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I'm new to RVing and recently purchased a 2018 RAM 2500 with a 6.5' bed and the factory prep for 5th wheel towing. We are looking at Forest River 5th wheels in the 32' range. My question concerns a stationary versus a sliding hitch. I've read newer 5th wheels are designed to pull with a short-bed truck without a slider (higher clearances) but I've also read horror stories of jack-knifed trailers with dented truck sides and/or broken windows. Is the extra expense of the sliding hitch really necessary?

I have read so many reviews about roadside assistance it seems to be a waste of money. If you get a flat you still have to buy a tire so if someone comes out you get what from roadside assistance? If your motorhome engine or transmission has a problem is where it seems to be touchy about what they will do. Most of us big motorhomes will have to be towed with large tow trucks cause large flatbeds aren't that many around the USA. So the policy says they tow you to the nearest service provider. I have read many providers they tow you to can't do any repairs then you are stuck there in someone's parking lot who can't help you. When you call back, they tell you that you cannot be towed to any other place else because they did their part as per the policy. So now you have to find on your own dollar aa tow truck to take you to a qualified and able to help mechanic and not a gas station mechanic. Ford Dealer, Freightline chassis service center or someone who can do the work. So now you spend $500 more to get towed and the policy will not reimburse you. So why not save your money and fly on your own and pay on your own? It just seems they are all a big scam to not give you what you pair for. I know some here will say read your policies fine print... I'm willing to pay for a tow to a dealership who can do the work with no limits on miles, but that policy doesn't exist in FMCA, GS or any other company that sells insurance policies. So, lets here from all who think these policies are worth your hard-earned money. I don't want to hear from the ones who had 1 instance but want to hear from all who have the horror stories to tell and agree what I say above.

While towing my 2014 Equinox a couple months ago through an interstate construction zone about 50-55 mph the steering on the tow went unstable and started violently swinging from hard left to hard right. Stopping was the only way to get out of this. After stopping and checking for damage, none apparent, it towed fine the rest of the way. The tow bar was level and tires at correct pressure. I had the alignment checked at a Chevy dealer and 3 of the wheels were out, don't know if this bad alignment was before the incident or damage from the instability. I have towed this car over 15,000 miles. It has towed fine the rest of the year. Wondering if anyone has heard of this before and what caused it?

On Wednesday March 3 about 10:00 am I went to start our 2000 Monaco Diplomat. After waiting for Start light to go out I turned key to start and nothing happened. My Wife whose hearing is much better than mine said there was no sound of starter turning over. Tried a couple of more times with me back by engine and she operating key no sound. Have been a member of the FMCA Roadside Rescue (RR) to a couple of years so I called them for a jump start. That was the start of numerous phone calls and text messages for rest of Wednesday. First phone call to RR was very confusing, difficult to understand and resulted in first company that was contacted by RR texting they could not handle the job. 2nd call RR rep was easier to understand and seemed to understand what I needed in equipment to jump start the coach. That call resulted a man in Toyota Prius with 10 gauge jumper cables that wanted to use the Prius battery (12 VDC section) to start engine. Third call to RR, third rep, resulted in another small car that I could see at RV Park gate that wanted to come and see what needed to be started. From my coach I could see another very small car at gate and when he called I refused him access. He pleaded please let him so he could take and picture to show his boss and they might get paid. Fourth call got second call rep and he was very sympathetic and apologetic. All of the calls resulted in text message pointing to web site that would provide contact info like driver name and ETA. First 3 showed an automobile symbol. This time symbol was a small wrecker and arrival ETA. About 4 hours later around 6:00 pm this wrecker never showed up. I had reached that driver by phone once and he had several excuses why he was late, when he did not show up I call him again and was put into voice mail that said Mailbox was full please try later. He never responded to later calls all going into voicemail. I eventually cancelled service request at 6:30 pm or so. Couple of calls with Paul (FMCA Membership) and he stated he was contacting RR and his supervisor to get situation moving to resolution. When nothing happen that day I called him again on Thursday Morning and he promised more pressure up the chain and with Roadside Rescue. I believe Paul did all he could to help. Thank you, Paul. Day two - Thursday March 4 started about 8:00 am with text message that a towing company was coming out to tow me to a repair shop. Do not remember exactly number of calls and messages to that tow firm to get assurance they could do the job. Yes, they could and would be there shortly as they were located only a few miles away. Two and half hours later they called to tell mar there heavy wrecker was not coming as it was not running. In meantime I am back on phone with another local heavy haul and confirmed that they could come out about 1:00 pm. Another call to Roadside Rescue (by this point I have lost track of number of calls to RR). Rep put me on hold and I was now speaking with a person that understood situation and promised resolution. I gave that person name and contact info of tow company I contacted and they promised to contact them immediately which they did. That rig showed up at 2:45 pm and after during the correct procedures to tow motorhome he at my request towed rig to his company which is also a established truck repair in Stockton, CA. My not so humble opinion of Roadside Rescue is their service representatives are generally poorly trained regarding motorhome drive trains, jump starting and towing needs. As mentioned above one of the reps phone equipment was so bad neither I nor Wife could understand her. Their followup texting system is ridiculous in its ETA times. Also they kept sending followup texts asking for Y or No answer had provider showed up. When I would call 888 number provided in text the RR rep would not know I was follow up caller and start asking same questions like I was new caller. Also received several robo calls asking if I had been taken care of with service. There was never any follow up to text or robs queries. Last RR person did offer to pay extra RV Park charges. The towing company that responded is J & E Towing in Stockton,CA very knowledgable driver. I am very much a supporter of FMCA and have used their tire discounts twice, believe strongly in FMCA Assist. But they need to JUMP START Roadside Rescue.

