Suggestions - Small AWD tow vehicle

[AIRSTREAMMTL]

Originally Posted by Stefrobrts

I think we probably prefer something wagon or SUV like just because we'll need a little cargo capacity still. Not like we did with the van, but probably more than a car will comfortably hold.

Hello Stephanie,

you should look at the Toyota Sienna AWD. Great cargo capacity for a minivan!

[Chuck]

Toureg would be cool...but they are very spendy.

(seems that most of the "unconventional" smaller tv's tend to be that way, but...).

Another one that Andrew T recommends often is the GMC Acadia/Chevy Traverse.

[Stefrobrts]

I'm not really anticipating ending up with a car I 'like' - more like one I can 'tolerate'. If I was going to tow with something I would enjoy driving the rest of the time, I would live in a magical world where Mustangs or Miatas could tow a trailer

Thanks for all the great suggestions, I'm digging up info and putting it all together so we can go out and maybe get a few test drives and see what they feel like. There's so many choices right now, it's crazy!

[Chuck]

well, heck--an old mustang could tow that Caravel, no sweat!

And AndyT has posted pics of towing with a modern-day one. much bigger trailer, too.

~problem solved~

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by Stefrobrts

I'm not really anticipating ending up with a car I 'like' - more like one I can 'tolerate'.

Wrong attitude Stef. With so many choice no doubt you will find one that puts a smile on your face.

Chuck... Good luck with your team today. We are watching the game here today too. Sure wish Joe Montana and the 49'rs were playing the Pats. Then we would really have a...... "Super Bowl".

[perryg114]

The Tribeca is a little bigger than an Outback. I would not tow anything over 2000lb with an Outback.

Perry
'

Originally Posted by bhayden

We have an '09 Outback and I'd never tow anything bigger than a jet ski with it. But they are rated for much more weight in Europe and on the Subaru forums I see them towing huge trailers; which seems really scarey stupid to me. Don't get the variable drive transmission for towing. They only put it behind the smallest engine because the don't believe it will take the abuse of a turbo or the 6 cyl.

I'd stick with something that is designed as a rear wheel drive vehicle (rules out Ford Freestar and Flex, Aerostar was rear wheel drive) even if you are getting AWD and look for a full frame rather than a uni-body. That unfortunately really limits choices in the small TV market. Especially since GM discontinued the Astro/Safari models. The Dodge Magnum looks interesting but I bet gas mileage would be terrible.

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by REDNAX

So what I would like is suggestions for a smaller tow vehicle (almost anything would be smaller than the van) that would have AWD or 4WD, and still have the capacity to tow the Caravel - 2800# and 250# tongue weight.

For a vehicle that also has business deductible miles [?] I know I would want a great, not just good, relationship with a servicing dealer. So this is where I would start as a Z-turn lawnmower can pull a Caravel: what car dealer has a great reputation among your acquaintances and friends at their service department?

Other than that, to narrow it waaay down, my choice would also be a turbodiesel first for daily driver/tow vehicle. Plenty of vehicle-specific enthusiast forums out there to i.d. problems which could be of concern. Buying used hopefully means paying cash, so a budget to bring it up to par (plus a bit more) is one I have used with success a few times. Lowered initial cost coupled to a well-chosen economical op cost makes any other problems less of a concern to deal with if that servicing dealer can be found (and factory parts used as needed).

I would rate all of this as higher than Brand A versus Brand B. My pickup truck seems "too large" but with a calendar average fuel mileage of 22-mpg and a total of $400 in repairs in 180,000-miles (plus good luck with the Chrysler dealer system overall) the results of paying careful attention to commercial operators of pickup trucks as well as private individuals is paying off well.

To illustrate this, there are plenty of Camry and Accord owners (the majority I suspect) not seeing fuel or repair or maintenance costs this low, overall or on a per mile basis. As but two sets of tires and brakes will have lasted on this 7,500-lb truck out to a quarter-million miles at the present wear rate it's more of a slam dunk. I am suggesting, then, that examination below the surface of personal assumptions as well as specific vehicles be undertaken. If this kind of economy is required (where longevity & reliability are part and parcel) one might come up surprising choices.

What I did not need was a temperamental or foreign make with expensive or hard-to-obtain parts despite magazine-trumpeted "superior performance". In a giant metro area such as Dallas (fourth largest in nation) this was never a concern, everything was/is in stock. 500-miles south of there out amongst county-sized ranches is quite another story for a vehicle whose primary purpose is still income-related.

In truth there aren't any limitations to what can be hooked up to that trailer short of your AWD requirement. Of course a change to a sway-eliminating hitch even on a small trailer is worthwhile, IMO. (The economy of my truck "pays" for all sorts of upgrades or changes of this nature I'm happy to self-justify, ha!).

Good luck.

.

Great considerations!
From our personal experience, a Jeep Wrangler in either TJ or JK model with standard factory suspension is out of consideration for towing anything of any mass larger than a trailered jet ski.

[Stefrobrts]

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

Wrong attitude Stef. With so many choice no doubt you will find one that puts a smile on your face.

