Tow vehicle for newer Casita Deluxe

[ShelbyM]

Front rise of 0.25" seems acceptable.

[Chiefwinemaker]

[QUOTE=Chris Tennessee;853719]Update
I just purchased a 2023 Hyundai Palisade SEL premium that has the tow features like self adjusting shocks.




I considered buying that vehicle but was told by the dealer that 7 pin wiring was not available from Hyundai, only a 4 pin harness was available. I am curious if you were able to get a 7 pin from the factory or if it's an aftermarket setup.

[Nancy10]

I'd recommend avoiding the Honda Ridgeline. Even after installing a transmission cooler, our Ridgeline's transmission failed after only 5.5 years. We were towing a Casita, with both payload and tow load well within Honda's specs. We were stranded, had to have the Ridgeline towed over 100 miles and a new (rebuilt) transmission installed to the tune of $10,000. Go with something heftier and more reliable--others have also reported Ridgeline transmission issues.

Originally Posted by DeanCHS1980

Hi Teri,

Wishing you the best with your camper and tow vehicle purchase. I think you are the right track. You mention three exceptional vehicles that tow a minimum of 5000 lbs with 500 lbs on the hitch. Plus, you are open to other models and brands. Me too, I have no brand loyalty. I want the best product at the time for the task of towing. Jon always gives great advice.

My hobby since the beginning of the pandemic has been tow vehicle research that includes extensive internet surfing and Sunday trips to the closed dealerships with a Starbucks in hand, Gibbs our Maltese in the back seat, and a pup cup for him! LOL, I know way too much about trucks given I have no plan to get another tow vehicle until the end of 2024 after Laura and I turn 62. Plus, our “unique” 2009 Kia Borrego V8 (7,500 lb tow capacity with 750 lbs on the hitch) will be 15 years old with an approximate 175,000 miles on it (currently 149,000 miles).

We have decided that our next tow vehicle will be a pickup truck. Since retirement (6/30/21), we are currently camping 60 to 90 days per year and I expect this to potentially double or more as we move into our early/mid 60s (currently 59.5). It can be difficult loading wet and/or dirty camping gear into the back of an SUV with carpeting, cloth/leather seats folded. However, SUVs are well-rounded as daily drivers.

Assuming we decide to stay with a mid-size, I would be interested in the following:

1. Honda Ridgeline (my cognitive favorite)
2. Jeep Gladiator (lol, my sentimental favorite. I learned to drive on a 1968 Jeep J10 Gladiator full-sized pick up).
3. Ford Ranger (looking forward to the 2023 update).
4. Toyota Tacoma (looking forward to the 2024 update).
5. Nissan Frontier.

If I were shopping for a mid-size SUV to tow, I would lean toward the following:
1. Kia Telluride or Sorento (or the Hyundai counterparts). I am fond of the Telluride’s styling.
2. Honda Pilot or Passport
3. Toyota ForeRunner
4. Toyota Highlander
5. Subaru Ascent

Before I buy, I will also look at the following to narrow down my list:

1. Reliability is very important to me, so I will consult Consumer Reports as one of my research sources.
2. Safety ratings.
3. Payload - this a critical variable in choosing a tow vehicle. Finding a 5,000 tow rating is easy enough, but payload is often overlooked. Our Borrego can tow 7,500 lbs, but if I ever put 750 pounds of hitch weight on it, I would quickly run out of payload (1,157 lbs of payload). Most midsize and 1/2 ton trucks will run out of payload before tow capacity. If our next tow vehicle is a mid-size truck, it MUST have approximately 1,500 lbs of payload.

Of course, Laura and I may decide to get a larger trailer (24 feet in our early 60s, thus all the above would be moot and we would get a 1/2 ton truck which is another wonderful rabbit hole to traverse)!

Keep us posted.

Take care,

Dean

[DeanCHS1980]

Originally Posted by Nancy10

I'd recommend avoiding the Honda Ridgeline. Even after installing a transmission cooler, our Ridgeline's transmission failed after only 5.5 years. We were towing a Casita, with both payload and tow load well within Honda's specs. We were stranded, had to have the Ridgeline towed over 100 miles and a new (rebuilt) transmission installed to the tune of $10,000. Go with something heftier and more reliable--others have also reported Ridgeline transmission issues.

