Flat Tow 2025 Escalade ESV Sport AWD

[Edwardm05]

Curious to know and can it be done.

We are preparing to Flat Tow (4 wheels on ground, TOAD) behind our Motor Coach Allegro Bus.

First concern is the e-brake. How can we disable the electronically controlled Parking Brake?? The RV dealer says that setting up the Escalade for Flat Tow requires a battery disconnect. I think there has to be a better idea because disconnecting the battery mandates that when you reconnect the battery, ALL systems need to be reprogrammed. i.e., Seat Memory, SM Radio and all presets, Google just to name a few off the top.

Is there a means to disable the Electronically controlled Parking Brake??

For reference, we contacted Roadmaster and the other company who provides harness and adapter set-up for flat towing and they do not have a solution due to the 'animated' LED's in the Taillights.

Calling GM/Cadillac as soon as they open in the Morning.

 

[BacDoc]

Definitely contact Cadillac and follow their advice on this.
EV’s are way more complicated and affected by battery disconnect.

Until you get a response from Cadillac, you might want to check the Rivian forums as the IQ is similar to the Rivian R1.

You can also ask AI just to see what it says, but I would still follow the manufacturer advice.

Please post your findings as I am definitely interested in the Escalade EV after my Tahoe gets out of warranty.

Can’t beat the standard 8 years and 100k miles warranty!

 

[Doubeleive]

Definitely contact Cadillac and follow their advice on this.
EV’s are way more complicated and affected by battery disconnect.

Until you get a response from Cadillac, you might want to check the Rivian forums as the IQ is similar to the Rivian R1.

You can also ask AI just to see what it says, but I would still follow the manufacturer advice.

Please post your findings as I am definitely interested in the Escalade EV after my Tahoe gets out of warranty.

Can’t beat the standard 8 years and 100k miles warranty!

ESV, RALPH

 

[Doubeleive]

flat towing these vehicles generally involves disconnecting the drive line. I don't know if just putting it in neutral is enough
that being said you never ever see them being flat towed, around here anyway I don't know if that is due to law or it's simply not practical.
California requires a hitch be connected (bolted on), then there is the weight problem not necessarily total weight but axle weight. or even total length. never really looked into it too deep

you will occasionally see a small jeep type vehicle being flat towed, even that is a rare bird.

here it is a total length of 65 feet (combined) and not over 102" wide
you must have brake control of towed vehicle of at least 2 wheels if over 1,500lbs
break away system that automatically applies the brakes of the towed vehicle should it become disconnected
light control of towed vehicle

 

[Doubeleive]

that explains why you probably won't find the adapter, it's more or less impractical, so that makes developing a adapter not worth the money

 

[BacDoc]

ESV, RALPH

Ralph?

I mistakenly assumed this was EV.

 

[Doubeleive]

Ralph?

I mistakenly assumed this was EV.

figure of speach, from way back.... it basically means yes you were mistaken, you don't have to take it personal just a term

 

[jerry455]

Online owners manual will tell you if it is possible. I don't think it is but I don't know for sure. I assume it is 4WD or AWD. If it has a 2 speed transfer case, it can be put into nuetral.

 

[CrashTestDummy]

The owner's manual in the glove box should also give you that information. It is in the owner's manual on our GMC 1500. Most AWDs are NOT dinghy-towable. As Jerry noted, if it has a 2-speed transfer case you can pop it into neutral and drag it, but there are several other things to consider/do.

I've seen Escalades dinghy-towed behind motorhomes, but never checked to see what year/model they were.

 

[fondupot]

It's only possible to flat tow if the transfer case can be put into neutral. If I recall correctly, the Escalade has full time AWD, and does not have a select-able 2 speed transfer case like the Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon.

My gut would say it's not recommended, otherwise you will burn up the t-case and transmission.

Page 398 of the owners manual will expand on this in depth. See attached. Downloaded from the Cadillac website.

 

[Edwardm05]

wow...

Thank you for all the input/feedback.





I may have used the wrong search term - Flat tow verses the correct term, Dingy Tow when all questions are related to Recreational Vehicle Towing.

Thank you for the advice to re-read the owner's manual. Yes, read completed. Page 397 of the Owner's Manual describes Recreational Vehicle Towing and then page 399 of the Escalade 2025 owners manual (25Escalade_enUS_17942216B), narrates the GM established procedure for enabling a "To dinghy tow" the 4wd Escalade setup.

Not a very complex but well a established procedure and previously tested before agreeing to buy both the Motor Coach and the associated BlueOx Base plate BX1767 for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade 4WD (6.2L Gas).

The V Series cannot be Dinghy towed.

There are lots of cautions and warning but knowledge is good. While speaking to Allison at the Cadillac Customer Assistance Center at 1-866-982-2339, I asked a number of 'being towed' specific questions and with diligence, she reviewed both the Owner's manual and a Cadillac internal Knowledge Base, then shared to me via email. Specifically not in the owner's manual is the disabling of the e-Parking Brake. I asked if we could 'pull a fuse' for this to prevent the brakes from engaging whenever they wanted. She provided the following:

There is no procedure, setting, fuse removal, or modification that can disable the electronic parking brake (EPB) on a 2025 Escalade so it stays off while the vehicle is being towed.

Everything else was related to the Dinghy Tow set up and it seems, the 2025 four wheel drive Escalade is good to be towed.

I again, thank you for you comments and I hope the above provides answers on a few other issues.

Apologies if I got windy but the details are important.

 

[man n black]

FWIW we flat tow our 2026 Yukon AT4 Ultimate behind our motor coach. Full disclosure we have the 2 speed transfer case.

We have the battery disconnect switch and it DOES NOT reset all the parameters (seats, electronics etc) in the vehicle when we disconnect the battery to disable the electric parking brake.

However what it does do is disable the brake lights and turn signals so we must use a dedicated tow lightbar. As far as I (and my local NIRVC) are aware there is not yet a reliable electrical tow harness for GM vehicles with the animated rear lights.

Ch