Towing vehicle

[Colin Roney]

Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

[Tony[_5_]]

On Friday, April 5, 2013 9:17:42 AM UTC-5, Colin Roney wrote:
> Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

not a lot of options for manual transmissions anymore anyway. i've always towed with an auto. not a bad idea to have a transmission cooler installed. tow away.

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

On Friday, April 5, 2013 9:17:42 AM UTC-5, Colin Roney wrote:
> Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

If you have an automatic, good to have a tachometer so you can see what is going on. If the torque converter won't stay locked up, your transmission will not last long. You can see this if you have a tach. And an extra transmission cooler probably can't keep up with that much added heat generation.

[Bob Whelan[_3_]]

On 4/5/2013 8:49 AM, Steve Leonard wrote:
> On Friday, April 5, 2013 9:17:42 AM UTC-5, Colin Roney wrote:
>> Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?
>
> If you have an automatic, good to have a tachometer so you can see what is
> going on. If the torque converter won't stay locked up, your transmission
> will not last long. You can see this if you have a tach. And an extra
> transmission cooler probably can't keep up with that much added heat
> generation.
>
> If the torque converter unlocks, you will see a 100 to 150 RPM increase.
> Based on what I have seen with my full size Chevy/GMC Vans.
>
Lordy, I love religious questions on RAS!!! :-)

Dunno your location/country/towing geography, but I'm a fan of KISS (as a
philosophy, I mean :-)). Others have noted availability (possible lack of
manual tranny-ed vehicles), and heat generation (in automatics) as potential
realities.

If your geography and personal philosophy permit, there's little actual need
to buy into the "massive vehicle is massively better for towing my 15 (or even
18 nowadays) meter baby," in which case a whole world of manual transmissioned
vehicles opens up to you. It's hard to get much simpler than a manual
transmission driving rear-wheels. This from someone who towed all sorts of
gliders (including 2-seat Schweizers) throughout the intermountain western
U.S. behind a 3-speed manual transmissioned, 2,600 pound, rear wheel drive,
unibody vehicle for 37 years, using the same transmission that never needed
any maintenance beyond (one time) topping up the gear lube (after 30+ years).
It got replaced - body rust - with a 4/RWD Toyota pickup (4WD insisted upon by
my wife for her donkey trailer...which the first vehicle towed just fine, too,
with both critters in it).

The 2600 lb vehicle never towed a trailer with electric brakes, and only
rarely one with a surge brake (Twin Grob factory trailer). Drum brakes all
around. I replaced brake linings approximately every 60,000 miles IIRC.

Never had an accident towing. Was rarely alarmed by the towing vehicle
dynamics. Never overheated. Rescued more than one immobilized buddy towing
with newer, more complex, vehicles. Never needed rescuing myself.

The 37-year vehicle wasn't rated for towing (I've no idea why) and - other
than the aftermarket (non-)universal trailer hitch & self-added trailering
pigtail(s), had zero mods for towing.

Bob - if it ain't there, it can't fail - W.

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

Oh, Bob. Nothing on a religious level. So far. The OP asked "Manual or Automatic?" Tony said "I have only towed with an automatic. Best to get a transmission cooler." And I added "A tachometer is nice so you will know what is going on because a transmission cooler won't save your transmission."

Nobody was saying bigger is better. The only reason you would need a big crew vehicle is if you have lots of support equipment that won't fit in the trailer with the glider. That is why I have a full size van. The gas mileage sucks, but I deal with it. And, I just got done removing the extra transmission cooler the previous owner had added to my van. He use to pull travel trailers and guess what? I got to have the transmission replaced. Even with his added cooler. The van also now sports a tachometer. Those who are unaware laugh at this add on.

I agree with you and much prefer a manual transmission. That way, you KNOW what is happening in that part of the drive system. Pulled all sorts of things all over with my V-6 Camaro with its 5 speed manual. In and out of fields, up and down hills, and all around. Never any brakes on the trailers.. And only once was there ever a problem. Not transmission related.