Looking to flat tow a 2006 VW beetle Convertible, manual transmission. Anyone have any experience towing a new bug? Thanks Mike

I have a 2005 Silverado 2500hd with the 6.6L diesel that has a GVWR of 9,800 lbs and a GCWR of 22,000 lbs. The actual weight of the truck with one passenger and a full tank of fuel is 6,740 lbs. The owner manual says the maximum trailer weight should be 12,000 lbs. My 5th wheel has a dry weight of 11,600 lbs and a hitch weight of 2,200 lbs and a GVWR of 14,625 lbs. Is this too much trailer for my truck? I am planning a lengthy trip this summer to the western part of the US and don't want to endanger anyone with a poorly configured rig. Thanks in advance for everyone's help.

I recently read on another forum where a Coach Net member was charged $400 by Coach Net because his towing/winch job took more than two hours to complete. Up until now I have been satisfied with Coach Net, but if this is true I may have to find a addition tow service. Anyone having experience in this area, I would appreciate any information you can provide. THANKS!!

Has anyone flat-towed a Chrysler Crossfire? I have a 2005 Crossfire with a 6-speed manual transmission. I have read conflicting information on this. Thanks.

I am setting up my 2018 Chevy Equinox LT with the 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine and push button ignition to flat tow. The owner's manual has you perform the following to prepare to tow: Turn the vehicle on. In vehicles equipped with AWD engage the AWD system and confirm that it is on. Position the vehicle to be towed and secure it to the towing vehicle. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral). Turn the ignition to ACC/ ACCESSORY. Turn all accessories off. My Equinox is a front wheel drive (FWD) with a push button ignition. When I complete the above procedure, the warning chime continues to alarm and a message to place transmission into Park is displayed on the dash. I will be stopping at the dealership later in the week to discuss the issue with them but wondered if anyone else has run into this. I'm wondering if the manual is in error and a fuse needs to be pulled. Update: I stopped at the Chevy dealer today. They did not have an answer but also thought that a fuse may need to be pulled. They are going to follow up with GM and let me know.

