So you finally took the plunge and purchased that motorhome you have always dreamed about, but what do you do once you get to your destination. You don't want to have to unhook the motorhome and store everything away to see the area sites in the RV. So towing a vehicle with your motorhome is the next logical step in RV'ing and having the right setup makes all the difference in how well that experience goes.

There are basically three options to get this done, use a tow dolly, tow the vehicle on a trailer or tow the vehicle 4 wheels down. There are pros and cons to each method and we could spend a lot of time debating this, but for the sake of argument and the length of this article, lets say you have determined 4 wheels down is the right choice for your towing needs.

There are currently three main players in the tow bar & baseplate market those being Demco, Roadmaster and Blue Ox. We have personally towed more miles with the Blue Ox setup and like the ease of use their towing system has although all three have proven to be very reliable. So where do you start and what is needed?

Towed Vehicle Selection - First you must determine what vehicle you will be towing and whether it can be towed 4 wheels down. Not every vehicle can be towed this way and it is very important to check with the manufacturer to confirm that it can. As a reference here is the new vehicle 2014 Dinghy Guide to help you get started. Next you will need to ensure that a baseplate (see below for details on base plates) is available for vehicle. We have a complete listing of Blue Ox baseplates by make, model & year. It also important to consider the weight of the vehicle and the towing capacity of the RV. To many times RV'ers think that because the RV is big it should be able to tow any size vehicle. What's not considered is the hitch rating and as well as the tow rating of the motorhome. These are all spec's that should be carefully analyzed before even attempting to tow a vehicle.

• If you own a vehicle that you have found cannot be towed 4 wheels down all is not lost, there is still a chance that a transmission lube pump or drive shaft disconnect system can be used to make the dinghy towable. Check with Remco Towing for their application information.
• If you do not have a vehicle yet, the most common vehicles that are towed are Jeep, Ford, Saturn and Honda. Check with the 2014 Dinghy Guide to help get you started on your search.

Blue Ox Baseplate With Removable Tabs

Blue Ox Motorhome Mounted Tow Bar

• Towbars - The tow bar connects the motorhome to the towed vehicle. Blue Ox manufacturers three different types of tow bars;
• Receiver mounted self aligning tow bar (also known as motorhome mounted tow bar) - installs into the receiver of the the motorhome and when not in use can be folded and remains with the motorhome. The arms on all of these tow bars are adjustable so hooking up is made easy for a single person to attach the tow bar to the baseplate on uneven terrain. Current Blue Ox models include the Aventa LX (10,000 lb rated), Aladdin (7500 lb rated) & Alpha (6,000 lb rated).
• Hitch mounted self aligning tow bar (also known as towed vehicle mounted tow bar) - connects to a ball mounted or pintle hitch and folds on the tow vehicle when not in use. The arms on these tow bar are adjustable for hooking up although this tow bar is a little more difficult to setup with one person than the receiver mounted tow bar. Current Blue Ox models include Acclaim (6500 lb rated), Allure (10,000 lb rated), Torrent (40,000 lb rated), Triton (80,000 lb rated) & Triumph (120,000 lb rated)
• Hitch mounted rigid A-frame tow bar is perfect for the budget minded RV'er or someone who will only be towing a few times a year. These towbars are much harder to connect and may require the baseplate to have a specific tab distance since they are rigid. Current Blue Ox models include the Adventurer (5,000 lb rated) and Ambassador (5,000 lb rated, tab with must be 24")

Blue Ox Patriot Braking System