Can You Flat Tow A Ram ProMaster?

There may be times when you need to tow your Ram ProMaster. Maybe you're taking a long trip in your RV, and you want to bring your ProMaster along, or perhaps you need to tow it to a mechanic but don't want to incur the costs of a tow truck. So, what's the best way to tow your Ram ProMaster? Can you flat tow it? We've done the research, and we have the answers for you!

The Ram ProMaster should not be flat towed. Having the front wheels on the ground during towing can cause major damage to the vehicle's drivetrain. You can safely tow your Ram ProMaster on a dolly or a flatbed trailer. If you absolutely must flat tow your ProMaster, you will need to first disconnect its driveshaft.

In the remainder of this article, we'll tell you more about how best to tow your Ram ProMaster and ProMaster City. We'll also describe the difference between flat towing, dolly towing, and flatbed trailer towing. We will tell you whether the ProMaster has an all-wheel drive, and we'll discuss the differences between the Ram ProMaster and ProMaster City. Keep reading to learn more!

Can You Flat Tow A Ram ProMaster?

Flat towing, also called dinghy towing, refers to towing a vehicle with all four of its wheels in contact with the road. This means that the in-tow vehicle's drive wheels will be turning throughout the journey, which could cause serious damage to the drivetrain.

Both the Ram ProMaster and Ram ProMaster City, according to their owner's manuals, should not be flat-towed. However, if you remove the driveshaft, you can safely flat-tow your ProMaster or ProMaster City.

Disconnecting the driveshaft and attaching tow bar brackets are complex processes. If you're not an experienced mechanic, you may want to have a professional perform these tasks.

Flat Towing is Not Recommended - Tips for Towing the ProMaster Safely

Disconnecting The Driveshaft

Elevate your vehicle on a lift or sturdy jack.
Using a socket wrench, remove the eight screws that connect the back end of the driveshaft to the rear differential. You will need to rotate the driveshaft in order to access all of the screws.
Pull the back end of the driveshaft away from the rear differential.
Remove the four screws that connect the front end of the driveshaft to the transmission.
Disconnect the front end of the driveshaft from the transmission.
Remove the two screws that connect the middle of the driveshaft to its center support.
Pull the driveshaft down and out of its housing.
Now that the driveshaft is out, inspect it for damage. Especially, make sure the joints at both ends are flexible and rotate smoothly.
Store the driveshaft in a safe place; you will need to re-install it after towing.

Flat Tow

Secure the two brackets that came with your tow bar to the front frame of your ProMaster. These brackets will remain in position permanently.
Attach removable taillights to the rear of your ProMaster, and connect the wiring of the taillights to the electrical system of the towing vehicle.
Make sure the removable taillights are functioning correctly. Working taillights on the back of an in-tow vehicle is a critical safety measure; it's also the law!
Attach the tow bar to the brackets on the front frame of your ProMaster.
Secure the tow bar to the hitch of the towing vehicle.
Attach safety chains: one from the rear of the towing vehicle to the tow bar's pivot bracket and another from the base plate of the pivot bracket to the front frame of the ProMaster.
Unlock your ProMaster's steering wheel, put the transmission in "Neutral," and disengage the parking brake before you commence flat towing.

Click here for towing tail light kit on Amazon.

The owner's manuals of the Ram ProMaster and ProMaster City recommend that you tow the vehicles either on a dolly or on a flatbed trailer. Below, we describe how to do each.

Dolly Tow

Secure the dolly to the hitch of the towing vehicle.
Connect the dolly's electrical wiring to the towing vehicle's wiring.
Check that the dolly's brake lights and turn signals work properly. Remember, this is critical both for safety and to avoid getting a ticket!
Drive the front wheels of the ProMaster onto the dolly.
Put the transmission in "Park" and engage the parking brake.
Secure the ProMaster's front wheels to the dolly.
Leave the transmission in "Park," lock the steering wheel, and disengage the parking brake.

Flatbed Trailer Tow

Secure the flatbed trailer to the hitch of the towing vehicle.
Connect the trailer's electrical wiring to the towing vehicle's wiring.
Check that the trailer's brake lights and turn signals work properly. Safety first!
Park the trailer about one car length in front of the ProMaster.
Tilt and lower the back end of the flatbed trailer until it touches the ground.
Carefully drive the ProMaster up onto the trailer's bed.
Position the ProMaster so that at least 60% of its weight is on the front half of the trailer.
Turn off the ProMaster's engine, put the transmission in "Park," lock the steering wheel, and engage the parking brake.
Use tie-down straps to secure all four wheels to the flatbed trailer.