Can I flat tow an lr3

I have a 2011 Cadillac SRX 3.0 L naturally aspirated. Any additional comments on these instructions toad towing??? Thanks much.I have a small screwdriver that I use just to make it easier to push the button. But yes, it's just a button - slightly recessed. I just keep the screwdriver in the door pocket. Any small pointy object will work.So, the steps exactly:1) Get everything hooked up, then start engine (if not running) and with foot firmly on brake, shift to neutral, pull shift boot up from the back by hooking fingers and pulling up. (There's not enough slack to pull it up when in park, and it won't shift out of drive without the motor running).2) Shift back to park, shut off engine.3) While pressing button (upper right corner under shift boot, pull shifter back to neutral.4) Double-check that you got neutral NOT DRIVE. You won't have a dash light to tell you, so visually double-check. You can tell as if it is in Drive it will move over to the manual shift notch, if in neutral it will not.5) Check again.GO!!!!To reverse the process, just shift it back into drive BEFORE you unhook everything. This resets everything.One other thing: If you use a seat-based brake system (Brake buddy, Patriot), be VERY aware not to trigger the automatic seat movement where it moves the seat based on opening the door or pressing the key fob. That really screws things up. You can either turn off the feature through the menu system of don't press the buttons on the key fob. One really handy thing: You can use the pedal positioning feature to adjust the brake system.OK, I lied - one other little note. To protect the battery, Cadillac shuts off all the 12V plugs 10 minutes after the ignition is shut off - EXCEPT the one back in the cargo bay. So I just ran a 12V extension cord from the back to the front, under the edges of the seats. Problem solved.

In March 2017, the “All-New 2017 Jeep Compass” began appearing at dealerships. For those who are searching for a vehicle to flat tow behind a motorhome, an important distinction must be made between the “All-New 2017 Jeep Compass” and the “2017 Jeep Compass.” The “2017 Jeep Compass” (when equipped with manual transmission) can be towed four wheels down. It is included in “The 2017 Towing Lineup” (January 2017, page 46), Family Motor Coaching magazine’s annual list of vehicles that can be flat towed behind a motorhome without significant modifications. The 2017 Jeep Compass owners manual spells out the procedure for flat towing behind a motorhome. Production of that vehicle ceased in December 2016, according to a spokesman for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. The “All-New 2017 Jeep Compass” is an entirely new vehicle from the ground up. The new vehicle’s owners manual specifies that the vehicle is NOT flat towable. Always consult the most up-to-date version of a vehicle’s owners manual to determine whether the vehicle can be flat towed.

Hi, I'm new to the RV scene having just bought a 2003. Winnebago adventurer 35 u. I have been studying my options for towing and pretty much understand the pros and cons of the three methods. I am leaning towards a tow dolly but am confused by the instructions from different manufacturers. Why does one manufacturer say to lock the steering but the next say unlock the steering? Could someone clear this up for me?

Hello, I am trying to make a decision on towing either flat-tow or trailer. Ideally, I would prefer a trailer, so that I can use it to tow my classic car as well. I am not sure about the process of calculating the towing capacity of the RV - 2002 Holiday Rambler Endeavor - and figuring out if my Car is too heavy to be towed in addition to the trailer weight. The car weighs 5,000 lbs. I would really appreciate some feedback and advice on this decision... Thank you! Richard

Is it all model years with electronic steering having the towing wobble or just the 2014. Am being told Jeep and for had same issues with their electric steering and fixed it. Understand it is a negative pressure load on the steering causing it, is this true?

The 2017 Lincoln Continental is NOT approved for four-wheels-down towing, a Lincoln spokesman said today (February 17). That is a reversal from the information published in the 2017 Lincoln owners manual (first printing) and in the Ford/Lincoln 2017 RV & Trailer Towing Guide. Family Motor Coaching magazine relied on those sources, as well as email confirmation from a Lincoln media relations representative, when preparing "The 2017 Towing Lineup" that appears in the January 2017 issue. Our online towing guide will be corrected, and we will publish a correction in the magazine's April issue, which we're working on now. It's unclear why Lincoln originally deemed the 2017 Continental towable four wheels down, and then reversed course. Family Motor Coaching has requested an explanation.

When we had Blue Ox fabricate a baseplate for prior toad, they included a nice window sign "car in tow.". We always made sure to put that sign in the rear window of our toad (which was not a tinted window). FYI - our sign is held in place by wedging it top & bottom on inside of rear window moldings. But new toad (Jeep GC) first trip towing back from install Air Force One system on MH & toad, DW following in our second vehicle found the tinted windows on the Jeep make it impossible for a vehicle behind you to 'see' or 'be able to read' the"car in tow" sign until they are less than 1 car length behind the toad. We would like it visible at a greater distance for safety. ( Otherwise, just looks to another driver following rig on hwy that a Jeep is tail gating the MH ?) So, questions we have: 1 ). Do you use a "car in tow" sign in you'd toads? Is it required by law? 2 ). Open to ideas how to make "car in tow" sign more visible when toad window is tinted? Thanks again for your help!

