Towing an SUV behind a motorhome is a popular practice for many outdoor living enthusiasts. With a capable off-roader in tow, you can get around and explore the area once you've set up your recreational vehicle. So can you flat tow a Hummer H2 or H3? Here's what our research has uncovered.
If you follow these requirements, you can flat-tow the Hummer H2 and H3 over long distances.
- The transfer case is in the neutral (N) position.
- The transmission is either in "Park" (for A/T) or 1st gear (for M/T) position.
Of course, you will need the necessary flat-towing equipment and a vehicle with a high towing capacity to pull these two large vehicles.
Would you like to know more about the proper procedures for flat-towing the Hummer H2 and H3? Read on because we've also included tips for safe and responsible towing.
Can A Hummer H3 Be Towed?
Although discontinued for over a decade now, the Hummer H2 and H3 are still two of General Motors (GM) most eye-catching off-road vehicles ever produced.
For some Hummer lovers, taking their rugged rides behind their RVs is a great way to travel across the country.
Not all vehicles can be flat towed (with all wheels and tires on the ground).
In most cases, you may only flat tow vehicles that have the following:
- Manual transmission and rear-wheel-drive (RWD), or,
- A manual transfer case and four-wheel-drive (4WD)
Both Hummer H2 and H3 fall under the second category. According to the H2 and H3 owner's manual, you can dinghy tow (another term for flat tow) the Hummers for lengthy trips as long as you follow the exact procedure.
How To Flat Tow A Hummer H2
Here is the step-by-step procedure to prepare a Hummer H2 or H3 for flat towing.
- Start the engine and align the Hummer's front to the back of your RV.
- Shift the Hummer's transmission to park (P) for an automatic transmission (A/T) or 1st gear (step on and hold the clutch pedal down) for a manual transmission (M/T).
- Keep one foot on the brake pedal and turn the Hummer's engine off. Keep the ignition in the "On" or "Accessory" position.
- Set the parking brake firmly.
- Alight from the vehicle and attach the Hummer (the towed or "toad" vehicle) to the RV (the tow vehicle).
- Return inside the Hummer to shift the transfer case to neutral (N). More details about this specific step will be covered in the following section.
- Release the parking brake and keep the ignition in the "Accessory" or "On" position. You should be able to flat tow your Hummer now.
How Do I Set My Hummer Transfer Case To Neutral?
Before you flat tow your Hummer, you must ensure that you follow these steps to keep your vehicle's transfer case neutral. Failure to do so will cause significant damage to your transfer case, transmission, and other vital parts.
- Make sure to engage the parking brake.
- Start your Hummer's engine.
- Put the transmission in neutral.
- If the vehicle has a manual transmission (M/T), then you should press down on the clutch pedal for the following steps.
- Shift the transfer case to Four Wheel High by pressing and releasing the appropriate button.
- Press the Four Wheel High (extreme left) and Four Wheel Low Lock (extreme right) buttons for 10 seconds.
- After 10 seconds, the "N" sign will blink and remain lit (between the Four Wheel High and Four Wheel High Lock buttons). This means that you have successfully shifted the transfer case to neutral.
- Press and hold the brake pedal and shift the transmission lever to reverse (R) and drive (D). Check for any backward or forward movement tendencies. This step lets you check if the transfer case is in a neutral position.
- For manual transmission, put the transmission shift lever into first gear and then release the clutch pedal gently to check for any vehicle movement. If there is no movement, you have confirmed that your transfer case is in the neutral position.
- If step 7 is successful, then you can turn the engine off. Keep the ignition in the "Acc" position to ensure that the steering wheel does not lock up during flat towing.
- Shift the transmission lever to park (P) for A/T or first gear for M/T.
Shifting The Hummer Transfer Case Out Of Neutral
Once you're done with your flat towing trip, you may want to disconnect your towing setup to be able to use your toad. Before you can drive off with your Hummer, you'll need to shift its transfer case out of the neutral position.
Here's how to do it.
- Engage the parking brake firmly and step on the brake pedal.
- Shift the transmission to neutral (N).
- Turn the ignition to the "on" position, but don't start the engine.
- Press and release the appropriate button for your desired transfer case position. Usually, you would want to select Four Wheel High.
- Start the engine.
- Shift the transmission to drive or reverse and release the brakes to check if the vehicle operates normally.
