Flat tow a 2020 Equinox?

[johnnyringo]

iS IT A VIABLE CHOICE

[dphorton]

If it s with Automatic Transmission it can’t be. Flat Towed,..

[wayne77590]

Don't believe anything you hear and half of what you see.

The manual 2020 Equinox Manual page 346 gives you all the instructions for towing with 4 wheels on the ground or on a dolly/trailer.

It's easy to look up manuals on the WWW!

Edited September 3, 2022 by wayne77590

[rossboyer]

I have towed a 2016, 2019 and 2022 Equinoxs all with automatic transmission. Just be sure to add a charge line to keep battery charged while towing. 

[dbchalk]

On 9/3/2022 at 2:51 PM, rossboyer said:

I have towed a 2016, 2019 and 2022 Equinoxs all with automatic transmission. Just be sure to add a charge line to keep battery charged while towing. 

We camped next to a gentleman who was towing a Buick Envoy (functional clone of the Equinox, I believe) who bitterly complained that he always arrived at his destination with a dead toad battery. How does one add the charge line described above?  

[rossboyer]

There are two methods. One is to have a 20amp breaker in the motor home feeding a #12 or #10 wire to the +12 pin on the rear receptacle. Also, a 20 amp breaker in the towed vehicle connected to battery and the +12 pin on the towed. Suggest you use the big 7 pin connectors on the motor home and the towed. Via Amazon you can purchase a 7 pin to 7 pin cable to connect together. That cable has larger conductors than the small round towed connection normally used. We found that the small connection would collect sand and water which would short the +12 pin to the brake or tail lights and would not clear until the water dries out which takes 24-36 hours. 
 

The other method is similarly wired, but a charge controller is added to the circuit. I don’t remember the manufacturer or part number, but if you call Dan’s Service Center in Elkhart, Indiana, they can tell you or supply one to you. Dan’s is recognized as being one of the best installers. He recommends using a charge controller vs using just a wired charge line to add safety to both vehicles. 
 

PS: Most newer auto manufacturers (GM is one) state to not wire into the existing tail and brake lights due to feedback into towed’s system. I used an Led kit from Roadmaster on our 3 Equinox toweds. 

[raypesek]

We've flat towed a 2020 Equinox Premier AWD with the 2.0L engine and the 9-speed transmission for two years.

rossboyer's description of the charge line is accurate but using the RVi Towed Battery Controller as the charge controller will not work with an Equinox. People have reported the LSL one as working OK. The Equinox draws almost 8 amps out of the battery when set up for towing. Once I ripped out the RVi TBC and went to just a straight charge line with a fuse I no longer had battery problems.

Based on watching Etrailer videos for the baseplate I chose the Demco baseplate and use a Roadmaster Nighthawk tow bar. The braking system is the Demco Stay-IN-Play DUO. The Roadmaster also looked like a good choice. With the Premier, because it has LED lights and a redesigned taillight assembly, you cannot install the separate LED light. You must use a diode kit instead, which is what I did.

Here is a recent thread on a person who had their Blue Ox baseplate fail on their 2018 Equinox while towing: https://www.irv2.com/forums/f85/base-plate-ripped-off-frame-591290.html

Ray

Edited September 16, 2022 by raypesek