looking at trailers and tows

[Cathi]

Hi, Folks!

We are looking at the various trailer sizes and hope to buy soon. Never had one. We want to see some national parks (west/sw).

I have read a great deal on your forum and learned plenty. I'll get on under the towing section to ask about that.

I particularly like all of the photos and trailer names! Very fun site.

Cathy

[Green Frog]

Originally Posted by Cathy

Hi, Folks!

We are looking at the various trailer sizes and hope to buy soon. Never had one. We want to see some national parks (west/sw).

I have read a great deal on your forum and learned plenty. I'll get on under the towing section to ask about that.

I particularly like all of the photos and trailer names! Very fun site.

Cathy

Cathy,

If you go to the pictures I have posted in my registry entry, you will see my little '83 Burro hooked behind my 2000 Astro AWD minivan. Other than the abominable gas mileage (yardage, really) that I get, the actual towing is a breeze. Just my 2¢.

Froggie

[Cathi]

Nice trailer, Charlie! I like your moniker, too. I'll have to think of one.
Thanks.

Originally Posted by Green Frog

Cathy,

If you go to the pictures I have posted in my registry entry, you will see my little '83 Burro hooked behind my 2000 Astro AWD minivan. Other than the abominable gas mileage (yardage, really) that I get, the actual towing is a breeze. Just my 2¢.

Froggie

[Donna D.]

If I was to give anyone a hint... and no one has asked me, I'd say "buy the trailer first"!!!! Tugs are available and for sale on every friggin' street corner. But that perfect trailer is hard to find. How many people have purchased a tug, then found out (the hard way) the absolutely perfect trailer (within budget) is too heavy for that "new" tug? This is the one time the "cart" needs to come before the horse....

[Cathi]

Hi, Donna!
I have a (real) photo of you with a visor, don't remember what rally that is from.

We actually thought we picked the trailer first, 19' (3800 lbs.loaded) and then we matched a tug to it, 4Runner (5,000 lbs.capacity) as that is what we understood would work in the mid-sized category, along with a Honda Pilot. (trying to get what will work without getting a great big tug, attempting to balance the power needed with somewhat decent gas mileage). The tug, however, may need another transmission cooler, I guess depending on how hot it is where we go.

It now occurs to me that we might be fine with a 17' which would help the tug issue.

Then again, seeing a trailer and sleeping in it are two different things!
Cathy

Originally Posted by Donna D.

If I was to give anyone a hint... and no one has asked me, I'd say "buy the trailer first"!!!! Tugs are available and for sale on every friggin' street corner. But that perfect trailer is hard to find. How many people have purchased a tug, then found out (the hard way) the absolutely perfect trailer (within budget) is too heavy for that "new" tug? This is the one time the "cart" needs to come before the horse....

[honda03842]

Our story is the opposite of Donna's suggestion 'get the trailer then get the tow vehicle'.

When we started we planned to use a trailer for only 2 months, to go to Labrador. We had a Honda CRV so picked a 2200 pound, 15.5 Sunline that we felt we could tow. So we worked backwards from Donna's suggestion. We no longer have the Sunline but we did travel in it for 10 months that first year.

Of course we now have a Scamp 16 and still tow with the same Honda CRV having towed a Casita 16 between the Sunline and Scamp.

As to sleeping, when we first bought the Sunline, having come from a Motorhome, we thought we'd have to learn synchronized sleeping to turn over at night, feeling that would be the biggest problem.

Sleeping turned out to not be a problem at all. Actually we now sometimes feel uncomfortable in our home's queen sized bed, waking sometimes feeling alone.

Life can be one enjoyable surprise after another,

[Radar1]

I had a 1720 GVWR pop-up and a truck with a 6100 lb tow rating, but decided when I replaced my 1000 lb tow rated car I wanted one that could also tow my pop-up in case I got rid of the truck, and ended up choosing a 2700 lb rated Subaru Outback. Later on, I purchased a 16' Scamp and was pleased to find that I could safely and securely tow it with either my truck or my Subaru. My Scamp weight is about 2540 loaded.
I would not think about towing a 17' Casita with it though since the 17 Casita exceeds all of my Subaru limits.
As Donna says, it might be wise to pick your trailer first, and then the tow vehicle, or just be willing to settle for less weight in a trailer if you pick the tow vehicle first.

[ginnymce]

We have a 2009 Toyota Highlander, 6 cylinder with an added hitch rated at 5000#. If we add a transmission cooler to it, would it tow a Casita 16-17' SAFELY? We are currently looking for the Casita, but my husband thinks we need to buy a new truck first.

[rgrugg]

We have an Egg Camper that we tow with both our 6 cylinder Chrysler minivan and our V8 Chevy Silverado. Similar mpg with both...14-17 depending on hills, wind, traffic, etc. We now tow exclusively with the Chevy because the seats are TONS more comfortable than those in the Chrysler. Except for that, both are good tow vehicles. Chrysler probably has minivans more upscale than ours with better seats. The Chrysler cost less, has a lower cargo floor making it easier to load and unload our "stuff" that doesn't go in the trailer.