How to Flat Tow a Chevrolet Traverse Behind a Class A Motorhome (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Dana Shik
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
Finding a spacious, modern family SUV that can be flat-towed (dinghy towed) on all four wheels behind an RV has gotten harder over the years. While there are several great 3-row SUVs on the market that can be flat-towed, almost all of them tip the scales well over 5,000 lbs. If your motorhome’s towing capacity is capped at 5,000 lbs—or your Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) strictly limits your toad weight—the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse emerges as the clear winner. It remains the only true 7-seater (3-row) SUV under 5,000 lbs that is factory-approved for flat towing.
When we were setting up our 2023 Chevrolet Traverse as a toad for our 2015 Itasca Sunstar 35B Class A motorhome, we noticed something frustrating: despite being such an ideal tow vehicle, there wasn't a single detailed step-by-step video or guide walking through the exact connection sequence of the various systems!
To save you the headache and guesswork, here is our complete, real-world connection guide using a Blue Ox Alpha tow bar, an RVi Shadow 2 braking system, and a Roadmaster Battery Ace remote battery disconnect.
HARDWARE CONNECTIONS
TRAVERSE /stopsdfIN-CAB TRANSMISSION & ELECTRICAL SETUP
Quick Summary: Can You Flat Tow a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse?
Yes. To flat tow a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse behind a motorhome:
Have a certified technician install a custom baseplate to the Chevrolet Traverse frame.
Attach a Blue Ox Alpha tow bar (or comparable) to the front baseplate tabs using locking pins.
Connect crossed safety cables, emergency breakaway pin, and 7-to-6 pin power cord (locking plastic caps).
Reverse the Traverse slightly to lock the tow bar arms.
In the cab: Turn off auto-headlights → Shift to NEUTRAL → Release Electronic Parking Brake → Ignition OFF (ACC mode).
Use a Roadmaster Battery Ace remote key fob to disconnect 12V battery power, verify the dash goes dark, then store the fob in a Faraday bag.
Verify the operation and status indicators of the Curt RVi Shadow 2 supplemental brake system (or comparable unit) under the hood.
HARDWARE CONNECTIONS
Before stepping inside the vehicle for electrical configuration, establishing a solid mechanical foundation is critical. These initial hardware steps focus on physically hitching the towed vehicle to the motorhome, securing safety redundancy cables, connecting brake/light electrical lines, and locking the tow bar geometry in place.
Step 1: Insert the Baseplate Pins
Start at the front bumper of the Traverse. Insert the removable baseplate tab pins into the receiver slots on your Traverse's base plate (pre-installed by a certified technician). Twist and lock them into place so they provide a secure attachment point for the main tow bar.
Step 2: Extend & Pin the Tow Bar
Extend the arms of your Blue Ox tow bar out from the motorhome’s hitch receiver. Align the clevis attachments on the ends of the arms with the baseplate tabs on the Traverse. Slide your locking pins through the clevis attachments and baseplate tabs, then lock them securely in place with the key.
Hitch Height Note: Tow bar manufacturers require the tow bar to remain level (horizontal) between the RV receiver and the toad baseplate. Due to the height difference between our Class A hitch receiver and the Traverse baseplate, we installed an 8-inch drop hitch receiver adapter. This ensures the tow bar sits parallel to the ground during travel and folds up neatly into a vertical position when stored on the back of the RV.
Safety Upgrade Tip: The tow bar comes with a standard trailer hitch pin for the motorhome receiver and clevis pins with linchpins/clips for the SUV baseplate tabs. After hearing horror stories across the online RV community about clips working themselves loose or tampering/theft while parked, we opted to replace all pins (front receiver and rear baseplate connections) with keyed locking hitch pins for maximum security and peace of mind.
Step 3: Cross the Safety Steel Cables
Attach your primary safety cables between the hitch receiver on the Class A motorhome and the frame mounting points on the Traverse.
Important: Always cross the cables beneath the hitch to form an "X". Not only is this the official manufacturer recommendation, but crossing safety cables is also a federal regulation under 49 CFR § 393.71(h)(10)(ii), as well as required by multiple state towing laws.
Step 4: Hook Up the Breakaway Cable
Attach the yellow coiled emergency breakaway cable from your braking system to the front of the Traverse. In the unlikely event of a complete tow bar separation, pulling this pin instantly activates the toad's emergency brakes to bring the vehicle to a safe stop.
Legal & Equipment Note: A supplemental auxiliary braking system is required by many state towing laws for vehicles over a certain weight threshold. We installed the Curt RVi Shadow 2 system, though other comparable systems can be used. Regardless of the specific braking system chosen, the emergency breakaway cable is a mandatory requirement.
Step 5: Plug In & Lock the Electrical Cord
Plug the 7-way to 6-way coiled umbilical power cable into the motorhome’s rear trailer socket and connect the other end to the 6-pin socket on your Traverse bumper. Make sure to lock the cable securely at both ends by snapping the plastic socket caps down over the plug tabs. This powers your running lights, brake lights, and turn signals.
Step 6: Lock the Tow Bar Arms
Once the hardware is physically connected, get into your Traverse and reverse slowly a couple of feet. This fully extends and locks both telescoping arms of the Blue Ox tow bar into position.
