Advice on Tow Vehicles

[olive]

We have a 16ft Bambi. We are in the market for a new tow vehicle. We currently have a Toyota Highlander Hybrid with feels a little underpowered for mountain passes. Any advice or suggestions?
Thanks

[easplund]

Originally Posted by olive

Any advice or suggestions?
Thanks

Yes, don't ask that question here. There won't be any end to the arguing and bickering!

[Road Ruler]

Have a look at post #21 here. It will give you some related info....

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...d-39302-2.html

[ROBERT CROSS]

Olive,

Does your THH have the 5000lb tow package?

Yes..should have plenty for the B16.

Bob

[AWCHIEF]

From the Toyota web site:
Towing3500-lb. towing capacity, heavy-duty radiator, 160-watt fan coupling, supplemental transmission oil cooler and 150-amp alternator

5000-lb. towing capacity, heavy-duty radiator with engine oil cooler, 200-watt fan coupling, supplemental transmission oil cooler and 150-amp alternator

5000-lb. towing capacity, heavy-duty radiator with engine oil cooler, 200-watt fan coupling and supplemental transmission oil cooler

-3500-lb. towing capacity, heavy-duty radiator, 240-watt fan coupling and supplemental transmission oil cooler

Towing capacity (5000-lb.) (standard/with Towing Prep Package)

[mojo]

Welcome to the forums. The question of the best tow vehicle stirs up a lot of debate around here. Sounds like you have already been towing with your hybrid and are not happy with the performance. If you indeed want to change, you can pick from a multitude of SUV's and small pickups that will suit your needs. I only suggest that you keep in mind that someday you may wish to upgrade to a 19', 20' 23' etc. If so then you might want to consider a vehicle that has around 7000 lbs towing capacity and a V8. If not a V6 will do. Perhaps when you narrow down what you like, you'll get some more constructive input from the gallery here.

[RTurnConn]

Originally Posted by easplund

Yes, don't ask that question here. There won't be any end to the arguing and bickering!

I agree. Read some stuff here then make your own decision based on your information.

[olive]

That post was made in 2008. I would think there are some newer vehicle out there now that are good towing vehicles.

[olive]

Has anyone tried the Audi Q7?

[olive]

Sorry I meant the Audi Q5

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by olive

We have a 16ft Bambi. We are in the market for a new tow vehicle. We currently have a Toyota Highlander Hybrid with feels a little underpowered for mountain passes. Any advice or suggestions?
Thanks

There are so many choices out there for a 16'er that your question might be better asked....which ones to stay away from. Otherwise, you will get sooooo many recommendations that it may not help. I have my obvious biases, and even within my recommendations there are no less than 6 - 10 different configurations and models. And that doesn't even count the ones which would be overkill.

[olive]

OK. Which ones should I stay away from?
What is one or two of your favorite rigs of your "6 to 10 configurations"
Thanks

[Friday]

Any 'right size'tow vehicle is going to feel a bit under powered in the big hills... Otherwise, you probably have too big a tow vehicle. In the Toyota family, a Sequioa is really the only big step up from the Highlander. A 4runner is a mild bump, as is a Tacoma... But neither will provide the effortless tug of a Sequoia or Tundra on a wee 16 footer. And, when you are not towing, you aren't going to get hybrid mileage.

I towed a Basecamp with a Tacoma V6... Worked great... For other brands... Anything significantly different that your Highlander is going to be truck-based and a small V8... I think you have a decent setup myself...

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by olive

OK. Which ones should I stay away from?
What is one or two of your favorite rigs of your "6 to 10 configurations"
Thanks

Well, looking at the specs, I'd guess you would allow yourself, maybe 4500 lbs of trailer and gear?????

I'd stay away from any of the front drive small and mid sized crossovers rated at 3500 - 4000 lbs. (some will tell you they are fine to be excessively loaded...I differ in my opinion).

Big front drive crossovers: Traverse, Acadia, Enclave

If you want a pickup, a midsized or full size 1/2 ton rated in excess of 4500 - 5000 lbs.
Colorado, Canyon, Silverado, Sierra

Rear Drive SUV: Tahoe, Yukon, Escalade, Suburban, Yukon XL, Escalade EXT

SUT: Avalanche, Escalade ESV

Van: Express 1500, Savanna 1500

You definitely don't need anything greater than a 1/2 ton (unless you're carrying a Harley or two in back of the TV). I'm sure I'm forgetting something in GM's line.

Now multiply these choices by the number of manufactures out there (roughly) and you get an idea that your options are many!

[dkottum]

The best tow vehicle is often the one you have, if it is stable and capable of nearly everything you use it for.

". . . feels a little underpowered for mountain passes" is a pretty minor fault.

doug k

[Foiled Again]

I was at the laundromat the other night and parked right next to me was a shiney new gunmetal gray Cadillac Escalade. I looked at it and thought - sweet!

So tell me the truth - have I become a complete "Geezer-ette" or has Cadillac finally designed something that does appeal to people below the age of 90? It worries me.

Paula

PS - How big a unit could you tow with an Escalade? And do I even want to know the cost?

[Airstream Dad]

Take a look at the 2011 Dodge Durango. I'm actually considering the V6 version and taking it up to Andy Thomson at CanAm for the hitch and other modifications. It also comes in a V8 Hemi.

Cheers,

Jim

[mutcth]

Originally Posted by dkottum

The best tow vehicle is often the one you have, if it is stable and capable of nearly everything you use it for.

". . . feels a little underpowered for mountain passes" is a pretty minor fault.

doug k

I totally 100% agree with Doug. It's more important to me to have something that feels stable and secure to drive, handling-wise, than to be able to rocket up a hill towing. You won't wind up going backward down the hill with the Highlander Hybrid; you'll just go uphill a bit slower. The post Road Ruler linked to is still valid; it shows that you can tow just fine with the car you own.

But. If you don't want to ever worry about making it up a hill or passing anyone while towing the Bambi, and you want a smaller tow vehicle, go for a Ford Flex Ecoboost or Lincoln MKT Ecoboost.

I've towed my Argosy (a similar weight trailer to your Bambi) with this set-up. You can pull into the passing lane and pass at will. Frankly, it inspires you to drive just like you weren't towing. I'm not 100% convinced that's a great idea...

I've also towed with a new Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango. They both handle nicely. I would prefer to wait for the (coming) 8-speed with the V6 as it should improve response some; the V8 does just fine as it is.

Tom

[ROBERT CROSS]

OMG....you meen to say that getting to the point of... "feelz like it's not there", is NOT the ultimate goal. Cr@p

Bob

[Gene]

Olive,

Toyota offers a supercharger that can be installed on V6 and V8 models and will increase power considerably. It costs $4 or 5 K, but may be an option rather than a going to the 5.7 L V8. It will also increase gas mileage. I don't know if it could be installed on a hybrid (probably not), but the Tacoma or 4Runner V6 or the Tundra with the 4.6 L V8 might be possibilities.

Any of these trucks would be a better choice than the car based Highlander. There are many, many options among other brands and everyone favors whatever they own now. You can already see who the Ford, GM, Chrysler and Toyota guys are.

Do you want an SUV, pickup, giant or medium vehicle, van? How much does reliability figure in?

Gene