The tow vehicle confessional

[Aage]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

When we're in Canada next month I'm going to see if we can coast north.

Gene

Gene, if you'e going to New Brunswick, be sure to go and visit the Magnetic Hill. You will be amazed!

Although, not sure if it works on and AS, perhaps too much aluminum!

[Mexray]

I don't like the 'tail' wagging the 'dog'...hence our Ford Excursion 4x4 with the 6.8 ltr V-10 to haul our 28 ft AS around - can you spell STABLE on the road...

I weighed the whole rig a few months ago with full fuel (42 gals!) and 1/2 fresh water tank...

Excursion - 8,480 lbs
Airstream - 5,560 lbs

Total.........14,040 lbs

Towing experience - Priceless...!

Passing Semi's don't even give us a 'wiggle'....

[ROBERT CROSS]

Come on guy's fess-up, if you WANT a new TV, 'yer gonn'a be very creative in your reasoning, It's all about stragedy and guy think.

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

Perhaps because the magnetic north pole is in Canada, it pulls them along and they don't need big engines?
Gene

Sorry Gene, That doesn't work with aluminum!

[Aage]

Originally Posted by Mexray

Passing Semi's don't even give us a 'wiggle'....

And, as has been noted in several other threads, it's always interesting to remember that those very semi rigs are made up of tractors pulling one (or two) 40' trailers, usually weighing several times what the tractor weighs.

Jeepers! How -do- they do it?

[Lothlorian]

Whether I am pulling my airstream (73 Overlander) or not I usually never go over 65 on the interstate. With my airstream I usually stay at 55. I use the 4.6L 2006 Dodge Ram and it pulls nicely. I stay far behind people in front of me and I let other people pass. I stay within the tow package specs and only take what I need to camp ( around 500 Lbs). The only time my truck feels stressed is when I have to go through the Tennesse Mountains north of Chattanooga. I have to give it some acceleration and top end is 45 miles an hour. That is the only time is when the truck is climbing. It is about a 30 minute climb.

That climb concerned me and I had a service manager at Dodge look at my truck and the specs and he told me not to worry. He claims the Dodge 4.6L engine is a tough engine and the transmission can handle it. This service manager was working at a chrysler dealer where I did not buy my truck.

The new 5.7 2009 Dodge trucks are nice and WOW!! the prices are awesome.

Brian

[mustang]

1987 Crown Vic, towing a 27 foot overlander. A family of 6. Dog. hahaha

I went all over with that setup. Never a problem. 302, AOD, 3:08 gears.

Engine/Tranny made it over 365000 miles Odometer broke, sold it a year later. I see it every once in a while

[tinsltootsie]

Our tow vehicle is nothing to remark about, but my husband, the driver,(important) feels it is safer. Since he is a service station owner/operator/mechanic/trailer insp person, I listen. I loved those short bed pickups with extended cabs. They look pretty long!! Lots of people room!! And why a heavy duty 3500??? Many smaller models have enough power!! His reasoning is the stopping power in those "hairy" situations. So far, we've never had to use it, and we even avoid those worse hills, and curves when possible. And believe me, there are many. After all! We live in PA!!! So, those who get by with a smaller vehicle, good luck, and I'd advise to stay out of PA. We're only the Appies, but around here, those hills are tough on a TV with trailer!

BTW, ours is a 1997 Dodge Ram 4X4 3500 Needs some bodywork, and polish, but it does its tow job!


Post Icons

[3Ms75Argosy]

See, I'm curious, what where the power specs of the Crown Vic back then? 200 hp? How much torque?
Thanks!
Marc

[slowmover]

185hp at 4000 rpm and 275 ft lbs at 3000 rpm

[c177tx]

I now have owned my 2008 19' SE Bambi for a month now, and have traveled all over central and some of west Texas. Lost Maples, Garner, South Llano River, Pedernales and Blanco State Parks. Have traveled out to Junction twice so far. My TV is a 2008 Jeep Commander sport model, (with out the third row seat). 4.7l 305 hp engine. I have the TV equipped with an Equilizer hitch. On one of my trips out IH 10 the TV will easily maintain 80mph on cruise control. At one time a 18 wheeler was passing in the right lane going down hill (he must have been going 90 at the time.), We started up the next hill and he got infront of me and started to slow down quickly as the hill had a good grade to it. This is east of Junction heading towards San Antonio. We slowed down to about 50 going up this hill, I move to the left lane and accelerated back up to 80 going up this hill. Now granted the elevation out around Junction is only around 2K, I was very suprised by the rate of accelaration I was able to get out of the Commander. The Commander has 20k miles on it and I have consistently maintained 20-2 1mpg on the highway with no trailer and now get around 13-14mpg with the trailer. Most of the time I tow between 65 and 70mph. On my last trip while heading west towards Junction we met up with a buzzard, It hit the windshield and busted the glass but did not penetrate.

[c177tx]

Here are the pictures.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Please slow down.

[elolson]

Well I have a confession. I am dreaming of an even bigger TV.

Here is what I have in mind

When you just can't get enough horsepower and 1 stick is not enough, and fractions of a ton just don't have the same ring as my truck is rated at 40 tons.

[Aage]

I had a hitch receiver, an automatic transmission cooler and a Prodigy P3 brake controller installed on my new-to-me 2007 Ford Freestar Sport at Can-AM RV in London, Ontario on Thursday, and seeing as how I got there before they opened, I took a few shots of a some of the rigs that were in their front lot.

Two 34-footers, one hitched to a Chrysler Town and Country, the other to a Dodge Charger 3.5 V6, while the 24' Argosy was hitched to a VW Jetta.

VERY nice paint job on the Argosy, by the way.

An interesting line-up, I must admit...

[pageclot]

Originally Posted by Aage

I had a hitch receiver, an automatic transmission cooler and a Prodigy P3 brake controller installed on my new-to-me 2007 Ford Freestar Sport at Can-AM RV in London, Ontario on Thursday, and seeing as how I got there before they opened, I took a few shots of a some of the rigs that were in their front lot.

Two 34-footers, one hitched to a Chrysler Town and Country, the other to a Dodge Charger 3.5 V6, while the 24' Argosy was hitched to a VW Jetta.

VERY nice paint job on the Argosy, by the way.

We almost bought that Argosy, but they painted it out of our price range.

A 34 footer with a minivan!? That's just insane! 31 feet would be my limit.

--
Kevin
1976 27' Overlander
3.8 L Dodge Caravan SXT

[Gene]

You crazy Canadians and your little tow vehicles!

But it's true—when we were in Canada, the trailer got lighter, I could tow it with 7 of 8 cylinders disabled and sometimes we towed the Tundra with the Safari! I attribute it to the border guy when we entered Ontario who gave us a miniature magic hockey stick if we promised to return it when we left Canada. It didn't stop the sleet in Kenora though.

Gene

[mum@home]

It's not funny anymore crawford!

Is this post about tow vehicles or making fun of people and other countries.

[Andrew T]

I thought I might add a picture here of a combination I drove recently that I found quite impressive.

This is 08 20' Safari being towed by an Audi A4 with a 3.0 Litre V6 with a 5 speed automatic. This engine has a very wide powerband and was able to tow at only 2100 RPM at 60 MPH with quite a bit of reserve. When you have a 3.0 Litre towing at such a low rpm the mileage should be excellent. The handling was very precise and completely stable while delivering a very comfortable ride.

I saw someone earlier refered to a "pro" set up. This is a good example of an optimal weight distribution configuration.

Andrew T

[Andrew T]

Opps here are the pictures