Hitting the open road in your RV with the whole family is an amazing way to explore and create lasting memories. But when you want to venture out further, having a reliable and comfortable towed vehicle, also known as a “toad” or “dinghy,” is crucial. This is the Roadschool guide to the best towed for a family of 6.
A towed/toad/dinghy is a vehicle that you tow with all 4 wheels down(on the ground) behind your RV. The RV we are towing with is a 2007 Itasca Sunova 35J with a towing capacity of 5000 lbs.
This is our guide to the best towed for a family of 6
Choosing the right flat-towable vehicle, especially for a family of six, requires careful consideration. Here’s what you need to know:
Key factors for a family toad
- Seating capacity: Look for vehicles with at least 6-passenger seating to comfortably accommodate everyone.
- Towing weight: Make sure your RV can safely tow the chosen vehicle’s weight. Our RV has a tow rating of 5000 lbs. This was the biggest factor for us, there aren’t many vehicles that fit the mold of being flat towable, seat 6, and under 5000 lbs.
- Flat-towability: Not all vehicles can be flat-towed (with all four wheels on the ground). Research the manufacturer’s towing recommendations to confirm compatibility.
Top contenders for a 6-person towable toad
Mid-size SUVs
Popular options include the Jeep Commander, Ford Explorer (certain years), Ford Flex, Dodge Durango (specific trims), and GMC Acadia. These offer a good balance of size, passenger capacity, and towing capability. Many of these cars do push the weight limit with the higher trim packages. So make sure if you are car shopping, look at the label inside the driver’s door for the weight of that specific car.
Minivans
Pre-2014 Honda Odyssey and Pilot models are known for their flat-towability and spacious interiors. Remember, newer models might not be compatible.
Important considerations
Double-check the owner’s manual:
It’s vital to verify your chosen vehicle’s flat-towable status and follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions for setting up the towing system. Not all trim levels of a vehicle may be able to be towed, but share owner manuals, so make sure you are diligent in verifying its ability to be flat towed.
*An example is we knew someone that bought a 2wd Jeep with an automatic transmission, and that particular year of Jeep was one of the few that could NOT be towed 4 down.
Towing Equipment
The parts you will need are a tow bar w/safety cables, base plate, wiring and a braking system specifically designed for flat towing. Although these parts can be installed by the common DIYer, if you are not comfortable drilling or cunning into your car, consulting a qualified professional for installation is recommended. Most RV service centers would take on this kind of work, give them a call before you buy any parts.
Our set up
Although we ended up with a 2010 Ford Flex, we do have a Jeep we are prepping to be towed as well. We do still plan to use the Flex, but our oldest is prepping to enlist in the NAVY, so we can go down to 5 seats.
Doug had been doing a ton of research, and the 2 cars we had narrowed our search down to were the Ford Flex and the GMC Acadia. There seemed to be a ton of engine issues with the Acadia, and a good deal on this Flex presented itself, so we pulled the trigger.
Once you have your vehicle in hand, there is still lots of work to do. There are some key equipment needed to tow your car. Here is the equipment we went with:
Base Plate
This is a semi-permanent bracket that is installed to the front of a vehicle where a tow bar can be connected. Although this can be installed by most DIYers, you do have to drill into the frame of the car. So if you are handy but not super mechanical, you might want to do your research. Or maybe look into getting this installed professionally.
Brake system
Brake systems are used to brake your car for you while you tow it behind your RV. Flat tow brake systems are required in 49 US states and all of Canada. There are many options for this, do your research. Some are portable and some permanent. In the end, we went with the Demco Duo system. We installed this ourselves, but if you are not comfortable with wiring or modifying vacuum hoses, get a pro involved. Something we like about this system is there is a wireless monitor in the motorhome that shows the driver when its activated.
Wiring
When you’re towing, you want the lights on your toad to mimic what the tail lights on your motorhome are doing. Brakes, turn signals, etc… You can just buy a set of magnetic lights that you put on the toad when you’re towing, but we wanted something more permanent. We chose the CURT 58941 which is a wire harness that is custom-built for the Flex and activates the lights in sync with the RV’s.
Tow Bar
The tow bar connects it all. It connects to the RV via the receiver hitch, and the tow’d vehicle on the base plate. There are many different options out there for a tow bar, we found a slightly used NSA Ready Brute Elite ii on the marketplace and went with that. This unit is rated to 8,000 lbs, so it is more then adequite for our Flex, or any other vehcile we decide to tow with this RV.
Additional tips
Weight matters
Consider the total weight of your RV, passengers, and cargo when selecting a towable vehicle. Staying within your RV’s towing capacity is crucial for safe travel.
Fuel efficiency
SUVs might offer more space, but minivans generally have better gas mileage, a significant factor for long RV trips.
Proper maintenance
Keep up on the maintenance of your vehicle regularly, especially on any components affected while flat towing. Our Flex is put into neutral with the engine/transmission warm and we are required to stop and run the engine to keep the transmission fluid circulated every couple of hours. So I made sure to change the transmission fluid prior to starting towing it, and check it regularly.
So what is the best towed for a family of 6? That is a great question, we gave our opinion, but this list provides you with a starting point. Always thoroughly research the specific year and model of any vehicle you’re considering to ensure it meets your family’s needs and is flat-towable. In addition make sure to do your research on the parts and pieces needed to make your car towable.
Other Resources
Resources like [online towing guides] and manufacturer websites can be helpful. Check out these links for articles and information about the best towed for a family of 6.
Thanks for checking out our blog, see you down the road.
