Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle behind another vehicle - such as behind a motorhome. The two most common types of recreational vehicle towing are known as "dinghy towing" (towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and "dolly towing" (towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and two wheels up on a device known as a "dolly").

With the proper preparation and equipment, many vehicles can be towed in these ways. See Dinghy Towing and Dolly Towing, following.

Here are some important things to consider before you do recreational vehicle towing:

Vehicles with the Automatic Transfer Case

If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transfer case with a NEUTRAL position, you can dinghy tow your vehicle. To dinghy tow your vehicle, use the following steps:

1. Firmly set the parking brake.
2. Place the transmission in PARK (P).
3. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the tow vehicle.

Caution: Shifting a four-wheel-drive vehicle's transfer case into NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in PARK (P) for an automatic transmission, or if your vehicle is in gear, for a manual transmission. You or others could be injured. Make sure the parking brake is firmly set before you shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL.

4. With the engine running, shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N). See "Automatic Transfer Case" under Four-Wheel Drive for more information on how to shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL.
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle being towed is firmly attached to the towing vehicle.

Notice: If you exceed 55 mph (90 km/h) while towing your vehicle, it could be damaged. Never exceed 55 mph (90 km/h) while towing your vehicle.

Notice: Do not exceed the posted speed limit when towing your vehicle. If you do, your vehicle could be badly damaged.

6. Turn the ignition to OFF. To prevent your battery from draining while towing, remove the RDO BATT and CLSTR fuses from the instrument panel fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse when you reach your destination. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers .

Dinghy Towing (Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles and Vehicles with the Electronic Transfer Case)

Notice: If the vehicle is towed with all four wheels on the ground, the drivetrain components could be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not tow the vehicle with all four wheels on the ground.

Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles with the electronic transfer case should not be towed with all four wheels on the ground. Your transmission has no provision for internal lubrication while being towed. To properly tow your vehicle, it should be placed on a platform trailer with all four wheels off the ground.

If your vehicle has an automatic transfer case, your vehicle should not be dolly towed. Your automatic transfer case vehicle should be either dinghy towed or placed on a platform trailer with all four wheels off the ground. See "Dinghy Towing" previously for further instructions.

Front Towing (Front Wheels off the Ground)

Notice: Towing the vehicle from the rear could damage it. Also, repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Never have the vehicle towed from the rear.

If your vehicle has an electronic transfer case, you can dolly tow your vehicle from the rear only if the front wheels are on the dolly. Use the following steps to dolly tow your vehicle:

1. Follow the dolly manufacturer's instructions to attach and secure the vehicle being towed to the dolly and then the loaded dolly to the tow vehicle.
2. Firmly set the parking brake.
3. Put an automatic or a manual transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Shift the transfer case to 2HI. See "Electronic Transfer Case" under Four-Wheel Drive for how to shift the transfer case to 2HI.
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle being towed is firmly attached to the towing vehicle.

Notice: Do not exceed the posted speed limit when towing your vehicle. If you do, your vehicle could be badly damaged.

Notice: If you tow your vehicle from the front for more than 50 miles (80 km) on a dolly, you could damage it. Never dolly tow your vehicle from the front more than 50 miles (80 km).

6. Turn the ignition to OFF. To prevent your battery from draining while towing, remove the RDO BATT and CLSTR fuses from the instrument panel fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse when you reach your destination See Fuses and Circuit Breakers .

Rear Towing (Rear Wheels off the Ground)

Notice: Towing the vehicle from the rear could damage it. Also, repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Never have the vehicle towed from the rear.

If your vehicle has an electronic transfer case, you can dolly tow your vehicle from the rear only if the rear wheels are on the dolly. Use the following steps to dolly tow your vehicle:

1. Follow the dolly manufacturer's instructions to attach and secure the vehicle being towed to the dolly and then the loaded dolly to the tow vehicle.
2. Firmly set the parking brake.
3. Put the automatic or manual transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle being towed is firmly attached to the towing vehicle.

Notice: Do not exceed the posted speed limit when towing your vehicle. If you do, your vehicle could be badly damaged.

5. Turn the ignition to OFF. To prevent your battery from draining while towing, remove the RDO BATT and CLSTR fuses from the instrument panel fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse when you reach your destination See Fuses and Circuit Breakers .

Front Towing (Front Wheels off the Ground)

You can dolly tow your vehicle from the front. Use the following steps to dolly tow your vehicle:

1. Follow the dolly manufacturer's instructions to attach and secure the vehicle being towed to the dolly and then the loaded dolly to the tow vehicle.
2. Firmly set the parking brake.
3. Put the automatic or manual transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle being towed is firmly attached to the towing vehicle.
5. Turn the ignition to OFF. To prevent your battery from draining while towing, remove the RDO BATT and CLSTR fuses from the instrument panel fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse when you reach your destination See Fuses and Circuit Breakers .

Notice: Do not exceed the posted speed limit when towing your vehicle. If you do, your vehicle could be badly damaged.

Notice: If you tow your vehicle from the front for more than 50 miles (80 km) on a dolly, you could damage it. Never dolly tow your vehicle from the front more than 50 miles (80 km).

Rear Towing (Rear Wheels off the Ground)

You can dolly tow your vehicle from the rear. Use the following steps to dolly tow your vehicle:

1. Follow the dolly manufacturer's instructions to attach and secure the vehicle being towed to the dolly and then the loaded dolly to the tow vehicle.
2. Firmly set the parking brake.
3. Put the automatic or manual transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle being towed is firmly attached to the towing vehicle.

Notice: Do not exceed the posted speed limit when towing your vehicle. If you do, your vehicle could be badly damaged.

5. Turn the ignition to OFF. To prevent your battery from draining while towing, remove the RDO BATT and CLSTR fuses from the instrument panel fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse when you reach your destination See Fuses and Circuit Breakers .