Click here for tie-down straps on Amazon.

Is It Better To Flat Tow Or Use A Dolly?

Flat Tow

When you flat-tow a vehicle, you hook its front end to the back of the towing vehicle using a tow bar. All four wheels of the in-tow vehicle are in contact with the road throughout the tow.

If you're flat-towing a front-wheel-drive, manual transmission vehicle, you can simply put the transmission in "Neutral," unlock the steering wheel, disengage the parking brake, and tow.

But manual transmission vehicles with rear-wheel drive and all vehicles with automatic transmission are trickier: if you plan to flat-tow them, you must first disengage the driveshaft. If you don't do this, you can irreparably damage the drivetrain.

As we described above, flat towing requires a fair amount of work: disconnecting the driveshaft and installing tow bar brackets on the front of your vehicle. However, it's the towing method of choice for most RVers because they don't need to find space to store a bulky dolly or trailer when they arrive at their destination.

Click here for the tow bar on Amazon.

Dolly

Towing on a dolly, by contrast, keeps the in-tow vehicle's front wheels off the ground. This is a great option for front-wheel-drive vehicles because it allows you to tow them without having first to disconnect the driveshaft.

On the downside, you can't tow a rear-wheel-drive vehicle on a dolly. Additionally, a dolly is a relatively expensive investment, although it's well worth the cost if you plan to tow your vehicle often.

Dolly towing is popular with drivers who regularly tow a vehicle for a relatively short distance. Some RV drivers also prefer dolly towing to flat towing, but they must then find a spot to park the dolly at their destination.

Click here for towing dolly package on Amazon.

Flatbed Trailer Tow

A third option is to tow your vehicle on a flatbed trailer. This strategy is often erroneously referred to as flat towing, but it is actually flatbed trailer towing. It allows you to transport any type of vehicle -- manual or automatic transmission, front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive -- without disconnecting the driveshaft. Flatbed trailers are also less expensive than dollies.

On the other hand, flatbed trailers are large and bulky, making them more difficult to store. Additionally, it's harder to maneuver your vehicle onto a flatbed trailer, and it can be trickier to safely strap the vehicle down.

Is Ram ProMaster All-Wheel Drive?

Ram ProMaster is not an all-wheel-drive vehicle. Instead, it comes with a front-wheel-drive system that allows it to better maneuver in tight spots. Ram ProMaster has a best-in-class 36' turning radius. In addition to its improved maneuverability, the front-wheel-drive system requires less -- and less costly -- servicing than an all-wheel-drive system.

What Is The Difference Between Ram ProMaster And ProMaster City?

The major differences between the ProMaster and the ProMaster City are size, cargo space, seating capacity, and towing capacity. Basically, the ProMaster City is a smaller, more maneuverable version of the ProMaster. Here's a breakdown of the most important features of each model.

Size

The ProMaster is available in heights ranging from 87.3" - 105.9" while the City is 74.2" high.
Both models are 72.1" wide.
The ProMaster is 211" - 250.6" long; the City is 187.1" in length.

Cargo Space And Seating Capacity

The ProMaster's cargo space ranges from 259 - 462 cubic feet; the City's cargo space is 132 cubic feet.
The ProMaster has two front bucket seats and no rear seats; the City has two front seats and three removable seats in the back.

Towing And Payload Capacity

The ProMaster can tow up to 6,400 pounds; the City's towing capacity is 2,000 pounds.
The ProMaster's payload capacity ranges from 4,000 - 4,330 pounds. The City's payload capacity is 1,900 pounds.

Other Differences

The Ram ProMaster's base price is about $30,000; the price of the City starts at about $25,000.
The ProMaster has a 280-horsepower engine; the City has a 178-horsepower engine.
The ProMaster comes in 15 available configurations, with upfits available for delivery, agriculture, catering, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, telecom, and construction. The City has 4 available configurations, with upfits for delivery, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, telecom, and construction.

In Closing

Now that you know more about the options for towing your Ram ProMaster, you can make an informed decision about which strategy to choose. If you're traveling a long distance, it may be worth it to disconnect the driveshaft and flat-tow the vehicle.

But if you're towing your ProMaster a relatively short distance -- to a mechanic or a nearby vacation spot -- you may be better served by using a dolly or a flatbed trailer. Make sure to follow the guidelines above and follow all safety guidelines and traffic laws!

Can You Flat Tow A Ram ProMaster?

Can You Flat Tow A Ram ProMaster?