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 in this section.

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

Front-wheel-drive vehicles equipped with a manual transaxle, four-speed automatic transaxle or five-speed automatic transaxle may be dinghy towed from the front. These vehicles may also be towed by putting the front wheels on a dolly. See "Dolly Towing" later in this section.

All-wheel-drive vehicles with the five-speed automatic transaxle can be dinghy towed from the front. You can also tow these vehicles by placing them on a platform trailer with all four wheels off of the ground. These vehicles cannot be towed using a dolly.

To tow your vehicle from the front with all four wheels on the ground, do the following:

1. Position and attach the vehicle to tow it behind the recreational vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition key to ACC.
3. Turn fog lamps and all accessories off.
4. If your vehicle has the manual transaxle, shift your transaxle to NEUTRAL and let the engine run for three minutes, then turn it off.

If your vehicle has the five-speed automatic transaxle, shift your transaxle from AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) to NEUTRAL (N) and let the engine run for three minutes. Then turn it off.

Due to transaxle fluid drain back, the transaxle lubrication procedure in Step 4 is required every seven hours after the initial procedure has been completed, regardless of the vehicle being towed or parked. Once the procedure is performed, the transaxle is adequately lubricated and can be recreational vehicle towed for seven hours prior to repeating the lubrication procedure.

As an example, if you initially perform the lubrication procedure and tow your vehicle for three hours, then park for four hours, the lubrication procedure will need to be performed again, prior to dinghy towing the vehicle.

Notice: Towing your vehicle after shifting the automatic transmission (four-speed or five-speed) from anything other than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) to NEUTRAL (N) can cause internal damage to the automatic transmission. Always shift the automatic transmission (four-speed or five-speed) from AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) to NEUTRAL (N) as the last shift before towing.

5. Locate and remove the large IGN fuse from the underhood fuse block. See Underhood Fuse Block .

Notice: If the vehicle is towed without performing each of the steps listed under "Dinghy Towing," the automatic transmission could be damaged. Be sure to follow all steps of the dinghy towing procedure prior to and after towing the vehicle.

Notice: If the vehicle has a four-speed automatic transmission, it can be dinghy towed from the front for unlimited miles at 65 mph (105 km/h). The vehicle could be damaged If 65 mph (105 km/h) is exceeded while towing the vehicle. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Never exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while towing the vehicle.

Notice: If your vehicle has a five-speed automatic transmission and it is towed for more than seven hours without performing lubrication process or at speeds greater than 65 mph (105 km/h), you could damage the automatic transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Do not tow your vehicle for extended periods of time or at speeds greater than 65 mph (105 km/h).

After seven hours, repeat Step 4 above for the five-speed automatic transaxle.

Once you have reached your destination, do the following:

1. Set the parking brake.
2. Shift the transaxle to REVERSE (R) for a manual transaxle. Shift the transaxle to PARK (P) for an automatic transaxle.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK and remove the key from the ignition.
4. Reinstall the large IGN fuse.

Notice: Too much or too little fluid can damage the transmission. Be sure that the transmission fluid is at the proper level before towing with all four wheels on the ground.

Notice: Do not tow a vehicle with the front drive wheels on the ground if one of the front tires is a compact spare tire. Towing with two different tire sizes on the front of the vehicle can cause severe damage to the transmission.

All-wheel-drive vehicles should not be towed with two wheels on the ground. To properly tow these vehicles, they should be placed on a platform trailer with all four wheels off of the ground or dinghy towed from the front.

To tow your front-wheel-drive vehicle from the front with two wheels on the ground, do the following:

1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. If you have a five-speed automatic transaxle or four-speed automatic transaxle, move the shift lever to PARK (P). If you have a manual transaxle, move the shift lever to SECOND (2).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position with a clamping device designed for towing.
5. Release the parking brake.

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.

Do not tow your vehicle from the rear.