Tow Vehicle & Trailer combos - POST INFO

[Roadtrippin0803]

1975 Pontiac Lemans Station Wagon 36,000 miles
400 turbo 400 transmission
1974 Compact Hunter 13ft
Fuel economy tbd

[Jon in AZ]

Cool. My family towed our 1971 Skamper tent trailer with a 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass wagon, same body style. First vehicle we ever owned with air conditioning, and the first with a third row. Since there were six of us, it was a big improvement for traveling. Ours had a 350 V8. Plenty of power, but we had to add air shocks to keep the back from dragging. We put lots of towing miles on that rig.

I learned to drive on that wagon. Got my first towing experience at 17 helping drive the trailer to Florida. Dad had recently become disabled.

Great vehicle! That’s a sweet-looking Compact, too, and period correct!

[Bill Finch]

Tow Vehicle - Toyota Celica GT
Engine - 4 cyl 1.8 L 140 hp
Manf.Tow Rating - 2000 lbs
Trailer - Scamp 13
Trailer Weight lbs - 1750
Tire Size - 13
Tire Brand - Towmax
Towing Mpg - 25
Non-tow Mpg - 33
Typ Tow Speed - 60 mph
Misc - amazing turning radius, 5 speed manual
Owner - Bill Finch
Comment - Trailer brakes are essential. Crossed most high passes in Cali- Sonora, Carson, etc.

[Ron in Gresham]

Towing a 2015 17' Casita Deluxe
Aftermarket metal propane cover with Yamaha 2400 Generator atop it.
Tow vehicle is 2019 Subaru Ascent with 2.5 turbo, factory hitch
Tow mpg is typically 16,
cross-country round trip Oregon-Key West with days in between travel, 19.5 average mpg.

[EggRoll]

2017 Honda Ridgeline RTLT AWD
3.5 liter engine
2007 Casita Spirit Deluxe
Tongue weight - approx. 365#
MPG - average (not towing) 20-22mpg
Towing w/2 kayaks on the roof and 2 bikes in the bed - 15.5-17.5mpg (averaging about 60-62mph when towing)

[the happy camper]

Trailer = 2008 17 B Escape 3500 Lbs loaded

Tow rig = 2015 Volvo xc70 3.0 liter turbo

normal mileage = 23-24 mpg

towing mileage = 16-17 mpg

[Bob Durrstein]

Towing my 1982 Scamp 16 with our 2002 Dodge RM 1500 Quad Cab 5.9 gas engine getting 11 - 13 on the highway. get 16 - 18 without trailer. Usually drive about 65 mph.

[dmad1]

'17 Tahoe 5.3 pulling a 2015 17' Casita. Towing is 13/14 @ 65. Solo highway is 21/23 consistently. Best solo was 24.2 with a little tailwind on flatland in west Tx. 17/18 around town. Very pleased with the mileage for the size of the vehicle.

[wake_al]

Golf TDI 2015 manual, towing a T1300 I’m doing around 25-27 mpg (8.7-9 litre/100) at 65-70 mph(110-115kmh).

Juste don’t feel the weight of the trailer on the flat and rarely downshifting to the 5 gear in the hill. Car is super stable. Only up and down bouncing on when the road is bumpy.

[Terry M]

• 2019 Jeep Wrangler JLU Rubicon
• V-6/3.6L/8 speed-auto/4.10 gears
• 3,500/350
• 2015 Scamp 13 Std. (air conditioner, stove, fridge, furnace, no bathroom)
• 1,730/232 pounds
• Provider (e-trailer), ST175/80-R13
• Towing = 16.2 mpg @ 62-63 mph-interstate/55-60-2 lane roads
• Non-towing = 19-20 mpg @ 65-70 mph

Note: Trailer was weighed in 2016 – loaded with all of our normal camping gear, drinks, food, air compressor, jack, etc. – empty tanks, propane, Group 24 battery –

We just got back from a trip to Utah from Illinois: 2,900 miles towing, 15.8 mpg going west (Colorado Mountains and big headwind in Kansas and we only had 590 miles on the Jeep when we left home). Averaged 16.6 mpg going home basically downhill from Monarch Pass in Colorado – calculated from gas tickets. Terry More

[AnotherCanadian]

Tug: 2011 Ram 3500 crew cab, short box 4x4
6.7L Cummins diesel, 6sp auto

Trailer: 1983 Bigfoot 17, spring over axle conversion.

Unloaded average 13l/100km towing average 16.5l/100km in the mountains, 15 l/100km on the flats

[Terry M]

Footnote on my Scamp 13’s towed weight for those interested in comparing trailer weights, (post #370 – 5/22/19 of 1,730/232#). My Scamp, is probably at least a 100 # heavier than a “normally loaded” Scamp 13 without a bathroom. We have a dog who travels with us. We fold the rear seats down and She has claimed the Jeeps cargo area for the 1,450-mile trip to Utah. Therefore, the “stuff” that most Scampers would carry in the TV, we carry in the Scamp, I.E, the “big” ice chest, recovery gear, tools, shovel, jack, air compressor, etc. Once at our 4-wheeling destination, the Jeep “stuff” goes back in the Jeep and Sandi has to share her space.

