. In this sense, it’s mostly dependent on where you go and what you plan to do on your camping trip.

But the most important part of all this is your RV. There’s no point in figuring out if you should tow a primary vehicle with an RV if you don’t have the perfect RV to tow with. If you’d like to check out some of the models we have in stock right now, then stop by Broadmoor RV in Pasco, Washington . We welcome all RV owners from Seattle, Spokane, Wenatchee, and Richland.