Hi Nancy,

Geez, sorry to read about the transmission problems in the Ridgeline. If you don’t mind me asking, what year is your Ridgeline?

Take care,

Dean

[Nancy10]

Sorry; should have mentioned that. It is a 2019.

[DeanCHS1980]

Originally Posted by Nancy10

I'd recommend avoiding the Honda Ridgeline. Even after installing a transmission cooler, our Ridgeline's transmission failed after only 5.5 years. We were towing a Casita, with both payload and tow load well within Honda's specs. We were stranded, had to have the Ridgeline towed over 100 miles and a new (rebuilt) transmission installed to the tune of $10,000. Go with something heftier and more reliable--others have also reported Ridgeline transmission issues.

Originally Posted by Nancy10

Sorry; should have mentioned that. It is a 2019.

Hi Nancy,

Thanks for the followup.

I believe Honda did have some issues with their 6 speed transmission in the early runs of the 2nd generation (current) Ridgeline. They switched from their transmission in 2021 to using ZF’s 9 speed transmission. I own a vehicle with a ZF transmission and I have been impressed.

I appreciate you sharing your experiences.

We plan to buy a new truck at the end of the year. Still leaning midsize. I have eliminated the Tacoma and Frontier due to insufficient payload in the 4WD crew cab configuration. Still considering the GM twins, Ranger, Gladiator, and Ridgeline.

Happy Camping,

Dean

[Nancy10]

Thanks for that info. I wish Honda would own up to their 2019 transmission issues; they are refusing any reimbursement for us. We were thinking of the Tacoma but the Ranger does look more attractive due to the higher payload. Possibly a Tundra.

[Steve Outlaw]

Originally Posted by DeanCHS1980

Hi Teri,

Wishing you the best with your camper and tow vehicle purchase. I think you are the right track. You mention three exceptional vehicles that tow a minimum of 5000 lbs with 500 lbs on the hitch. Plus, you are open to other models and brands. Me too, I have no brand loyalty. I want the best product at the time for the task of towing. Jon always gives great advice.

My hobby since the beginning of the pandemic has been tow vehicle research that includes extensive internet surfing and Sunday trips to the closed dealerships with a Starbucks in hand, Gibbs our Maltese in the back seat, and a pup cup for him! LOL, I know way too much about trucks given I have no plan to get another tow vehicle until the end of 2024 after Laura and I turn 62. Plus, our “unique” 2009 Kia Borrego V8 (7,500 lb tow capacity with 750 lbs on the hitch) will be 15 years old with an approximate 175,000 miles on it (currently 149,000 miles).

We have decided that our next tow vehicle will be a pickup truck. Since retirement (6/30/21), we are currently camping 60 to 90 days per year and I expect this to potentially double or more as we move into our early/mid 60s (currently 59.5). It can be difficult loading wet and/or dirty camping gear into the back of an SUV with carpeting, cloth/leather seats folded. However, SUVs are well-rounded as daily drivers.

Assuming we decide to stay with a mid-size, I would be interested in the following:

1. Honda Ridgeline (my cognitive favorite)
2. Jeep Gladiator (lol, my sentimental favorite. I learned to drive on a 1968 Jeep J10 Gladiator full-sized pick up).
3. Ford Ranger (looking forward to the 2023 update).
4. Toyota Tacoma (looking forward to the 2024 update).
5. Nissan Frontier.

If I were shopping for a mid-size SUV to tow, I would lean toward the following:
1. Kia Telluride or Sorento (or the Hyundai counterparts). I am fond of the Telluride’s styling.
2. Honda Pilot or Passport
3. Toyota ForeRunner
4. Toyota Highlander
5. Subaru Ascent

Before I buy, I will also look at the following to narrow down my list:

1. Reliability is very important to me, so I will consult Consumer Reports as one of my research sources.
2. Safety ratings.
3. Payload - this a critical variable in choosing a tow vehicle. Finding a 5,000 tow rating is easy enough, but payload is often overlooked. Our Borrego can tow 7,500 lbs, but if I ever put 750 pounds of hitch weight on it, I would quickly run out of payload (1,157 lbs of payload). Most midsize and 1/2 ton trucks will run out of payload before tow capacity. If our next tow vehicle is a mid-size truck, it MUST have approximately 1,500 lbs of payload.

