Towing with Smaller SUV

[FuzzyGrub]

Driveway looks kind of empty. haha

Ahhh. Room for a bigger boat! Then something to tow the bigger boat with.

 

[LDUBS]

I'm actually OK with one vehicle per driver at our house. It will be different not having the utility of the truck, but my days of heavy lifting are kind of over. And besides, I know where I can borrow one if needed! Haha.

 

[airshot]

I'm actually OK with one vehicle per driver at our house. It will be different not having the utility of the truck, but my days of heavy lifting are kind of over. And besides, I know where I can borrow one if needed! Haha.

I gave up my pickup about 25 years back. Had a wood stove at that time and hauled lots of firewood. Loading then unloading when I got home so I could go to work the next day. Then I got smart and bought a trailer. Then I could go load it up and come home and just unhitch it and leave it set !! Ahhh. Much less work, to this day, I keep a trailer behind the garage for any hauling I need to do, but only have to unload it when I feel like it !!! Cheaper ins and license plates as well....

 

[lightflyer1]

I have no space for a trailer and the HOA wouldn't like it either. I always have an extra car or truck (usually a truck) on hand for jobs and extra vehicle when needed for guests and kids and other emergencies. Insurance is only a couple hundred a year as a second vehicle and if it is older than 25 years can be registered as an antique for $50 for 5 years. They generally see very little use so maintenance is low as well. Just replaced the 1996 Ford F150 inline 6 with a 2011 Ford F150 XLT Super Crew, one owner, as it was a screaming deal and in very nice condition. Much easier to take the grandkids fishing now. My Beetle just got hailed on and the insurance company totaled it and I bought it back and fixed the glass. They paid $18k for it. Bought the truck for $5k.

 

[LDUBS]

I had a Dodge pickup with a slant 6 and 3-speed standard transmission. I wish I still had that truck.

 

[lightflyer1]

I had a buddy in HS that had a car with that engine. Couldn't kill it if you tried. Nothing special about it other than it always ran.

 

[airshot]

I had a Dodge pickup with a slant 6 and 3-speed standard transmission. I wish I still had that truck.

Those were tough engines and real work horses for as small s they were !!

 

[LDUBS]

I used the Honda Pilot to take the boat out yesterday. For whatever reason I found it easier to back the trailer compared to the RAM. The thing I noticed most is the noise from the receiver hitch slop. Never heard that in the RAM. I suppose because it is right there behind the passenger compartment, it is very noticeable in the Honda Pilot.

 

[MrBill47]

I've been pulling a 16' 1980 Lowline with my cars for years.. 1992 Taurus (bad idea .. weak transmission), a 1999 Audi A4 1.8t ... best tow car I've had, AWD, plenty of power, great brakes (got a lot of looks at the ramps), a Buick Century V6, and lately a Jetta Sportwagon 2.5L (rated for 2000# tow cap.). Only problems I've ever had with the tow vehicles have been really crappy tires from the previous owner on the Audi, and the disintegrating torque converter on the Taurus. Drive carefully, maintain situational awareness, and anticipate stopping (approach stoplights carefully, DO NOT tailgate). And, I get 19-20 mpg towing with the Jetta!

 

[lightflyer1]

Try a Jetta with the tdi diesel engine! Tows well. Just watch the tongue weight as it will take some weight off the front wheels.

 

[MrBill47]

Try a Jetta with the tdi diesel engine! Tows well. Just watch the tongue weight as it will take some weight off the front wheels.

I wanted a TDI, but before 2015 they had a 1%-2% rate of high pressure fuel pump self destruction .. about $6k-$8k to replace the ENTIRE fuel system. Not a problem under warranty .... the 2.5L is a good tow vehicle.

 

[sonny.barile]

My rig is just under 1400 lbs. I tow it with a Jeep Renegade TrailHawk. It’s a 2017 with a 2.4 liter 4 cyl. 2000 lbs towing capacity. I have had zero towing issues since I bought it (new) Previiusly I was towing it with a Honda CRV. It was maxed out…..but it still handled it without issue.

 

[Lost But Happy]

I had a Dodge pickup with a slant 6 and 3-speed standard transmission. I wish I still had that truck.

Something resembling this?

 

[Lost But Happy]

@LDUBS Im glad to hear you kept the RAM in the family.

 

[LDUBS]

Something resembling this?

View attachment 121525

Yes, but not near that clean!

 

[thill]

I towed my Princecraft and the previous Crestliner with a Dodge Caravan MINIVAN. It was great, and it was only rated for 1,500 lbs. max with the little motor we had in ours. Never missed a beat, and honestly, you couldn't tell it was back there when towing.

Your Pilot will do a great job if you decide to go that route.

 

[thill]

Something resembling this?

View attachment 121525

That's clean.

 

[LDUBS]

I towed my Princecraft and the previous Crestliner with a Dodge Caravan MINIVAN. It was great, and it was only rated for 1,500 lbs. max with the little motor we had in ours. Never missed a beat, and honestly, you couldn't tell it was back there when towing.

Your Pilot will do a great job if you decide to go that route.

Thanks Thill. I've had the Pilot for about 6 months now. No problems trailering the boat.

These new cars have a lot of electronic thingamajigs. Even will tell me if I should get some coffee, Haha. Slams on the brakes if it thinks I'm going to hit something. First time backing the boat I couldn't figure out why it kept throwing the brakes on. Realized it thought I was backing into the boat because I wasn't in tow mode.

 

[Lost But Happy]

That's clean.

Thank you! It lives in this...



It has a big lopey cam and everybody thinks it a V8. Then I open the hood and they are like wtf! lol

 

[airshot]

Thank you! It lives in this...

View attachment 121546

It has a big lopey cam and everybody thinks it a V8. Then I open the hood and they are like wtf! lol

Very cool, brings back some fond memories !!