What Equipment Do I Need For Flat Towing?
While some like to tow travel trailers using trucks and SUVs, some outdoor enthusiasts prefer linking up two drivable vehicles for more flexibility and security during their trips. This is one of the main appeals of flat-towing.
With your RV parked, you can use your Hummer to drive through more challenging trails or go around the area to explore the local destinations. In case of engine trouble or emergencies, you have two powered vehicles that you can use.
To use a motorhome to flat tow a vehicle, you will need the following pieces of towing equipment.
Base Plate
A base plate attaches to the front frame of the towed vehicle to distribute the towing force. Because the force is dispersed to many points on that frame, you can avoid damaging your toad.
Tow Bar
The tow bar is the primary connection between the tow and towed vehicles. Always ensure that your base plate and your tow bar are compatible with each other.
Moreover, ensure your tow bar has a sufficient rating to handle your toad's weight.
Safety Cables
In the extreme case that your tow bar fails while on the road, safety cables stop the toad from completely detaching from your tow vehicle.
Rear Towing Lights
Rear towing lights can be hard-wired or supplemental lighting packages for your towed vehicle.
As you can imagine, your toad will block your tow vehicle's brake and turn signal lights while you're flat towing.
The towing lights will ensure that other drivers will still see your driving intentions on the road - whether you're slowing down, turning, or stopping altogether.
Supplemental Braking System
A supplemental braking system synchronizes your tow vehicle's brakes with your towed vehicle.
As with any towing, your towing capacity is higher if your trailer or toad has its working brakes during the towing process.
Engaging your toad's brakes means that your tow vehicle's brakes will not bear all the extra weight when stopping or slowing down.
Moreover, many states require supplemental braking systems for safe flat towing activities.
See this supplemental braking system on Amazon.
How Fast Can You Go Flat Towing?
Towing a trailer or a toad requires more prudence and care than everyday driving. With another vehicle or trailer straining your engine, brakes, and overall vehicle balance, you need to go slower than usual.
For many trailering experts and enthusiasts, the maximum safe speed consensus is approximately 50 to 55 miles per hour.
Are Hummers Heavy?
Before you flat tow your Hummer, you must ensure that your tow vehicle and equipment can handle the toad's weight. So how heavy are the Hummer H1 and H2?
Here are their respective curb weights by year:
Hummer H2 Curb Weight
- 2003 to 2007 - 6,400 pounds ( 2,909 kg.)
- 2008 - 6,614 pounds ( 3,006 kg.)
- 2009 - 8,600 pounds
Hummer H3 Curb Weight
- 2006 - 4,500 pounds ( 2,045 kg.)
- 2007 - 4,700 pounds ( 2,136 kg.)
- 2008 - 4,690 to 4,840 pounds ( 2,131 to 2,200 kg.) depending on the trim
- 2009 to 2010 - 4,696 to 5,070 pounds ( 2,134 to 2,304 kg.) depending on the trim
To put these weights in perspective, the H3's curb weight is approximately the same as the Ford F-150's heavier trims. The H2, however, is almost as heavy as the Ford F-250.
How Much Weight Can A Hummer H2 Tow?
If you're still deciding whether you should get a motorhome, then maybe you can consider towing a trailer with your Hummer.
Here are the towing capacities of the Hummer H2 based on its engine options.
- 6.0-liter Vortec LQ4 V8 - 320 hp, 365 lb.-ft. of torque, towing capacity of 6,600 to 6,700 pounds
- 6.2-liter Vortec L92 V8 - 403 hp, 417 lb.-ft. of torque, towing capacity of 8,200 pounds
How Much Can A Hummer H3 Pull?
The Hummer H3 is smaller and less powerful than the H2 and has a lower towing capacity. Here are the H3's tow ratings according to its engine choices.
- 3.7-liter 20-valve I5 - 239 hp, 241 lb.-ft of torque, towing capacity of up to 4,500 pounds
- 5.3-liter V8 - 295 hp, 317 lb.-ft of torque, towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds
To Wrap It All Up
The Hummer H2 and Hummer H3 have transfer cases that can be shifted to neutral for long flat towing trips. However, it would help if you had the proper flat-towing equipment and a powerful tow vehicle to pull these hulking vehicles.
Thank you very much for reading. We hope we were able to help you figure out how to flat tow your Hummer safely and properly.
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