Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara Behind an RV

Question:

I have a Suzuki 2001 Grand Vitara. Its an automatic transmission with a transfer case shifter. Can it be towed 4 down without damage to the transmission when transfer case is in neutral?

asked by: Don H

Expert Reply:

I checked a few resources and it appears that you can flat tow your 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara automatic 4x4 behind an RV. But you will want to check the vehicle owner's manual to confirm and for additional information on procedures.

If you determine your model can be flat towed then you will need base plates, a tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking. For base plates you can use Roadmaster set # 1011-3. For a compatible tow bar you can use the popular Falcon 2 # RM-520. And for safety cables I recommend # RM-643. The coiled design helps keep the cables off of the ground.

For lighting one of the more popular options that our installers favor is the bulb and socket kit # RM-155. It bypasses the vehicle wiring so you won't have to splice into it for installation.

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.

The # RM-88400 relay is required to prevent the towed vehicle's brake signal from overriding the turn signal from the RV when applying the brakes during a turn.

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.