Getting the Subaru Setup to be Flat-Towed
When we first got the idea to experience more motorized RVing, we wanted to also share the process of flat-towing. The first thing we learned is that Motorhome Magazine publishes an annual dinghy towing guide. And if you choose to flat-tow a vehicle from that list, it’s pretty straight forward. However, we were looking for a second car for the boys to drive and were not interested in the usual suspects when it comes to a “dinghy” such as a Jeep, Ford Explorer or other expensive SUV’s.
Plus, with the KYD Cabin being at 6,910 feet in Flagstaff, AZ, having a vehicle that can handle the snow was also a requirement. Turns out the Subaru Crosstrek can be flat towed if it has a manual transmission.
The second thing we learned is that this is not an inexpensive procedure. Below is a list of the parts we used and links to those parts on eTrailer’s website. Also below is the labor cost from Cliff’s welding.
Can a Subaru be Flat Towed – Everything You Need to Know
The above link is a great article that answers all the questions you might have about which exact model of Subaru you need to flat tow.
Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit – Removable Arms
Item # RM-52927-5 $435.00
This Baseplate integrates seamlessly into the tow vehicle and is hardly noticeable when not being towed, which is most of the time. The two brackets are easy to remove and store making it even more seamless.
Roadmaster Nighthawk All Terrain Tow Bar w/ LED Lights
Item # RM-676 $1,170
This tow bar came highly recommended by several experienced motorized RVers. The integrated LED lights provide a nice safety feature when towing at night so careless drivers don’t side swipe your tow vehicle.
Roadmaster InvisiBrake Supplemental Braking System
Item # RM-8700 $1,203.35
The reason we went with the InvisiBrake system is because it’s compatible with electric braking on most gas-powered RVs or air brakes found on most larger Class A RVs. Without knowing what kind of RV we’d like to rent or potentially buy in the future, this braking system gave us options.
**Update: In our experience, this braking system has been finicky and sometimes works intermittently. I wouldn’t use it again. Rather, I’d go with Air Force One if I knew I had air braking or Stay In Play.
Flat Tow Setup Labor
The labor for the Roadmaster InvisiBrake system was consideringly more than other systems such as Air Force One. Partly due to having to run wires below the carpet and mount the braking system box below the driver’s seat.
The labor invoice below includes the hitch we installed on the Subaru so we can carry bikes and obviously not included in the flat towing setup, but the invoice does not reflect the Demco wireless brake indicator to tell me that the brakes on the tow vehicle are working. That was roughly $250 and not essential, but nice to have.
The only advantage to setting up a vehicle to be flat towed is that it’s transferable from one RV to another. Thus, it’s a one-time cost if you plan on keeping your dinghy. 
Flat tow vs. Dolly
We can’t share a personal experience with comparing flat towing to a dolly, but it seems usually a dolly makes sense for three reasons. The first being that you have a vehicle that can’t be flat towed and you’re not ready to replace it. The second is the cost of getting a vehicle set up to flat-tow and lately, your tow vehicle not having any wear on the tires and other components.
Although we’ve not been flat towing very long and have never used a dolly, we have been RVing for over 5 years and have stayed at hundreds of RV parks. We’ve seen RVers maneuver their dolly and it seems like a lot of work. Plus, there are many RV sites that can’t accommodate a motorized RV, tow vehicle and dolly. Based on the reasons mentioned above, if this is the only option, then it’s better than not going! But it seems flat-towing is the most common and preferred method which is why we wanted to share the setup.
What prep with the car did you have to do after hooking it up to tow?
We flat tow a Chevy Cruise with a standard transmission. We installed a hitch for the bike rack as well.
Word to the wise: have a good check list for the car before you move it. We made a very unfortunate mistake one day. We pulled into a Love’s to get gas but maneuvering was tight so we pulled into a vacant lot and took the car off. After gassing up we hitched up the car again and went through our normal checks (lights, do the wheels go round when we start up etc). Unfortunately, we missed and important step; the car was still in gear. We managed to blow both the transmission and the motor when we pulled onto the interstate. We were in west Texas at the time. It took two months and lots of sleepless nights before the car repaired and back to us.
Classic example of being out of normal routine and rushing resulting in damage and heartache.
Marc, tell us more about that Toad. Subarus may seem like an attractive Toad option, but there has been some concern over how the 2015 and later vehicles — including manual tranny’s — get along with the role of Toad.
(Auto’s, and CVT’s need not apply at all.) Browsing the ‘net a bit will reveal the grief some folks have experienced, even after coming to a Subaru dealer, and explaining that their objective is to tow a car four-down.
Yes, it took me a long time to get to the bottoom if a Crosstrek could really be towed, but when Cliff’s said they did it, I bought it. Then after we bought, others from the community said they also use the Crosstrek as a toad with no issues. We have a big plan for the second half of the year and if there is a problem towing with it, we’ll find out and share!
Any update on flat towing the Subaru? I am thinking of buying a new 2022 Crosstrek with the the standard transmission.
Hi Rich, Not speaking for Marc, but my experience has been fine. I’ve been towing a 2017 Crosstrek for the past 5 years. I’ve driven the car 63k miles, and towed it approx. 20k. I’ve never had a problem with the car itself for any reasons. Still runs like a champ. It worked so well, I just purchased a 2023. Last year they will be offering the MT version. When I tow, I turn off the car, but DO NOT remove the key. This will lock the steering if you do. Obviously, put the trans in neutral and release the parking break. And make sure headlights are off, as they will remain on with just the key in the ignition. My 2017 never had a breaking system. At 3200#, I didn’t think I would actually need it, and truth be told, it’s been fine. But, I think I’ve maybe been lucky, and installing the Demco stay and play on this one. A friend of mine had his towbar fail and his truck passed him on the freeway. The truck also put them into a 360 spin! Would have loved to see a motor home do this. They saw their lives and their truck pass before their eyes. Ended up heading straight forward again, and at about 10 mph, the right tires dropped off the side of the road and it fell over on its side. Point being…they never had a problem either until then. And very lucky nobody was injured. Things obviously could have a lot worse.
