I DINGHY TOWING GUIDE

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2 I DINGHY TOWING GUIDE JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA SATURN (L-R): SL2, SC2, SW2 FORD EXPLORER DODGE/PLYMOUTH NEON et ather passenger car, the midsize Chevrolet Malib, has been added to the list of vehicles eqipped with atomatic transmissions that are dinghytowable on their own wheels. For sevl 46 era] years, Satrn was the only manfactrer officially approving atomatictransmission passenger cars for flat towing, bt Chevy and Pontiac entered the fray last year by approving Cavaliers and Snfires with for-speed atomatics. The 1997 Malib, which can be towed with a for-speed atomatic, has been designed to compete in the rapidly growing midsize marketplace. With more head-, sholder- and hip room front and rear than the Cavalier, the Malib also offers more cargo capacity (13.4 verses 16.4 cbic feet). Standard eqipment incldes

3 I DINGHY TOWING GUIDE CARS VEHICLE CURB WEIGHT SPEED/ DISTANCE LIMITS W/MANUAL W/AUTO EPA MPG CITY/HWY RETAIL PRICE CHEVROLET Cavalier Malib *With 4-speed atomatic 2,617 3,1 ne ne ne * * 25/37 24/38 $11,48 $15,995 - DODGE/PLYMOUTH Neon 2-dr Neon 4-dr 2,385 2,428 ne ne 28/38 28/38 $1,395 $1,595 FORD/MERCURY Aspire Contor/Mystiqe Escort Probe Tracer 2,56 2,769 2,457 2,69 2,457 55/ne 55/ne 65/ne 55/ne 55/ne 34/42 24/34 28/37 26/33 28/37 $ 9,53 $13,995 $11,43 $14,68 $11,56 Metro 1,832 55/ne 44/49 $ 8,58 HYUNDAI Accent Elontro Sonata Tibron 2,11 2,458 2,935 2,566 legal/ne legal/ne legal/ne legal/ne 28/37 24/32 21/28 22/3 $ 8,599 $11,99 $14,749 $13,499 MITSUBISHI Mirage 2,127 ne 36/4 $1,44 NISSAN 2SX 24SX Altimo Maximo Sentro 2,33 2,8 2,853 3,1 2,315 7/5 7/5 7/5 7/5 7/5 3/39 22/28 24/3 22/27 3/4 $12,999 $18,359 $15,849 $21,499 $11,499 PONTIAC Grand Am Snfire 2,835 2,627 55/ne 55/ne 22/33 25/37 $15,159 $12,559 SATURN SC-series SL-series SW-series 2,39 2,321 2,39 65/ne 65/ne 65/ne manal 28/4 ato 27 /37 manal 28/4 ato 27 /37 manal 28/37 ato 27 /34 $12,795 $1;995 $12,595 SUZUKI Swift Hatchback 1,878 55/ne 39/43 $ 9,359 the flat-towable 4T4-E electronically controlled atomatic transmission, air-conditioning and for-wheel antilock brake system (ABS). Most manfactrers prohibit towing their atomatic-transmission vehicles on their own wheels except for-wheel-drive ( 4WD) models whose transfer cases can be shifted into netral to prevent transmission damage. In contrast, the for GM models are officially approved becase the 4T4-E electronically controlled transmission was specifically designed from its inception to be flat towable, a table effort on the part MOTORHOME, FEBRUARY 1997 of GM to address the needs of RVminded cstomers. All' of the 1997 model-year vehicles listed in these pages have been approved by their manfactrers for towing with all for wheels on the grond. Some cars and trcks t listed here (t approved) are flat-towed 47 I

