Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2016 Chevy Colorado 4x4 WITHOUT Adaptive Cruise Control Behind an RV  

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Expert Reply:

Since your 2016 Chevy Colorado 4x4 has regular cruise control and not the adaptive cruise control the Roadmaster base plates # RM-523182-5 will fit! Please note these base plates not accommodate the Guardian rock shield, Tow Defender, Stowaway or the StowMaster or StowMaster All Terrain tow bars. If you have any of those products I recommend Roadmaster base plates # RM-523182-4 instead.

If you do not already have a compatible tow bar I recommend the Falcon 2, # RM-520. It is a popular option and it is rated for 6,000 pounds. I have linked a video review for you.

For safety cables I recommend # RM-643. The coiled design helps keep the cables off of the ground. For lighting I recommend the diode kit # RM-154. Once installed you won't have to worry about it again.

It also appears that the battery has to be disconnected to flat tow the truck. Consult the vehicle owner's manual to confirm. To keep a maintenance charge on the battery I recommend using a harness such as # BX88206 with the tow bar wiring you will be using so that you can run a wire from the connector at the front of the truck to the vehicle battery.

There are a couple of ways to do this. First, you can tap into the running light circuit in the tow bar wiring but to provide power to the battery the RV running lights would have to be on all the time. Or if the connector at the back of the RV has a working 12 volt circuit you could use that circuit instead.

Which ever way you choose you would just attach the wire to the appropriate corresponding pin at the back of the connector that will be at the front of the truck and the other end of that wire will go to the positive battery terminal.

And finally, most states now require supplemental braking on the vehicle being flat towed. One of the preferred systems for our installers and what I recommend is the SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO proportional system, # SM99251. It will apply the vehicle brakes in proportion to how much the tow vehicle is braking. This is the safest way to stop and it reduces wear and tear on both vehicles.

Be sure to consult your vehicle owners manual for specific information on flat towing the vehicle. I have also included some helpful links to our series of help articles on flat towing for you.

expert reply by: Michael H

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