Can A 2023 Lincoln Nautilus Be Flat Towed?

Updated 06/25/2025 | Published 03/16/2024

Products Featured in This Question

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

(4617)

$452.61

etrailer XHD Non-Binding Tow Bar for Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate - RV Mount - 10,500 lbs

(188)

$904.23

Roadmaster 4-Diode Universal Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles - 7-Way to 6-Way Coiled Adapter Cord

(3188)

$175.27

Roadmaster Stop Light Switch Kit

(623)

$49.10

Roadmaster Battery Disconnect for Towed Vehicle w/ Flat Tow Brake System - Gas Only

(372)

$209.56

Roadmaster InvisiBrake Flat Tow Brake System - Preset

(284)

$1380.00

Question:

Can a 2023 Nautilus Lincoln be towed

asked by: Raymond S

Helpful Expert Reply:

Hello Raymond, a 2023 Lincoln Nautilus can be flat towed, but only if it is a 2.7L V6. The 2.0L AWD and FWD models cannot be flat towed and must be towed with all 4 wheels off of the ground, such as using a car trailer.

If yours is a 2.7L V6, you can flat tow using the manual park release procedure highlighted on page 218 of your owner's manual. You will want to put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle. Also, you can never exceed 65 MPH. I do encourage you to thoroughly read the "towing your vehicle" section of your owner's manual.

For a full flat tow setup, I recommend the following parts:

Base Plate - etrailer Invisible Base Plate Kit # e67FV

Tow Bar - etrailer XHD Non-Binding Tow Bar # e84ZR

Tow Bar Wiring - Roadmaster Diode Kit # RM-15267

Braking System - Roadmaster InvisiBrake # RM-8700

You will also need:

Roadmaster Battery Disconnect with Switch # RM-766

Roadmaster Stop Light Switch Kit # RM-751475

expert reply by: Jesse M

Ed L.

6/22/2025

Hi Jesse, I recently upgraded from my ‘16 Lincoln MKX to a ‘23 Lincoln Nautilus for use behind my RV. I had bought the MKX due to the simplicity of flat towing, ie: push button trans disconnect and no need to disconnect the battery, etc. I will need a different baseplate as I see the Nautilus won’t take my existing Roadmaster bar setup but using my current NSA bar with inertia brake should work as before. I see that now a battery disconnect is recommended(required?) with the newer Nautilus model. I assume Lincoln changed something in the newer Nautilus over the older MKX for flat towing? Just trying to get this all sorted before I start the conversion. Thanks!

Jesse M.

6/23/2025

@EdL Hello Ed. Yes, the battery disconnect will be required. One disconnect is needed for each starter battery so please check your owners manual for that. I recommend you use the Roadmaster # RM-15267 for your brake light wiring kit. Take a look at these special instructions from Roadmaster: https://www.roadmasterinc.com/content/pdf/85-6041.pdf It sounds like you are wanting to use your NSA ready brute tow bar. If so, you can use the Blue Ox Base Plate # BX2680 for your 2023 Lincoln Nautilus, then use the Ready Brute Elite Tow Bar Adapter Brackets for Blue Ox Base Plates # BX88297 to adapt it to your tow bar. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Ed L.

6/23/2025

Hi Jesse, I assume that the Blue Ox is my only option to connect to my NSA tow bar? I had planned on getting your etrailer hidden base plate but obviously if that is not compatible, will use the blue ox Ed

Jesse M.

6/24/2025

@EdL So the only solution we can offer is to use the Blue Ox base plate # BX2680 and the adapter # BX88297 I mentioned above. We do not carry the NSA brand though. I know NSA does make adapters for other base plate brands. I know they make one for the Roadmaster base plates. Our etrailer brand base plates are made by Demco so they are virtually identical to the Demco brand. So it might be possible to use our # e67FV base plate but you would need to check with NSA and see if they offer an adapter for a Demco base plate. Otherwise, going with the Blue Ox will be the best option because we can guarantee compatibility.