Tow vehicle options

[PhotoMike]

This is a little off, but I thought I'd add it FWIW. I recently rented a Jayco Jay Feather (sic) for a week's travel just to see if I was a match for trailering. Have years of travelling in several VW Vanagons for comparison. The Jay Feather is a 17' stick built, weighing in at a little over 3000 lb dry. (Thus the (sic).) My tow is a 2002 Dodge Dakota 3.9l 6 cyl 4X4. Tow rating is 4500+. Handling, ride, acceleration and light hill pulling were OK, but the auto trans wouldn't hold OD at any speed over 45 or so, and one stretch of concrete freeway, with me overdue for a pit stop was torture. OD issue more a factor of frontal area than weight I think. MPG dropped from my usual road of 18 or so to 10-11. Ouch!
I liked the trailering enough that I'm still considering a Casita 17', and I'm hoping the lighter weight and more aero shape will make a difference.
Best park of the trip was Tongue Point County Park, just west of Port Angeles, WA.

[Lance MacArthur]

Just to add a comment about tow vehicles. We've put about 30k on our 13' boler towing with a ford crown vic. Averaged around 16 mpg, and was very comfortable. But I messed around with the rear end to lower the gears a little (not a good idea), and eventually had to trade it in.

Our replacement is a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder, 2wd, which we used for a trip to the Utah national parks - a really good trip. The trip was a good indicator of a vehicle's abilities -- lots of 8% grades, and a lot of hills to climb. This is also a well-equipped vehicle, but not as cushy as the vic. The bonus is 17-20 mpg, and a really smooth transmission that helps tow the vehicle very well. It has an overdrive on/off button that helps for steep climbs and descents, and the most stable cruise control I've ever had.

Don't know if you consider used vehicles, but if you find a good one, you can save the out-the-door depreciation of a new vehicle. Two years old with low mileage is our guideline, and has served us well.

All of this just to validate your choice of a Pathfinder, and let you know that so far, its been a pretty good choice.

[Luc P]

We are presently driving an ancient 89 Trooper 2.6 litre 4 banger 4x 4 automatic, which will pull it to the ferry on level roads and probably not too much further, we live near Victoria.

I tow a 1980 1750 boler with a 2006 toyota tacoma xcab 2x4 4cyl 2.7L manual.

it's ok to tow and brake the trailer but it will not hold 100km/h in the upper New Brunwick mountains unless I use the third gear and let it rev to 4500-5000rpm.

Let's say it can do 27mpg 7L/100km with no trailer and 15L/100km with the boler behind it.

My choice is to save on fuel 48 weeks a year and be a little harder on the engine the remaining 4 weeks. no carbon deposits in that engine.... the truck got a good waranty and I don't plan to buy it after the 4 years lease.