Flat Towing 2015 Honda Fit EX-L Automatic Behind a Class A Motor Home

Question:

Hi I am considering purchasing a new Honda Fit Automatic, but was wondering the safest method of towing behind a Class A motorhome ? There is really not much said in the Owners Manual other than Emergency Towing and that improper towing behind a Class A can cause transmission damage...which leads me to believe if there was a problem encountered in towing, Honda warranty would not cover it. Can you from your experience give me your best recommendation for the safest way to tow this automatic Honda model ? And if so, what types of trailers / retrofits would be required and what are the costs associated with that ?

asked by: Susan

Expert Reply:

When it comes to deciding if any given vehicle can safely be flat towed with all wheels down that determination goes to the vehicle's manufacturer. I reviewed the online version of the owner's manual for the 2015 Honda Fit EX-L and in the section titled Emergency Towing there is a statement on page 428 that says "...towing behind a motorhome or other motor vehicle can damage the transmission." No mention is made if this refers to all versions or only to versions with the automatic transmission. In general, cars with a manual transmission are usually more easily flat towed than cars with an automatic transmission. You can ask your dealership for clarification.

Some vehicles will require modification for flat towing, such as a driveline disconnect, addition of a transmission lube pump or pre-towing procedures to shift the transfer case to its neutral position. When these steps safely allow flat towing the manual will usually say so. In your case you are likely to be better off with the manual transmission version or another vehicle altogether.

That said, we DO offer base plates for the manual transmission Fit that can be seen on the link provided, such as Blue Ox # BX2261. In addition to base plates flat towing requires safety cables, a wiring or lighting kit, a tow bar and a supplementary braking system. Each of these components is reviewed in detail in the linked article.

A popular tow bar compatible with those base plates is the Blue Ox Alpha # BX7380 that includes safety cables. The easiest option in lighting is a light kit such as the Peterson # PE26UR. The easiest-to-use braking system by far is the Blue Ox Patriot part # BLU37TR which is fully portable and simple to install.