Can a 2008 Honda Fit be Flat Recreational Towed at 65 mph

Question:

I read the info on your site about flat towing a 2007 2011 Honda Fit. Thanks for the info. I have a 2008, in the manual it says not to go more than 50 miles and stay under 35 MPH. Im looking for any other info you may have, like, you know several people that tow this vehicle and its not a problem, or some real world experience that will give me a little bit of assurance that this will now totally trash my car if I flat tow it at 65 MPH for several hours per day. I know you cant guarantee anything, but just thought Id ask thanks

asked by: Jennifer

Expert Reply:

I looked up the owner's manual for your 2008 Honda Fit and if you check look at the "Towing Your Vehicle Behind a Motorhome" section which starts at page 173 you will note that it actually states you can tow your vehicle up to 65 mph but not to exceed that speed limit. I believe that you were looking at the "Emergency Towing" section on page 238 where it states not traveling over 50 miles and to stay under 35 mph.

For a complete flat towing setup you will need a base plate kit, tow bar, safety cables, vehicle tow bar wiring, a supplemental braking system, and possibly a high-low adapter.

For a base plate kit I recommend the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX2252 which is compatible with your Honda Fit. You can then use the Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar # BX7380 which comes with safety cables rated for 6,500 lbs.

In the towing section for your Honda Fit it mentions keeping your ignition switch in the Accessory position. Because of this I recommend installing the Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit # RM-15267 to activate the tail lights on your vehicle and the Battery Charge Line Kit # RM-156-25 to keep your battery from dying. Just simply connect the charge line kit to the positive terminal on the Honda Fit battery and then run the wire to the middle pin of the 6-Way that can with the wiring kit.

If you plan on flat towing frequently then the SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO # SM99251 is a great option for a supplemental braking system. The initial installation is a bit involved, but once it is installed it stays out of the way and is activated by connecting to your motorhome and switching the system on.

If you only plan on towing once in awhile you may want to use the Blue Ox Patriot II # BRK2019 instead. This system is portable so you can use it in a variety of vehicles easily, but it does require storage space when not in use and you have to install it each time you flat tow.

Most flat towing applications require the use of a high-low adapter for the tow bar to remain level. I have attached a link to our selection of adapters as well as a helpful article you can reference to help you choose the correct one.

I have attached some additional videos for you to check out, but you also need to consult your owner's manual and follow any specific instructions regarding flat towing.