Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2016 Honda Fit with Automatic Transmission  

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Expert Reply:

I wish we had a cut and dry yes or no answer to your question, but when it comes to deciding if any given vehicle can safely be flat towed with all wheels down that determination goes to the vehicle's manufacturer. I reviewed the online version of the owner's manual for the 2016 Honda Fit EX-L and in the section titled Emergency Towing there is a statement on page 428 that says "...towing behind a motorhome or other motor vehicle can damage the transmission." No mention is made if this refers to all versions or only to versions with the automatic transmission. In general, cars with a manual transmission are usually more easily flat towed than cars with an automatic transmission. You can ask your dealership for clarification.

Some vehicles will require modification for flat towing, such as a driveline disconnect, addition of a transmission lube pump or pre-towing procedures to shift the transfer case to its neutral position. When these steps safely allow flat towing the manual will usually say so. In your case you are likely to be better off with the manual transmission version or another vehicle altogether.

That said, we DO offer base plates for the manual transmission Fit that can be seen on the link provided, such as Blue Ox # BX2261. In addition to base plates flat towing requires safety cables, a wiring or lighting kit, a tow bar and a supplementary braking system. Each of these components is reviewed in detail in the linked article.

A popular tow bar compatible with those base plates is the Blue Ox Alpha # BX7380 that includes safety cables.

For lighting you can use the diode kit, # RM-15267, and not have to worry about cutting into the taillight housing. This will splice into your taillight wiring to allow your tow vehicle to control the taillight assemblies of the towed vehicle. This comes with a round 6-way connector that you will install on the front of your towed vehicle and enough coiled wire to go from there to the RV.

And finally, most states now require supplemental braking in the vehicle being flat towed. The easiest system to set up and use is the Blue Ox Patriot II, # BRK2016, that applies 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.

Most likely you will also need a high low adapter so that the tow bar will be level when you are flat towing. I attached a link to a page that has all of the ones we carry.

I have included a couple of helpful links to our articles on flat towing for you. Be sure to consult the vehicle owners manual for more specific information on flat towing your vehicle.

expert reply by: Jameson C

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