4 SPORT-UTILITIES AND PICKUPS VEHICLE CURB WEIGHT SPEED/ DISTANCE LIMITS W/MANUAL W/AUTO EPA MPG CITY/HWY RETAIL PRICE Blazer 4WD S-1 4WD * With manal transfer case Dakota Ram * With 4WD only 3,814 3,356 3,767 4,525 ne ne ne ne CHEVROLET DODGE FORD * * * * * * * Expedition 4WD 4,829 55/ne * * Explorer 2WD 3,77 55/ne Explorer 4WD 3,931 55/ne ** ** F-Series 4WD 4,135 55/ne * * Montaineer 3,93 55/ne n/a ** Ranger 2WD 2,97 55/ne, Ranger 4WD 3,41 55/ne * * * With manal transfer case. **With electric (dealer-activated program reqired) or manal transfer case. 16/21 16/21 15/19 13/17 14/18 18/23 16/2 16/2 14/18 22/27 2/25 $21,24 $15,71 $17,19 $19,5 $27,91 $2,61 $22,575 $18,585 $27,765 $11,38 $16,775 Tracker 2-dr 2,339 55/2* * * Tracker 4-dr 2,619 55/2* * * * With manal hbs only; after 2 miles, operate engine one minte with manal transmission in second, atomatic transmission in drive. 24/26 24/26 $13,31 $15,66 Jimmy 4WD 2-dr Jimmy 4WD 4-dr Soma 4WD *With manal transfer case 3,815 4,13 3,469 ne ne ne * * * * * * 17/22 17/22 17/22 $22,362 $24,362 $16,367 JEEP Cherokee Grand Cherokee. Wrangler ''With 4WD only **'96Price 3,111 3,785 3,229 ne ne ne * * * * * * 19/22 15/2 19/21 **$16, 16 $27,515 $13,47 Sportage 2WD Sportage 4WD 3,69 3,28 55/4* 55/4* *After 4 miles, operate engine for 3-5 mintes to lbricate transmission. * * 19/23 2/24 $14,495 $15,995 2WD B-Series Pickp 2,927 55/ne 4WD B-Series Pickp _3,242 55/ne *With manal transfer case * * 25/28 22/26 $1,37 $16,265 NISSAN Pathfinder 3,675 6/2/5* ** 17 /2 $22,899 Pickp 2WD 2,815 6/5 21 /26 $1,999 Pickp 4WD 3,395 6/5 ** 17/2 $16,199 * V-6 engine: 2-mile limit; 4-cylinder: 5-mile limit. Start engine to circlate transmission flids when this limit is reached. ** Transfer case mst be left in 2H, transmission in netral. SUZUKI Sidekick 2-dr 4WD 2,546 55/2* * * manal 23/26 $15,69 ato 23/24 Sidekick 4-dr 4WD 2,756 55/2* * * manal 23/26 $16,419 ato 22/25 Sidekick Sport 4WD 2,954 55/2* * * manal 22/25 $18,119 ato 21/24 X-9 SUV 4WD 2,5 55/2* * * manal 25/28 $14,979 ato 23/27 * With manal hbs only; after 2 miles, operate engine one minte with manal transmission in second, atomatic transmission in drive. I 48 contined on page 112

