What newer trailers CAN I tow?

[KJRitchie]

Our first RV was a Dolphin micro mini motorhome on a Toyota chassis back in the 80s. We decided to switch to a towable and got a pop up. Big mistake. Even though the pop up had roof air it couldn't keep the inside cool enough until the sun went down and handle any humidity and the furnace couldn't keep us warm enough. Because the fabric was vinyl coated, condensation would form on the inside of the canvas and start dripping onto the beds when it was cool outside. The thin plywood bed shelves offered no insulation and one cold morning in Colorado was enough for us. We lived in Texas at the time so the two week trip to Colorado showed us popups are useless in the heat and cold. I purchased a small tote tank on wheels to collect the gray water and the first time I tried to move it discovered how heavy water is.

I guess the reason we hated the pop up was coming from a fully insulated motorhome with holding tanks etc was too much of a downsize. Coming from a tent our expectations might have been different.

Look at some of the hard sided A frame popups. They should insulate better. If you go canvas don't bother with all the frills like furnace and AC since they are useless in a large tent.

Kelvin

[kscherzi]

Go for the popup. It will be the lightest trailer per volume and super easy to tow. My old Coleman was about 12 long closed and about 22 feet long opened. It had larger beds than my current 27 foot Airstream. I stored it in my garage. Now I have to pay to store the Airstream at a yard. For the most part Airstream trailers are meant for 2 adults. Popups do 4 or 5 easily. We waited till the kids were gone to get the Airstream.

[pimingkuo]

Maybe you want to take a look of the Chalet XL 1920 A frame pop-up which has the bunk beds or other XL pop-up trailer.

[sallye]

Originally Posted by pimingkuo

Maybe you want to take a look of the Chalet XL 1920 A frame pop-up which has the bunk beds or other XL pop-up trailer.

We looked at these before getting our AS. We also had a Pilot. The problem with the A-frames is that setting up in the rain means everything inside gets wet unless the rain is coming STRAIGHT down, which it seldom does.

In the end we traded in the Pilot for a Dodge Durango SUV and tow a 20' AS.

[m.hony]

I bought a V8 pickup to overcome that problem and then got the trailer I wanted.

[cameront120]

I know you said newer trailer, but you might consider a well kept or restored vintage trailer. They're much lighter than the new ones.

[Ted S.]

Originally Posted by Rktect1

When i owned my previous Pilot, the 2008, i got terrible mpg. It really upset me as the sticker said 20 hwy and 15 city. Well, in reality i was getting 11-12 city during fall winter and early spring and maybe 14 in the summer. And max 19 hwy. but the 2014 is giving me improved mpg around 14-15 city and 22 hwy.

Not great but....

I should clarify my Excursion while towing gets better than the Pilot when the Pilot is/was towing the popup. I just could not figure it out, it was right around 10 mpg while towing.

I'm not sure what it gets while not towing, its my wife's car and I never drive it otherwise.

[Ted S.]

Originally Posted by CRH

My camping friends have a newer Honda Pilot and the largest Coleman pop up I have seen. I can't remember the model. It has a king bed on one end and a slide out dinette, though. It is a nice, roomy unit. I don't recall what it weighs, but it has to be at the top when it comes to pop ups. I have traveled with them. The Pilot does an ok job. It is about maxed out from what I can tell, though. The mountains really slow it down.

The largest Coleman popup was the Avalon. It had a 16' box and tandem axle. It was called a "High-wall" because it had full counter height walls.

Ours is the Niagara. It has a 14' box and single axle. I love popups but much work. I could not see towing the Avalon with my Pilot, it just seems too taxed.

[Rocinante]

If not a popup or a tent for the kids plus an Airstream Basecamp or a Casita for the adults, then maybe something like this guy: Camplite 13RDB Automotive Travel Trailer Overview | Livin' Lite RV, or even smaller: http://www.livinlite.com/camplite11fk-overview.php - kinda like the Jayco hybrid suggested earlier in this thread.

[Ahab]

The Ridgeline can tow up to 5000#. Here's our rig which weighs in just under 3900# ready for travel. This was taken at 10,000' in New Mexico. We've been towing this for nine years throughout the Southwest without a problem. Don't need no stinken V8.

[Road Ruler]

The Ridgeline and Pilot have the same 3.5 engine.

Originally Posted by Ted S.

Ours is the Niagara. It has a 14' box and single axle. I love popups but much work. I could not see towing the Avalon with my Pilot, it just seems too taxed.

The Pilot has 250HP. For years we towed our 23' with a 150HP Nissan Mini Van. Cruise all day at 100klm/hr./60MPH. No problem.

[CindyH]

This is a Quebec travel trailer manufacturer. A friend of mine bought one with a slide out- she towed with a Ford Escape- took it from Canada's west coast to the east coast. Had no problems. Stopped off at the factory in Quebec, got a couple of things done and was on her way.

Several years later, it's still in use and in fine shape.

Trailer camper Xtreme 23 : Roulottes Prolite

[CindyH]

You could tow a vintage Bambi!! Much more fun than a pop-up.

[ChuckFeldt]

Anxiety free towing towing really relates to how safe you and your loved ones arrive. I pulled pop-up campers prior to the Airstream. Coleman Rio Grand, 2600lbs no brakes, Astro Van. Entirely capable. Coleman/Fleetwood Utah 3700lbs electric brakes, Astro van, scary. Bought Silverado 1500, more than adequate. Airstream 27FB, 7500lbs, Silverado 1500, back to scary. Replaced by 2500HD, pleasure to tow. Life is more dangerous than we think, may you choose wisely.

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by ChuckFeldt

I pulled pop-up campers prior to the Airstream. Coleman Rio Grand, 2600lbs no brakes, Astro Van. Entirely capable. Coleman/Fleetwood Utah 3700lbs electric brakes, Astro van, scary.

Wow, we too towed a Coleman Rio Grande/no brakes, with our Nissan Van. South twice, West coast, and then the East coast, and many trips in Ontario and Upstate New York. Worked great. As I mentioned above we then towed the 23' with the Quest and it was fine. Not sure why an Astro would have problems with a 3,700lb pop up. Did you not have a properly adjusted WDH installed??

[m.hony]

...and I tow a 30' Airstream with a 1/2 ton pickup-
No worries-


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Glenritas]

Ok guys, back to reality. The OP wants to bring 4 people and a trailer that sleeps 4 , with a Honda Pilot that is only rated to tow 3500# Trailer, or 4500# low profile boat.

Now the 16' sport is 8' wide and 8'6" high plus the a/c 9'3" This is the max frontal area and weight the Pilot can tow and stay within spec.

He would like an Airstream but the 16' sport is the only AS he could pull BUT it only sleeps 3 full size people comfortably. He and wife plus boy and girl preteens . I don't think the boy and girl are going to share a bed. So even a 19' FC won't cut it even if the Pilot could tow it.

So bottom line the Airstream won't work for the OP's Pilot unless someone sleeps outside.

IMHO forget the AS as long as you bring the kids or get a PU with a camper or a van to pull it and house the kids.

Other choice is a pop up.

[NWGetaways]

His model Pilot is rated at 4500 lbs. That's enough for a 16, 19, 20, or 22 Airstream.

I have a Ridgeline (close cousin to the Pilot) which has the same drivetrain but is rated a little higher at 5,000 pounds. I have no trouble at all towing a 19' Bambi.

[Bob662]

Originally Posted by Glenritas

Other choice is a pop up.

...or a hybrid (probably a better choice than a pop-up).

[Rktect1]

Thanks for all these posts. All helpful.