Best Flat Towing Setup Recommendation for a 2005 Honda Element EX  

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Expert Reply:

We have everything you need to flat tow your 2005 Honda Element. First you will want to start with a base plate kit. This will provide the attachment point for the tow bars to your vehicle.

For that I would recommend the Roadmaster base plate kit part # 1541-1. This kit has removable arms so that when not in use you wouldn't have to big brackets sticking off the front of your vehicle.

The Roadmaster Tracker part # RM-020 is an entry level tow bar that would work for you, but it would make for a much more difficult time connecting and disconnecting your tow vehicle. The two biggest things the nicer tow bars have that this one doesn't is telescoping arms that prevent binding and the ability for the tow bar to stow on your RV.

Fixed arms will make it much more difficult to connect and disconnect because unless you are on perfectly level ground and are perfectly square behind the RV the bars are going to be very hard to line up upon connection, and they are going to be very hard to remove as they will want to bind up.

That's where telescoping arms help. They can move in an out so that you don't have to be absolutely perfectly lined up and you can still connect and disconnect easily.

Now the tow bar's ability to stow on the RV is the next advantage. In most cases you are going to park your RV and then disconnect the dinghy so you can get around as you need with it instead of the RV. Now if the tow bars can store on the RV you only have to disconnect the side on the towed vehicle to drive the dinghy. If the tow bars are designed to store on the tow vehicle you have to disconnect both sides to drive the dinghy.

I attached an FAQ article to the right that details all of the features of the Roadmaster tow bars for you to check out as well.

The most popular compatible tow bar is the Falcon 2, # RM-520. This is a great tow bar with great features that I know you will love. For safety cables you can use # RM-643. The coiled design helps keep the cables off of the ground.

For lighting check out the FAQ article that I attached to the right that details how to pick the best lighting solution based on your needs.

And finally, most states now require supplemental braking in the vehicle being flat towed. The easiest system to set up and use is the Even Brake proportional system, # RM-9400, that applies the vehicle brakes in proportion to how much the two vehicle is braking. This is the safest way to stop and it reduces wear and tear on both vehicles.

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

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