Last updated on October 30th, 2023 at 08:08 am
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Exploring in an RV is one of the most convenient and exciting forms of travel there is! There are plenty of advantages of RVing, but a drawback can be how difficult it is to navigate around different locations driving such a big rig. Towing a car behind your RV is an ideal way of avoiding rental car costs while still having an easy mode of transportation while traveling. Some RVs are even built with vehicle towing in mind.
However, it begs the question, will towing a car behind an RV put miles on it?
Towing a car behind an RV may put miles on it, but it also may not. This isn’t a simple question to answer as there are a variety of factors involved, such as the method of towing, the age of the car, and whether there’s a mechanical or electrical odometer involved.
Towing a car behind an RV is a great way of opening up travel opportunities on vacation, as it means you can park your rig up, and hit the shops or the beach in your typical family car. This means less hassle parking and maneuvering through tight streets, and instead more fun. Having concerns about towing a car behind your Class A, B, or C is common, but as long as it’s done safely, towing a vehicle can be a breeze.
Let’s dive deeper!
How To Tow A Car Behind An RV?
Whether you’re a beginner RVer or an old-timer, towing a car behind your RV is a great way to open up opportunities on vacation. The method by which you tow your vehicle, however, may have an effect on the mileage, so it’s a good idea to explore some different options before jumping ahead.
Dolly Towing
A fairly popular method for RV towing is dolly towing due to its relative ease of use. Tow dollies are small 2-wheel devices that attach to the back of an RV via a trailer hitch. The front wheels of a car rest on the dolly and are then supported while the rear wheels run on the road during towing. This is why it’s advised to only use front-wheel cars with a tow dolly.
Front-wheel cars will have their means of acceleration remain stationary as the front wheels are strapped to the dolly. The odometer sensors of most cars are integrated into the suspension, and in a front-wheel car, this is only the suspension of the front 2 wheels. So, as these wheels move, mileage is accumulated. On a tow dolly, however, the front two wheels are not moving, and as such, the odometers can’t record any additional miles.
A rear-wheel or all-wheel drive will have odometer sensors on the rear suspension as the rear tires are responsible for acceleration. Therefore, if you tow a rear or all-wheel drive car on a tow dolly, it will likely increase its mileage.
Flat Towing
Flat towing is the far more traditional method of towing and is the most recognizable. It involves using a tow hitch to simply attach the vehicle to the RV’s rear and have it be dragged along.
This method gets the name “flat towing” because the car is on all four wheels rather than being supported by a hitch. Generally speaking, if the transmission isn’t turning, flat towing shouldn’t add any miles to a car being towed by an RV. if, however, you have an old-style odometer, and are flat towing a car, the mileage may increase.
Car Hauler
A less common way of towing is using a car hauler. This is a less popular option for towing a car behind an RV, but it entirely eliminates the risk of increasing mileage as a car hauler is not too dissimilar from a large tow dolly. While a tow dolly places the front two wheels of a car onto it, a car hauler places all four wheels on it. Without any of the wheels touching the ground, there is no way for the odometer to potentially add miles to the car.
Although beneficial as the mileage of a car won’t be increased when it’s towed on a car hauler, this method can actually be a bit more hassle than it’s worth. Once you’ve reached the campground, you’ll have to unload the car and find somewhere to store an unsightly hauler while on vacation. This may be a better idea for those who are planning on staying in one place and won’t have to load and unload a car every couple of days!
Electrical VS Mechanical Odometer
Odometers in cars are responsible for recording the amount of distance that has been traveled, otherwise known as the mileage. There are two main kinds you’ll encounter in a car; mechanical and electric odometers. Cars made before the year 2000 typically have mechanical odometers while cars made after 2000 usually have electric ones.
If a car has a mechanical odometer, all that’s needed for mileage to be recorded is for the main suspension wheels to be moving. Because of this, a flat tow would result in more mileage if the car has a mechanical odometer. However, if the car being towed uses an electric odometer, mileage is not tied only to the main suspension.
Rather, the odometer only records mileage if the ignition is turned on while the main suspension wheels are moving. As long as you’re not towing your car while it’s running, an electric odometer shouldn’t increase its mileage.
Which Method Is Best For Towing A Car With An RV?
As we’ve already discussed, there are a few different methods for towing a car with an RV. Each way of towing has benefits and drawbacks, but the final towing decision will be down to you! Let’s go ahead and explore some of the pros and cons of different towing methods, so you can choose the one that will work best for you and your RV.
Dolly Towing
Tow dollies are a common method due to their high compatibility rate with different vehicles. The support given to the front two wheels takes a lot of stress off a car’s transmission. If your vehicle is prone to such problems, this option can be great for you. However, tow dollies are not inexpensive. Purchasing one can cost you anywhere between $2,000 – $4,000. This is a hefty investment to make especially if you don’t plan on towing your car behind your RV very often.
Luckily, tow dollies provide an alternative and that’s to rent them instead. Many companies allow you to rent a tow dolly for the day at a cost of around $50 per day. If you only need to tow your car for a few weekends out of the year, renting it periodically is far more practical than purchasing one.
Pros:
- High compatibility rate
- Reduces stress on car transmission
- Rentable options available
Cons:
- Expensive to buy
- Can take some getting used to
- Storage space required when not in use
Flat Towing
Flat towing is even easier to do than dolly towing, as a tow hitch requires only a simple connection. There’s no need to anchor the car’s front wheels to any platform or any additional stabilization, you can simply hitch and go. Flat towing provides greater ease of storage as a tow hitch is small enough to fit in most spaces. A tow dolly or car hauler however will often need designated storage spaces.
Flat towing, however, can at times be even more expensive than purchasing a tow dolly. This is because if your car is not already compatible with flat towing, the process of making it compatible and purchasing a tow hitch can run you from $4,000 to even $8,000. This is because most vehicles with automatic transmission cannot be flat towed. It can damage the gears and permanently alter the way your car drives if done incorrectly.
You can learn more about flat towing by watching the video below:
Even with a vehicle that has a manual transmission and is compatible with flat towing, there are steps to take. Auxiliary lights must be installed on the towed vehicle so other drivers can see when the rig itself is braking.
Additionally, a special braking system needs to be installed. It’s vital as this ensures the car being towed also slows down when the RV does. This can be a very expensive process for a vehicle without any of these features already included.
Pros:
- Easy method of towing
- Minimal equipment needed
- No additional storage space needed
Cons:
- Requires a tow-ready car
- Most automatic vehicles can’t be flat-towed
Car Haulers
Car haulers are perfect if mileage is your primary concern. They are also easy to hitch to your rig and are fairly simple to stabilize your car on. Car haulers also come with their own braking system installed. Unlike flat towing, you won’t have to spend lots of money on a braking system to tow your vehicle, making things far more cost-effective in the long run.
However, car haulers due to their size and features are usually the most expensive option. With their price matching that of a flat tow after all necessary modifications have been made. If ease, mileage, and lack of transmission issues are your main concern, car haulers are worth the investment, but be sure to give all of the towing options plenty of thought.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Cost-effective long-term
- No transmission issues
Cons:
- Initial large expense
- Storage space required
Closing Thoughts
There are plenty of factors to consider when looking to tow a vehicle behind your RV. Mileage is a huge one and varies a lot among the different towing methods, so it’s important to know the differences and all other pros and cons before settling on one method. Knowing how your rig interacts with different towing methods can be a big influence on whether or not the mileage increases.
Exploring the different methods available is wise, and can help keep mileage down on your car. As long as you are thorough in your research, you’ll have no problem finding the best way to tow your car behind your RV and limit mileage increases too.