Are you planning to tow a trailer with your GMC Acadia? You may want to consider flat towing it if that is the case. For those who want to avoid the hassle and cost of using a tow truck, flat towing is a great option.
You can also take your Acadia camping or on long road trips with it. Here’s how to figure out whether or not you can flat tow a GMC Acadia.
Can you flat tow a GMC Acadia?
The GMC Acadia is capable of being flat towed. Because flat towing does not require a trailer, flat towing a GMC Acadia is usually more efficient and easier than using a tow truck. Most Acadia is designed to withstand heavy lifting. Therefore, you do not require a tow truck to tow an Acadia.
Furthermore, flat tows are a common choice for camping as well as long road trips because they are not as cumbersome to transport and are easier to use.
In general, flat tows shouldn’t be used on highways or busy roads. It would be a great help to us if you could find out if you could flat tow your GMC Acadia.
When towing an Acadia with a flat tow configuration, however, you will need to make sure that the vehicle is properly equipped for flat towing to ensure safe towing.
The towing hitch and receiver that you will need to flat tow an Acadia will also have to be designed specifically for that purpose.
Regardless of what kind of GMC Acadia you have, we will be able to locate all of the equipment you need for flat towing it.
For those who want to avoid the hassle and expense of using a tow truck in the future, flat tows are a great solution. The flat tow method is usually more effective and easier than the use of a tow truck to tow a GMC Acadia.
| GMC Acadia Model | Can be flat towed |
|---|---|
| 2014 GMC Acadia | Yes |
| 2015 GMC Acadia | Yes |
| 2016 GMC Acadia | Yes |
| 2017 GMC Acadia | Yes |
| 2018 GMC Acadia | Yes |
| 2019 GMC Acadia | Yes |
| 2020 GMC Acadia | No |
| 2021 GMC Acadia | No |
| 2022 GMC Acadia | No |
Can a GMC Acadia be flat towed behind a motorhome?
GMC Acadia can easily be flat towed behind a motorhome if you want to use it as a towing vehicle.
Since flat towing a GMC Acadia does not require a trailer, it is usually more efficient and easier than using a tow truck to tow a GMC Acadia because flat towing does not use a trailer.
The tow vehicle, however, must have sufficient capacity to handle the trailer’s weight and all applicable federal highway regulations must also be met by the tow vehicle.
Also, be sure that your tow vehicle is properly equipped with an appropriate ball mount system and hitch that is compatible with your towing vehicle.
The first thing you will need to do is remove the rear seats from the car and place them in the trunk. You will then need to attach a gooseneck hitch to the back of the motorhome and attach the hitch to the appropriate receiver on the back of the unit.
Lastly, you are going to have to ensure that the Acadia is secured with chains or straps so that it does not move during the drive.
Which GMC Acadia can be flat towed?
It is safe to flat tow the 2014-2019 GMC Acadia. That means that the following models are safe to flat tow: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The flat tow is typically more efficient and easier than a tow truck because it does not use a trailer.
Before flat towing your Acadia, you must make sure the vehicle is properly equipped with an appropriate hitch system (a gooseneck hitch) and the motorhome has enough spare capacity.
However, the models after 2020, 2021, and 2022 cannot be flat towed. The tow vehicle must have a fifth wheel weight rating of 10,000 lbs. or more, and the motorhome must have a flat deck at least 8 feet wide.
After 2020, you will not be able to flat tow an Acadia.
5 reasons why you cannot flat tow all GMC Acadia
Tow trucks are a great way to transport large items, such as RVs and boats. Due to its weight and size, you may not be able to flat tow all GMC Acadia. There are five reasons why you cannot flat tow all GMC Acadia:
All GMC Acadia are not equipped for flat towing:
Firstly, your tow vehicle needs a gooseneck hitch and an appropriate receiver.
GMC Acadia doesn’t come with a gooseneck hitch, so you’ll have to find a tow truck or use another method like a cargo carrier.
The flat deck space:
After 2020, GMC Acadia don’t have the flat deck space needed for flat towing. Acadia come with a raised ride height that makes them incompatible with traditional hitches and trailers.
Vehicle’s towing capacity:
The towing capacity of your tow vehicle is also a limiting factor when flat towing a GMC Acadia. Tow trucks and cargo carriers cannot tow an Acadia, so you’ll need to find an alternative transportation method.
Vehicle weight:
Your tow truck or cargo carrier may be capable of flat towing a GMC Acadia, but you must ensure that its weight is within recommended limits.
By pulling the trailer, you could damage your equipment or worse, cause an accident.
Improperly rated truck or trailer:
Even if you tow a GMC Acadia with a properly rated truck or trailer, you still risk damage if you tow too heavy a load or exceed the towing capacity of your vehicle.
You should always check your vehicle’s specifications and ratings before flat towing anything big.
How to flat tow a GMC Acadia?
You can flat tow a GMC Acadia in a few different ways. Generally, a gooseneck hitch and a tow truck or cargo carrier are used.
A fifth wheel adapter can also be used to attach the trailer directly to your Acadia. The gridline below shows how to flat tow a GMC Acadia.
Make sure the GMC Acadia is flat towable:
First of all, you will have to make sure that the Acadia is flat-towable before you attempt to tow it. A gooseneck hitch, a tow truck, or a cargo carrier will not be able to tow the Acadia if you can’t flat tow it.
Choose the right hitch and trailer:
Second, you will need to choose the right hitch and trailer for flat towing a GMC Acadia. You shouldn’t use a standard bumper pull trailer since it won’t be able to handle the weight.
A lightweight fifth wheel adapter or gooseneck trailer with a weight capacity of at least 3,000 pounds is the best option.
Level the vehicle properly:
The third thing you need to do before you flat tow your GMC Acadia is to make sure the vehicle is leveled properly. You could end up having a lot of difficulties towing the trailer in a straight line if you do not follow these steps.
Attach your hitch and trailer:
The fourth step is to attach the trailer to your hitch using the appropriate bolts and connectors. Before hitting the road, make sure everything is tight. Make sure the tow cable is routed as straight as possible.
Ensure that the tow cable is well secured:
Finally, you should make sure that the tow cable is well secured to the vehicle so that it can be towed.
When you’re driving or in a tight spot, you don’t want it to come loose on you, especially if you’re in a hurry. You should also use a tow ball or a safety chain while you are driving the trailer to prevent it from moving while you are driving.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, it is safe to flat tow a GMC Acadia from 2014 to 2019. Due to the Acadia’s flat tow point, you will not have to worry about damaging the vehicle. Before hitting the road, however, you should ensure that your hitch and trailer are properly installed and leveled.
I am an automotive enthusiast and have been interested in cars since I was a little kid. I have worked in the automotive industry for many years and have extensive knowledge of vehicles and their engines. I am a father of two and I love spending time with my family.
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