Looking for a lightweight

[Lisa M.]

My daughter has a Honda Element with a tow hitch. She says it is rated for 1500 lbs. She is wondering if there are any 13' w/o bath out there that she could possibly tow (bearing in mind loading adds weight, etc.). I know a Casita 13' is out of the question. What about some of the lesser known trailers? Or will she be limited to a teardrop?

[Bob Miller]

There are a few that can easily come in under 1500, but as you mentioned, packing is very critical. Although the Comact-II's on the list look a bit heavy, mine was recently weighed at 1260 on the axle with 140 on the tongue for exactly 1400 total and that's packed to go with no water on board.

[Mikmay]

My son Derrick of happier camper has been towing all his trailers for the last 2years with a Honda element with out any problems

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by Mikmay

My son Derrick of happier camper has been towing all his trailers for the last 2years with a Honda element with out any problems

Sorry, but "Towing all his trailers for the last two years with a Honda Element without any problems" really doesn't help a lot as, I am sure that the OP doesn't know what is being talked about.

Knowing what trailers and what their exact weight is would be very helpful however.

[Carol H]

Lisa, there is a thread on this forum called Trailer Weights in the Real World that is a great resource and very helpful in determining what brands, size of trailers to consider.

Most of the trailers were weighed on arrival at a fiberglass trailer meet in Oregon over a few years - it was a full service campground so its doubtful that many of the trailers where packing much in the way of water in their tanks.

[MC1]

Originally Posted by Mikmay

My son Derrick of happier camper has been towing all his trailers for the last 2years with a Honda element with out any problems

Derrick was probably looking at some Honda Element forums and learned that the Element was a very capable Tow Vehicle. He also probably read that in most off shore countries they are towing substantial trailers because of the appropriate/higher tow ratings there.

Apparently "Hitches Online" sells a hitch (rated for 3500 lbs) that fits the Honda Element. No mater if you are towing 500lbs or much more with the Element I support the idea of using a heavy duty connection system. When it comes to hitches more is better.

PS... We are considering a Honda Element to replace our aging Nissan Mini Van. They have so much going for them..... except the high price!!

https://www.google.ca/search?q=honda...w=1597&bih=893

[Donna D.]

Remember to.. location, location, location. There are tow routes in the flats and then there are tow routes in the mountains! While that wouldn't change the weight limits, towing over the Rocky's would certainly strain the tug more than the flat lands of the south. All things need to be taken into consideration, this is simply one of them.

[Laura June]

Have you checked out a 13' scamp. I believe they weigh around 1200 lbs.

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Remember to.. location, location, location. There are tow routes in the flats and then there are tow routes in the mountains! While that wouldn't change the weight limits, towing over the Rocky's would certainly strain the tug more than the flat lands of the south. All things need to be taken into consideration, this is simply one of them.

And also remember that, unless you are in a location where Honda Elements with higher towing limits are sold, that you are not in a location that can tow over 1500 lbs.

Towing limits for an individuals vehicle are set and established by numbers included in the owners manual for that specific vehicle, in that market.

There are always those that insist on bringing up the higher tow limits for a vehicle in a different market/country that you may not be located in. This should be of little, if any, interest to North American drivers, especially to the new-to-towing owner

For safety, as well as liability reasons, manufacturer's towing limits should not be seen merely as a suggestion.

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by Laura June

Have you checked out a 13' scamp. I believe they weigh around 1200 lbs.

Ya But.... As seen in real world weights, where the lightest 13' Scamp is over 1700 lbs, the chance of keeping under 1500 lbs. is about Zip....

[Nancy]

sorry,

We have one of the lightest Scamp 13s with very little added, not even water on board. We weigh 1620. would be very difficult to have a 13 Scamp that weighs less. Maybe just the shell. Most 13s loaded easily weigh over 1700.

Nancy

[MC1]

Originally Posted by Lisa M.

My daughter has a Honda Element with a tow hitch. She says it is rated for 1500 lbs.

