Ask any campground full of RVers what is hitched behind their motorhome and you will hear the same answer over and over: a Jeep Wrangler. That is not brand loyalty talking. Flat towing (also called dinghy towing or four-down towing) only works with vehicles whose drivetrain is built to roll with all four wheels on the pavement, and very few vehicles still qualify. Here are the best of them, why the Wrangler owns the category, and how to verify any vehicle before you hook it up.
What makes a vehicle flat-towable?
When a vehicle is towed with all four wheels down, its driveline turns even though the engine is off. Most modern automatics cannot lubricate themselves in that state and will be damaged. The vehicles that CAN be flat-towed have a drivetrain feature that disconnects the wheels from the transmission, most commonly a two-speed transfer case with a true neutral position.
That single requirement eliminates most crossovers, hybrids, and CVT-equipped vehicles, and it is exactly why body-on-frame 4x4s dominate every flat-tow list.
1. Jeep Wrangler: the undisputed king
The Wrangler is the best-selling flat-tow vehicle in America for reasons that stack on top of each other:
- The drivetrain is built for it. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL, follow the procedure in the owner's manual, and the Wrangler rolls freely with no driveline wear.
- Every generation qualifies. From classic YJs and TJs to the JK and today's JL, four-down towing has been part of the Wrangler's DNA for decades (verify your specific year and trim in the manual, always).
- It is the perfect basecamp vehicle. Unhook at the campground and you have a trail-ready 4x4 for the fun part of the trip, which is the whole point of towing a dinghy.
- The aftermarket loves it. Base plates, tow bars, wiring kits, and braking systems are all off-the-shelf items for a Wrangler.
We wrote the full hookup and shifting procedure in our step-by-step guide to flat-towing a Jeep Wrangler, including the transfer case sequence and the pre-tow checklist.
2. Jeep Gladiator: the king with a truck bed
The Gladiator (2020 and newer) shares the Wrangler's flat-tow-friendly drivetrain and adds a five-foot bed, which RVers use for firewood, generators, bikes, and everything the motorhome's basement will not fit. If you want one vehicle that is a trail rig, a pickup, and a dinghy, this is it.
3. Ford Bronco: the new favorite
The sixth-generation Bronco (2021 and newer) was designed with flat towing in mind, and Ford details the neutral-tow procedure in the owner's manual. It brought real competition to the category for the first time in years, and the RV crowd noticed. If your loyalty runs blue oval, the Bronco is the closest thing to the Wrangler's formula on the market.
4. Mid-size and full-size 4x4 trucks
Many Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon 4WD models with a two-speed transfer case, and many Ford F-150 4x4s with a neutral tow feature, are approved for flat towing. The catch: approval varies by year, drivetrain, and package, so the owner's manual is the only voice that counts. Trucks make great dinghies for RVers who need serious cargo capability at the destination.
5. The honorable mentions: manual-transmission holdouts
Old-school manual-transmission compacts could often be flat-towed with the gearbox in neutral, which made cars like the Chevy Spark and Honda fans' beloved older Civics campground staples. Most of those models are discontinued, which has only pushed more RVers toward the vehicles above.
How to verify ANY vehicle before you tow it
One rule outranks every list on the internet, including this one: open the owner's manual and find the section called Recreational Towing (or Dinghy Towing). It will tell you plainly whether your exact year, drivetrain, and trim can be flat-towed and the exact procedure to do it. If the manual says no, no aftermarket product changes that answer. Getting this wrong can destroy a transmission, so verify against the manual, not a forum post and not a salesperson's memory.
Also know your state's rules: most states require a supplemental braking system in the towed vehicle above a certain weight, and all setups need a base plate, tow bar, safety cables, and lighting.
Your dinghy is a rolling billboard (dress it up)
Here is the part RVers figure out about one week into ownership: the back of your flat-towed Jeep is what every driver behind your motorhome stares at for miles. That spare tire is prime real estate.
A spare tire cover protects the tire from sun and weather and gives the highway something better to look at, whether that is a favorite design or your family name. Covers are sized by tire diameter (our size guide makes it a two-minute job), and custom hood lettering turns the rig into yours.
Make the dinghy yours
Frequently asked questions
What is the best vehicle to flat-tow behind a motorhome?
The Jeep Wrangler is the most popular and most proven choice: its transfer case has a true neutral position, every generation supports four-down towing, and it doubles as a trail-ready 4x4 at the destination. The Jeep Gladiator and Ford Bronco follow the same formula.
Can you flat-tow an automatic Jeep Wrangler?
Yes. The Wrangler's flat-tow ability comes from the transfer case, not the transmission, so automatics tow four-down just like manuals when you follow the neutral procedure in the owner's manual.
How do I know if my vehicle can be flat-towed?
Open the owner's manual and find the Recreational Towing or Dinghy Towing section for your exact year and drivetrain. That section is the only reliable authority. If it does not approve flat towing, the vehicle needs a tow dolly or trailer instead.
Do I need a braking system in the towed vehicle?
In most states, yes: a supplemental braking system is legally required for towed vehicles above a certain weight, and it is a good idea at any weight. A full setup also includes a base plate, tow bar, safety cables, and tow lighting.
Does flat towing damage the vehicle?
Not when the vehicle is approved for it and the procedure is followed exactly. The risk comes from towing a vehicle that is not approved, or skipping steps like shifting the transfer case to neutral, which can severely damage the drivetrain.
Always verify flat-tow approval and the exact procedure in your vehicle's owner's manual for your specific year, drivetrain, and trim. Requirements for supplemental braking vary by state. Jeep, Wrangler, and Gladiator are trademarks of FCA US LLC; Ford and Bronco are trademarks of Ford Motor Company. Names are used for identification only; Jeep Decal Store is not affiliated with either company.
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