What do you tow your caravel / vintage bambi with?

[Stefrobrts]

So often the towing discussions here are aimed at big trailers, so this one is specifically for the little guys.

I would like to know what other folks are towing their little trailers with - Caravels, Bambis, Bambi IIs, Pacers, etc. What kind of hitch do you use? Do you use weight distribution or sway control? How does it handle, are you happy with it?

I'll start. Our current rig is a 95 E150 van. We use an EZLift hitch, but ditched the WD bars and now just tow with a friction sway control. The van is rated to tow something around 6000 lbs, so the Carvel is nothing, it barely even changes the gas milage (which is about 13, towing or not). While the van can certainly handle the Caravel easily - we forget it's even back there - it does ride like a truck, and pulls hard to get up the hills sometimes. After I hear what other folks tow with, and how well they perform, I'd like to find a replacement for it that's a bit more comfortable.

[dudebb]

I am looking forward to the response to this thread. I don't have a tv yet. My current vehicles are a 05 Chrysler 300C with AWD and a 1984 Ford Country Squire. Neither have a hitch. Fortunatly, the early 60's Bambi is a light trailer. Either car would probably do fine. I'm leaning towards the wagon.

[krikles]

I'm towing my Caravel with a Highlander Hybrid w/tow package. I haven't been able to tow it to camp yet (hopefully next month) but have towed in all over CA for various work the trailer needed. I bought an equal-i-zer hitch but found it unnecessary - may just go with sway bars. I get about 19 mpg while towing but will likely get more on longer highway trips.

[1953 Flying]

I don't have a Caravel or a Bambi. What I do have is a 21' Flying Cloud. My TV is a 2000 Dodge Durango 4.7, 4 x 4. The trailer weight is 3250lb. Towing capacity is 5000lb.

I also dumped the Wd hitch and gone with the friction sway controll. We are very happy with this setup with no sway at 65mph. I look forward to see what every one else has to say.

[3Ms75Argosy]

Steph, there's a section in my Silver Trailers Book (I think that what it is called) that shows a 18ft AS pulled by a Volvo XC, and a Bambi with Jeep Liberty.

I think you could pull your trailer with just about anything! : >
How about a Dodge Charger.... THAT would be fun!
Marc

[Melody Ranch]

I currently use a 2006 2500 Duramax Silerado Chevy. I am looking for a 58 Buick.

[TBRich]

We tow our 2006 19' Bambi (heavier than vintage Bambis) with a 2007 Toyota Tacoma V-6 double cab, rated at 6500#...we have an Equilizer Hitch with sway bars set-up, installed by the AS dealer. We are pretty happy with the performance of both the TV and the hitch set-up...sometime forget the Bambi's back there!

TB

[bobfowler]

Our Base Camp is about 2500 pounds soaking wet. We tow with a 2000 GMC 2500 cargo van with a 5.0L and automatic. The van is allegedly rated for something like 5600 pounds, but after towing the Base camp on I-68 between Morgantown, WV and Cumberland, MD, I don't believe it. My next TV, regardless of trailer weight, is going to have a lot more oomph than a 5.0L (at least when heading for the hills!)

[urbanfood]

good topic and i was just looking into hitches today and reading all the good info.

i have a '56 22' flying cloud and my TV is a 2003 Tahoe. i'm leaning towards the equal-i-zer Equal-i-zer® Hitch - The “American Original” with 4-Point Sway Control™ and Weight Distribution

looking forward to other's responses.

[Stefrobrts]

Lets not go nuts with the 'only a v8 will do' arguements, but here's an article another member sent me. This is from a Canadian RV magazine, and it's our old friends Can-Am RV with an article about towing with a PT Cruiser convertible

RV Lifestyle - Hitch Hints

[Stan Z]

Steph,

I have towed my caravel with a 94 toyota 4runner, 3 liter v6, 3500 lbs tow rating. It did the job, but needed a weight distribution hitch. Slow on the hills. This year I upgraded to a 2006 4runner, 4 liter v6, 5000lbs rating. Much more power, no weight distribution, no sway control. It has been very stable and goes over the mountains easily. both trucks get 12-13 mpg while towing and 20 mpg solo. It think that there are several v6 SUV/trucks out there that would work well for you.

