Towing with a Chevy Tracker?

[ashley9836]

I need to buy a tow vehicle for full timing in my restored 13’ Boler (on a tight budget). I imagine I’ll just be moving once or twice a season around the PNW. I’ve wanted a Chevy Tracker for a long time but i’ve gotten mixed opinions on whether or not it’s powerful enough to haul the trailer.

The one I’m looking at is 6 cylinders, 4WD, and rated for 1,500 pounds. I’m not done with my restoration work but i’ve read that people end up with weights between 1,300 and 2,000. Should I be fine with an early 2000s Chevy Tracker? If not, does anyone have a relatively affordable alternative recommendation around the same size?

[Jon in AZ]

IMO a 1500# rating is marginal for a 13’er. Since you’re full-timing you’ll probably have more gear than the typical weekender. I consider 2000# the minimum for a 13’er.

I believe the Tracker is made by Suzuki. You might research the similar Suzuki Grand Vitara, which might have a variation with a bit more rated towing capacity. Depends on the year and drivetrain.

A few more mainstream choices include:
(1) Subaru Outback. If you can find a decent older one with the conventional automatic, so much the better. Check tow ratings, but I believe most in the early/mid-2000's with the 2.5L are rated 2700/200#.
(2) RAV4 V6, ideally with the optonal factory tow package, but for a fairly light 13'er, a regular V6 with the addition of a transmission cooler should do the job nicely. Rated 3500# with the factory tow package and 2000# without.
(3) Ford Escape V6 or 2.0L Ecoboost.

[BigT]

We had a 4 door Chevy Tracker with the larger of the four cylinder engines. I believe it was a 1.8 l 4 cyl. It towed our 13 foot Boler with no problem. So a 6 cyl. should be fine. We currently have a 2 door sidekick with a 1.6 l and I don't think I would want to pull it far, however our Chev. Cavalier with its 4 cyl. is more than adequate.

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

I would not recommend a Tracker for towing. Important to not only have the needed power but also adequate weight for stability and stopping power.
I use a 2001 Jeep Cherokee, 4 litre with a manual transmission. It is rated to tow 5000#. I tow a Snoozy which probably maxes out at just under 3000# loaded and gear. It is barely adequate. Power is no problem. But towing stability is marginal.
I would definitely look for something that has at least a 3000# rating for towing a 13 footer. Perhaps a Jeep Cherokee (a real Cherokee rather than a fake designed by Chrysler or Fiat) or a Nissan Frontier.

[Ttocs M]

I have a 2002 Outback that tows my 13 ft Scamp, kayak, gear just fine. You might look for one that is a 3.6 as mine is, but newer. Mountains no problem.

[Darwin Maring]

We had a Tracker back in the 90s. Was towing a utility trailer with a load of gravel on it, on a geavel road. Came to a stop sign, hit the brakes and the loaded trailer shoved me right out past the stop sign. Learned several good lessons that day. The first being, dont tow something to heavy with a light weight tow vehicle and thensexone, make sure I have brakes on the trailer Im towing.

[Lee Senn]

Ashley Help me out here , you mention a 6 cylinder Tracker . I owned a Tracker many years ago and I don't recall a Chevrolet Tracker ever having a 6 cylinder engine ? Could you give us a more complete description of the vehicle in question i.e. year exact , title for the vehicle please . For instance 1970 Chevrolet Tracker 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder . Perhaps that would help with answers to your question. Lee

[Lee Senn]

Ashley Wow! My apologies I stand corrected , apparently from the 2001 model to the end of production Trackers were available with a 2.5 liter v6 ya learn something new every day ! Lee

[docarter]

Any reason why you wouldn't consider a Chevrolet Blazer? Many more were sold than Trackers, and the 4.3L v6 has been widely praised as being reliable.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by Darwin Maring

We had a Tracker back in the 90s. Was towing a utility trailer with a load of gravel on it, on a geavel road. Came to a stop sign, hit the brakes and the loaded trailer shoved me right out past the stop sign. Learned several good lessons that day. The first being, dont tow something to heavy with a light weight tow vehicle and thensexone, make sure I have brakes on the trailer Im towing.

I had the same experience hauling a load of firewood in a utility trailer without brakes with a Nissan Frontier .
Luckily no one was coming down the road when I tried to stop and was pushed through the stop sign and came to rest in the middle of the intersection
I was lucky the first time and I have no plans to test my luck the second time !

[CharlesinGA]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

(2) RAV4 V6, ideally with the optonal factory tow package, but for a fairly light 13'er, a regular V6 with the addition of a transmission cooler should do the job nicely. Rated 3500# with the factory tow package and 2000# without.

RAV4 since 2009 has been built with a 2.5L 4 cylinder, no optional engine (except the hybrid which uses a 2.5L and CVT and three electric motors). before that it used a 2.4L 4 cylinder, again, no optional engine. I did some research on this prior to responding to this.

Charles

[thrifty bill]

Originally Posted by CharlesinGA

RAV4 since 2009 has been built with a 2.5L 4 cylinder, no optional engine (except the hybrid which uses a 2.5L and CVT and three electric motors). before that it used a 2.4L 4 cylinder, again, no optional engine. I did some research on this prior to responding to this.

Charles

Not the case. Several V6 RAV4s out there, newer than 2009.

From Toyota: "The 2006-2012 RAV4 offered an optional 269-hp, 3.5-liter gas V6 engine".

With the start of the 2013 model and ever since, the V6 option was dropped. Sad.

But if you are looking for a used TV, I would definitely put the V6 RAV 4 on your target list. Relatively common out there.

[Lee Senn]

Right on Thrifty Bill Wife and I owned a 2012 rav4 with the v6 rated at 3500 lbs we live in Idaho so tow a bunch over the Rockies and Cascades never lacked for power ( towing trailers from 1800 lbs to 2400 lbs . ) lee and Norma