Flat Towing Setup for 2018 Chevy Equinox 1.5L FWD

Updated 03/26/2019 | Published 03/23/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Blue Ox Acclaim Non-Binding Tow Bar - Coupler Style for 2" Ball - Car Mount - 5,000 lbs

(234)

$544.39

Blue Ox Adjustable Drop Hitch Receiver Adapter - 2" Hitches - 4" Rise/Drop - 10,000 lbs

(156)

$218.43

Blue Ox Patriot Portable Flat Tow Brake System - Proportional

(397)

$1499.89

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

(4617)

$594.81

Blue Ox Alpha 2 Non-Binding Tow Bar - RV Mount - 2" Hitch - 6,500 lbs

(452)

$712.21

Demco Air Force One Flat Tow Brake System for RVs w/ Air Brakes - Proportional

(496)

$1329.00

Demco Stay-IN-Play Duo Flat Tow Brake System for RVs w/ Hydraulic Brakes - Proportional

(755)

$1175.00

Universal Magnetic Tow Lights - 20' Wiring Harness with 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector

(200)

$61.88

Question:

I realize prices may vary but about how much does it cost to have all of the work done using a top quality blue ox system with brake controller Rv 2019 tiffin open road 2018 Equinox front wheel drive 1.5 litre

asked by: Jesse

Expert Reply:

I checked the owner's manual for the 2018 Chevy Equinox FWD 1.5L and this car can be flat towed. Like other towable cars there is a preparation process to be followed before each trip and this is covered on page 359 of the online manual.

For the labor cost alone for installing a complete flat towing setup you can figure $2000 as a "ballpark" starting point. This is labor only and is in addition to the parts' cost.

The labor fee will vary depending on whether you select a non-labor-intensive braking system like the portable Blue Ox Patriot # BLU37TR as opposed to a labor-intensive braking system like the Stay-in-Play # SM99251 (for motorhomes with hydraulic brakes) or the Air Force One # SM99243 (for motorhomes with air brakes). These SMI system have a one-time setup that takes more install time, but only that one time, while the portable Patriot II will require you to re-install it each time you tow the Equinox. Often those that lease a vehicle will choose a portable option.

The other flat towing component that has significant labor time is the base plate kit. These often require removal of bumper trim parts or other components; some of these may need modification before they can be re-installed.

The other main parts to a flat towing setup - the tow bar, safety cables, wiring/lighting kit and high/low hitch adapter - tend to require less install time. Figure the braking system and base plates will tend to take up a big part of the total labor cost for the job. You can avoid some expenses, like the cost of special tow bar adapters, by using a tow bar and base plate from the same maker, say the Blue Ox base plate # BX1730 and their Alpha 2 tow bar # BX7380, which includes safety cables.

You can use a cost-effective magnetic light kit like # TL21RK which is a simple install along with a high/low adapter like # BLU34TR to complete your setup.