Many folks are not comfortable towing at the Tow Rating. They like to tow at 70 or 80% of the tow rating because they feel they are putting less stress on the tow vehicle.

In your case we know the off shore rating of your Element is 3,300lbs so you should be happy to know that even towing at the full North American 1,500lb rating you are actually towing at less that 50% of the vehicles capabilities. That is a good thing.

Find yourself a nice little glass egg trailer, set it up right, and enjoy your travels.

[Donna D.]

Please read Bob's post #9.

Safe travels, always.

[Bobbie Mayer]

Nothing new seems to be that light. Older Burros and Bolers and of course the Compact/Hunter/Campster type may be.

Tell her, though, that owner-reported weights in for-sale ads are unlikely to be very accurate, so she should ask if the owner actually has weighed the trailer. The lighter weight ones are going to be the ones without toilets and showers.

I wish some manufacturer would look at the small car market again and make something garageable and light enough besides a teardrop. The poptop type are so much more liveable than a teardrop, easy to store in the garage, easy to maneuver and pull with a smallish car.

[Bob Miller]

Well, while running some risk of being drummed out for inconsistency, but parroting my sons words, a 800 lb tent trailer might be a good alternative for a first trailer when your vehicle is rated at 1500 lbs. That's the sole reason he has me rebuilding tent trailers, rather than FGRV's, for his family TV.

Unfortunately, the price of high mileage can come in the darndest places, like in limited tow capacity.

BTW: No one hereabouts knows if other country versions of your car, with seemingly higher tow limits are, in fact, the same vehicle as we get, nor are the general towing conditions, speeds etc the same. Stick with your book and ignore the others.

[Mikmay]

I don't know if the tow rating diiscrepecy between Europe and north America is to protect the owner or the manufacturer of a element but I do know Derrick has towed 7 different 13foot trailers and a 16foot scamp well over 80000 miles without a single issue on the element although none of the trailers has a washroom

[Bob Miller]

Again, the book is the book. What some one successfully does has no bearing whatsoever on tow ratings. Add to that, I suspect a lot of those miles were delivering empty trailers that were under the 1500 lb limit and your son is an experienced TV driver, the OP is a newbie.

My Dad refused to ever wear a safety belt, apparently without any ill effect, but does that mean anything???? Nope...

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Laura June

Have you checked out a 13' scamp. I believe they weigh around 1200 lbs.

Sadly thats not the case. Most 13' Scamps loaded up are well over 1500lbs - the lightest one on the the thread Trailer weights in the Real World came in at 1620 lbs the heaviest 13' Scamp weighed in at 1950 lbs.

[Borrego Dave]

Well, after reading a multitude of posts on manufacturing weights and towing limits I have never seen anyone that addressed this so I'll do it. I'm sure this post will get negative responces from a few people, but food for thought anyway. Manufacturers state a max load rating on their items, no matter what it is, a rope, ladder, chair, car or truck, well below the real breaking limit or use point. In this world of people suing everyone over their own actions, remember McDonalds and the hot coffee and burning yourself ?. They use the numbers to cover themselves from being sued. I'm not saying to go WAY overboard on the manufacturers numbers, just that there is a big built in safety factor in them to cover themselves. I've seen to many posts of people towing with different vehicles and trailers for many thousands of miles with no problem that some people may think is the wrong combination for a safe tow. Guess what I'm saying is that it's not black and white with factory numbers for any combination and common sence should be the rule. Kind of like we NEVER drive over the speed limit
There have been many excelent responces to newbies on towing a trailer and to make sure the tug will be good combo with their desired trailer. Just seems to me that some of the responces are aimed to be overly negative, but that's just how I interpet some answers. I totally agree with any over the top safety responce to any question, we all win with that.
Anyway. these are my thoughts. Safe travels to all.

[Raz]

One of these might be a more comfortable tow. They also have a bigger bed than a 13'. Raz

http://www.golittleguy.com/model?id=...-Wide-Platform