Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2008 Honda CRV

Question:

What parts to I need to use this equipment towing a 2008 Honda CRV behind a Class A RV. I know I need the tow bar itself and a base plate to mount on my CRV, but I am curious as to how it mounts to the Honda CRV. Does it mount to the front bumper or the frame? What else do I need to tow this behind RV? Do I need Light kit for brakes and Tail lights? Do I need any type of Brake kits for braking purposes. Please tell me part numbers and what you recommend. Thank you

asked by: Tim M

Expert Reply:

Your 2008 Honda CR-V needs a base plate kit installed on the front of it like the part # RM-521559-4 which is a confirmed fit and will work well. This attaches to the frame as the bumper would not be strong enough to support the weight of the vehicle. This will work well with the StowMaster part # RM-501 which you referenced.

In addition to the base plates, you will also need a compatible tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking to flat tow your vehicle. The most popular compatible tow bar is the Falcon 2, # RM-520. For safety cables you can use # RM-643. The coiled design helps keep the cables off of the ground.

For lighting you can use the diode kit, # RM-15267, and not have to worry about cutting into the taillight housing. This will splice into your taillight wiring to allow your tow vehicle to control the taillight assemblies of the towed vehicle. This comes with a round 6-way connector that you will install on the front of your towed vehicle and enough coiled wire to go from there to the RV.

And finally, most states now require supplemental braking in the vehicle being flat towed. The easiest system to set up and use is the Blue Ox Patriot # BLU37TR, that applies 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.

Most likely you will also need a high low adapter so that the tow bar will be level when you are flat towing. I attached a link to a page that has all of the ones we carry.

I have included a couple of helpful links to our articles on flat towing for you. Be sure to consult the vehicle owners manual for more specific information on flat towing your vehicle.