Flat Tow

Tow Bars and Flat Towing Parts

Looking to bring your vehicle along on your next RV trip? Flat towing — also called dinghy towing — lets you tow your car, SUV, or truck with all four wheels on the ground. At etrailer, we make it simple to find everything you need for a safe, legal, and reliable flat tow setup: tow bars, base plates, safety cables, wiring harnesses, supplemental braking systems, and all the accessories to tie it together.

1. Tow Bar Base Plates

2. Tow Bars

3. Safety Cables

4. Flat Tow Wiring Harness

5. Flat Tow Brake Systems

6. Additional Wiring Components

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit on front of Jeep.

1. TOW BAR BASE PLATES

A base plate connects your vehicle to the tow bar and is custom-fit for your exact make and model. This ensures proper alignment and a secure connection while towing.

At etrailer, we recommend:

Using our Base Plate Fit Guide to find the exact kit for your vehicle.
Adding base plate adapters if you’re using a tow bar from a different brand.
Keeping replacement pins and spacers on hand for easy maintenance.

etrailer adpaters for roadmaster tow bar.

BASE PLATE ADAPTERS

BASE PLATE PARTS

Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow Bar attached to RV.

2. TOW BARS

The tow bar is the bridge between your base plate and RV’s hitch. A good tow bar keeps your towed vehicle tracking straight, reduces sway, and makes hookups easy.

HITCH STYLE TOW BARS

COUPLER STYLE TOW BARS

TELESCOPIC TOW BARS

FIXED TOW BARS

TOW DOLLIES

Adjustable adapters for level flat towing.

Adjustable receivers for level flat towing.

Roadmaster EZ Hook Safety Cables in blue.

3. SAFETY CABLES

Safety cables are your fail-safe. If your tow bar ever disconnects, these cables keep your vehicle attached to your RV.

COILED SAFETY CABLES

STRAIGHT SAFETY CABLES

SNAP HOOK SAFETY CABLES

Blue Ox Permanent base plate safety cables in black.

QUICK LINK SAFETY CABLES

SAFETY CABLE EXTENSIONS

Blue OX Tow Bar Wiring Kit being install in truck.

4. FLAT TOW WIRING HARNESS

A wiring harness synchronizes your towed vehicle’s brake lights, turn signals, and tail lights with your RV — a legal requirement in most areas.

WIRING EXTENSIONS

Blue Ox 7-wire to 6-wire coiled electrical cord in blue.

WIRING ADAPTERS

REMOVABLE TAIL LIGHTS

Roadmaster diode 7-wire to 6-wire flexo-coil wiring kit.

DIODE KITS

Roadmaster tail light wiring kit with bulbs.

BULB AND SOCKET KITS

Brake Buddy Brake System in cab of truck.

5. FLAT TOW BRAKE SYSTEMS

A braking system applies your towed vehicle’s brakes when your RV slows down, reducing wear and improving safety. Many states require them.

Roadmaster Even Brake portable braking system.

PROPORTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEMS

PRE-SET BRAKING SYSTEMS

FIXED BRAKING SYSTEMS

Brake Buddy portable braking system in red.

PORTABLE BRAKING SYSTEMS

Blue Ox replacement RF controller for Patriot braking systems.

BRAKING SYSTEMS ACCESSORIES

6. ADDITIONAL WIRING COMPONENTS

Complete your flat tow setup with electrical add-ons:

STOP LIGHT SWITCH KITS

BRAKE-LITE RELAY KITS

BATTERY DISCONNECT

FUSE BYPASS SWITCH

BATTERY CHARGE LINE KITS

TOW BAR ACCESSORIES

Enhance your towing experience:

TOW BAR ACCESSORY KITS

TOW BAR COVERS AND STORAGE

Roadmaster replacement tow bar quick disconnect kit.

FLAT TOW HELP ARTICLES

Need help getting started? Check out our helpful resources written by people who've flat towed themselves:

Must-Have Flat Towing Components article.

Guide to Hooking-Up to Flat Tow article.

Ensuring Safe Travels: Flat Towing or Using a Dolly with Your RV

With 75+ years of towing experience, 35,000+ installations, and over a million real-world product photos and videos, we’re here to help you flat tow with confidence — whether you’re towing a Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, or a compact sedan.

What is flat towing?

Flat towing, or dinghy towing, is when you tow a vehicle with all four wheels on the ground behind another vehicle, like an RV. It’s a simple way to bring your car along for the ride without using a trailer or dolly.

What’s the difference between flat towing and using a tow dolly or trailer?

Flat towing is simpler—no bulky dolly or trailer to store or deal with. As long as your car is flat towable, it’s faster to set up and easier to disconnect when you reach your destination.

Can I flat tow my car?

Not every car can be flat towed, so it’s best to check your owner’s manual. Look under “Recreational Towing” to see if it’s approved and find any special instructions. For more information, be sure to check out our Flat Tow Index to see which vehicles are compatible and any additional tips!

What do I need to flat tow a car?

You’ll need a few key things:

Tow Bar Base Plates: These attach to your car to connect it to the tow bar.
Tow Bar: This links your car to the RV.
Safety Cables: A backup connection in case the tow bar fails.
Wiring Harness: To sync your car’s lights with your RV.
Supplemental Braking System: A braking system for your towed car, which is required in most states.

Why do I need a supplemental braking system?

A supplemental braking system helps your car stop safely while it’s being towed. It reduces wear on your RV’s brakes and is often required by law. It’s all about keeping everyone safe! For more information, check out our FAQ.

Can I flat tow an automatic car?

Sometimes. Certain automatic cars can be flat towed, but it depends on the make and model. Check your owner’s manual to be sure, as some might need modifications or have special procedures.

How do I hook up my car’s lights for flat towing?

You’ll need a wiring harness to connect your car’s lights to your RV. Some are plug-and-play, while others might need splicing. Either way, it ensures your car’s brake and turn signals match your RV’s.

Are there speed or distance limits when flat towing?

Possibly! Some vehicles have restrictions, like not exceeding a certain speed or towing for too long without stopping. Your owner’s manual will have all the details.

Can I have my flat towing setup professionally installed?

Absolutely. Flat towing setups can involve multiple components—base plates, tow bars, wiring, and braking systems—all of which need to work together safely and reliably. If you’re not comfortable drilling into your vehicle’s frame, handling electrical wiring, or installing a supplemental brake system, professional installation is a smart choice. Use etrailer's Local Installer Locator Tool to find a trusted installer near you and make sure everything’s set up correctly for your next trip.