AJP thanks so much for your reply and information. I looked up your vehicle and it has electronic power steering. Have you had any problems with your vehicle tracking behind your motorhome on sharp turns. Is there a special wiring harness that powers your electronic power steering while towing?
The car does have electronic steering. To be brutally honest, there's nothing in the car that's a mechanical connection, any more. Steering, throttle, transmission, brakes, HVAC, etc. are all at the mercy of computers. I know that it has more than 100 embedded processors and at least a dozen data buses. As for the steering, I would think that electronic steering would be preferable for towing. Our Durango has no requirement for steering to be unlocked. Ignition is in the "Off" position for towing Our previous "Toad" was a 2012 Ford Escape. The steering needed to be unlocked for towing, or very bad things would happen!
The owner manual process for "Recreational Towing" is clear and well-written, but a bit lengthy. I strongly recommend printing a copy, and doing it as a two-person checklist evolution. You'll know when the gearbox connects and disconnects, as there's a pronounced "thump" that's both heard and felt. If you've not already done it, the electronic version of the user manual is available on Dodge's website. The built-in version (in the entertainment system) is basically worthless, IMO. Shortly after buying our Durango, I downloaded the PDF, and had it printed. For some purposes, having a PDF on a tablet is ideal, but for others, a paper version is better. When we lived in downtown Seattle, there was a print shop that I liked a lot. When we moved to the "burbs", my best option was a company in England. They do excellent work for very reasonable prices. Upload your PDF, and they mail the printed and bound version. Even better, your future orders usually have a 20% discount.
www.print-my-pdf.com
As for "sharp turns", we've had no problems. Then again, we have a 38' motorhome, so "sharp" is a relative term.
If you've not done dinghy towing before, NEVER back up while connected, as it can cause big damage. One time, we needed to turn around, but there wasn't room to do it while connected. I had to disconnect, turn both vehicles separately, then re-connect. That was the fault of a Good Sam GPS, which had a flawed database.
I dunno about a special wiring harness. Torklift has a very good reputation, and I've been happy with all of the work that they've done for us. I gave away most of my auto repair tools when we sold our previous house. I lacked the tools, a suitable workspace, and the specialized knowledge to accomplish the task. I've seen some YouTube videos of people who did this as a DIY job, and there were lots of problems. Torklift needed our car for one day, and both vehicles for the second day. There have been no problems, and I love the awesome (and very expensive) auxiliary braking system. I suggest contacting them for ideas.
