Dinghy towing guide for 2012 available from motorhome association

With spring trips on the horizon, it's the time of year when scores of motorhome owners begin to look for a new towed vehicle to pull behind their rig.

While the motorhome itself is a self-contained rolling residence, once the campsite is reached, many prefer to have an additional vehicle available for sight-seeing excursions, trips to the market, or visits to congested metropolitan areas. While some folks employ a trailer or tow dolly to bring along their secondary vehicle, the favored method for most motorhome owners is four-wheels-down towing.

The need for a second vehicle that can be flat-towed is the reason Family Motor Coaching magazine, the official publication of FMCA, began producing its annual “Towables” guides in 1999. It guide offers advice about vehicle selection, making sure it is outfitted with the proper towing equipment, and how to safely tow it.

The 2012 edition is available to FMCA members and Family Motor Coaching magazine subscribers. It can be found in the January, 2012 issue of Family Motor Coaching and online at FMCmagazine.com/motor-home-towing-guides. The guide includes 137 model-year 2012 vehicles from 21 different manufacturers that have been approved to be towed four wheels down behind a motorhome. The guide is free to non FMCA members, but a registration at the FMCA website is required.

Pertinent information for each is presented such as the type of transmission (automatic or manual) that the vehicle must be equipped with so that it can be towed; the drive configuration (front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive); whether any speed restrictions or distance limitations are involved when the vehicle is being towed; and the approximate curb weight and length for the base model of the vehicle.

Addendums let potential buyers know whether fuses must be pulled before a vehicle can be towed to prevent battery drain; denote special instructions for running the vehicle for a certain time period before, during, or after it is towed; and specify transfer case options that may prohibit a vehicle from being towed.

For more information about FMCA or to join the organization, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2013, contact the Membership Services Department at (800) 543-3622 or visit http://www.FMCA.com.

Dinghy towing opens new vistas while on the road

Having a car that you can pull with your RV opens new vistas to the camping lifestyle. No longer are you restricted to staying within the boundaries of a campground, nor are you dependent on public transportation, rental cars or cabs to visit local attractions or stores.

A tow dolly presents some challenges.

There are many cars that can be towed with four wheels on the ground. It is the most convenient, and the least problematic. Vehicles that cannot be pulled behind an RV, however, can be transported on trailers or with a two-wheel tow dolly. Keep in mind, however, that some campgrounds disallow trailers of any kind on their property. You will have to store your tow unit elsewhere.

The car's back wheels are on the ground with a tow dolly. While this type of hauling works and is convenient, there are challenges. The rear tires of the car get worn faster than those in front. Stopping the RV, too, can be difficult.

Flat towing eliminates many dilemmas. One needs only to hook up the car to the back of the RV and off you go. Flat towing keeps the tires on the car balanced. It also is more efficient, and thus uses less gas, because the car is moving on its own with a little tugging rather than having the RV pull the car that is on a dolly or trailer. Just how much more fuel your RV will burn while towing a car is open to conjecture. It's safe to assume that between one and five miles per gallon is lost, depending on the type of the RV.

Many cars can be flat towed, but some models work better than others. Most tend to be smaller cars, such as Saturn models or certain Toyotas. SUVs, with the exception of some Jeep models, require a bit more work to set up but can be flat towed as well. The Ford Motor Company has a listing of the cars they recommend for "four wheel down" towing. Visit www.ford.com/towingguides/

Any vehicle with manual transmission can be flat towed. Also, four wheel drive vehicles tend to do better than front or rear-wheel drive cars. Be sure to look at your vehicle's manual before you try to flat tow your car.


The following are some tips to make towing your vehicle a pleasure instead of a chore:

•Make sure your RV can handle the load. Consult your owner's manual or dealership with any questions.

•Do not leave your steering wheel locked. Turn the key off or on, or use the center point, called the "I" point. In some vehicles set the key in Accessory mode. In cars such as the Chevrolet HHR you must remove a fuse so the car's battery does not deplete during a trip.
 
•Look for accessories to convert non-four wheel drive cars to work for flat towing. They are worth the cost because they will allow you to tow your car safely.

Flat-towing your car can be done safely and easily if you are careful about following manufacturer instructions and keeping your car and motor home, as well as towing gear, in good shape.

View the video below for more information about towing a vehicle behind an RV.

The future of electric vehicles as dinghys

"Ten years ago, who would have guessed that the electric vehicle (EV) would be all the rage?," writes Megan Dobransky in Earth101.com. "More than 20 EV models will be on the U.S. market in the next three years, and the government has invested $5 billion in battery technology and consumer incentives."

She interviewed Don Karner, president of ECOtotality North America, a company involved in electric transportation and storage technologies, who says that he envisions a future where charging your electric vehicle (EV) will be as simple as charging your cell phone.

“You’ll be able to charge where you sleep, eat, shop, entertain,” he says. “We’re integrating charging into where [consumers] lead their daily lives.” This will make special trips to a gas station obsolete as re-charging will be available everywhere.

ECOtotality is currently helping 83,000 EV drivers install at-home charging stations and is installing and additional 5,000 chargers in busy commercial areas by the end of this year. Its Blink chargers, available in different levels, with its top level able to fully charge a Nissan LEAF EV (photo) in just 30 minutes.

As an RVer if these plans continue on course, it is not a stretch to see campgrounds with charging stations, in addition to National Parks, state parks, Camping World, and other places where RVers travel. And of course, the bottom line is, that if charging does become ubiquitous then EVs as dinghys becomes a viable decision.

Costs of charging would be passed on to the driver, as are regular fuel costs, but if utility companies continue with reduced rates for overnight use, then charging your EV toad in your campground while you sleep would be not only efficient but cheaper. Meters on the charging stations would calculate costs and add to your campground charges.

Tax question about towing a dinghy

By Chuck Woodbuy, editor
RVtravel.com

I received this email from reader Janaia Donaldson with an interesting tax question related to RVing. Is there a CPA out there in RVtravel.com-land with an answer? Here's her question:
   
"If one tows a vehicle for business purposes, is there any IRS tax deduction for the towed miles (as opposed to the directly used miles for business purposes)? Thinking about some minimal wear and tear on tires. Probably not covered, is my guess."

Do you have the answer? Please leave a comment. Thanks!