Can a Honda Fit Be Flat Towed?
Wouldn’t it be great if you could travel with your car but still spend your driving time in a more comfortable RV?
Well, luckily, flat towing allows just that.
However, you can not flat tow just any vehicle.
Yes, You can flat tow any Honda Fit made in 2014 or after as long as it has a manual transmission. Yet, before flat towing any vehicle, you should check the owner’s manuals for further information to ensure you do not damage your car.
In this article, I will detail whether you can flat tow the Honda Fit and what equipment you will need to do so.
Then, I will describe how to prepare your Fit for flat towing.
I will end the article by discussing which other Hondas you can flat tow and why you can’t flat tow most cars with automatic transmissions.
Can I Flat Tow a Honda Fit?
You can flat tow any Honda Fit made in 2014 or after as long as it has a manual transmission.
However, just remember to read your owner’s manual to ensure you flat tow your Fit correctly.
To find information about flat towing, you typically need to look for a chapter called “Towing,” and then for a subheading called either “Flat Towing,” “Dinghy Towing,” or “Four-down Towing.”
If you no longer have your owner’s manual, you can find a digital version here.
If you still can’t find the information you need or have further questions, you should contact Honda’s customer service.
What Equipment Do I Need to Flat Tow a Honda Fit?
In the following sections, I will describe what type of equipment you will need to flat tow a Honda Fit.
Tow Bar
One of the most important parts of your towing setup is the tow bar.
The tow bar is usually a V-shaped bar that attaches your car to your RV or truck.
When picking out a tow bar, the most important factor you need to consider is the maximum weight.
And because a Honda Fit weighs between 2,500 pounds (1,134 kg) and 2,700 pounds (1,225 kg), you will need a Class II tow bar since they can tow up to 3,500 pounds (1,588 kg).
As for the type of tow bar, your best bet is a standard tow bar because of how easy they are to use.
Tow Bar Base Plate
To put a tow bar on your Fit, you will need a tow bar base plate.
A tow bar base plate goes on the bottom of your car and has attachment points to accept your tow bar.
When buying a base plate, you’re best off getting a custom one that precisely fits your car.
A quick Google search of “custom base plates” will give you plenty of options for sites where you can order a base plate perfect for your Fit.
Hitch Receiver
Next, you’ll need to make sure you have a hitch receiver.
A hitch receiver is a part of your RV or truck that can accept a tow bar.
And the good thing is that most RVs and some trucks come with a hitch receiver already in place.
But if yours doesn’t, you will have to get your own.
As with the tow bar, the most important factor to consider when buying a hitch receiver is how much weight it can take.
For a Honda Fit, you will most likely need a Class II hitch receiver as they can handle up to 3,500 pounds (1,588 kg).
You also need to make sure your hitch receiver’s height is not more than 3 inches (7.6 cm) higher or lower than your base plate.
If it is, you will need to get a hitch adapter.
Tow Hitch
Typically, you won’t need a tow hitch because most tow bars connect right to the hitch receiver.
However, if you do need a tow hitch, you will have to get a Class II hitch since they can tow up to 3,500 pounds (1,588 kg).
Dinghy Towing Harness
A dinghy towing harness allows you to sync the lights in your RV or truck to your Honda Fit.
And it is pretty important that you buy one of these harnesses and hook it up because most states require you to have this setup for safety reasons.
Auxiliary Braking System
An auxiliary braking system helps your RV or truck stop more efficiently when towing.
You see, all that excess weight of your Fit can put wear on your RV or truck’s brakes, making it harder to stop.
The brakes in your towing vehicle may even fail if you don’t have an auxiliary braking system.
Thus, it is very important that you have one of these systems in place when flat towing.
How to Prep a Honda Fit for Flat Towing
Of course, before heading off on your trip, you must make sure your Honda Fit is ready for the journey.
So, below, I will detail the steps you need to take to ensure you don’t cause any damage to your car.
But, when reading the following information, remember that this is just a general guide, meaning prepping your specific Fit may be slightly different.
Thus, before flat towing, you should contact Honda for their recommendations for flat towing your particular Fit.
How to prepare a Honda Fit for flat towing:
- Put together all the parts of your towing system
- Inspect the towing system to ensure everything is secure
- Start your Fit’s engine
- Press down on the brake and shift through all of your Fit’s gears one by one
- Shift back into drive and then into neutral
- Let the engine run for a couple of minutes before shutting it off
- Turn your Fit’s ignition to ACC 1 so that the steering wheel remains unlocked during your trip
- Ensure that all the extra electrical equipment in your Fit is off so that the battery doesn’t die
After completing these steps, you can safely tow your Fit.
However, remember to stop every eight hours and repeat steps three through eight above to keep your transmission lubricated properly.
Also, when you stop, you should check over your towing system to ensure everything is still secure.
What Other Hondas Can I Flat Tow?
You can flat tow certain years and trims of the Honda CR-V, Accord, Element, and Pilot.
In general, you can only flat tow these vehicles if they are a variation with a manual transmission and rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.
Yet, before flat towing any vehicle, you should check the owner’s manual to make sure Honda recommends flat towing for that car.
Because if you try to flat tow a vehicle not designed for it, you can end up inflicting severe damage on the transmission.
Why Can’t Most Automatic Vehicles Be Flat Towed?
Basically, you can’t flat tow most automatic vehicles because they only lubricate their shafts when the engine is running.
And without lubrication during flat towing, the transmission will suffer severe damage.
Conclusion
You can flat tow any Honda Fit made in 2014 or after as long as it has a manual transmission.
Remember, though, that you should always check Honda’s flat towing recommendations for the specific year and model of your Fit before you attempt flat towing.