Hi Rick,
I’m looking to buy a 2023 Crosstrek with MT as well for a Toad. I’m hoping this works out because the car seems perfect for what we want. Any updates (though your post is only a month old) would be welcome.
Subaru’s position on a 2023 Crosstrek:
Thank you for contacting Subaru of America. I am happy to assist.
While it is always recommended to tow any all-wheel drive vehicle on a flatbed truck, manual transmission vehicles can be towed with all four wheels on the ground in emergency situations.
Flat towing does not automatically void the warranty of your Subaru. However, please note that any damage inflicted on the vehicle as a result of flat towing would be the responsibility of the vehicle’s current owner.
If you have any further questions, please call Customer Advocacy (1-800-782-2783). Thank you for giving us the opportunity to help.
Sincerely,
Subaru of America, Inc.
Customer Advocacy Department
1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783)
Can you tell me what has to be done to the car “ toad” once it’s hooked up. Do you have to unhook the drive shaft or anything? Hooking it to the RV seemed relatively easy but what comes after that?
Thank you both so much for your channel and your attention to detail. We learn so much from you.
We just turn the key in accessory mode and keep the manual stick in netrual. Maybe we shared that in the next episode, but I can’t remember.
We have a 40’ class A with garage, and I’ve been driving our car separately as hubby drives the class A. We bought a car that can be flat-towed with the intention of flat-towing it, but we had to save the money to do the work that you did (above) on it. After a few months of driving separately, we decided that works well, too. In the car, I can go to a coffee shop and get something for both of us without worrying about parking the RV, etc. However, I’ve wondered if we’d save on fuel and of course, on motor wear and tear on the car if we flat-towed. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?
We use to do that too, however my husband got sick (and has since died) and if I wanted to continue traveling, I had to learn to drive the RV and tow! I have a manual Honda Fit and I barely know it’s back there. When I bought the Fit I had the Blue Ox system installed (and a hitch for bikes put on) and rolled it into my car payment at the dealership.
I flat tow with the other popular tow bar (blue ox) and I have had great luck with this system
I also use the RVI 3 portable brake system which I can transfer to another tow vehicle.
Sorry I know this comment doesn’t go here but do you have a video on dry camping.
We had a class C and my wife had a REALLY nice convertible, so we started off putting it on a trailer ($4,500) to use it once we arrived at a campground. We agree it was harder to find a site that could accommodate all 3 units (RV, trailer, car) in a space. Usually, We had to rearrange a few times and it was tight in the space. We also found that driving the car; with its low clearance, onto and off of the trailer, was a tricky operation. You then had to attach the straps between the trailer and car wheels. We then discovered that some campgrounds had roads with hills that would cause the loaded trailer to bottom out at the front, requiring that we stop; unload the vehicle, move forward, RE-load the vehicle, then keep going. After a few of those operations in the rain, we decided to flat-tow and bought a manual Kia, setting it up with the braking system and Blue Ox system. MUCH easier, though I had to make a new checklist to be SURE the Kia was out of gear; key in ACC and brake off with my wife checking behind me. Overall, costs were pretty much a wash, but I was a LOT more relaxed flat-towing.
I’m VERY intrigued and would like to have a follow-up on how this is working for you. We initially decided on the ’21 manual Crosstrek, but then got told emphatically NO! One of those people was my brother who is a driveshaft and transmission mechanic that outfits couplers for RV travel. We ditched the idea…but today are smiling thinking we can revisit it. Have you towed it yet? Any other things you can share to help my confidence level? We really don’t want to downgrade to the Honda CRV (2014 or older)…we want the Crosstrek as we are Subie enthusiasts and are avid hikers. Thanks!
We have seen the Crosstrek in your videos and have wondered what the experience has been. Have there been any negative outcomes from flat towing the Crosstrek? We are about to make the purchase but are hesitant in making another purchase that turns out to be a marginally acceptable toad. Cheers!
I have flat towed three different Jeeps. A 2003 Grand Cherokee, a 2005 Jeep Diesel, and now a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. Jeeps are designed to travel off road and as such have heavy duty steering gear. I am on my 6th Jeep and drove the first four off road mapping geology. I have never had to realign any of my Jeeps, even after towing some over curbs.
The Jeeps that have a mechanical transfer case shift are the easiest to switch into flat tow mode. The new electrical shift and electrical steering can be more challenging to put into tow mode.
M&G Engineering in Athens Texas makes a great proportional air brake system that makes hookup fast and easy.
Hi Edward,
We are considering a Grand Cherokee for flat towing. Do you know if flat towing will void Jeeps warranty? I looked on the Jeep website, but could not find anything regarding towing.
If it is an automatic (almost certainly) make sure it has the neutral transfer case. This is a little button next to the 4 wheel drive adjustment, “N”, it is recessed so you would have to push it with a pen or similar. It is almost always on the Trailhawk trim package, it has to be special ordered on the others.
If it does not have that, you cannot tow it. If it has that, and you follow the (slightly complex) instructions in the manual, you will not void the warranty.
I just discovered the 2021+ Chevy Trailblazer small SUV. It is auto, AWD, 8” ground clearance, seats fold flat including passenger front seat, and it is flat towable. This makes this small plenty capable as a dinghy toad.
Marc & Trish
Flat towing your Subaru Crosstrek.
Did you need a charging cable from the RV to the car ?