Small cars for towing

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Hi guys. I am going to look at a 1977 Trillium 4500 tomorrow. It's the 15 footer. I would be using my 89 4.3 S10 to tow it. In 16 years of driving I have never towed a trailer. The truck has a bumper hitch rated at 2000lbs. I found a copy of the trillium brochure which lists the trailer weight at 1200lbs. What else do I need to tow? Do these trailers have brakes? Should I have a stabilizer bar? Also, should I carry extra weight in the box of the truck for stability?
Thanks
Todd

[Legacy Posts]

I have only driven a Tundra and it seemed to be a nice truck. I know someone who tows a Casita with a Tundra no problem. As mentioned it is 17' big time difference to 26'.

Here is my take on it. Your really going to know that trailer is back there for sure. That wheelbase to trailer lenght ratio in my opinion is pretty close to some real world facts. Short wheelbase vehicles will not tow as well as longer wheelbase vehicles.

Where I think you will run into problems is stopping. Especially if you have a trailer brake failure. Just remember if your going down hill and you have to really stay on the service brakes they get hot. Get them to hot and you have no brakes then thing get messy from that point.

One other issue and I might be wrong on this but I belive the Tacoma is smaller than the Tundra? If it realy is just a 1/4 ton truck I think 5,000 tow rating might be more wishful thinking than anything else.

Either way your going to find out. Good luck be careful and test drive that rig before you have to hit any long mountain grades.

[Legacy Posts]

Orginally posted by Todd

Hi guys. I am going to look at a 1977 Trillium 4500 tomorrow. It's the 15 footer. I would be using my 89 4.3 S10 to tow it. In 16 years of driving I have never towed a trailer. The truck has a bumper hitch rated at 2000lbs. I found a copy of the trillium brochure which lists the trailer weight at 1200lbs. What else do I need to tow? Do these trailers have brakes? Should I have a stabilizer bar? Also, should I carry extra weight in the box of the truck for stability?
Thanks
Todd

Hi Todd, lucky find there. a 4500 pretty cool. have you tried doing a search for S10? I honestly can't remember if anyone here pulls with a S10 or not.
BUT going on my experience. it has more powere then my Escape so that should work. I think a S10 is as big or bigger then mine, so that's good. I pull a 14 so your only up a ft. I can pull up to a 16.
The potentioal problem is going to be the hitch. that is pushing the limit. just to pick it up it will work, but after you load the TT down, your going to be over, I bet. I have a tow pkg on mine that gives me a 3500 hitch and an extra fan. I think its on or in the trans, but your guess is as good as mine.:wak. you can add a fan, and add a stronger hitch.
Now what have I forgotten?? :conf

[Legacy Posts]

Hello Dan...just a note...I saw an article on the Bolerama site that talked of towing a Boler with a 1976 Chevette..over 600 miles...we tow our Trillium with a 2001 Jetta TDI without a problem...remember the ads show these little eggs being towed by Vegas and Bugs..
So..as my dad says.."don't drive like an idiot and you'll be fine"

:jester

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That TDI is a really nice car. I had a VW Jetta diesel and put 315,000 one it until someone I loaned it to wrecked it.

Does your TDI have a manual transmission? What kind of mgp does the TDI get? It is my understanding that Banks makes a kit for this car as well, not sure of this one?

I do know that VW plans of offering the diesel in the new SUV they will bring out. From all reports that is going to be one very nice SUV, some are saying it will be best in class.

What is the tow rating of the TDI? Did you have any problems putting a hitch on it? Thanks Stephen

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Is called the Chevy Colorado/ GMC Canyon / Isuzu D-Max.

The Isuzu D-Max is already selling like hot cakes in Asia/Japan markets and ...

1. May sell here sooner than the Chevy/GMC versions,(link below)

2. New Isuzu Rodeo will be based on this platform.

http://www.isuzu-tis.com/vehicles/cab4/htm...erformance.html

The Chevy and the GMC will be sold with Inline-4 and Inline-5 engines. the I-5 will come with _more_ hp and torque than the present 4.3L V6 and will also have blance shafts for smoothness. it is interesting that these trucks and the I-6 equipped ENVOY/Trailblazer twins have 'anti-grind' switches to prevent cranking when engines are running -- the engines are _very_ quiet. These new GM engines (I4, I5, I6 vortec family) were developed by Isuzu. Isuzu also designed the smooth DURAMAX 6600 diesel engine for GM (used in some Silverados).

More about the engines here,

http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/news/I4I5.html

Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon exterior and interior pics,

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3eb20ffadf91dgc2004canyon02.jpg/> <img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3eb2100730171gc2004canyon03.jpg/>

[Legacy Posts]

I found a tow-rating list and they don't list anything that has ratings below 2000 Ibs.

http://www.trailerlife.com/downloads/03towingguide.pdf

The only VW listed is a Eurovan with a V6 (VR6?)

Towing 13 footer eggs with Jetta TDI's (or any other 2.0 litre engined compact) is IMO fine -- provided you have brakes on the trailer. Like the posters have concurred so far -- using common sense goes a long way.

[Legacy Posts]

Please remember that there are THREE parts to this towing stuf:

1. Pulling it

2. Steering it

3. Stopping it

Most Newbies are only aware of the first part. Just because you can get it moving at high speeds up hills doesn't mean you will be able to steer it or stop it.

Pete and Rats

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Thinking of buying the 4 door model. Anyone have one for towing?
Todd

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:wave

[Legacy Posts]

Todd,

I went an kicked the tires on a Grand Vitara XL-7 which has three rows of seats (3rd row only good for children under seven). Yes 3rd row -- on that small a vehicle!

IMO the regular Grand vitara has too small an engine to tow a Casita with.

Only the XL-7 has a large V6 and a wheelbase longer than the regular Grand Vitara. The tow rating for the V6 is 3500 lbs. and they do offer a factory tow package with a tow hitch and socket.

Initially the vehicle seemed a bit small on the outside.

That said, however, it is completely different inside from the regular cheesy Grand Vitara interior (Automatic Climate Control, Gauges are Lexus style fluorescent etc. etc.). Snug but comfy -- if you get the leather interior.

IMO you should get their V6 (only comes only with an XL-7) and not a regular Suzuki 4-banger.

http://www.suzukiauto.com/sr03/xl7/360_int.html

But then -- why settle for a five year old design??

If you really need a smaller SUV with a V6 then go for the 2005 Chevy Equinox (next generation Tracker). Available January 2004 (if you want to wait a few months). More details below,

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ebd7ceded11aequinox-1.jpg/>

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ebd7f130d7f8chevrolet.equinox.r34.jpg/>

http://www.nctd.com/sneakpreview.cfm?ReviewID=35

http://edmunds.nytimes.com/news/autoshows/...42/page040.html

[Legacy Posts]

I like the larger Suzuki, but I see the V6 is available in the Grand Vitara (and now the Tracker) here in Canada. I work at a GM dealer (Cadillac/Hummer) so I'd like to take advantage of an employee discount. Then again, I suppose I could get a newer S10. I used to work at the factory that makes the Tracker (and new Equinox) and I know the quality was quite good in those models.

Todd