[InsideOut]

Not a Bambi/Caravel...but close. 1964 GlobeTrotter 3500 lbs (loaded and ready to go) towed with '96 GMC Yukon 5.7L Vortec V8, Reese hitch, Sway control and weight distribution. No problem.

Shari

[soldiermedic]

Before I sold it, I towed my 56 Caravanner with a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer EXT (Inline 6). No WD hitch, no sway bars, just the ball, chains, and breakaway switch.

We had 50 MPH winds on the trip to Morraine View state park and had NO movement of the trailer.

Steve

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Not a Bambi/Caravel...but close. 1964 GlobeTrotter 3500 lbs (loaded and ready to go) towed with '96 GMC Yukon 5.7L Vortec V8, Reese hitch, Sway control and weight distribution. No problem.

Shari

P.S. At altitude & mountain roads

[safari57]

Steph,

We tow our '51 Flying Cloud so weight I suspect is similar to the Caravel but ours is a 21'. We use a '57 Pontiac stationwagon with later model V8. Equilizer hitch and friction sway control. You don't even know the trailer is out back. Low teens gas mileage, okay for comfort but outstanding fun factor driving. My neighbor intends to tow the 18' 1958 Silver Streak Chico we sold them with their Jeep Cherokee as the boat they tow is similar in size/weight and with friction sway control only they have no issues. I gave them an equalizer I had in stock as I'd prefer to see them use one since I had a spare.

There are lots of very nice, very comfortable vintage TV's available for reasonable prices. They are not as deluxe as later models but worth considering.

Barry

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by Stefrobrts

This is from a Canadian RV magazine, and it's our old friends Can-Am RV with an article about towing with a PT Cruiser convertible

RV Lifestyle - Hitch Hints

The PT Cruiser in Europe with the 2.2 is rated for 1,613kg (3,500lbs) and that is with no WDH.

*Caravan Magazine's top 200 towcars of 2005

[85MH325]

Ok, I'm ashamed to admit this, but I pulled our '61 Bambi all over Iowa using an '85 Toyota longbed 2WD pickup with the 22RE engine and an auto using a 2" ball on a dock bumper. The trailer brakes weren't hooked up, and I stayed on the primary roads, no interstate for me. The truck pulled the Bambi just fine!

Later, I pulled it with a '98 Astro AWD. I pulled it on a bare ball also, and it was a white knuckle ride the whole time. As soon as I put a Reese Dual Cam on it, it towed like a completely different rig. The Astro's suspension was too soft not to have WDH (not to mention the junk soft-sidewall tires it had on it).

I have since towed a variety of 13-18' fiberglass trailers using Toyota pickups with the 22RE, 3.0L V6, and the 3.4L V6 and they do just fine. I really prefer the 3.4l V6 and I've had it in a '97 T100 and now in an '02 Tundra. I have also towed two '53 Flying Clouds with the '94 extended cab 4WD Toyota Compact truck with the 3.0L V6 and an auto. It wasn't a ball of fire, but it was respectable.

I now occasionally tow the 25' Bigfoot with the Tundra, and the Tundra V6 does a pretty respectable job here in the flatlands with the Bigfoot (WITH a Reese Dual Cam, brakes, and a Prodigy of course).

Roger

[clancy_boy]

F-250 7.3L diesel, 4x4 crew cab - does not even know the Caravel is back there, 1 mpg drop in fuel milage.............

[TDOW]

Our '67, at 17', is pulled with our '99 Tahoe. I have to check the mirrors just to remind myself that I hitched it up! 2" ball, chains, lights and brakes, gas and go. Love being in the woods, making biscuits in the oven and drinking hot coffee in bed.

[Stefrobrts]

And in a Caravel, you can actually make coffee while still in bed - if your arm is long enough