Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2012 GMC Acadia Behind an RV and Carry 4 Bikes and Kayaks
Question:
We just purchased a 2017 Fleetwood Jamboree Class C Motorhome. Here are the specs: GWVR - 14,500 lbs. Front GAWR - 5,000 lbs. Rear GAWR - 9,600 lbs. GCWR - 22,000 lbs. The hitch rating is as follows: Weight Distributing - Do not use wit spring bars Weight Carrying - 7,500 lbs. What does this mean? Dinghy Towing - 5,000 lbs. This is our first time ever having to flat tow a vehicle. Is what we want to do possible? I thought about buying a duel hitch to put on the RV. The top would hold an 85 lbs. bike rack with 4 bikes 2 light weight adult bikes and 2 small child bikes. We would be flat towing a 2012 GMC Acadia with a curb weight of 4,650 lbs. At some point in time, we would like to add 150 lbs. in kayaks to the Acadia. Is any of this at all possible? How should we set up our riginch to be safe and still take our toys?
asked by: Michael H
Expert Reply:
Weight carrying is the gross trailer weight capacity of the hitch. Weight distribution is a device used to better distribute the tongue weight from a trailer to all axles of the tow vehicle and trailer. It produces more stress in certain places on the trailer frame and tow vehicle. As such some vehicles/hitches are not rated for use with weight distribution. Dinghy towing means flat towing or towing a vehicle with all of its wheels on the ground.
So basically your trailer hitch is rated to tow 5,000 pounds when used to flat tow a vehicle. Your Acadia's gross weight when ready to tow it will have to be less than 5,000 pounds.
I assume that the 150 pounds of kayaks is 4 kayaks. Does your 2012 Acadia have crossbars that run side to side on the roof? Does it just have side rails that run front to back? Or does it have a naked roof? I can recommend parts needed if you the vehicle does not have crossbars. Also, check the owner's manual to see if the roof can handle 150 pounds.
You can carry bikes while flat towing the Acadia by using a dual receiver such as # RM-077-4 or # RM-077-2. Keep in mind that with 4 bikes the turning clearance may be reduced between the front of the Acadia and the bikes.
To flat tow the Acadia you will need base plates such as # 523149-1. For a compatible tow bar I recommend the Falcon 2 # RM-520. And for safety cables I recommend # RM-643. For lights you can use a magnetic kit such as # RM-2120. Or for a more permanent solution a diode kit such as # RM-15267.
it also looks like the battery has to be disconnected to flat tow your Acadia. Consult the owner's manual to confirm. It also appears that fuses have to be pulled. To make this process as easy as flipping a switch you can use fuse bypasses # RM76511 and # RM-76517.
You may also need a high/low adapter to keep the tow bar level. I have linked a help article showing how to measure and a link to the high/low adapters we carry.
And finally, most states now require supplemental braking on the vehicle being flat towed. One of the preferred systems for our installers and what I recommend is the SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO proportional system, # SM99251. It will apply the vehicle brakes in proportion to how much the tow vehicle is braking. This is the safest way to stop and it reduces wear and tear on both vehicles.
Be sure to consult your vehicle owners manual for specific information on flat towing the vehicle. I have also included some helpful links to our series of help articles on flat towing for you.
Products Referenced in This Question
Roadmaster EZ Crossbar Style Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms
- Base Plates
- Removable Drawbars
- Twist Lock Attachment
- Roadmaster
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Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter for Tow Bars - 2" Hitches - 2-1/4" Rise/Drop
- Hitch Adapters
- Dual Hitch Adapter
- Bike Racks
- Cargo Carriers
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- 2 Inch Rise/Drop
- 10000 lbs
- Roadmaster
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Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter, 2" or 4" Drop/Rise
- Hitch Adapters
- Dual Hitch Adapter
- Bike Racks
- Cargo Carriers
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- 2 Inch Rise/Drop
- 4 Inch Rise/Drop
- 10000 lbs
- Roadmaster
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Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit
- Tow Bar Wiring
- Splices into Vehicle Wiring
- Diode Kit
- Universal
- Tail Light Mount
- Roadmaster
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Roadmaster Standard Magnetic Tow Lights
- Tow Bar Wiring
- Bypasses Vehicle Wiring
- Removable Tail Light Kit
- 20 Foot Long Harness
- Universal
- Magnetic Mount
- Roadmaster
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RoadMaster 68" Single Hook, Coiled Safety Cables - 6,000 lbs
- Safety Cables
- Coiled Cables
- 68 Inch Long
- 6000 lbs GTW
- Snap Hooks
- Coated Cables
- Roadmaster
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Roadmaster FuseMaster Fuse Bypass Switch for Towed Vehicles - 50-Amp FMX Fuse
- Tow Bar Wiring
- Bypasses Vehicle Wiring
- Fuse Bypass
- Custom
- FMX Fuse
- Engine Compartment
- Roadmaster
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Roadmaster FuseMaster Fuse Bypass - 13" - 20-Amp Mini-Fuse
- Tow Bar Wiring
- Bypasses Vehicle Wiring
- Fuse Bypass
- Custom
- Mini Fuse
- Engine Compartment
- Roadmaster
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Demco Stay-IN-Play Duo Flat Tow Brake System for RVs w/ Hydraulic Brakes - Proportional
- Tow Bar Braking Systems
- Brake Systems
- Proportional System
- One Time Set-Up
- Fixed System
- Power Assist Brake Compatible
- Hydraulic Brakes
- Demco
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Product Page this Question was Asked From
Reese Weight Distribution w/out Shank - Trunnion Bar - 12,000 lbs GTW, 1,200 lbs TW
- Weight Distribution Hitch
- WD Only
- No Sway
- Shank Not Included
- Electric Brake Compatible
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- 1000 lbs
- 1100 lbs
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- 800 lbs
- 900 lbs
- Reese
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