Tow Dolly vs Flat Towing vs Trailer Towing

Tow Your 2WD, 4WD, or AWD Vehicle (Damage Free)

Cars are built for driving, but sometimes we need to tow a vehicle from point A to point Where-We-Really-Want-to-B. Maybe we want to pull a daily driver behind our RV to the campsite (who wants to rely on rental cars or Ubers?). Or maybe we're picking up our next project and need to haul it home.

Whatever the reason for towing, there's no one-size-fits-all way to tow a car. In fact, there are three ways to tow a vehicle: flat towing (also called dinghy towing), trailer towing, and dolly towing. Your options depend a lot on what type of car you plan to tow, since not every method will work for every vehicle. Below, we'll go over the different vehicle drivetrains (four-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, etc.) and the challenges each type poses when being towed.

After that, we'll take a look at the pros and cons of each towing method. Not all vehicles will have more than one option, but if yours does, which should you choose? We'll help you figure it out below so you can get on the road!

Towing Two-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel-Drive, and All-Wheel Drive Vehicles

The good news: all vehicles can be towed one way or another. The bad news: not all towing methods will work for every vehicle. The best way to tow your vehicle depends heavily on whether your car is four-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive.

All vehicles can be towed on a trailer—drivetrain doesn't matter because all four wheels are off the ground, so none of them are spinning. There's no worrying about damaging your drivetrain or putting mileage on your vehicle. For some vehicles, this will be your only towing option.

Things are trickier when it comes to towing with wheels on the ground. You can either dolly tow (two wheels on the ground via a dolly hitched to your tow vehicle) or flat tow (four wheels on the ground, with the vehicle connected via a tow bar).

You should always check your owner's manual to see what towing options are available for your vehicle and whether any special steps must be taken to tow it. Most vehicle manuals can be found online these days with a quick search. That said, there are certain commonalities between drivetrain types. To give you an idea what kind of towing process you're looking at for a specific vehicle, we'll look at the different drivetrains and the specific towing challenges often seen with each.

*Note: Every car is different; the information below is NOT a substitute for consulting your owner's manual!

Flat towing vs trailer towing vs dolly towing

Towing a Front-Wheel-Drive Car

Dolly towing: Aside from using a trailer, dolly towing a FWD car is the easiest way to go. FWD vehicles can generally be dolly towed as long as the drive wheels (front wheels, in this case) are off the ground. Since your rear tires aren't connected to the drive shaft, you don't have to worry about burning up your transmission or putting miles on your car.

Dolly towing a FWD vehicle generally requires putting the vehicle in park, disengaging the parking brake, and securing the vehicle to the dolly. If your steering wheel doesn't lock, you'll also need a steering lock.

Flat towing: Most manual FWD vehicles can be flat towed in neutral with the parking brake off. The issue comes when towing automatic FWD vehicles.

Automatics rely on the running engine to lubricate the transmission. If the engine isn't running, the transmission isn't being lubricated. But for many automatic vehicles, the transmission tries to keep working anyway when you tow the car with the drive wheels on the ground. The lack of lubricant can cause the transmission to overheat, and that's a whole new problem you don't want to deal with.

There are aftermarket products that can make some FWD vehicles flat towable, such as a lube pump to keep the transmission lubricated during the drive. Just know that these aftermarket products can be pricey, especially if you have them professionally installed (which we recommend, since these are usually pretty involved installations). You also run the risk of voiding your warranty in some cases if something goes wrong.

That said, some automatics come ready-made for flat towing from the factory provided you follow the manufacturer's guidelines, such as running the vehicle periodically throughout the day to keep the transmission properly lubricated.

Towing a Rear-Wheel-Drive Car

Dolly towing: Dolly towing a RWD vehicle is a little different than towing a FWD vehicle. Since the drive wheels are in the back, you can't just roll the front wheels onto a dolly and hit the road. 2WD vehicles require the running engine to lubricate the transmission, and if the rear wheels are turning without the engine running, you'll burn up your transmission.

Some RWD vehicles allow you to dolly tow the car in reverse—that is, with the back wheels on the dolly and the front wheels on the ground. However, you'll need to check your owner's manual to make sure this is a viable option with your vehicle model. Also keep in mind that ground clearance at the front of the car can become an issue for some vehicles.

If towing in reverse isn't an option and you're really set on using a dolly, you can also disconnect the drive shaft and tow with the front wheels up. This will allow your wheels/axle to spin without involving the transmission. Note that this isn't exactly a simple DIY job; if you're not a mechanic, you'll probably want to let the shop handle this one or use a drive shaft coupler, which will make it easier to disconnect/reconnect the drive shaft. Again, however, this adds to the setup expense.

