Are you moving or getting ready to visit your favorite travel destinations? If so, you may be wondering if you can safely flat tow your Buick Enclave. To ensure you don't damage your vehicle doing so, we did some research on the subject. See our findings below.
Whether your Buick Enclave is FWD or AWD, you can flat tow it without causing any damage. However, you should always tow it from the front with all four tires evenly on the road. Never, under any circumstance, tow it dolly style.
For this flat towing process, you will need the following tools:
- Tow bar
- Base plates
- Safety cables
- Wiring/lighting kit
- Auxiliary braking system
- Hitch adapter
- Battery maintainer line
Don't stop reading now that you know you can safely flat tow your Buick Enclave. There is still a lot to learn. Follow along as we tell you how to flat tow your Enclave, if you can tow it behind an RV, how much a Buick Enclave weighs, and more!
Can You Flat Tow a Buick Enclave?
On first thought, you likely don't see how flat towing a vehicle could possibly damage it. After all, it looks as though it would be the same as driving since all four wheels are rolling on the ground. However, when you are towing the vehicle, the motor is not running.
In some cars, oil will not circulate through the transmission unless the motor is running. Therefore, flat towing can damage some vehicles. However, according to Media Buick, you can safely flat tow both FWD and AWD Enclaves.
How to Flat Tow a Buick Enclave
Before starting your adventure, it's important to note that you should never tow your Enclave backward. You will also need a few supplies to safely and legally flat tow your Buick Enclave. Most importantly, you will need a tow bar.
You can view this tow bar with lighting kit on Amazon.
In addition, make sure you have the following:
- Base plates
- Safety cables
- Auxiliary braking system
- Hitch adapter
- Battery maintainer line
According to E-Trailer, most states require a supplemental braking system for the vehicle in which you are flat towing. Make sure this braking system is compatible with your vehicle's weight.
It will also require a wiring kit. The wiring kit allows your Enclave's brake lights and turn signals to sync with your RV in the same way in which trailer lights work with trucks.
Amazon has a selection of supplemental braking systems.
If you turn your key to accessory mode to listen to the radio, your battery will go dead if you leave it on for too long. The same is true for flat towing. Since you will be leaving your ignition in accessory mode, you will need a battery maintainer line to prevent your battery from dying. The charging line will allow the RV to charge your car battery while you travel.
You can checkout battery maintainers on Amazon.
If you don't already have a hitch on your RV, you'll need to install one. Once that is done, it's time to install the tow bar. You will need to install parts on both your RV hitch and the front end of your Enclave. If your vehicle features tow hooks, you must remove them before moving forward and replace them with the pieces included in the tow kit.
Now, follow the tow bar's manufacturer instructions for attaching it to your Enclave. Once you are hooked up and ready to go, flip the auxiliary braking switch to the "on" position. At this point, if your Enclave is running, you will need to turn it off.
Do not put your vehicle in neutral. Instead, turn your key to the accessory position and put the car in park. Don't forget to press the battery disconnect button. Since the key is in accessory mode, the wheels will be able to move even though the vehicle is in park.
Watch this YouTube video as a guide.
How to Install Auxiliary Braking Systems
When installing the auxiliary braking system, you will do it in two separate steps. First, you will fit the attachments to your Buick; then, you will fit another set of attachments to the RV. If you have no prior knowledge or experience working on vehicles, you should probably hire a professional or get an experienced friend to help you.
Installing Braking System on Your Buick
The first step is to find a sensible location to mount the braking system control panel. You'll need to situate it under the hood. Zip ties work well when securing it into place.
Air Lines
On the front end of your Enclave, attach the emergency braking switch. This switch will automatically apply the brakes on your Enclave if it detaches from the RV. Now, you'll need to clamp the air solenoid onto the brake pedal inside the car. Make sure it is high enough to be out of the way when you are driving but low enough to keep it from getting jammed under the dash.
Behind the brake pedal, on the wall under the dash, you will see a wire. Connect this wire to the air solenoid. You will also need to connect an air line to the solenoid. Now, you will tape the light to the back of the rearview mirror, running the wires from the light all the way down to the air solenoid.
The next step is a bit more difficult. You will need to run all the air lines from the front end of your Enclave up into the control panel that is situated under the hood. You will also need to run an air line from the control panel to the solenoid.
Electrical Components
Now that you're finished with the air lines, it's time to install the electrical components. Place a ground tap across the battery. Run a wire from the emergency braking switch to the control panel and another from the emergency braking switch to the battery.
You will also need to run a signal switch from the battery to the air solenoid. Connect an electrical wire from the solenoid to the light behind the mirror.
Installing Braking System on Your RV
As with the control panel, you will need to find a convenient location underneath the rear of the RV to place the air line. Once mounted, you will connect air lines from the RV to the Buick. Now, find your main feed line underneath the RV. This is the line that is always live. Tap into it and feed it to the reservoir tank.
Next, you must find the metered air. Put a T-line on it. Find a good spot on the underside of the RV to attach the tank. Once this is done, run the plumbing from the tank to the rear connector on the RV. You won't need to run any electrical wires from the RV, so once you finish connecting the plumbing, you're done.
Watch this YouTube video for a step-by-step visual.
Additional Questions
Can You Tow a Buick Enclave Behind an RV?
With the right parts, you can absolutely tow a Buick Enclave behind an RV. However, this should never be done with a tow dolly, and you should never tow your Enclave backward.
What Parts Do I Need to Flat Tow a Buick Enclave?
There is more to flat towing your car than simply connecting it to a trailer hitch. You will need to install special parts on both your Enclave and your RV. Additionally, most states require your vehicle to have an auxiliary braking system in place before flat towing.
You will need the following tools for flat towing your Buick Enclave:
- Tow Bar
- Base Plates
- Safety Cables
- Wiring/Lighting Kit
- Auxiliary Braking System
- Hitch Adapter
- Battery Maintainer Line
Does Flat Towing Put Miles on Your Car?
Vehicles less than 30 years old use an electric system for tracking miles; therefore, flat towing will not put miles on your newer car. For older vehicles that use a mechanical system for tracking miles, your car is accruing mileage if the wheels are rolling.
What Does a Buick Enclave Weigh?
The Buick Enclave has a curb weight of 4,685 lbs and a gross weight of up to 6,160 lbs. Curb weight is the weight of the vehicle alone, not accounting for fuel, luggage, or passengers. Gross weight, on the other hand, adds in the weight of passengers, fuel, and luggage.
Does Towing a Vehicle Behind an RV Damage It?
Towing behind an RV is not approved for all vehicles. For this reason, you should check your owner's manual before you tow your car in any manner. Some vehicles are not able to be safely flat towed, while others cannot be dolly towed.
It will all depend on the particular make and model of your vehicle. In some cases, oil will not circulate through the transmission if the motor is not running, causing damage to moving parts. Additionally, your vehicle will still experience wear even if it is not accumulating mileage while being towed.
Conclusion
Buick Enclaves, both FWD and AWD, are designed to be safely flat towed. You will need special parts and tools before towing your Enclave. Most of the accessories can be easily installed by a novice; however, installing the auxiliary braking system is better left to professionals or individuals with some experience working on vehicles.
For more information about towing vehicles behind your RV, check out this other great post on our blog:
According to the owner’s manual for a 2018-2021 Enclave you should not flat tow it.