Dingy Towing for 2017/2018 Toyota Corolla iM

Question:

We are looking for a 2017 and 2018 Corolla IM. According to Good Sam dinghy towable vehicles, these two years and models can be flat towed. I checked for the tow bar and baseplates for these models and did not see any. So... are they?

asked by: Steve

Expert Reply:

The 2017 and 2018 Toyota Corolla IM are both capable of being flat towed if equipped with a manual transmission. If they have an automatic it will have to be dolly or trailer towed. For a Tow dolly I recommend the Roadmaster Tow Dolly with Electric Brakes # RM-2050-1.

For Flat towing it will require a few things to be added. The first is the Base Plate # RM-521195-5. I recommend this as its a direct connect base plate that doesn't require use of a cross bar. That means less parts to connect and a simpler hookup every time. You will want to measure the height of your Corolla where the tabs will be fitted (see installation instructions) and compare that with the motorhome's trailer hitch receiver height. I always recommend doing this ahead of time so that when you're ready to tow you know you have everything you need. The heights should be within 3" of each other otherwise you will need to get a corresponding High Low Adapter for Tow Bars similar to # RM-058-4. This may or may not be what you are looking for based on your measurements. If you are unsure of what you need here please let me know and I will give you my recommendation.

For Tow Bars I suggest the Roadmaster Nighthawk All Terrain # RM-676. They are rated for 8,000lbs which exceeds that of your Corolla. The wiring is already attached to the Tow Bars for added convenience. These bars are made of aluminum and powder coated to last. They also have channels built in for running your safety cables to keep them dragging or getting caught up by the roadway hazards. The RoadMaster Nighthawk All Terrain Towing Combo Kit # RM-9284-2 will give you the storage bags, locks, and electrical to add lighting to your Corolla so that you don't have to use the removable magnetic lighting. Less parts equals fast and easy hook ups.

Since I don't know what you are towing with I will give you two suggestions for a braking system.

For a motorhome that uses air brakes the Air Force One # SM99243 is the one I recommend. It connects with the air brakes on the motorhome so that the Corolla will only supply braking when the motorhome applies braking. It is a small unit that is mounted under the hood of your Corolla and once it is set up the first time it never needs to be reset.

For a motorhome with hydraulic brakes the Stay-IN-Play DUO # SM99251 will be what I recommend. This system is in my opinion the best for supplemental braking as it is one of the few systems that looks for both brake light activation and the inertia caused by using the brakes in the motorhome. Which means no false braking because you are coasting down a hill or letting the vehicles weight slow you down. It is also a one time setup so the only thing you will need to do to use the system is flip a switch once it is ready to tow.