Recommended Flat Towing Components For A 2016 Kia Soul

Updated 11/25/2024 | Published 11/22/2024

Products Featured in This Question

Roadmaster StowMaster Tow Bar - Coupler Style for 2" Ball - Car Mount - 6,000 lbs

(150)

$960.00

etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar for Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plates - RV Mount - 6,000 lbs

(313)

$814.99

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

(3249)

$188.48

Roadmaster Tow Dolly with Electric Brakes - 4,250 lbs

(9)

$3525.00

Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

(3377)

$575.00

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

(508)

$1329.00

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

(767)

$1175.00

Question:

Hi. I am looking for tow bar with base plates and wiring for a 2016 KIA Soul. What brand would you guys recommend? Looking to get something on the affordable end.

asked by: Juan G

Expert Reply:

Hi Juan,

You'll want to double check your owner's manual to confirm that your specific model can be flat towed first. If it can not and the manual states that you can dolly tow instead then you can use the Roadmaster Tow Dolly with Electric Brakes # RM-2050-1. Typically the manual transmission model will be able to be flat towed and the automatic transmission models will need to be dolly towed. If it can be flat towed then I have the following flat towing component recommendations:

Baseplate: Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit # RM-522114-5 (manual transmission).

Tow Bar: etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar for Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plates # e74ZR. This tow bar also includes safety cables and has a built in rise/drop to help it stay level between the two vehicles.

Tow Bar Wiring Kit: Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit # RM-15267. This will splice into your factory tail light wiring to transfer your motorhome's traffic signals to the tail lights of your Kia.

Braking System: If your motorhome has hydraulic brakes then you'll want the Stay-IN-Play Duo # SM99251. This will have an indicator light to show you when the brakes are being applied in the Kia. That light will need to tap into a gray wire coming off of your brake pedal, which would be the cold side of the brake light switch (only has power when the pedal is depressed).

If your motorhome has air brakes then you'll need the Demco Air Force One # SM99243 instead. This system uses a reed switch instead of tapping into the brake light switch so the install will be slightly different.

expert reply by: Kevin C

Juan

11/22/2024

Hey Kevin, thanks for your detailed explanation, it is very informative. Here are some details. Yes, the KIA model I'm looking at has manual transmission, so it can be flat-towed. My setup is not for the vehicle to be towed by a motorhome but for a transporter business. This means the vehicle is going to be towed behind different kind of vehicles at different times (tractors, box trucks, etc). So, I'll need a tow bar that doesn't stay attached to the towing unit when not in use, but to the vehicle being towed. I was thinking one like the Stowmaster 5000 or anyone of that type? Any recommendations?

Kevin C.

11/25/2024

@Juan You can switch to the Roadmaster StowMaster Tow Bar # RM-501, but you'll also need to swap out the baseplate with part # RM-522114-4 in order to be compatible.