Can You Tow a Kia Soul Behind a Motorhome?

ByKern Campbell

Motorhomes are an exhilarating and convenient way to roam around the country and explore new places. However, these massive vehicles are not ideal for small country roads or narrow mountain paths, so many people opt to tow their compact vehicles along with them on the journey. 

Not every car is towable in the same way, so if your beloved car is a Kia Soul, you may be wondering if it’s A-okay to tow it behind your motorhome. 

You can tow a Kia Soul behind your motorhome via one of three methods. There are varying factors concerning the type of Kia Soul you have that determine which towing method you must use. 

There’s more to towing than the few sentences above, so we’ve broken down the ins and outs of towing your Kia Soul behind your motorhome so you can enjoy having your Kia wherever the RV takes you. 

Preparation is invaluable, so keep reading to learn the methods available to you and what they all entail. 

Towing a Kia Soul Behind a Motorhome

If you are hoping to tow your Kia Soul behind your motorhome, you have some options for how you want to do it. Pulling your car behind a motorhome does pose some risks of damage, especially to your transmission. You must follow these steps and adhere to our safety advice. 

Kia Soul Towing Information

Luckily, you can tow Kia Souls with manual transmissions. If you look in your car’s user manual, there should be specific instructions and advice for dinghy towing your vehicle. 

If your user manual advises against flat-towing, we also advise against it. Dinghy towing the wrong car can wind up costing a bunch of money in transmission repairs or replacement. 

We know the latter two methods require more materials and cost a pretty penny, but it’s better than paying for a new transmission in the long run.

What Is a Toad?

A ‘toad’ refers to the attached car that you’re towing. This term applies to the vehicle the motorhome pulls no matter what towing method you use. 

What Is a Dinghy Vehicle?

When researching how to tow your Kia Soul behind a motorhome, you may see the phrase ‘the dinghy vehicle.’ 

The term refers to the vehicle towed behind the motorhome but is still touching the ground. A dinghy vehicle is one of the simplest ways to tow a car behind a motorhome, but not the only method. 

Three Ways to Tow a Kia Soul Behind a Motorhome

So you can decide what’s best for your situation, we will explain all three ways that you can tow a car behind your motorhome. 

Dinghy Towing

Dinghy towing a Kia Soul is when all four tires of the vehicle being towed touch the ground. This method is also called flat-towing because the car lays flat. 

Dinghy towing can only work with Kia Souls that have a manual transmission. If you try to tow a Kia Soul with an automatic transmission, there is a high likelihood you will damage the transmission while pulling.

People often prefer this method if their transmission allows for it because it requires less bulky materials and can save some money. However, this isn’t cheap. The total cost of the materials needed hovers around $2,000. 

Materials Needed:

  • Flat tow bar on the motorhome
  • Base plate installed on the car
  • Electrical cable
  • Safety chains
  • Supplemental braking system 

The main downside of this method is that you can’t back up your motorhome with the toad attached. However, it isn’t much effort to detach the toad so you can maneuver the RV. 

There is also the risk of damaging your transmission, but only if you don’t follow safety guidelines and manufacturer recommendations. 

As of 2022, Kia has discontinued Souls with manual transmission. Any Kia Souls purchased from now on will only be viable for the other two towing methods, as this one will destroy the transmission. 

Dolly Towing

Dolly towing is when two of the four wheels touch the road as you tow. You need a towing dolly, which is a bulky item for this method. This method requires fewer materials but costs around the same as the dinghy method.

The front two wheels rest on the tow dolly, ideal for towing cars with front-end transmissions. This position protects your transmission from damage or detachment. However, if your vehicle has rear-end transmission, it will need to be disconnected to use this towing method.

One of the most common reasons people opt for this method is if their motorhome can’t handle pulling the vehicle’s weight plus the full-sized trailer. 

Materials Needed:

  • Ratchet straps
  • Towing dolly
  • Safety chains

Once again, this method does not allow you to reverse the motorhome while the toad is attached. Detaching the tow dolly is slightly more complicated than disconnecting a dinghy vehicle. 

It is also worth noting that most states require an additional license for the dolly, which is another added expense to this method. 

Trailer Towing

The last method is probably the most popular but often requires the most effort. Trailer towing uses a full-sized trailer that the toad vehicle sits on. None of the vehicle’s wheels touch the ground. 

Trailers, also called car haulers, use two axles to support the toad and have low railings to prevent sliding. Ensure you rent or buy a car hauler with the correct length for your vehicle, or it will not work.

Materials Needed:

  • Trailer (car hauler)
  • Ramps (if the trailer does not include them)
  • Ratchet straps 
  • Brake controller 

Just like the dolly, the car hauler requires its own license. While you don’t 100% need a brake controller, we highly recommend investing in one as it allows you more control over the trailer from the motorhome.

Our favorite aspect of this method is that your vehicle’s tires and transmission don’t suffer wear and tear. The other two methods take a toll on your tires and transmission even if you follow all the rules and suggestions to a tee. 

This method may be the most expensive and the most hassle, but you can have peace of mind that your toad is as safe as possible behind your motorhome. 

General Towing Information

To give you an idea of what risks towing a car poses and the steps you can take to prevent such incidents, we’ve compiled a quick list of the most common problems and some safety tips. 

Risks of Towing

Some of the most common risks of towing include:

  • Damaged or destroyed transmission
  • Tire wear or blow-out 
  • An uneven load can damage the motorhome
  • Limited visibility and control can cause accidents
  • Elevated risk and difficulty when turning

Safety Tips for Towing

You should follow the following safety tips when towing: 

  • Follow towing capacities and limits
  • Load your trailer with care and focus
  • Check your tires on both vehicles
  • Check your lights on both vehicles
  • Check your brakes on both vehicles
  • Take your time

Bottom Line

Luckily, there are ways to bring your Kia Soul with you on all your adventures. Towing isn’t the most straightforward task, but it isn’t impossible to educate yourself and acquire the necessary materials.

For towing a Kia Soul, we recommend the trailer method. A car hauler is the safest option, and as Kia moves away from manual transmissions, more owners will have no choice but to opt for the two latter methods. 

In the end, if you are willing to put in the money and the effort, your Kia Soul can follow you everywhere you go.