Well, I'm sure whatever we come up with will be more fun to drive than the van, so I can be positive about that

[iwbull]

I have a 65 Caravel that I tow with my 2005 Toyota Highlander V6. There is plenty of power and I average about 15 mpg. Realistically once you the caravel is loaded with water, propane, and stuff you are looking at 3000lbs and 300# tongue weight. So anything you get should have no less than a 3500# tow rating.

[azflycaster]

My wife has a 2012 Escape with the V6 but no towing package. It is a great little SUV for around town travels and trips to the store. It is supposed to be rated at 500 lbs towing, but I would not try it. It's light weight and short wheelbase are not a good combination for a TV.

[Rich of SCal]

Originally Posted by starcraft

Towing with subaru must be some sort joke right? 4dr wrangler is rated at 3500 pounds and has lots accessories to purchase. Liberty or Comander would work great. I am scratching my head at subaru towing post have you seen the thin gauge metal for attaching hitch. My bambi frame would tear a rustarube appart like tin can.

I am towing a Sport 16 with my 08 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (meaning 4 door and longer wheelbase), Rubicon. The Sport is a little heavier than your Caravell, about 2900 dry weight, 3500 rated. The Jeep is rated up to 3500. I have a Reese dual cam WD hitch and so far the Sport tracks like it's part of the Jeep. And when I unhitch...I can go 4 wheeling. The 4 door Wranglers started in 07, I believe. At least one, maybe 2 others in the forum tow with a similar Jeep with no reported problems. Automatic is recommended for towing. It also works nicely when climbing.

[Globie64]

We took delivery of our Pilot AWD today, 4500# towing capacity to tow our 3200# gross Globetrotter. I was impressed with the cornering, the Pilot is wide, and have been really happy with the bulletproof reliability our multiple Hondas over the years. I'd be curious to hear more about VW owners towing- anyone we know with one has endless electrical problems, and they don't seem to age well- bits failing off.

[overlander63]

Stef, if you are still looking for a tow vehicle, you can take a look at the new Rangers. They are available in 4 door, 4wd, and have up to 5400 pound towing capacity.

[Stefrobrts]

Actually, a couple weeks ago I got to ride in a friend's 2006 Pilot and I was very impressed with how quiet it was (you could talk inside without raising your voice) and what a nice ride it was over all. I think if I could tow with one of those, that might be just the way to go for us.

[gmw photos]

Originally Posted by overlander63

Stef, if you are still looking for a tow vehicle, you can take a look at the new Rangers. They are available in 4 door, 4wd, and have up to 5400 pound towing capacity.

I thought I had read that Ford was not going to bring the new Ranger to North America ? What I had heard was they felt is was "too close" to the F150 in size and spec, and they felt they would be competing with themselves.
Has this changed ? Going to sell it in the US ?

To the OP, if you have not driven one, you might consider a Nissan Frontier. Good value and very capable. With a "cap" on the bed, you would a weather tight place to store extra stuff while on the road.

[bhayden]

Not sure if it's been covered in this thread but the Toyota FJ is rated at 5,000 lbs towing capacity. Being able to actually get your rig out of a wet field can be a big deal. I'm going to make the leap that people with smaller trailers tend to get into more difficult situations? The knock would be the short wheel base.
Short wheel base == bad towing characteristics.

-Bernie

[Aage]

Originally Posted by bhayden

Short wheel base == bad towing characteristics.

I also wonder if the fact that a lot of SUV-style vehicles' suspension holds the vehicle farther from the ground is also a negative.

Similarly, I see many of those vehicles with what appears to me to be very tall tires. Can this be a good thing?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by gmw photos

I thought I had read that Ford was not going to bring the new Ranger to North America ? What I had heard was they felt is was "too close" to the F150 in size and spec, and they felt they would be competing with themselves.
Has this changed ? Going to sell it in the US ?

I went to Ford's website, and spec'ed it out with their "build it now" program. 4.0L, automatic transmission, 4wd, 4 door, short bed, 4.10 gears, limited slip differential. The F150 has double the towing capacity, when it is spec'ed for towing.

[gmw photos]

Originally Posted by overlander63

I went to Ford's website, and spec'ed it out with their "build it now" program. 4.0L, automatic transmission, 4wd, 4 door, short bed, 4.10 gears, limited slip differential. The F150 has double the towing capacity, when it is spec'ed for towing.

Well, that's interesting. When I go to the ford website, all it "lets me build" is a 2011 Ranger. Why they have their site set up like that I don't know. The site I'm seeing does not even show it under the future cars category.

When I do a yahoo search for 2013 Ranger, I see a totally different vehicle.

[morgandc]

I just went through the search for an SUV to replace my cars... the only one that I found drove like a car, got the gas mileage of a car, was a diesel BMW X5. I really wanted a Grand Cherokee, but they were not even in the same ballpark handling wise... If you are willing to accept lesser mileage the gas X5's will work just fine. Disclaimer, I did not drive the Toureg or Audi q7 so they could drive similarly.

You can get aftermarket lifetime warranties backed by Chrysler for a couple thousand on the Jeeps if you go that way.

-Dwight