How do I tow a 2008 4wd Toyota rav4 behind a motor home?

Question

I am using a dolly that allows you to drive the two front tires off the ground. Do I put it in park or neutral?What about false milage?

Answer 1

Dinghy towing, that is towing with all 4 wheels on the ground behind a motorhome, is a covered question on Toyota's FAQ site: http://toyota.custhelp.com/ If you search for "tow" you get this response about "Dinghy towing":
http://toyota.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/toyota.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=4549&p_created=1034176974&p_sid=5zrXuwUi&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9OCZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD10b3c*&p_li=&p_topview=1
You cannot tow a Rav4 with all 4 wheels on the ground.

Check your owner's manual. It should state whether or not you need to have all 4 wheels off the ground (flatbed towing, or towing with all 4 wheels on a tow dolly), or if you can get away with just the main drive wheels off the ground and disconnect the 4x4.

(There's also the concern about putting extra wear on the tires that are on the ground, too.)

You may be better off asking on a RV/motorhome group, though.

Answer 2

I'm not sure you can safely tow a RAV-4 on a dolly. If you can manually or electronically disconnect the rear wheels from the transfer case, then you should be OK, but if not, then you need a trailer that gets all four wheels off the ground. There should be some information on this in your car's owner's manual, or talk with your dealer.

If you do put the front wheels up on a dolly, then put the transmission in Park, but do not lock the ignition. If you lock the ignition and remove the key, your steering wheel lock could be damaged while towing.

Answer 3

You may be better off putting the back wheels up on the dolly if you can unlock the front hubs or otherwise disengage the drive mechanism to the front wheels. If it has an automatic transmision you would do more than rack up mileage if you tow it with the drivetrain spinning. The pump in the transmission only works with the engine running so lubrication of the moving parts would become an issue.

If it has a regular old fashioned manual transfer case that you can put into neutral, you're golden.

Answer 4

WHOA! STOP!!

THERE IS SOME TERRIBLE MISINFORMATION BEING TOSSED ABOUT HERE!

WE ARE FULL TIME RV'ers and towed a Toyota around behind our motor home for years. I first contacted 2 Toyota service departments and was told the "book" said "NO" to towing 4 down.

I then called REMCO, Inc. 800-228-2481.
They are THE TOWING EXPERTS!!
BELIEVE ME!! They said they can't sell me anything for my car because it can be towed around forever 4 down without any modifications or dolly. Why then does Toyota say no?
Because THEY DIDN'T TEST THE CAR FOR THAT AND THAT IS HOW THEY GET AROUND ANY LIABILITY!!

FIRST: READ YOUR MANUAL. THEN CALL REMCO IF YOU NEED FURTHER CLARIFICATION.

Answer 5

examine on your proprietors instruction manual. there could desire to be a factor touching directly to RV dinghy and standards. that's important (needless to say, or you does no longer be asking), considering you could void your guarantee. touch the Toyota... get it in writing that the automobile is towable in the back of a RV. only putting the automobile in independent isn't good adequate. you additionally can choose to trailer it or have only thepersistent wheels off the line.

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

^^^yea as above^^^ i would use a A-frame to tow it round on thoe, that way u can keep it hooked up to the rav4. as milage gose yea its just the price you pay for towing.