Flat towing: Most manual RWD vehicles are fine to flat tow, but automatics face the same issue as their FWD counterparts—the potential of burning up the transmission when the drive wheels are turning but the engine isn't running. If you really need to flat tow a RWD car, you'll likely need to disconnect the drive shaft and install a lube pump kit. Again, this can be expensive and pose warranty issues, so just because it's possibly in theory doesn't mean it should be your first choice.

Towing an All-Wheel-Drive Car

Dolly towing: Generally speaking, manufacturers warn against ever towing AWD vehicles on dollies. Since all four wheels are drive wheels, most AWD vehicles require all four wheels to be off the ground. Permanent (or full-time) AWD systems use three differentials to distribute the power between the axles. In order to dolly tow an AWD vehicle, you'd need to remove both the rear and center differential (or the transfer case). This just isn't worth the effort or money. You're much better off towing your AWD vehicle on a trailer instead.

Flat towing: Although many AWD vehicles cannot be flat towed, there are some exceptions. Check your owner's manual to see whether the vehicle you have in mind is one of them.

Towing a 4-Wheel-Drive Car

Dolly towing: As with AWD vehicles, 4WD vehicles are typically not suitable for dolly towing. Having two wheels up and two wheels down can cause serious damage to the vehicle.

Flat towing: If you're looking to buy a vehicle specifically to flat tow behind your RV, chances are, you're looking for a four-wheel drive with a manual transmission and manual transfer case. However, keep in mind that not all 4x4s are created equal; not all can be flat towed, and some have an easier setup or fewer restrictions than others.

Some automatics and vehicles with electronic transfer cases may be flat towed as well, though the transfer case must typically have a neutral setting. You may also need to disconnect the drive shaft. As always, check your owner's manual to see what's allowed with your specific vehicle; just because a vehicle is a manual 4WD doesn't automatically mean it can be flat towed.

Your owner's manual will describe the proper procedures for putting your vehicle in "tow mode." Typically, this includes putting your manual transmission in first gear and your transfer case in neutral. If you have an automatic transmission, it should be set to park.

Tow Dollies vs Flat Towing vs Trailer Towing

If you have more than one option to tow your vehicle, or if you plan to purchase a vehicle specifically for towing behind a motorhome, what's the best towing option? Should you use a dolly? A trailer? A tow bar? What's easiest? What's most cost effective?

We'll break down the pros and cons of each towing option below.

Tow Dollies vs Flat Towing vs Trailer Towing

1) Maneuverability and Storage

How much room do you have to park at the campsite? How much room do you have in the garage?

If space is your main concern, go with a flat-tow setup, hands down. Tow dollies are easier to move and store than car trailers, but neither dollies nor trailers are particularly small or light. This can make pulling into a tight campsite tricky—not to mention finding a place to store your equipment at home.

With a flat-tow setup, you don't have to worry about squeezing an entire trailer or dolly into a tight space, nor do you have to worry about storing anything larger than your tow bar, which can easily fit in a garage. You also may prefer flat towing if you have a bad back or aren't comfortable maneuvering something as large and heavy as a tow dolly or trailer. Many RVers prefer flat towing just for these reasons.

2) Cost

The cost of a towing setup depends heavily on whether you plan to rent or buy your equipment. How often will you be making the trip with your vehicle in tow? How much are you willing to invest?

If you only plan to tow your car occasionally, your most cost-effective option is renting a tow dolly or trailer. This will typically run you anywhere from $100 to $600 dollars (rates are generally determined by the distance you intend to travel). However, a new tow dolly of your own can cost around $3K to $4K, and a new trailer can run anywhere between $3K and $10K or even more, depending on the style (enclosed trailers cost more than open trailers). Of course, you can save a few bucks buying used.

If you plan on towing often and your car is flat towable, this is the way to save on cost. Flat-tow setups run about $2k - $3k, plus installation costs. But if you travel a lot and want your car with you for the long haul, a flat tow setup will pay for itself in the long run.

3) Ease of Setup

Although flat towing requires the most involved installation (you'll need to take it to the shop—this isn't a DIY project), this setup is easiest to hook up at the campsite. No need to pull the car onto your trailer or strap it down on the dolly (which can be a lengthy process). With a flat tow setup, just hook up and drive. If you're going to be towing your car a lot, it's worth considering a flat tow setup just for the convenience factor.

4) Vehicle Modification

If your vehicle will accompany you as you explore the country in your RV, it's probably worth turning it into a flat-towable machine. This will require you to install components like base plates and a wiring harness on your car. These are unobtrusive modifications, but they are permanent modifications to your vehicle. Most flat towing components are also vehicle specific, so if you plan on switching vehicles at any point, you'll need a different flat tow setup for each.

