Your car may be towable behind an RV, but there’s no universal answer. The correct method depends on the exact RV, car, model year, configuration, and manufacturer instructions.
Check the car and RV manuals first
Start with the current manuals for both vehicles. Don’t rely on a model list, an older guide, or advice about a similar car. Two vehicles sharing a name may have different towing instructions.
Check the car manual’s index for recreational towing. You may also find sections labeled flat towing, dinghy towing, or towing behind a motorhome. Read the full section, including every warning and preparation step.
The RV manual matters just as much. Find its towing section and identify the ratings, connection requirements, and restrictions for your exact configuration. Check any separate instructions supplied with the hitch or related equipment.
Don’t assume an all-wheel-drive car can or can’t be towed. The approved method depends on the specific vehicle. Its current manual must provide that answer. The same caution applies to automatic transmissions, hybrids, electric vehicles, and four-wheel-drive systems.
No reliable universal list confirms which 2026 cars can be flat towed. Manufacturer instructions can change between model years and configurations. If you’re shopping for a tow car for an RV, read the manual for the exact vehicle before buying it.
When the manual is missing or unclear, contact the manufacturer. Ask for instructions tied to the vehicle identification number or exact configuration. Get clarification before purchasing equipment or moving the car.
If one manual prohibits the planned setup, stop there. Don’t treat an aftermarket part or another owner’s experience as permission from the manufacturer.
Compare flat towing with trailer transport
There are several ways to move a car behind an RV. The right choice begins with the methods allowed by both vehicle manufacturers.
With flat towing, the car remains on its own four tires. A tow bar connects it to the RV. This method should only be considered when the car manual expressly permits it and gives a complete procedure.
A tow dolly carries part of the car while other tires remain on the road. A full trailer carries the entire vehicle. Don’t assume either method works for every car. The car, dolly, trailer, hitch, and RV instructions must agree.
Build a simple comparison before choosing:
- Does the car manual approve the method?
- Does the RV manual permit the complete load?
- Which tires remain on the road?
- What preparation does each manual require?
- Where will the dolly or trailer be stored?
- Who will inspect the completed setup?
- What does each manufacturer say about reversing?
- Will the route cross into another state?
Drivers also ask whether towing adds miles to the car. There isn’t one answer for every vehicle. Check the odometer and recreational-towing sections of the car manual. Ask the manufacturer if those sections don’t settle it.
Don’t choose from convenience alone. A method that looks simpler may still conflict with the car’s instructions. Trailer transport also introduces another set of ratings and instructions to verify.
Our RV and trailer towing referral line is for drivers who need an independent operator. Quick Tow EP doesn’t sell, install, or supply RV towing equipment.
Confirm weight and equipment requirements
Don’t begin with a popular percentage or an online rule. Begin with the labels, manuals, and documentation for the exact vehicles and equipment involved.
Some RV owners mention an “80% rule.” We couldn’t confirm a universal legal or manufacturer-backed rule by that name. It isn’t a substitute for the limits and instructions supplied by each manufacturer.
Collect the information before speaking with an installer or operator:
- The RV’s year, make, model, and configuration
- The car’s year, make, model, and configuration
- The car’s current condition
- The planned towing method
- The relevant ratings shown by the manufacturers
- The weight of installed equipment and carried items
- The hitch and towing-equipment documentation
- The full route, including every state crossed
Don’t copy a weight from a listing for another trim. Read the labels and current documents for your actual vehicles. If cargo changes the load, include it when following the manufacturer’s calculation method.
Equipment requirements also vary. Don’t build a shopping list from a general article. Use the instructions for the RV, car, hitch, tow bar, dolly, trailer, and any other component involved. Confirm that the complete setup is permitted, not merely that each part fits somewhere.
Legal requirements can also change across a route. This page doesn’t provide a universal equipment rule because no such rule was confirmed in the approved sources. Ask the appropriate motor-vehicle authority about each jurisdiction on your trip.
That distinction matters around El Paso. I-10 and Loop 375 can carry a traveler from Texas toward the New Mexico line. Sunland Park and Santa Teresa are governed by New Mexico rules, not Texas towing rules.
Know when professional transport may fit
Professional transport may fit when the manuals prohibit flat towing, conflict with each other, or don’t clearly address your configuration. It may also make sense when the car has damage or the planned equipment can’t be verified.
Don’t improvise a recreational towing setup on the shoulder of I-10, US-54, or Loop 375. Move away from traffic when you can do so safely. Then explain the situation accurately when calling for help.
An independent operator will need to evaluate the vehicles and decide what equipment fits the job. Quick Tow EP doesn’t make that equipment decision. We connect callers with independent, separately licensed local tow operators.
Texas requires towing operators and towing companies operating over public roadways to hold the appropriate licenses, subject to stated exemptions. You can check an operator through the TDLR license search.
Tell the operator if the car has steering, tire, axle, suspension, or collision damage. Don’t present a damaged car as a normal recreational-towing job. Mention whether the RV can move under its own power and where both vehicles are located.
El Paso geography affects the conversation. A vehicle near Mesa Street isn’t in the same situation as one beyond Horizon Boulevard. A stop in Sunland Park also crosses into a different state jurisdiction. Give the exact location and state.
The operator sets the price for a consent tow. Quick Tow EP doesn’t set prices or quote totals. Confirm the proposed method and total directly with the operator before the truck hooks up.
Prepare questions for the independent operator
Have the manuals, keys, and vehicle details ready before calling. Clear information helps the independent operator understand what must be moved.
Start with these questions:
- Have you handled this type of RV and passenger vehicle?
- What transport method do you propose?
- What information do you need from both manuals?
- Does either vehicle’s condition change the method?
- Will both vehicles be moved, or only the car?
- Where will the car be delivered?
- Who will handle any RV towing equipment already installed?
- What total will I pay directly to you?
- Are there route limits or access issues to discuss?
- What arrival estimate can you provide?
Don’t say only that you need to “tow car behind RV.” Explain whether you’re planning future travel or dealing with a current roadside problem. Those are different jobs.
For a current problem, share the exact road, direction of travel, nearby exit, and safe meeting point. Name the correct corridor, such as I-10, Loop 375, US-54, or Horizon Boulevard. Say whether you’re inside El Paso, elsewhere in Texas, or across the New Mexico line.
Ask the operator to explain any preparation you must complete. Compare that explanation with both vehicle manuals. If the directions conflict, pause and contact the manufacturer.
Before the truck hooks up, confirm the proposed transport method and price with the operator. You’ll deal with and pay that independent company directly. Quick Tow EP doesn’t own trucks, employ drivers, promise availability, or quote the job.
When to call us
Call when the manuals don’t support your planned setup, the car is damaged, or professional transport is the safer next step. Call us at (915) 615-5465 and we’ll connect you with an independent licensed operator who handles this work. If nobody picks up, leave a voicemail.