Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2008 Saturn VUE with All Wheel Drive
Question:
Hi, My name is Daniel, We were told that we could not use a two wheel Dollie trailer to tow the 4 wheel drive Saturn Vue We need a trailer that carries it off the ground or we need a tow bar that hooks to the RV MotorHome hitch and the other part of the the tow bar is bolted to the SUV. If we use a tow bar, do we put the SUV in neutral ?, Do these tow bars come with hook ups , for braking lights and turn signals ? We need your help on deciding what is best for us to do. Where do we buy what we need to tow this SUV and what kind of or size hitch Ball would I need ? Also if the SUV is traveling on all 4 wheels, does the Odometer still spin off miles while we are towing it ? Thanks For Your Help In This Area Of Thinking
asked by: Daniel A
Expert Reply:
We have the parts you need to flat tow your 2008 Saturn VUE but we don't carry a trailer. To tow the Saturn with all 4 wheels on the ground you need a tow bar, a base plate kit to connect the vehicle to the tow bar, safety cables, wiring to power the Saturn's lights, a braking system, and likely a high-low adapter. All of the parts are sold separately.
There are specific steps outlined in the owner's manual that you need to follow when flat towing your VUE. Failure to perform these steps may cause damage to the vehicle. I've attached a picture that I took directly from the owner's manual that outlines the procedure. The odometer will likely still track mileage as you flat tow.
The Roadmaster Falcon 2 Tow Bar # RM-520 is a great option to tow your Honda. It has a large hookup raidus and self-aligns so hooking up is easier and smoother. You won't need a hitch ball because the tow bar slides right into the receiver opening on your RV.
The Falcon 2 connects right up to the EZ Base Plate Kit # 3151-1A that is designed for your Saturn. Then use # RM-643 for safety cables.
To power the Saturn's lights I suggest the diode kit # RM-15267. This will use the vehicle's tail lights by connecting to the RV's and includes the cord to go between the two. You'll need to pull a fuse in order to tow the VUE. To make this easier we have the Fusemaster Fuse Bypass # RM76511.
A braking system is required to engage the brakes of the Saturn when you step on the brake pedal of the RV. This is so the RV is not stopping the VUE and is for safety. It's also required by law in many states. For a supplemental braking system the SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO # SM99251 is a favorite around here because of how reliable it is and it's easier to install than many other permanently installed systems. The Saturn also requires a Stop Light Switch # RM-751425.
Finally, you'll likely need a high-low adapter. I've attached an article to help you determine the correct rise or drop your setup requires. I've also linked our selection of adapters for you to look at once you know what you need.
In addition to my recommendations I've linked some articles on flat towing that you may find helpful.
Products Referenced in This Question
Roadmaster Crossbar-Style Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms
- Base Plates
- Removable Drawbars
- Hitch Pin Attachment
- Roadmaster
more information >
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
more information >
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
more information >
Roadmaster Stop Light Switch Kit - Saturn Vue
- Tow Bar Braking Systems
- Stop Light Switch
- Roadmaster
more information >
Roadmaster FuseMaster Fuse Bypass - 13" - 20-Amp Mini-Fuse
- Tow Bar Wiring
- Bypasses Vehicle Wiring
- Fuse Bypass
- Custom
- Mini Fuse
- Engine Compartment
- Roadmaster
more information >
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
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Roadmaster Falcon 2 Tow Bar - RV Mount - 2" Hitch - 6,000 lbs
- Tow Bar
- Hitch Mount Style
- Telescoping
- Steel
- 6000 lbs
- Fits Roadmaster Base Plates - Crossbar
- Fits Roadmaster Base Plates - Direct Connect
- Stores on RV
- Standard
- Roadmaster
more information >
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