Top 10 Vehicles for Towing... Biased or Not?

[Johndews]

Thanks Pat. That's helpful. Dealer is #1 GMC dealer in the US and didn't seem surprised at the failure. We love the truck. Great daily driver (22-24 mpg), and great towing. Get 14-14.5 at 58-60 mph in the flatlands, and have tested it in the Rockies with no issues up or down. Lost a little confidence when the TC went out in June, but we are at mile 5500 of a 6300 mile trip from AR to CA and back with no issues. About 55-60% of our 37,000 miles are towing a 30' Classic.

[james.mileur]

Buy your last truck first.

We like the Ram 3500 CTD, for the 30' Classic is just fine.

[Ted S.]

'76 Dodge Dart with a 225 slant six, Royal Pine air freshener and GT50s.

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by Ted S.

'76 Dodge Dart with a 225 slant six, Royal Pine air freshener and GT50s.

I had a 1969 340 GTS convertible, but agree, it wouldn't have been near the tow monster a 1976 Dart with the slant six was; especially since starting January 1 1976 ALL Darts got front disc brakes, not just the fast ones.

Not quite sure what function the air fresheners perform.

Cheers
Tony

[QC TORPEDO]

Where are Smart car and Volt? The top towing vehicles list is ridiculous, unless you are towing a Harbor Freight trailer with one 8' kayak while wearing Birkenstocks.

[TheDuke]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

Edmunds. Top 10 Vehicles for Towing, updated 05/12/2009 (I found nothing after 2009.... have you, please post.)

Dirty little secrets that obviously died in 2009. Does the Recreational Trailer business control what the Vehicle Manufacturers want to keep quiet and avoid liability for both sides?

(1) Dodge Ram 3500
(2) Nissan Armada
(3) GMC Sierra 1500
(4) Dodge Durango
(5) Ford Expedition
(6) Chevrolet Suburban / GMC Yukon XL
(7) Land Rover / Range Rover
(8) Chrysler Pacifica
(9) Hyundai Elantra
(10) Suburau Outback

OK. I am sure that many will not find your tow vehicle among these.

Camping World: Towing Guide

"You don't want to fall in love with a RV only to find out the RV is too heavy for your vehicle to safely tow. To help you find the right RV, please use our Vehicle Tow Rating Finder as well as our Glossary of Terms".

Some very good information defining commonly used terms are also given.

Search by VIN (read Important...)

Trailer Life- Trailer Towing Guides

"Welcome to our towing guide section. Here you will find our towing guide going back to 1999. Each digital guide is packed with setup tips, additional equipment and a full list of the model year's towing enabled vehicles."
*******

These are only some of the sites, but these stand out. Check YOUR tow vehicle against what these three sites recommend. Give us your feedback.

This is a more focused Thread that ptech started 8-7-2017 under Tow Vehicles titled "Agree to Disagree on Tow Vehicle".

Totally agree! Ram 3500 with HO Cummins and Aisin transmission. Cant beat em, cant outrun em!!

[PKI]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

I had a 1969 340 GTS convertible, but agree, it wouldn't have been near the tow monster a 1976 Dart with the slant six was; -- snip --

Some times, good gets better with a little heavy breathing.

[james.mileur]

Originally Posted by Ted S.

'76 Dodge Dart with a 225 slant six, Royal Pine air freshener and GT50s.

Of course, green only.

[m.hony]

...with a dark green vinyl top and dark green interior...

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by QC TORPEDO

Where are Smart car and Volt? The top towing vehicles list is ridiculous, unless you are towing a Harbor Freight trailer with one 8' kayak while wearing Birkenstocks.

Here's the Smart!

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by james.mileur

Of course, green only.

Oh no. Plum Crazy. Remember that color? We had one. I think it was 1970. Not only was the paint ugly, it never properly bonded to the primer and would come off in sheets. Hated that car...

[james.mileur]

See, would have been better green. Just ask Click and Clack.

[rmkrum]

Sadly, the boys are no longer on the air... they will be missed!

[james.mileur]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Sadly, the boys are no longer on the air... they will be missed!

I heard them first in late 70s while driving one of their "Top ten worst", my Chevy Chevette. Was a great car, so even Click and Clack got it wrong some days, but boy, was it always good for a belly laugh. [emoji3]

[Bobbo]

Even my wife, who actually repels any information about cars loved listening to them. Sadly, Tom died in 2014.

[rmkrum]

Yup. That was sad news. Like losing a member of our family.

I still use their method for setting my side mirrors for maximum blind spot coverage...

[james.mileur]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Yup. That was sad news. Like losing a member of our family.

I still use their method for setting my side mirrors for maximum blind spot coverage...

Yes, sad. Hoo yah their method. Me too.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Yup. That was sad news. Like losing a member of our family.

I still use their method for setting my side mirrors for maximum blind spot coverage...

I enjoyed the Tappett Brothers as well. But disagree about the mirror method.

Larger mirrors are needed on passenger vehicles, in general. With a convex spot of sufficient size to handle the close stuff. That's the problem. A missing tool.

This needs attention on a tow rig: the flat "distance" mirror needs to have convergence behind the rig according to law (110', IIRC). Means clip-on types won't meet the letter, and leave one partially blind. One is always referencing the sides of the combined vehicle.

Even with factory tow mirrors, I've seen failure to get the flat glass correct. Best to start that the middle of that mirror uses the horizon-line as center. Eventually, the starboard mirror will have the horizon higher up on the glass to be able to see as much of the starboard side of the rig as possible.

With decent convex one will be "just" be able to see following traffic, and only the edge of the rig to the tail. Maximum outwards angle, but with a constant reference to the rig. It's about what is next to one. What one will meet coming from behind in a jackknife turn (use four ways and headlights).

Walk off the convergence behind the rig. Take corrective action.

What's behind me is my future. Overtaking traffic. Past as prelude. Being able to manage that upcoming situation is what separates men from boys (if you want to understand, "I drive with traffic flow", or, "I like to run 70+" it's due FIRST to equipment that is poor, missing or misused).

.

[rmkrum]

Sorry, should have noted CAR mirrors per the Tappet Brothers.

On the TV, I have a nice set of flip-out tow mirrors with convex auxiliary mirrors that Provide great coverage.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Sorry, should have noted CAR mirrors per the Tappet Brothers.

On the TV, I have a nice set of flip-out tow mirrors with convex auxiliary mirrors that Provide great coverage.

Well, it's an RV forum.

And I've yet to see factory mirrors with adequate convex.

Closest has been UHaul small box trucks with mirror on single-piece black metal arm. Those are right at what "ought" to the minimum.

Some fleet buses (airport, church, private school, senior center) built on van and 4500 chassis can have a hood-mount mirror on what looks like a bridge truss.

It's too bad the idea of "aero" trumps the old West Coast mirrors mounted on pickups for this job in the 1960s & 1970s.

My combined rig is significantly longer at 63' than my Kenworth and Polar tanker. But there is no comparison on mirrors.

In the KW there is no need to refocus in using the mirror. That's the thing

OTOH, believing the inadequate "adequate" isn't new.



.