Hello, my husband and I bought our first Class A this summer, and have almost completed our first 10k miles. Its a 2005 Winnebago Journey. We think we want to learn to tow a vehicle. We have a 2003 Chevy Silverado 4x4 truck, and have read that it can be flat towed. From what I've read, we would need a tow bar and a plate on the truck. We have questions about how to connect the brake lights, if we should or have to have auxiliary brakes, and what we do to the truck to tow it. What else should we know to start to tow a vehicle? Thank you!

A search of the Subaru website for the word "towing" on Oct 5, 2016 http://www.subaru.com/customer-support.html Found the following Q&A: Q "What recommendations does Subaru have about towing my vehicle behind a motor home?" A "Please follow the recommendations outlined in the Owner's Manual if there is a need to tow a Subaru vehicle. The best way to transport your vehicle is a flatbed tow truck with ALL wheels off the ground. Always follow the precautions and recommendations outlined in the Owner's Manual if flat towing with all wheels on the ground is unavoidable in an emergency situation." We have been flat towing our 2003 Subaru Forester (5 speed manual trans) with four wheels on the ground since 2004 behind three different Class A RVs (one gas, two diesel) for many thousand miles with no problems or incidents. Falcon Roadmaster # 5250 towbar.

We're doing comparisons of all the RV insurance plans available and wonder which is the best. Do any of you have recommendations? Who do you use?

Last October (2015) my wife and I "graduated" from an 32 foot travel trailer to a "like new condition" 2007 Damon Astoria (model 3774), 39 foot overall length, motorhome that only had 4,800 miles of use!! We enjoyed the travel trailer the last seven years but simply had outgrown it as kids got married and grandchildren arrived. We hope to greatly enjoy the motorhome for LSU football and other family weekend outings until we reach retirement age of 65 some eight years from now. Since the motorhome purchase we've sought input on the type of tow vehicle to purchase and towing systems from family, friends, our new FMCA community, Motorhomes magazine, etc. The result of our "research" was to purchase a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara Edition that had only 10,000 miles of use. With a curb weight of ~4,100 pounds, the Wrangler is well within the 5,000 pound tow rating of the motorhome. During our "research" we learned that Blue Ox and Roadmaster seem to be the most popular brands of towing equipment. We were surprised that about 1/3 of motorhome owners we met did not have supplemental brake systems for their towed vehicles. To have "one stop shop" service for tow system purchase and installation, the Camping World RV Center in west Houston near our home is the most convenient. To keep the purchase, installation and most important on-going use process as simple as possible, Camping World recommend the following tow system for my motorhome: 1) Sterling All Terrain Aluminum tow bar (8,000 pound tow rating), EZ5 mounting bracket for the Wrangler, Invisible Brake supplemental brake system for the Wrangler and the "installation" kit. The tow bar and mounting bracket look quite similar to the Blue Ox system so I have no concerns about the Roadmaster tow bar/mounting bracket. My biggest "unknown" is the Invisible Brake supplement brake system. Conceptually, I think of the Invisible Brake system functioning somewhat similar to the electronic brake control system I had in my Silverado for the travel trailer i.e. press on the motorhome brake, the Invisible Brake controller "senses" the electronic signal to the motorhome brake lights and then applies braking to the towed vehicle. I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback and advice about the Roadmaster tow bar, mounting plate and especially the Invisibile Brake supplemental brake system. Thanks for helping this "motorhome newbie" climb the learning curve and for being patient while reading this short thesis ! Mike in Katy, TX

We will soon receive our D/P with 10k towing capacity and plan to tow a small car 3,200 pounds. The tow system is Blue Ox. Do you recommend adding a supplemental braking system. Thinking of Airforce One if necessary or its equivalent. Should I try the D/P on a 2,000 trip without one first?

The FMCA towing guide does not list the the 2016 Ford Expedition yet the owners manual gives instructions for towing the models with AWD. Anyone with first hand knowledge or experience?

Have a Newmar Ventana 2015, 400HP. Just picked up a Jeep Wrangler Sport 2006, What is the best and safest tow bar. Will I need to add brakes to car? Where should I go for info and updates. Thanks David

While towing (new to me) 2015 Chevy Equinox the towed brakes locked up at 60mpg. VERY SCARRY!!! Have since learned why. Has this happened to you?