[Eggberta]

I’m looking to find a tow vehicle that will pull 3500 to 5000 lbs. I’ve been looking at a Ford Escape, but am getting different info from car dealers. One is saying that they nay come with a 2.0 L 4 cylinder with turbo. Is that going to be enough? I travel through the mountains on my way back and forth to AZ. I thought the Escape came in a 6 cylinder. I live in Canada, could it be the 6 cylinder is not available here? Anyone know?
If anyone has a strong recommendation for a T Vehicle, I’m open to suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[Jon in AZ]

Eggberta, pretty sure the Escape tops out at 3500#, even with the older V6, which was discontinued some years ago. The new top spec 2.0 Ecoboost is actually a stronger engine, but the maximum tow rating is unchanged, possibly due to chassis limitations.

To get a 5000# tow rating, you need to step up to a mid-sized crossover- Explorer, Highlander, Pilot, or similar. If you like Fords, the Explorer is being redesigned for 2020 on a RWD chassis (with optional AWD as before). That’s better for towing. Honda just introduced a new model, the Passport, which is a shortened 2-row version of the Pilot on a raised suspension, same V6 drivetrain and 5000# maximum tow rating in a slightly smaller package. Highlander leads the class in reliability. They’re also being redesigned for 2020 so you might find some good deals later this year on leftover 2019’s.

5000# is a pretty big molded trailer. What are you planning to pull?

[bjshan]

I am on my 3rd Highlander for towing and have loved them all. Formerly towed two different Aframes, currently towing an Escape 17A. Great reliability, nothing more than regular maintenance and following the towing maintenance requirements in the owner's manual. Both previous models ('05 and'13) have been passed on to family or friends. Plenty of cargo/person room. My son has towed with his Honda Ridgeline and I've driven it. A bit more truck like ride but the passenger back seat is doable even with two car seats and an adult. Need a cover if you want to carry cargo other than the below bed trunk area.

[Kari B]

Originally Posted by Ron in Gresham

Towing a 2015 17' Casita Deluxe
Aftermarket metal propane cover with Yamaha 2400 Generator atop it.
Tow vehicle is 2019 Subaru Ascent with 2.5 turbo, factory hitch
Tow mpg is typically 16,
cross-country round trip Oregon-Key West with days in between travel, 19.5 average mpg.

Ron, can you please tell me how you like the Subaru Ascent? I'm contemplating trading for one. I've seen reviews re: the CVT that aren't favorable. Have you always owned Subarus? How does it compare to anything else you've towed with?

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Eggberta, pretty sure the Escape tops out at 3500#, even with the older V6, which was discontinued some years ago. The new top spec 2.0 Ecoboost is actually a stronger engine, but the maximum tow rating is unchanged, possibly due to chassis limitations.

AFAIK, the new 2020 Ford Escape has little to nothing to do with the older Escapes. The first two generations were Mazda Tributes (2nd gen was just a reskinned facelift on essentially the same chassis, which was derived from the Mazda 626 sedans), the 3rd gen (up to 2019) is a european Ford Kuga, on a platform derived from the Focus compact car, the new 4th generation is an updated Kuga, also on a compact car platform.

IMHO, compact FWD car platforms are not suitable for safely towing anything much bigger than a rowboat or skiff (eg, <= 1000 lbs).

[Ron in Gresham]

1st Subaru, absolutely pleased.
Climbs without severe down shifts.
Have pulled the 17’ Casita with both GMC Acadia & Ford Explorer prior. Average 16 mpg either. Ascent is at 20 overall on trips w trailer. Sits about 18 for towing only.
The electronics are superb in the 1st level above base, which is level where the hitch & towing ability begins.
Explorer tranny went twice.
Nothing but good things to say re Ascent.

[Bobbie Mayer]

Great to hear about the Ascent. It is on my short list if I ever get to actual car-shopping. How is it on mountain passes?

[FJ40Jim]

We tow a 1983 Scamp 13 with a '01 VW Golf TDI.

Trailer is pretty light, no grey or clean water tanks, no roof AC, no bathroom. Just a propane stove, fridge, furnace, electric brakes. Newer P175/70R13 Douglas tires, made in USA. Run them at 32PSI & 28PSI, driver & pass side. Tongue weight is pretty low, usually 100-120#.

Car is Golf TDI diesel with 5sp manual trans. Upgraded for towing with added power, stiffer rear sway bar, stiffer springs & shocks & bushings all around, electric brake controller, frame mounted hidden class2 hitch.

Rated to tow 2000# in US, 3300# in ROW.

On busy interstates we'll tow as fast as 67MPH, but only get 27MPG. Slower highways we go 60MPH and get 30MPG. Driving solo gets 48MPG.