Of course, Laura and I may decide to get a larger trailer (24 feet in our early 60s, thus all the above would be moot and we would get a 1/2 ton truck which is another wonderful rabbit hole to traverse)!

Keep us posted.

Take care,

Dean

It sounds like you and Laura have abandoned the idea of owning an Oliver?
If not, don't waste $$$ on a half ton truck. Two thirds of your 1500 pounds of payload will essentially be gone after hooking up and putting two people and a dog inside the cab. Just a heads up from a long time (17 seasons) Oliver owner with 5 different tow vehicles under our belt including a 1500, 2500 and now a 3500 truck.

[DeanCHS1980]

Originally Posted by Steve Outlaw

It sounds like you and Laura have abandoned the idea of owning an Oliver?
If not, don't waste $$$ on a half ton truck. Two thirds of your 1500 pounds of payload will essentially be gone after hooking up and putting two people and a dog inside the cab. Just a heads up from a long time (17 seasons) Oliver owner with 5 different tow vehicles under our belt including a 1500, 2500 and now a 3500 truck.

Hi Steve!

We have not given up on the possibility of owning an Oliver. We still talk about it often. However, I think we have decided to wait until we turn 65 in a little over three years. Our oldest daughter is getting married next year. Our youngest is returning to college. We still love the Casita (but lust over the Oliver). Our current tow vehicle has nearly 165,000 miles on it. We start early social security at the end of the year. I think we will get a midsize truck at the end of this year and continue to tow the Casita and see what the next three years bring us.

I hope all is well with Tali and you.

Take care,

Dean

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by DeanCHS1980

Hi Steve!

We have not given up on the possibility of owning an Oliver. We still talk about it often. However, I think we have decided to wait until we turn 65 in a little over three years. Our oldest daughter is getting married next year. Our youngest is returning to college. We still love the Casita (but lust over the Oliver). Our current tow vehicle has nearly 165,000 miles on it. We start early social security at the end of the year. I think we will get a midsize truck at the end of this year and continue to tow the Casita and see what the next three years bring us.

FWIW, after 5-6 years of hauling our ~4500 lb Escape 21 around with a 2002 F250 diesel, we came to the conclusion that was just too much truck... it was rated to tow 12500 lbs and had 2000 lbs of payload (7.3 powerstroke took a big bite out the chassis payload), but the real killer was the 62 foot turning circle of the Ford SuperDuty. The truck was a total tank, nothing phased it. Late last year we downsized to a 2019 Ford Expedition Limited 4x4, with the 3.5 ecoboost and 10 speed, 10000 miles later, still really happy. 9200 lb tow capacity, 1700 lb payload, guutenuff for who its for! fold the 2nd and 3rd row of seats, and its got huge cargo capacity, or you can carry 8 adults comfortably.. and it turns on a dime.

[DeanCHS1980]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

FWIW, after 5-6 years of hauling our ~4500 lb Escape 21 around with a 2002 F250 diesel, we came to the conclusion that was just too much truck... it was rated to tow 12500 lbs and had 2000 lbs of payload (7.3 powerstroke took a big bite out the chassis payload), but the real killer was the 62 foot turning circle of the Ford SuperDuty. The truck was a total tank, nothing phased it. Late last year we downsized to a 2019 Ford Expedition Limited 4x4, with the 3.5 ecoboost and 10 speed, 10000 miles later, still really happy. 9200 lb tow capacity, 1700 lb payload, guutenuff for who its for! fold the 2nd and 3rd row of seats, and its got huge cargo capacity, or you can carry 8 adults comfortably.. and it turns on a dime.

Nice! I bet the Expedition Limited is a capable, sweet comfy ride for the Escape 21!!!