Can a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 Manual Transmission be Flat Towed?  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Manual transmission vehicles like your 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 can be flat towed, but not on the tow dolly you referenced since your truck would exceed it's towing capacity.

Instead you would want to use a tow bar setup. First you would need to start with a base plate kit confirmed as a fit for your 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. For that you would want the Blue ox part # BX1949 which is a confirmed fit.

In addition to the base plates, you will also need a compatible tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking to flat tow your vehicle. The most popular compatible tow bar is the Blue ox Ascent, # BX4370 which includes the needed 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 # BLU37TR, 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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