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  1. Flat Tow
man hooking up flat tow.
man hooking up truck to flat tow.

Tow Bars and Flat Towing Parts

Looking to bring your vehicle along on your next RV trip? Flat towing — also called dinghy towing — lets you tow your car, SUV, or truck with all four wheels on the ground. At etrailer, we make it simple to find everything you need for a safe, legal, and reliable flat tow setup: tow bars, base plates, safety cables, wiring harnesses, supplemental braking systems, and all the accessories to tie it together.

Flat Towing Components

1. Tow Bar Base Plates 2. Tow Bars 3. Safety Cables 4. Flat Tow Wiring Harness 5. Flat Tow Brake Systems6. Additional Wiring Components
White SUV connected to tow bar.
Can I flat tow my vehicle? Check etrailer's Flat Tow Index
Blue Ox Base Plate Kit on front of Jeep.

1. TOW BAR BASE PLATES

A base plate is the connection point between your vehicle and the tow bar. It’s custom-fit for your exact make and model, so everything lines up the way it should, giving you a secure, reliable connection every time you tow.
etrailer Invisible Base Plate Kit.
REMOVABLE ARMS BASE PLATES
etrailer Classic Base Plate Kit.
FIXED ARMS BASE PLATES
Roadmaster Tow Bar Adapter.
TOW BAR ADAPTERS
Roadmaster Replacement 1/2" Tow Bar Base Pins.
TOW BAR PINS & CLIPS
Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow Bar attached to RV.

2. TOW BARS

The tow bar is the bridge between your base plate and RV’s hitch. A good tow bar keeps your towed vehicle tracking straight, reduces sway, and makes hookups easy.
Roadmaster Falcon All-Terrain Tow Bar.
HITCH STYLE TOW BARS
Curt adjustable tow bar.
COUPLER STYLE TOW BARS
etrailer SD non-binding tow bar.
TELESCOPIC TOW BARS
Roadmaster Tracker tow bar.
FIXED TOW BARS
Demco Kar Kaddy SS tow dolly.
TOW DOLLIES
Roadmaster EZ Hook Safety Cables in blue.

3. SAFETY CABLES

Safety cables are your fail-safe. If your tow bar ever disconnects, these cables keep your vehicle attached to your RV.
Roadmaster coiled safety cables in red.
COILED SAFETY CABLES
Roadmaster straight safety cables in blue.
STRAIGHT SAFETY CABLES
Dutton-Lainson safety cables in grey.
SNAP HOOK SAFETY CABLES
Blue Ox Permanent base plate safety cables in black.
QUICK LINK SAFETY CABLES
Demco Safety Cable Extensions.
SAFETY CABLE EXTENSIONS
Installing Wiring Harness.

4. FLAT TOW WIRING HARNESS

A wiring harness synchronizes your towed vehicle’s brake lights, turn signals, and tail lights with your RV — a legal requirement in most areas.
EZ connector magnetic extension cord.
WIRING EXTENSIONS
Blue Ox 7-wire to 6-wire coiled electrical cord in blue.
WIRING ADAPTERS
Hopkins magnetic tow lights.
REMOVABLE TAIL LIGHTS
Roadmaster diode 7-wire to 6-wire flexo-coil wiring kit.
DIODE KITS
Roadmaster tail light wiring kit with bulbs.
BULB AND SOCKET KITS
Brake Buddy Brake System in cab of truck.

5. FLAT TOW BRAKE SYSTEMS

A braking system applies your towed vehicle’s brakes when your RV slows down, reducing wear and improving safety. Many states require them.
Roadmaster Even Brake portable braking system.
PROPORTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEMS
Roadmaster InvisiBrake braking system.
PRE-SET BRAKING SYSTEMS
Demco Air Force One braking system.
FIXED BRAKING SYSTEMS
Brake Buddy portable braking system in red.
PORTABLE BRAKING SYSTEMS
Blue Ox replacement RF controller for Patriot braking systems.
BRAKING SYSTEMS ACCESSORIES

6. ADDITIONAL WIRING COMPONENTS

Complete your flat tow setup with electrical add-ons:
Roadmaster stop light switch kit.
STOP LIGHT SWITCH KITS
Roadmaster Brake-Lite relay kit.
BRAKE-LITE RELAY KITS
Roadmaster Battery Disconnect with switch.
BATTERY DISCONNECT
Roadmaster Fusemaster fuse bypass switch.
FUSE BYPASS SWITCH
Roadmaster battery charge line kit.
BATTERY CHARGE LINE KITS

