Steps Needed To Get Your 2023 Chevy Equinox Ready To Flat Tow

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Question:

How to put 2023 2nd in flat tow mode

asked by: Frank P

0

Expert Reply:

To get your 2023 Chevy Equinox ready to flat tow you'll need to complete the following steps:

1. Position the vehicle to be towed and secure it to the towing vehicle.
2. Start the vehicle.
3. If equipped with AWD, engage the AWD system and confirm that it is on.
4. Move the shift lever to N (Neutral).
5. Then, put the vehicle into accessory mode by pressing ENGINE START/STOP one time without the brake pedal
applied. An amber light will appear in the button when in accessory mode. The chime will ring continuously for
30 minutes. Leave the transmission in N (Neutral).
6. Turn off all accessories that are not needed.

If you haven't picked out all your flat towing components then I have the following recommendations:

Baseplate: Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit # RM-523193-5.

Tow Bar: etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar # e74ZR. This tow bar comes with safety cables included and also has an adjustable head and shank to help keep it level between the motorhome and Equinox.

Tow Bar Wiring Kit: If you have a L, LS, LT, or Premier model you'll need to use smart diodes. For LED lights you'll want part # RM38FR. For Incandescent lights you'll need part # RM26FR.

If you have an RS model then you can use universal kit like # RM-15267.

Since the battery will drain while towing I highly recommend also installing a charge line kit # RM-156-25 to charge it while you tow. If your motorhome doesn't already have a charge line ran to the 12v accessory post on your 7-way then you can also pick up the # RM-156-75.

Braking System: The Demco SBS Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking System # SM99251 you were looking at is a great option, but you'll need to confirm that your motorhome has hydraulic brakes and doesn't use an engine brake as this will activate the system when you're trying to only slow the engine down. An engine brake is going to be in certain diesel engines so if your motorhome uses regular gas you won't have an engine brake.

expert reply by: Kevin C

0

Bobby

2/26/2024

Thanks for this information. However, GM has issued an addendum to the owner's manual directing users to disconnect the negative battery cable when towing the 2023 Equinox. Do you know why? How does this affect the fact that you are leaving the vehicle in accessories mode and what does this do for other functions that may need to be used. Is the battery still being drained while towing? Thanks in advance for any information on this topic you can provide.

Kevin C.

3/5/2024

@Bobby Typically if the battery needs to be disconnected on a flat towed vehicle it's to shut down one or multiple systems that either drain the battery or could activate and cause damage to the vehicle. Leaving the vehicle in accessory mode won't cause any issues, even with the battery disconnected. The instructions from GM are pretty typical for a lot of other newer GM vehicles so you don't have anything to worry about as long as you follow them. With the cable disconnected anything that runs that that cable wouldn't be able to function. If you have other accessories installed on the vehicle that are ran to the battery separately then they could still drain the battery. Having worked down in our shop and there being a constant flow of flat tow installations I've learned that the even when the vehicle doesn't require a charge line it's still best to just install it any way to avoid issues later on when you're out on the road or at the campsite so I'd still recommend installing the # RM-156-25. If you don't want to have to physically remove the negative cable each time you can also install the # RM-766. This will connect in line with the positive cable instead of the negative but would still serve the same purpose and would give you a button to press to connect/disconnect the battery.

Helpful Links

tv-review-roadmaster-flat-tow-towed-vehicle-battery-disconnect-switch-rm-766.aspx

Bob

5/4/2025

@KevinC You have to disconnect the negative battery terminal so the electric parking brake does not engage and lock up the rear wheels as happened to me

Jon G.

5/13/2025

@Bob That doesn't sound good. Thanks for sharing though! It's always helpful to get more information on the "why" behind things.

Walt

7/10/2024

Can I flat tow a 2024 Chevy Equinox with the positive battery cable disconnected. I have disconnected the negative side and am still getting a power draw that kills the battery even with an in line battery charger from the motor home.

Kevin C.

7/10/2024

@Walt Yes, we typically recommend using Roadmaster's disconnect switch # RM-766 which would connect inline with the positive battery cable. The battery will still drain if your braking system is tied to it and GM released a tech bulletin stating that a charge line # RM-156-25 would still be needed to prevent battery drain while towing.

Walt

7/16/2024

@KevinC When towing my 2024 Chevy Equinox with the positive battery cable disconnected, should I also disconnect the negative battery cable?

Kevin C.

7/16/2024

@Walt No, you disconnecting the positive with the RM-766 would kill the connection between the battery and anything it would be powering that needs to off while towing.

See All (4) Replies to Walt ∨

Answer 1

The reasoning behind removing the negative cable from your 2021 Chevy Spark's battery isn't a charging/maintaining battery level issue. Chevy has you do this to disable certain functions of your vehicle to allow it to be safely flat towed. As…

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Answer 2

While we have not had a chance to install the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms #BX1730 on a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox, we have installed the same base plate kit on a 2020 Equinox as you can see in the included video. The installation will be very…

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Answer 3

There are a couple of options for wiring kits depending on whether or not your 2020 Chevy Equinox has LED or incandescent lights. For LED Tail Lights: Roadmaster Smart Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Wiring Kit for Variable Voltage LED Tail Lights item…

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Answer 4

This is a really good question and I can tell you did your homework on this. But the great news is that your 7-way trailer connector already has the turn signals and brake lights combined onto the same circuit since that is the standard for trailer…

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Answer 5

There is a suggested and common method for 6 function trailer wiring. You will have the following functions: Right Turn, Left Turn, Ground, Tail/marker, Brake, Battery. I have included a help article on trailer wiring that includes a diagram and…

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Answer 6

2024 models of the Chevy Equinox have the same steps listed as the 2023 models to get the vehicle ready to flat tow: 1. Position the vehicle to be towed and secure it to the towing vehicle. 2. Start the vehicle. 3. If equipped with AWD, engage the…

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Answer 7

We can definitely get your 2023 Chevy Equinox set up to be flat towed, and there are a number of parts you will need, so I'll go ahead and list them out for you like you wanted to make it easy to order: - Base Plate Kit: Roadmaster Direct-Connect…

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Answer 8

The problem is either the power or the ground side of the wiring of the LED assemblies. First thing to do is check that 12 volts are making it to the trailer connector. You can use a circuit tester like our part #3808. Next, trace the wiring back to…

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Answer 9

Yes, the manual for a 2023 Chevy Equinox lists the same instructions for both the AWD and FWD models. I've copied the instructions and my component recommendations below for you: 1. Position the vehicle to be towed and secure it to the towing…

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Answer 10

Most often the root cause for issues with trailer lighting is a weak ground. Strange as it may sound, a loose or rusty/corroded ground can cause a vehicle's trailer wiring harness to badly misbehave and shut down some functions. It may also just…

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Answer 11

This sounds like a ground problem. If it only happens when the running lights are on it indicates a ground issue. Ground problems normally show up when the system is being subjected to a maximum load. First, make sure the main ground from the trailer…

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Answer 12

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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