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RV glossary · Hitches & towing gear

Toad

Also called: Towed car, Dinghy

A car towed behind a motorhome, so you can leave the motorhome parked at camp. Only some vehicles can be flat-towed; others need a tow dolly or trailer.

Motorhome owners tow a car so they can leave the motorhome set up at camp and drive the car for errands and sightseeing. The car is called a toad (towed) or dinghy.

There are three common methods: flat towing (four wheels down with a tow bar, only for vehicles the manufacturer approves), a tow dolly (front wheels lifted) or a car trailer. Many states require supplemental braking for towed cars over a certain weight. Check the motorhome’s tow rating and hitch rating.

Related terms

Flat towing
Towing a car behind a motorhome with all four wheels on the road, using a tow bar and base plate. The car’s manufacturer must approve it, and a supplemental braking system is usually required.
Tow dolly
A small two-wheel trailer that lifts a car’s front wheels so it can be towed behind a motorhome with its rear wheels rolling.
Class A motorhome
The largest motorhomes, built on a bus-style or commercial truck chassis with a flat front and a large windshield. They can be gas (front engine) or diesel (usually a rear-engine diesel pusher).

More hitches & towing gear terms

Receiver hitch · Hitch class · Ball mount · Coupler · Weight-distribution hitch · Sway control · Fifth-wheel hitch · Gooseneck hitch

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