Flat Towable 2016 Toyota Vehicle  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Within the past few years Honda has become much more strict on if there vehicles can be flat-towed. I can check to see if the newer Toyotas are flat towable but I would really need to know more what type of vehicle you are looking at. A small car? An SUV?

Nearly all manual transmission vehicles can be flat towed but just putting the vehicle in neutral. For example the 2016 Toyota Corolla is flat towable if you get the manual transmission. If you went with an automatic it looks like it would require a transmission lube pump.

For a base plate kit for a 2016 Toyota Corolla you would want to start with the part # RM-521194-4 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 Falcon 2, # RM-520. For safety cables you can use # RM-643. The coiled design helps keep the cables off of the ground.

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

0