Super lite Trailers

[fr2bhpy]

Are there any brands of formed fiberglass trailers when loaded that would come in under 1500 pounds?

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[gordon2]

From the famous "Real world trailer weights" database:

LENGTH MAKE MODEL AXLE TONGUE TOTAL EVENT YEAR WEIGHED
13' Boler B1300 1160 140 1300 L. Casitas 2009
13' Burro 718 90 808 Shared 2011
13' Burro 1100 200 1300 Shared 2011
13' Casita 1981 Build Year 1220 160 1380 Shared 2013
13' Casita 1220 138 1358 Shared 2013
13' Hunter Compact Jr 980 140 1120 L. Casitas 2009
13' Hunter Compact Jr 1200 100 1300 L. Casitas 2009
13' U-Haul CT13 1260 180 1440 Oregon 2011


But if you are asking because your vehicle has a 1500 lb tow limit, then we need to talk

[fiddlesticksfl]

A new MFG camper is soon to go into production...HC1 travel trailer combines modular convenience with vintage looks

[fr2bhpy]

It's my mom who asked me. Her car has a max tow of 1500 pounds.

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[fr2bhpy]

I just saw the HC1 at a rally in King City, Ca 2 weeks ago. Cute.

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[Bob Miller]

As you are finding, under 1500 lbs "Loaded and ready to go" can sometimes be a toughie. And if a vehicle is rated for 1500 lbs., one wouldn't necessarily want to be at 1475 lbs and think that everything is just fine.


Tell us some more about your Mom's needs, her budget, exactly what she will be towing with, and her approximate location.


But, if the requirement for a "Real Bathroom" appears in that list, she will be out of luck.


The more you post, the more help you will get, but not all may be good news when reality raises it's ugly head.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by fr2bhpy

It's my mom who asked me. Her car has a max tow of 1500 pounds.

Can we ask what vehicle your mom has? I expect some folks here would then be able to provide some real world experience or knowledge about using it as a tug. But I’m afraid that the likely outcome of trying to tow a trailer that you can stand inside of with a tug rated at 1500 lbs is going to be one unhappy owner. In fact, IMHO, trailers should be no more than 75-80% of tow vehicle capacity at the most, which limits your mom to smaller utility trailers for hauling riding lawn mowers and the like. I’ll reserve further specifics until I know what is being considered, but please ask mom to think hard about it.

I have a tug with a sort of tow package. But still, a hitch receiver, trailer lights and brake controller had to be added. The wiring is a major pain because there is no factory ready harness to use. Yesterday I tapped the brake light wire for the brake controller. The brake controller wiring will be quite well done when I get done, but it will never be as high a quality as it would if there was a harness there to use. So while I was on my back working on it, I pledged to never have another vehicle for towing unless it was pre-wired and basically tow-ready from the factory.

[frank_a]

Originally Posted by gordon2

I have a tug with a sort of tow package. But still, a hitch receiver, trailer lights and brake controller had to be added. The wiring is a major pain because there is no factory ready harness to use. Yesterday I tapped the brake light wire for the brake controller. The brake controller wiring will be quite well done when I get done, but it will never be as high a quality as it would if there was a harness there to use. So while I was on my back working on it, I pledged to never have another vehicle for towing unless it was pre-wired and basically tow-ready from the factory.

Boy, tell me about it Gordon! Here we buy a new Ford Escape with a 3500# tow package, but it only came with a 4 pole flat trailer connector. What I went through with that car to get a brake controller working could fill a book! And I'm handy with stuff like that. Sheesh! So anyways, I agree, never again unless it comes to me ready for a 7 pin!

Frank

[fr2bhpy]

She has a Honda cr-v 2007.

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[Ken C]

Norm is your guy, and his wife. They know the most about towing with the CRV here. And I mean serious towing, gravel Trans-Labrador Highway towing.This is just one of many threads.
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...crv-62816.html

[MC1]

Yes Karen... Norm is the guy. He has towed his glass egg for years. The CRV gets a good report.

As a mater of fact I just came home from a 5 minute highway drive. In that 5 minutes I saw two CRV combinations towing glass eggs. One egg was at least 16'. They are popular tow vehicles. Always remember to get the connection optimal and every effort to get a trailer with electric brakes is strongly advised.

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by fr2bhpy

She has a Honda cr-v 2007.

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-------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank You for the added information. As I am guessing you already know, according to the Owners Manual for the 2007 CRV, the maximum towing weight is 1500 lbs with a suggested minimum of 10% of trailer weight on the tongue. Honda also "Requires" (their words, page 247) trailer brakes on trailers over 1000 lbs.

I have towed both a 13' Scamp and a 13' Lil' Bigfoot with a slightly newer CRV (2010 as I recall) and, although they were both very near to the towing limit, they both towed just fine with trailer brakes connected.

While there are a few very experienced members here that routinely tow over manufacturers stated towing limits, it's not something that your Mothers Insurance Agent or her Attorney would likely agree with.

Bottom Line: The CRV is a fine tow vehicle, but you want to stay under those limits and be sure what you get has brakes that can be connected to the Honda.

Keep looking and asking questions.

[Christian in FL]

What is a CRV?

[frank_a]

Originally Posted by Lisa in FL

What is a CRV?

Go to google images and type crv. They've been around a long time, and are a favorite of a lot of tiny travel trailer people.

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by frank_a

Go to google images and type crv. They've been around a long time, and are a favorite of a lot of tiny travel trailer people.

They are a Honda Compact Recreational Vehicle and, as mentioned, have been around about 15 years. Once you see what one looks like, you will see them all around you, all of the time. I think that the current model is the third generation.

[Ken C]

Originally Posted by fr2bhpy

Are there any brands of formed fiberglass trailers when loaded that would come in under 1500 pounds?

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This Honda is towing a HC-1
https://vimeo.com/126883800

[rebeccasf]

by Bex

[Jon in AZ]

Because the CRV is marginal for a 13' egg, you also need to consider how many people and how much stuff you will be carting along beyond basic food and clothes. Tow ratings typically only factor in one or two people and minimal cargo in the vehicle. We have a CRV and a Pilot, but with four people plus an awning, outdoor kitchen, extra ice chest, chairs, and bicycles (and mountain/canyon grades to deal with), we won't be towing with the CRV. If it were just my wife and I, packing lightly, we'd probably be fine.

[MC1]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

If it were just my wife and I, packing lightly, we'd probably be fine.

A good point Jon. Everyone's situation is different and cookie cutter comments don't work.

In our case the G35 sedan/23', works great with the pro set up, WDH, and we are within the car's axle ratings for the car when hitched up. Note that is with just the two of us. If we had a car load of people and a trunk full of stuff we would be over the payload rating and it wouldn't work.

Once again..... Every situation is different.

[Bob Miller]

I concur with Jon
We towed a 13' Scamp, a 13' Lil' Bigfoot and a 13' Hunter with a CRV and we too had to watch loads very carefully, never carried a tank of water and also drained the PITA black tank in the Scamp before towing. With two peeps it's possible to stay under 1500 lbs, but you have to be very careful, especially with a front bath Scamp.


Other than that, we found the CRV (2008 as I recall), that looked just like the one in the last pic, (Tea Green also) to tow without problems.