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Can a Chevy Equinox Be Flat Towed: A Simple Guide

Can a Chevy Equinox Be Flat Towed: A Simple Guide

Driving a Chevy Equinox can be quite an experience, but what about when you need it to be towed? If you want to know if you can flat tow your Equinox, then you can find out how, here! 

The Chevy Equinox is flat tow-capable given that you have the proper equipment to do so and safety precautions in place. This will allow you to safely get the job done and flat tow your vehicle wherever you need it.

If you are not sure what flat towing is, or how to do it with your Equinox, you don’t have to worry about finding that information elsewhere. We will go over all you need to know about how to flat tow your car safely with a simple guide. 

How To Flat Tow Your Chevy Equinox: A Simple Guide 

If you want to know how to flat tow your Chevy Equinox behind your RV, you will want to ensure that the way you do it is the proper way.

This will allow you to attach the vehicle safely to your RV and tow bar so that it will disconnect, and the vehicle will not be damaged. 

Follow these simple instructions and tips below to make sure that you are properly towing your Equinox and ensuring the safety of yourself and others while flat towing your vehicle on the road. 

Step 1: Pick Your Type of Tow Bar 

There are several kinds of tow bars to choose from that will attach your Equinox to your RV, and each comes with its advantages and disadvantages. So, here are the types to choose from and what the pros and cons of each are. 

RV-Mounted that Self-Align 

These kinds of tow bars are attached to the RV and can be folded up easily when you no longer need to use them to tow your vehicle. These options are also self-aligning, which makes the installation easier because you do not have to be as precise with the positioning as it moves a bit from side to side.

This makes the movement of the towed vehicle more natural and less rigid than other options that don’t move at all.

Also, because they are mounted to the RV, this keeps most of the weight on the back of the larger vehicle instead of your Chevy and doesn’t wear the components down. 

Vehicle-Mounted that Self-Align 

If you choose to go with a vehicle-mounted option, you will attach the tow bar to the front of your Chevy Equinox.

This is typically a less popular option because of this reason but can be good for those who don’t tow often and will remove the attachment between tows.

This option self-aligns similarly to the first option; however, this choice can sometimes be a bit cheaper. This makes it a good choice for those who only tow once or twice a year. 

A-Frame 

The A-frame tow bar is a stricter choice that forces you to drive with more precision as the bar itself does not self-align while on the road.

This will attach to both the vehicle and the RV, but requires correct positioning on your part during installation because the bar will not align itself while on the road. 

Step 2: Install the Tow Bar 

This will depend on which option you choose, but it will come with specific instructions included in the packaging. Follow those instructions carefully in order to ensure your safety.

This might require you to have a drill nearby because you might need to drill a hole or two in the process for proper installation.

Also, be careful where you drill because doing it in the wrong spot and needing to drill another hole might weaken the frame and cause problems later on. 

Find Your Mounting Points 

These will be found near the front-end bumper on your Chevy Equinox and will need to attach to the mounting brackets of the tow bar.

You will want to mark the center between the two points, then measure the same space from each side of the center mark to the mounting bracket spots. 

Then, you will mark the spots where the holes need to be drilled. Make sure that these marks are in the right spot so you will not have to redo them. 

Step 3: Put the Mounting Bracket Together  

The brackets will need to be put together correctly to allow the tow bar to be installed properly. So, you will need to follow the instructions that come with the brackets you purchase.

There may be several bolts and nuts that you will have to fasten tightly, so you should check all of them to ensure they are tightened correctly. 

Step 4: Installing the Tow Bar  

After the mounting brackets are on the RV, you will need to install the tow bar. This will be done by putting the end of the triangle shape between the brackets so it is sitting in between the two sides. 

Then, you will take the pins that come with the tow bar and insert them on each side of the bar. After the pin is inserted, you will move the ring that is on the end of the pin to the other side. 

This will lock the pin in place and ensure that it will not become loosened as you are driving. 

Step 5: Attach To the RV 

After the tow bar is attached securely to the vehicle, you will need to attach it to your towed vehicle. Depending on what tow bar you have, this could differ wildly. 

However, this is typically by a ball hitch. This means that you will lift the tow bar over the ball on the RV and lock it in place.

Step 6: Brakes 

In some states, you may also need to add additional braking equipment, so check on this before you install the bar to ensure that you need it!

What is Flat Towing?

Flat towing, which is known as four-down-towing, is when a vehicle is pulled behind an RV while staying on all four tires. This allows the vehicle to roll along the same path as the RV without needing to have towing equipment and ramps to hold it. 

This is ideal for those who want to travel as a family with all members in the RV at the same time without needing someone to drive alone, or with part of the family, in the Chevy Equinox behind you. 

In order to be able to flat-tow a vehicle, you must use a single tow bar that will attach the Chevy Equinox to your RV so that all four wheels are flat on the ground and able to move as you drive.

Most automatic vehicles are meant to be towed while in neutral while the steering wheel is not locked in place. 

This allows the tires and steering wheel to move with the RV without damaging the engine. However, not all vehicles are made to do this, so you will need to ensure that your car can before you attempt to flat tow it.

If not, you could be damaging your vehicle’s transmission by putting it in neutral since the transmission will still need lubrication, which it won’t get while being flat towed. This could gravely damage the engine and cause lots of problems with your car. 

What Vehicles Can Be Flat Towed? 

There are a large number of vehicles that can withstand being flat towed without taking damage. The easiest way to find out if your car is able to be flat-towed is by checking in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

The manufacturers will state whether the vehicle can be towed on all four wheels, if it should be pulled onto a truck bed or trailer, or if it can be pulled with two wheels down.

Two-down, which is the term for two-wheel-down towing, is when the two driven wheels are both off the ground while the other two are down on the road. 

If you do not have the owner’s manual anymore, or you can’t seem to find it, you can check on the manufacturer’s website. There is often an online version of the manual that you can view so you can check if the car can be flat towed safely. 

How Flat Towing Works 

When you flat tow a vehicle, you are pulling it while all four wheels are on the road. This pulls the car behind an RV using a tow bar, which keeps the car level to the road. 

A tow bar is used to pull the vehicle, which attaches the towed vehicle to the back of the RV. This secures your Chevy Equinox so that it is level with the road and all four tires are parallel to the street.  

A tow bar is the only piece of equipment that you need to be able to flat-tow a vehicle, so this is one of the simplest ways to tow your vehicle when you need to take a trip with your RV. It also takes up less space when you need to park your RV and vehicle than other towing options.

Conclusion 

Flat towing a vehicle sounds like a great idea if your vehicle is able to handle it. Well, if you own a Chevy Equinox, you will be able to flat tow your vehicle behind your RV. 

With the instructions in this article and the instructions on the tow bar you purchase, you can easily install a tow bar and get to towing. 

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Zach Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of VehicleAnswers.com! Having owned a wide variety of vehicles in my life, I was astounded at how hard it can be to find answers to common automotive questions. Rather than sit idly, I decided to create this website to help others!