5 Like Choices? 36th YEAR I DINGHY TOWING GUIDE contined fro111 page 48 1: </),, '., - Yo'll Love O - SPORTSMOB/LE ' FACTORY DIRECT TO YOU This way yo work directly with a kwledgeable Sportsmobile designer in planning yor van motorhome with or van planner, jst the way yo want it. And it doesn't cost any more. Or select from over 4 standard plans. 4X4s also available. Sportsmobile - second home / second car. WE'RE KNOWN FOR QUALITY No one bilds them belier, safer or with more invations. ST ARCOOL AJA CONDITIONER Cools front and rear when.driving (12V) c: and parked (11V). Reqires mmimm O interioi' space 12, BTU. A-134A ozone ' friendly. Patented system exdsive 1 N Spo.-tsmobile. A most poplar option.., ~ ~ jj E f a_ </) 1: </) ' :;; "U C E il'send TODAY FOR COMPLETE INFO PKG/ PRICES s-. -- MANUFACTURING & SALES ---- AUSTIN. TX - 985M Gray Blvd CLOVIS, CA - 425M N Mmnewawa HUNTINGTON. IN - 25M Cort 4675 THE BEST DEALS, THE BEST SERVICE! CALL US BEFORE YOU BUY! :524 FAX (515) HWY 169, Elmore, MN miles soth of 1-9 on HWY with damage, and owners of these cars will tell yo that "eve ry one does it." Bt nless flat-towing for long distances at highway speeds is specifically approved in the vehicle owner's manal, drivetrain warranty coverage may be denied if damage can be attribted to dinghy towing. For those vehicles t approved for flat towing, a nmber of aftermarket devices can be sed to make jst abot anything towable. Some of these aftermarket add-ons inclde driveshaft disconnects, drive-axle disconnects or lbrication pmps, bt one of the most common methods is to pt the drive wheels on a trailer, either a fll-length trailer or a tow dolly. Tow dollies are two-wheeled platforms that cradle the drive wheels of the vehicle being towed and allow tag-along transportation withot risk of drivetrain damage. Most all-wheeldrive models mst be towed with all fors on a trailer. These listings pertain only to 1997 model-year vehicles. MoTORHOME's "Dinghy Towing Gide" has been pblished annally since 199, and photocopies of prior gides are available; call (85) for information. I GENERAL MOTORS The General contines to be the only manfactrer offering passenger cars and even tre convertibles with atomatics as towable dinghies (check ot the bright-red Pontiac Snfire photo at the beginning of this article) with the Cavalier and Snfire leading the "rag-top" brigade once more. The new '97 Chevrolet Malib is also cleared for flat-towing. All Satrn sedans, hardtops and station wagons contine to be towable with atomatics or manal gearboxes. I CHRYSLER CORPORATION With the retrn of the new Jeep Wrangler, Ch ry sler Corporation offsets the demise of the Eagle-brand towable, the Smmit, leaving only the Neon to carry the passenger car towable banner. Jeep's new open-air contender featres a total redesign, bt sticks with the trsted drivetrains from the prior version. Cosmetically redesigned for '97 is the rondedoff Cherokee. The Cherokee has an extensive list of options, making this one of the most versatile Jeeps ever offered. Both the stylish new Dakota and the fll-size Ram can be flat-towed when ordered with 4WD, althogh the fll-size trck is qite heavy for towing. The new "Baby Ram" look is the first major design change in the Dakota since its introdction as a 1987 model. I FORD/MERCURY Big news this year for Ford, and we do mean big, is the introdction of the Expedition. This brings Ford Motor Company to the towable table with 1 model offerings, inclding five passenger cars and five sport-tility vehicles (SlNs) and trcks. However, if yo want to tow a Ford with an atomatic transmission, yo still have to look to a properly eqipped 4WD pickp or SUV The latest F-Series pickps can also be flat-towed when ordered with 4WD and the manal transfer case, althogh they are qite heavy. I KrA Kia's compact SUV, the poplar Sportage, contines into its second year of prodction. Both the 2WD and the 4WD versions are towable when ordered with the manal transmission. I NISSAN Nissan stiplates a distance limit on flat-towing its manal transmission-eqipped cars and trcks. When this mileage is reached (5 miles for vehicles eqipped with forcylinder engines and 2 miles for vehicles eqipped with manally shifted V-6 engines), the engine shold be started and allowed to rn for a few mintes to help ensre proper lbrication of the transmission. I IN CLOSING Regardless of which brand or model yo prefer, be sre that yo

6 I DINGHY TOWING GUIDE see in writing that the vehicle is towable with the eqipment and options yo intend to prchase. Follow procedres recommended by the manfactrer. To determine how mch yor motorhome is rated to tow, sbtract the actal loaded weight of yor coach (inclding water, fel, spplies and passengers) from the manfactrer's gross combination weight rating (gcwr). Some chassis manfactrers specify a maximm weight that may be towed withot a separate braking system for the towed vehicle. A few motorhomers were ticketed last smmer in British Colmbia, Canada, for t having brakes and breakaway stopping systems on their dinghy vehicles. Atomatic Eqipment ( ), P&E Indstries Incorporated ( ), Remco ( ) and Roadmaster ( ) offer towed-vehicle braking systems that se the brakes on the dinghy to help stop the motorhomeand-dinghy combination. We will present new developments on these systems as they occr. I Do Yo Have Money to Brn? If yo are t a Good Sam Clb member yo can be losing money and missing ot on some great benefits that can give yo disconts, low-cost Emergency Road Service, vehicle and medical insrance plans, financing, or FREE services and mch more! If yo'd like more information abot membership in the Good Sam Clb call toll-free Getting away from it all longer means leaving behind the conveniences of home, or dealing with the fmes, ise and hassles of the generator. Jst trn on the microwave, TV, stereo or any other appliance and yor Trace inverter qietly and atomatically comes to life, providing all the power needed from yor battery bank. Mother Natre will thank yo. Trace ENGINEERING th N.E. Arlington, Washington U.S.A. (36) Fax: (36) SOLD FROM FACTORY ONLY-NO DEALERS-37TH YEAR. : '. - : : -.; Stop by or factory and treat yorself to a factory tor_ Test drive a 22, 26½", or the ALL NEI/V 3 of yor choice_ Or, reqest a brochre_ LAZY DAZE 433-C E. Mission Blvd. Pomona, CA (99) Otside Calif. call (8) ' - - U') "O C,... "' 113 I