Towing a Car Behind a Motorhome: The Ultimate Guide

One of the greatest aspects of motorhome travel is the convenience of everything you need being in one vehicle without the need for towing a caravan. But, this can limit your freedom once you’re at your destination – motorhomes aren’t quite as nimble as a car. That’s why many question the possibility of towing a car behind a motorhome, with the practicality of this being surprisingly simple.

If you’re on the search for brand-new motorhomes for sale, you’ve arrived at your destination. At Spinney, we offer a whole range of vehicles, including cutting-edge motorhomes from Bailey of Bristol and popular Yorkshire-made Swift models, among many others. In addition, we also supply used motorhomes that offer the same high quality without breaking your budget.

But, don’t just limit yourself to motorhomes, you may prefer the more compact offerings of a campervan instead. Explore both motorhomes and brand-new campervans online at Spinney, choosing from the very best brands in the business that are manufacturing innovative solutions that push the boundaries of what leisure vehicles can do.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before you discover our vehicles on offer, let’s explore the details of towing a car behind a motorhome.

Can you tow a car behind a motorhome?

Yes, you can certainly tow a car behind a motorhome, with this giving you extra flexibility to travel when you’re on holiday. The vast majority of motorhomes will be suitable for towing, but those with large rear overhangs or a lack of chassis support on the rear are unfit for use. Although towing a car behind your motorhome is a great option, you need to make sure, long before you travel, what your motorhome can and can’t tow.

What can your motorhome tow?

Exactly what your motorhome can tow depends on its towing capacity. This figure can be found in your vehicle’s manual and provides you with the maximum weight a chassis can handle, differing from one motorhome to the next. Exceeding this capacity creates an unsafe driving situation for you and other road users and will likely result in you damaging your own vehicle.

Why would you tow a car with a motorhome?

It may seem like a strange idea to tow a car behind a motorhome – it can certainly look odd on the road – but you’ll have the last laugh when you arrive at your destination. The following three benefits may be the deciding factors of whether you buy a motorhome or a caravan.

• Enjoy the freedom of unrestricted exploration once you’ve arrived at your destination, using your nippy car to get from A to B.
• Parking can be a real challenge in a motorhome, especially when you’re trying to navigate cute car parks in ancient villages. Cars mean you can get to the job far quicker with peace of mind.
• Combat the tight, winding roads of the countryside and easily escape for effortless daytime excursions.

Types of motorhome towing methods

Cars can be towed by a motorhome in a variety of ways, with each one bringing its own positives and negatives. Exactly which towing method you choose depends on the type of car you intend to tow, with personal preference also coming into play.

1. Towbars

The simplest way to tow a car behind a motorhome is by using a towbar that links from the back of your motorhome to the front of the towed vehicle. Keeping all four wheels on the road, a safety chain is often used to link the two vehicles together to offer increased stability. Cheap and easy to fit, if your motorhome can use a towbar, it’s an efficient solution.

Key considerations

• An additional brake light and indicator system will be needed for this method.
• Though cheap and simple to fit onto some motorhomes, this method won’t be suitable for all types of motorhomes with different models, sizes and layouts, making the use of a towbar impossible.
• If you want to use a towbar to tow a car, make sure you enquire about this when purchasing your new motorhome.

2. A-Frames

As the name suggests, this is an A-shaped towing frame that attaches to the front of the car from the motorhome’s tow bar. Legally treated as a trailer, we’d recommend that an A-frame be fitted by a professional, especially as most will be connected to the car’s electrical system and it’s crucial this is correctly set up to meet legal requirements.

Key considerations

• Additional braking systems are needed for any cars that exceed 750kg.
• Towed vehicles must have two reflective triangles on display at the rear, and the registration plate should be replaced with that of the towing motorhome.
• Due to the pivot at the front, reversing can be particularly difficult when using an A-frame.
• The use of an A-frame is prohibited in many EU countries.

3. Two-wheeled dollies

Looking a little bit like a half-trailer, a two-wheeled dolly fits onto the back of your motorhome and lifts the two front wheels of the towed vehicle off the ground. Though a great option for two-wheel drive vehicles, it’s imperative to double-check your motorhome’s towing capacity so as not to overload the braking system.

Key considerations

• To tow rear-wheel drive vehicles, the drive shaft of the towed vehicle must be disconnected and removed.
• The mass of the two-wheeled dolly should be included with the car itself when you’re calculating the total towing weight.

4. Car trailers

This method of flat towing allows you to tow almost any type of car, using a flat trailer platform (available in a variety of shapes and sizes) that secures firmly onto the back of your motorhome. Many users find this option easier to use than the aforementioned methods, with manoeuvring and reversing being slightly more straightforward.

Key considerations

• This option is perfect for 4x4s or automatic cars where all four wheels must be off the ground to tow.
• Car trailers are considerably more expensive than other options and require storage when not in use.
• Using a flat trailer often requires a vehicle with a high towing capacity.

The equipment you need for motorhome towing

The equipment you need to achieve a safe and legal towing experience is dependent on what method you choose to use, but many accessories are needed regardless. When preparing to tow a car with a motorhome, like one of Elddis’ beloved models, make sure you have the following equipment:

• Trailer lights and indicators: These should be connected to your motorhome using a wiring harness or another solution.
• Supplemental Braking System: This device applies the brakes to the towed vehicle at the same time as when you brake while driving your motorhome.
• Baseplate: This attaches to the towed vehicle to make flat towing a possibility.
• Breakaway system: Attached to the braking system of the towed vehicle, if the connection of these cables is broken and the tow vehicle unhooks, the brakes will be activated.
• Towing mirrors: These should be used if the car you’re towing is obscuring your rearview line of sight.
• Licence plate: The licence plate of your towing vehicle must be placed on the rear of the vehicle being towed. Halfords is a registered number plate supplier, joining multiple others across the country.