If you're set against modifying your vehicle in any way or you plan on switching out your vehicle frequently, you'll probably want to stick with a trailer or tow dolly, since these are not vehicle specific. Do you want to bring the truck? The sedan? With a trailer or tow dolly, you can switch it up anytime. It's always nice to have options!

5) Backing Up

Out of the three towing options, only a trailer allows for backing up. If you try it with a flat tow setup or tow dolly connected, you'll damage your vehicle, equipment, or both. The ability to back up may not be a deal maker or a deal breaker, but it's something to be aware of!

Bonus: check out our guide on backing up a trailer.

6) Vehicle Wear and Tear

A trailer—especially an enclosed one—is the safest way to transport your car. Trailers keep your vehicle up and away from any road grit and grime, and since your vehicle's tires won't touch the ground, you don't have to worry about premature tire wear. Tow dollies are your next best option, since the vehicle is lifted halfway off the ground.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like flat towing is likely to destroy your car (no one would do it otherwise). But some cars do accrue mileage while being flat towed, and they are more susceptible to flying rocks, gravel, and road debris. (A vehicle guard is a good idea if you go the flat-tow route.)

etrailer's Recommendation

So all things considered, what do we recommend?

If you're going to be towing your car with any regularity, we highly recommend a flat tow setup if the option is available for your car. They're smaller, lighter, easier to store, and easier to use.

That said, if you're only going to tow the car once or twice, renting a dolly or trailer is a more cost-effective solution. Not to mention, you won't have to modify your vehicle to make it towable.

Still have questions?

Give our experts a call at 800-298-8924, or contact us online. We're happy to assist any way we can!

About the Author

As a content writer for etrailer, I might spend my morning loading and unloading a bike on five different bike racks to figure out which is easiest to use. I might be in the parking lot, taking pictures of an impressive RV battery setup our techs came across in the shop and discussing the benefits of the setup with the owner. I might spend an afternoon in a manufacturer training classes for some hands-on experience with new products, and then sit down to assemble all this information into a coherent article.

At etrailer, one of our core values is that we are always learning, and I learn something new every day. I start each morning with the goal in mind of taking all of this information and figuring out the best way to answer the questions people ask us (and the ones they don’t know to ask yet), and helping people get the solutions they need to make their lives easier, safer, and more fun. I’m a DIYer at heart, so it brings me great joy to help a fellow DIYer find what they’re looking for, whether that’s a product, an answer, or a community.

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Written by: Amber S.

Updated: 5/6/20

Gunner

3/14/2022

Of the three options, which one effects the tow vehicle the least. I.E. power required to pull and fuel mileage. For example I have a buddy that says his fuel mileage goes down drastically pulling with a trailer vs flat towing. Obviously your towing more weight but it seems to me the trailer would offer less resistance during towing?

Mark S.

1/25/2022

Not sure if you can or will answer this but I would appreciate any info you could provide. I have had an Eze-Tow Dolly for a few years. Finally getting ready to use it. Since it does not have a turntable plate the manufacturer says to make sure the steering wheel is unlocked. I have a 2015 Acura MDX and the only way to do that is to start the car or put it in accessory mode. Accessory mode will unlock it but without hydraulic steering assist, it is very hard to turn. Question I cannot find an answer to is; Will the accessory mode automatically shutoff after a certain amount of time or would I have to install a battery cutoff switch. If I cut out the battery, will the steering wheel remain unlocked. Very frustrating not being able to find answers. Contacted Acme Tow Dolly, no help.

Les D.

1/26/2022

Your owners manual states that you should not tow your MDX behind a motorhome. It does not differentiate between flat towing or dolly towing. If you want to keep your MDX in ACC mode you would have to upgrade your trailer connections from flat-4 pole to 7-way pin connection, and then install a charge line to the MDX like Roadmaster # RM-156-25. You should contact Acura about dolly towing first.

Carol B.

8/1/2021

I was thinking of towing my 1990 Jag vanderplass rear wheel drive using a tow dolly and putting the rear wheels on the dolly and securing the steering wheel with key in off position and using tie down straps to secure the steering wheel in place Could you please advise if this will work ??? Thank you

Victoria B.

8/5/2021

To know if this is something that you can safely do you will want to check your Vanderplass Owner Manual. I wasn't able to find a copy of the manual online, so I'm not sure if this is an approved towing method for your Jag.

Stan B.

5/25/2021

What about towing a rear wheel drive auto with a standard transmission?

Jon G.

5/26/2021

Check the owner's manual - that's always your safest bet.

Jay

6/26/2021

@StanB unless your car has two transmissions that connect to two different engines (it doesn’t). You have either an auto or a standard(manual) transmission. Your first step is identify which one you actually have.

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