TOW BAR ACCESSORIES

Enhance your towing experience:
Blue Ox accessory kit.
TOW BAR ACCESSORY KITS
etrailer Universal Tow Bar Cover.
TOW BAR COVERS AND STORAGE
Roadmaster replacement tow bar quick disconnect kit.
QUICK DISCONNECTS
Roadmaster High-Low Adapter.
HITCH ADAPTERS
etrailer lock and keys for tow bars.
TOW BAR LOCKS
Roadmaster second vehicle kits for Invisibrake braking system.
SECOND VEHICLE KITS

NEW TOW BAR & FLAT TOW

etrailer High-Low Fixed Adapter for Tow Bars.
ETRAILER HIGH LOW ADAPTERS
Ultra-Fab All-Terrain Tow Bar for Roadmaster Base Plates.
ULTRA-FAB ALL-TERRAIN TOW BAR
Curt Seeker Non-Binding Tow Bar.
CURT SEEKER TOW BAR
Roadmaster Falcon 3HD Tow Bar for Blue Ox Base Plates.
ROADMASTER FALCON 3HD TOW BAR
Curt RVi Series 4 Portable Flat Tow Brake System.
CURT RVI FLAT TOW BRAKE SYSTEMS
Curt RVi Series Bullseye Wireless Monitor.
CURT RVI SERIES ACCCESSORIES

FLAT TOW HELP ARTICLES

Need help getting started? Check out our helpful resources written by people who've flat towed themselves:
Guide to Must-Have Flat Towing Components Article.
What is Flat Towing Article.
Hooking-Up to Flat Tow Article.

Ensuring Safe Travels: Flat Towing or Using a Dolly with Your RV

With 75+ years of towing experience, 35,000+ installations, and over a million real-world product photos and videos, etrailer is here to help you flat tow with confidence, whether you’re towing a Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, or a compact sedan.

What is flat towing?

Flat towing, or dinghy towing, is when you tow a vehicle with all four wheels on the ground behind another vehicle, like an RV. It’s a simple way to bring your car along for the ride without using a trailer or dolly.

What’s the difference between flat towing and using a tow dolly or trailer?

Flat towing is simpler—no bulky dolly or trailer to store or deal with. As long as your car is flat towable, it’s faster to set up and easier to disconnect when you reach your destination.

Can I flat tow my car?

Not every car can be flat towed, so it’s best to check your owner’s manual. Look under “Recreational Towing” to see if it’s approved and find any special instructions. For more information, be sure to check out our Flat Tow Index to see which vehicles are compatible and any additional tips!

What do I need to flat tow a car?

You’ll need a few key things:
  • Tow Bar Base Plates: These attach to your car to connect it to the tow bar.
  • Tow Bar: This links your car to the RV.
  • Safety Cables: A backup connection in case the tow bar fails.
  • Wiring Harness: To sync your car’s lights with your RV.
  • Supplemental Braking System: A braking system for your towed car, which is required in most states.

Why do I need a supplemental braking system?

A supplemental braking system helps your car stop safely while it’s being towed. It reduces wear on your RV’s brakes and is often required by law. It’s all about keeping everyone safe! For more information, check out our FAQ.

Can I flat tow an automatic car?

Sometimes. Certain automatic cars can be flat towed, but it depends on the make and model. Check your owner’s manual to be sure, as some might need modifications or have special procedures.

How do I hook up my car’s lights for flat towing?

You’ll need a wiring harness to connect your car’s lights to your RV. Some are plug-and-play, while others might need splicing. Either way, it ensures your car’s brake and turn signals match your RV’s.

Are there speed or distance limits when flat towing?

Possibly! Some vehicles have restrictions, like not exceeding a certain speed or towing for too long without stopping. Your owner’s manual will have all the details.

Can I have my flat towing setup professionally installed?

Absolutely. Flat towing setups can involve multiple components—base plates, tow bars, wiring, and braking systems—all of which need to work together safely and reliably. If you’re not comfortable drilling into your vehicle’s frame, handling electrical wiring, or installing a supplemental brake system, professional installation is a smart choice. Use etrailer's Local Installer Locator Tool to find a trusted installer near you and make sure everything’s set up correctly for your next trip.