GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

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:

    • What's the towing capacity of the towing vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer's recommendations.
    • How far will you tow? Some vehicles have restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.
    • Do you have the proper towing equipment? See your retailer or trailering professional for additional advice and equipment recommendations.
    • Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you'll want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be towed. See Before Leaving on a Long Trip .

Dinghy Towing

Your hybrid vehicle may be dinghy towed from the front. It may also be towed by putting the front wheels on a dolly. See "Dolly Towing" later in this section.


Object Number: 1235863  Size: B3

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. Shift the transaxle from DRIVE (D) to NEUTRAL (N) and let the engine run for three minutes. Then turn it off.
  5. 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 transmission from anything other than DRIVE (D) to NEUTRAL (N) can cause internal damage to the transmission. Always shift the transmission from DRIVE (D) to NEUTRAL (N) as the last shift before towing.

  6. 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: Your vehicle can be dinghy towed from the front for unlimited miles at 65 mph (105 km/h). If you exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while towing your vehicle, it could be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Never exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while towing your vehicle.

Once you have reached your destination, do the following:

  1. Set the parking brake.
  2. Shift the transaxle to PARK (P).
  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: Don't tow a vehicle with the front drive wheels on the ground if the two front tires are of different sizes. Towing with two different tire sizes on the front of the vehicle can cause severe damage to the transaxle.

Towing Your Vehicle From the Rear


Object Number: 1235864  Size: B3

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.

Dolly Towing


Object Number: 1235862  Size: B3

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

  1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
  2. Move the shift lever to PARK (P).
  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.

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:

    • What's the towing capacity of the towing vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer's recommendations.
    • How far will you tow? Some vehicles have restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.
    • Do you have the proper towing equipment? See your dealer/retailer or trailering professional for additional advice and equipment recommendations.
    • Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you'll want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be towed. See Before Leaving on a Long Trip .

Dinghy Towing

Front-wheel-drive vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, four-speed automatic transmission or five-speed automatic transmission 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 transmission 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.


Object Number: 1235863  Size: B3

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

    Due to transmission fluid drain back, the transmission 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 transmission 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 DRIVE (D) to NEUTRAL (N) can cause internal damage to the automatic transmission. Always shift the automatic transmission (four-speed or five-speed) from DRIVE (D) to NEUTRAL (N) as the last shift before towing.

  6. 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 transmission.

Once you have reached your destination, do the following:

  1. Set the parking brake.
  2. Shift the transmission to REVERSE (R) for a manual transmission. Shift the transmission to PARK (P) for an automatic transmission.
  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.

Dolly Towing (All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles)

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.

Dolly Towing (Front-Wheel-Drive Vehicles)


Object Number: 1235862  Size: B3

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 transmission or four-speed automatic transmission, move the shift lever to PARK (P). If you have a manual transmission, 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.

Towing Your Vehicle From the Rear


Object Number: 1235864  Size: B3

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.