Poll on Tow Vehicle.....Toads?

[lak99]

I will have to get one at some point and would like to know what makes a good
tow vehicle. Any suggestions?

[Bethers]

I will have to get one at some point and would like to know what makes a good
tow vehicle. Any suggestions?

Totally depends on how you want to use it? Will you want to be taking it off road? If so, you probably want 4wd. Does it matter to you whether you can tow it all wheels down? What is your rig's towing capacity?

I made my decision based on a few factors - I wanted the least expensive I could get, automatic transmission, that could tow all wheels down and as lightweight as possible. Cost factors kept me from the lightest weight - so then I had only a couple cars to select from and went searching for my car. I was in AL - purchased from FL, had it delivered to me, and had my mailbox company in SD (my resident state) handle all the licensing. All accomplished within a week from purchase. Whew ... lol

Now, how to know cars that are towable all wheels down (and from year to year, it can change in even the same model) - go to Motorhome Magazine - who does an annual guide: http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/downlo ... hy-guides/

Woo - just discovered they are now charging for the guides. It looks like the latest one is free, and each other year in their database is $1.99. Actually still a bargain. I might have some of the older years still saved on my computer, so if you have years you're interested in, let me know - if I have them I'll email them to you.

[lak99]

Beth,

Wow. I thought I was going to get a straight forward answer. You have really given me
a lot to think about. And thanks for the link. I will take a look.

[HorizonSeeker]

Beth is always thorough and gives you a lot to think about. For me the choice was easy. I already had a 2006 HHR that was paid for, in great shape, and got great gas mileage. In fact, one of the deciding factors in what kind of rv to choose was decided by the fact that I already had a towable car. Turns out that the HHR is a very popular toad because it is relatively light weight, has lots of extra storage room for when you are towing it (I think of it as my attic), and tows 4 wheels down. The other bonus for me has been the great gas mileage I get when using it to tour the area. My pattern is to be in one place for 3-5 months as a camp worker and on my off days tour the area in my toad which gets very good mileage. And right now I'm 18 miles from town to my campsite so just going for groceries is a trip.

[retiredhappy]

I love my 2006 chevy cobalt. Tows wheels down and gets good gas mileage. I also had a Saturn.

[oregonrambler1]

We bought our 2004 Honda CRV for the purpose of towing all wheels down, no need to disconnect anything, lightweight enough that our V-10 can tow it easily. And since we were leaving our F-150 behind in our last move we needed a car that could tow a small utility trailer. The CRV filled all our needs.

[carold]

My bank account is NOT thanking you, Beth we've been considering trading in our car and when I downloaded the magazine you posted (the 2012 is free), tGM. read it and we now have a Honda CRV and also have to buy a new towing package, at least the part for the car. So said goodbye to our reliable stick shift Corolla with the deer dented front and keyed side and hood and hope the new toad will stay decent looking for at least a few months carold

[Echo]

My bank account is NOT thanking you, Beth we've been considering trading in our car and when I downloaded the magazine you posted (the 2012 is free), tGM. read it and we now have a Honda CRV and also have to buy a new towing package, at least the part for the car. So said goodbye to our reliable stick shift Corolla with the deer dented front and keyed side and hood and hope the new toad will stay decent looking for at least a few months carold

[Bethers]

My bank account is NOT thanking you, Beth we've been considering trading in our car and when I downloaded the magazine you posted (the 2012 is free), tGM. read it and we now have a Honda CRV and also have to buy a new towing package, at least the part for the car. So said goodbye to our reliable stick shift Corolla with the deer dented front and keyed side and hood and hope the new toad will stay decent looking for at least a few months carold

I downloaded the 2012, but my account won't allow me to do that now. I think you and tGM were due a new car, don't you? I was happy to see that Ford now has some automatics that can be towed all wheels down. Maybe when I'm ready, I can find a used one like I did the Chevy Cavalier - good price, lower miles, and hopefully again one that I don't have to even fool with fuses.

I've only heard good things about the CRV's from those who have them.

[sharon]

Beth is an expert at spending my money, glad she's picking on someone else for a change!!

I tow a 2012 Jeep Liberty 4X4. Towed an '04 for 7 years with absolutely no problem at all. Which is why I have another one.

[Acadianmom]

When my son and I were looking for his car the CR-V was high on my list, not on his. My van has 103,000 miles so don't know how long I will keep driving it. Hate to give up my van(closet with wheels). lol Don't know that I need a tow vehicle with a 23' motorhome but would be nice to have an attic.

Martha

[Paulette]

I had a 2004 CRV...was my most favorite vehicle I have ever owned! GAve it to daughter cause she needed something reliable and got the jeep wrangler that I now tow. If I get rid of the jeep I may end up with another crv. Loved that vehicle for sure.

[Bethers]

I had a 2004 CRV...was my most favorite vehicle I have ever owned! GAve it to daughter cause she needed something reliable and got the jeep wrangler that I now tow. If I get rid of the jeep I may end up with another crv. Loved that vehicle for sure.

Unfortunately both of those are too heavy for me at this time. Or maybe fortunately, as they would have both cost considerably more, too! And funny, but I love my pos used, falling apart car and hope it lasts me several more years.

There are times that I would like to have 4wd though - so will have to think about that next car.

[OregonLuvr]

I too was "hot" for the CRV. However when I sat in it, it just did not fit me well. I am tall (5'11) and the seat hit me in the wrong place and made it uncomfy. Boy, what a disappointment to me. So I had to go looking at other SUV's I could tow 4 down that weren't too heavy. I was very spoiled with my Tahoe that had all the "stuff". Half of what I never used but none the less I had it LOL The problem was I towed a Saturn and drove my Tahoe when I was home or working closer to home I could go get it. Well decided that was stupid. 2 cars to maintain and insure and charge the batteries on.....soooo I settled on a Chevy Equinox and did not love it when I first got it but decided I would make it do. It just seemed so small inside compared to the Tahoe and the leather seemed stiffer to me. I definitely went thru withdrawals. But I did find in driving it to the coast (windy, curvy, etc) it handled sooooo much better that the Tahoe. I now can honestly say I really like it. It just made more fiscal sense to only have 2 engines to worry about instead of 3.

karen

[Paulette]

Beth, the jeep only weighs 4200# witha full tank. And it is easy to set up to tow. That and the winters I have to drive in, made the 4wd almost a must. Well, a great feature anyway. Would love a really economical small car, but after driving up high off the road, don't know if I can go back to a low rider!