TRAVERSE IN-CAB TRANSMISSION & ELECTRICAL SETUP
Modern vehicles have complex computer modules and electronic parking brakes (EPB) that can engage unexpectedly or drain your battery while being towed. These step-by-step procedures align directly with Chevrolet’s official manufacturer instructions for flat-towing the Traverse, ensuring you avoid transmission damage or dead batteries on arrival.
Step 7: Turn Off Auto-Headlights
Inside the Traverse, rotate the light switch to turn off auto-headlights and daytime running lights before shutting down. This prevents exterior and interior accent lights from automatically triggering or staying illuminated during travel, saving unnecessary battery strain.
Step 8: Shift Gearbox to NEUTRAL
Depress the brake pedal and shift the gear selector directly into NEUTRAL. This completely disengages the internal transmission gears, allowing all four wheels to roll freely on the pavement without causing severe mechanical wear or transmission failure.
Step 9: Release Electronic Parking Brake (EPB)
Ensure the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) is completely disengaged before turning off the engine.
Important: On modern GM vehicles, the computer can automatically set the parking brake if it detects certain conditions while shutting down. Double-check that the red parking brake indicator light on the dash is completely off so the rear brakes won't drag while being towed.
Step 10: Turn Ignition OFF
Press the engine start/stop button once to turn the engine OFF while keeping the vehicle shifted in NEUTRAL.
Step 11: Remote Battery Disconnect (OFF)
Use the Roadmaster Battery Ace wireless key fob inside the cab to hit OFF and cut 12V battery power.
Why This Step Matters: Standard factory procedures require physically unbolting the negative battery terminal under the hood. Using a remote disconnect switch automates this instantly, killing power to the vehicle’s body control modules. This guarantees the Electronic Parking Brake cannot auto-engage on the road and stops the keyless proximity modules from draining the battery.
Step 12: Store Disconnect Fob in Faraday Bag
Once the battery is disconnected, immediately slip the Roadmaster remote fob into a signal-blocking Faraday bag. While the vehicle senses nothing in cutoff mode, placing the battery disconnect fob inside a Faraday bag prevents any accidental "ON" button presses in your pocket or console that could re-energize the 12V system during towing.
FINAL SAFETY & SYSTEM CHECKS
Before pulling out of your campsite or driveway, always perform a visual check:
Verify Power Cut: Check the main dashboard to confirm it has gone completely dark.
Check Braking System: Inspect the status LEDs on your RVi Shadow 2 system to verify the supplemental brake unit is powered up and responding to system checks.
Verify Charge Line: Have someone start the motorhome engine. Confirm that the charge light on the status board turns ON/blinks, indicating the Class A is feeding 12V power to charge the toad's battery during travel.
Visual Wheel-Roll Check: As you begin pulling slowly out of your campsite or driveway, look back at your side mirrors (or have a spotter check) to verify that the rear wheels of the Traverse are actively spinning and not locked in place. This is a critical final verification that the electronic parking brake is disengaged and the vehicle is fully ready for flat towing.
Brake Function Check (Tug Test): While driving very slowly (under 10 mph) in a clear area, manually activate the toad's supplemental brakes using your in-cab wireless monitor (such as the RVi Command Center / Bullseye Wireless Monitor). You should feel a slight, distinct "tug" from behind, confirming the braking system is physically operating and applying pressure to the Traverse's pedal.
Transmission Maintenance Breaks: As specified in Chevrolet's factory owner’s manual, you must run the Traverse’s engine for about 5 minutes at the beginning of each travel day and at every RV fuel stop. This circulating idle is essential to lubricate the internal transmission components during long-distance towing.
Important Reminder: After running the engine at a fuel stop, always remember to re-perform Steps 7 through 12 of the main guide (Auto-Headlights OFF → Shift to NEUTRAL → EPB OFF → Engine OFF/ACC → Disconnect 12V Battery → Fob in Faraday Bag) before resuming your drive!
FAQs
Q: Does flat towing a Chevrolet Traverse add mileage to the odometer?
A: No. When flat towed following the proper factory steps, the vehicle's electronics are powered down, so no mileage is accumulated on the odometer.
Q: Why do you need to disconnect the battery when flat towing a Chevy Traverse?
A: Disconnecting the 12V battery prevents the vehicle's Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) from automatically re-engaging or dragging during travel. It also halts proximity keyless entry modules from continuously waking up the computer system, which would otherwise drain the battery while towing.
Q: What is the towing weight of a Chevrolet Traverse as a toad?
A: The curb weight of a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse comes in under 5,000 lbs (typically around 4,300–4,700 lbs depending on trim). This makes it fully compliant with standard 5,000 lb-rated RV hitches and tow bars.
ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST SUMMARY
Tow Vehicle: 2023 Chevrolet Traverse (Under 5,000 lbs, 3-row capacity)
Motorhome: Any Motorhome equipped with an appropriate tow bar / hitch receiver
Tow Bar: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar (Rated to 8,500 lbs) & an appropriate Baseplate Kit
Security: Key-locking hitch pins (replacing standard drop pins & linchpins)
Supplemental Brakes: RVi Shadow 2 Auxiliary Braking System
Battery Isolation: Roadmaster Battery Ace Remote Disconnect System (with Signal-Blocking Faraday Bag)
Setting up a 3-row SUV for flat towing doesn't have to be complicated! Once you have the right components in place, especially the hard-wired braking system, and the remote battery disconnect, the whole connection process takes under 5 minutes.
Safe travels!
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