Legal requirements for towing a car behind a motorhome

Unsurprisingly, the laws surrounding towing a car behind a motorhome are strict and include the following stipulations:

• If you are towing a car behind a motorhome, you are limited to a maximum speed of 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on motorways or dual carriageways.
• While on the motorway, you are not allowed in the outside lane when there are three or more lanes.
• When using a trailer, the maximum width is 2.55 metres and the maximum length for a trailer is 7 metres (when towed by a 3,500kg vehicle).
• An unbraked trailer with a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) must not exceed 750kg or half the kerb weight of the motorhome, according to The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations.
• No matter the weight, if a trailer has brakes, they must operate properly.

Licence requirements to tow a car

The laws surrounding driving licence categories can be complex, so we thought we’d give you a straightforward breakdown.

• Anyone who passed their driving test before 1997 has a C1 entitlement, which means they can drive any vehicle up to 7500kg and tow a trailer up to 750kg (8,250kg total MAM). This entitlement is taken away at the age of 70 but can be reinstated with a valid doctor’s note.
• Anyone who completed their driving test after 1997 has a category B licence and is allowed to drive a car or van up to 3,500kg and tow a trailer up to 750kg. The total MAM cannot exceed 3,500kg.
• To drive a vehicle with a trailer over 750kg and a combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle that doesn’t exceed 12,000kg, you will need a category C1E driving licence.

Do I need specific insurance to tow a car behind a motorhome?

More often than not, your motorhome policy should provide third-party insurance for when you’re towing a car or a trailer. It’s imperative, however, that you double-check your policy to make sure it’s covered and you’re staying within the law. Meanwhile, if the towed car takes any damage while on the road, this will be covered by the separate car policy.

If a change of insurance policy is needed, this will impact how much your motorhome costs to annually run.

Are the towing laws different abroad?

Yes, the towing laws are different from one country to the next, so if you’re planning to tow your car abroad, you should always do your research. European countries, particularly France and Spain, can be strict when it comes to the use of A-frames, so it’s best to use a car trailer if you’re planning on leaving the country to stay compliant with EU regulations.

10 safety considerations when towing a car behind a motorhome

Towing a car behind a motorhome is generally very safe to do, with users often getting over their brief anxiety once they’ve been driving for an hour or so. Indeed, as long as you follow the proper safety precautions, good practice can be upheld and accidents can be avoided. Consider following our ten safety tips when towing a car behind a motorhome, below.

1. Where possible, flat towing a vehicle with an A-frame or car trailer is generally considered the safest way to travel.
2. Do your research and check the legality of towing abroad if you’re country-hopping.
3. Never exceed the towing capacity of your motorhome – this can cause legal and mechanical difficulties.
4. Only purchase quality towing equipment from reputable dealers – why not explore our very own accessories shop at Spinney?
5. Make sure the load is evenly balanced, using braces to securely fasten it. This will make the trailer easy to tow, reducing sway to a minimum and will also protect against theft.
6. Research your trip, avoiding narrow roads, low bridges and days of particularly poor weather conditions.
7. Pay close attention to your vehicle and trailer, using mirrors continuously to monitor for any irregularities.
8. Use a supplemental braking system to prevent the potential occurrence of on-road incidents.
9. Be vigilant when it comes to tyre maintenance on both the motorhome and the towed vehicle. Make sure they are properly maintained and inflated.
10. Adjust your driving when towing a car (more on that in the next section!).

Driving considerations when towing

Although driving a motorhome, like one of Auto-Trail’s stunning models, while towing a car is straightforward, it does feel a little different from normal. If you’re not experienced with how the vehicle handles, you might want to get some training manoeuvring around your local area before you take to the motorway. While driving, you may experience the following challenges:

• Parking and tight manoeuvres: Plan your route to try and avoid tight roads and, where possible, choose quiet parking spots.
• Vehicle handling: This can be aided by careful nose weight distribution.
• Hard braking: Make sure you leave a sufficient stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front.
• Worsened fuel efficiency: Thanks to the increased amount of weight, you may find that you fill up more frequently with fuel.
• Increased maintenance: Towing a car can cause stress to the transmission, suspension and tyres – you may experience more frequent servicing trips at the local garage.

From motorhomes to trailers - find it all at Spinney

Thinking of towing a car behind a motorhome when you next go on holiday? We have absolutely everything you need to get started. If you’re looking for a motorhome, we have a whole collection of small motorhomes for sale to luxury models from Coachman and beyond. Have the motorhome but need the trailer? Don’t worry, we can sort that out for you too.

If you’re not sure where to start, you can have the peace of mind of shopping only the best motorhome brands at Spinney, including exemplary motorhomes from Adria and outstanding vehicles from Roller Team. But, before you make your decision, why not take advantage of our ‘try before you buy’ service that allows you to test-drive your dream motorhome and get a feel for how it handles before you commit to the purchase?

We understand that buying a motorhome is not a simple decision, so we make it as easy as possible for you to make the best decision. In addition to our entire range being available online, you can also visit us in-store at any of our northern branches if you’d rather do face-to-face advice. No matter what question you may have about your caravan, campervan or motorhome, at Spinney, we can lend a hand – contact us today to get started.
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