[Peter von Tresckow]

Tony > wrote:
> On Friday, April 5, 2013 2:00:30 PM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
>> On Friday, April 5, 2013 11:47:13 AM UTC-6, Steve Leonard wrote: > Oh,
>> Bob. Nothing on a religious level. So far. The OP asked "Manual or
>> Automatic?" Tony said "I have only towed with an automatic. Best to get
>> a transmission cooler." And I added "A tachometer is nice so you will
>> know what is going on because a transmission cooler won't save your
>> transmission." > > > > Nobody was saying bigger is better. The only
>> reason you would need a big crew vehicle is if you have lots of support
>> equipment that won't fit in the trailer with the glider. That is why I
>> have a full size van. The gas mileage sucks, but I deal with it. And, I
>> just got done removing the extra transmission cooler the previous owner
>> had added to my van. He use to pull travel trailers and guess what? I
>> got to have the transmission replaced. Even with his added cooler. The
>> van also now sports a tachometer. Those who are unaware laugh at this
>> add on. > > > > I agree with you and much prefer a manual transmission.
>> That way, you KNOW what is happening in that part of the drive system.
>> Pulled all sorts of things all over with my V-6 Camaro with its 5 speed
>> manual. In and out of fields, up and down hills, and all around. Never
>> any brakes on the trailers. And only once was there ever a problem. Not
>> transmission related. If you really want to make a tranny dance to your
>> tune, there are aftermarket electronic transmission controllers
>> available. They allow fully manual control as well as manual control of
>> torque converter locking. You can have it both ways.
>
> on Old Blue the transmission is original 1994 equipment, just turned over
> 286,000 miles. I did have it flushed about 4 years ago, other than that I
> have done nothing to it, and after reading stories about maintenance
> induced failures i'm hesitant to even have it flushed again. I don't have
> a tach but don't think the torque converter is slipping. With the low
> drag Komet trailer which basically just fills the turbulent airflow
> behind the truck, it tows happily at highway speed in overdrive. With the
> humongous breadbox Cherokee II trailer forcing it into Drive is required
> to prevent constant shifting. So far so good, i'm figuring if I can get
> another season or two I should be able to celebrate the symbolic
> achievement of getting it to 300,000 miles and then maybe start the
> search for a new tow vehicle.

I'd recommend a manual as it is what I have in my protege 5 towing my big
box Ka-6 trailer :-)

It's fun to see the e press ion on people's faces as they pass your slow
ass on the interstate.

If I do get a new car I'd be seriously looking at a Jetta or Golf TDI


Pete

[Tony[_5_]]

On Friday, April 5, 2013 2:46:20 PM UTC-5, vontresc wrote:
> Tony > wrote: > On Friday, April 5, 2013 2:00:30 PM UTC-5, Bill D wrote: >> On Friday, April 5, 2013 11:47:13 AM UTC-6, Steve Leonard wrote: > Oh, >> Bob. Nothing on a religious level. So far. The OP asked "Manual or >> Automatic?" Tony said "I have only towed with an automatic. Best to get >> a transmission cooler." And I added "A tachometer is nice so you will >> know what is going on because a transmission cooler won't save your >> transmission." > > > > Nobody was saying bigger is better. The only >> reason you would need a big crew vehicle is if you have lots of support >> equipment that won't fit in the trailer with the glider. That is why I >> have a full size van. The gas mileage sucks, but I deal with it. And, I >> just got done removing the extra transmission cooler the previous owner >> had added to my van. He use to pull travel trailers and guess what? I >> got to have the transmission replaced. Even with his added cooler. The >> van also now sports a tachometer. Those who are unaware laugh at this >> add on. > > > > I agree with you and much prefer a manual transmission. >> That way, you KNOW what is happening in that part of the drive system. >> Pulled all sorts of things all over with my V-6 Camaro with its 5 speed >> manual. In and out of fields, up and down hills, and all around. Never >> any brakes on the trailers. And only once was there ever a problem. Not >> transmission related. If you really want to make a tranny dance to your >> tune, there are aftermarket electronic transmission controllers >> available. They allow fully manual control as well as manual control of >> torque converter locking. You can have it both ways. > > on Old Blue the transmission is original 1994 equipment, just turned over > 286,000 miles. I did have it flushed about 4 years ago, other than that I > have done nothing to it, and after reading stories about maintenance > induced failures i'm hesitant to even have it flushed again. I don't have > a tach but don't think the torque converter is slipping. With the low > drag Komet trailer which basically just fills the turbulent airflow > behind the truck, it tows happily at highway speed in overdrive. With the > humongous breadbox Cherokee II trailer forcing it into Drive is required > to prevent constant shifting. So far so good, i'm figuring if I can get > another season or two I should be able to celebrate the symbolic > achievement of getting it to 300,000 miles and then maybe start the > search for a new tow vehicle. I'd recommend a manual as it is what I have in my protege 5 towing my big box Ka-6 trailer :-) It's fun to see the e press ion on people's faces as they pass your slow ass on the interstate. If I do get a new car I'd be seriously looking at a Jetta or Golf TDI Pete

you should see the expressions of your passengers as semi's pass you on the interstate! :)

[[email protected]]

On Friday, April 5, 2013 9:17:42 AM UTC-5, Colin Roney wrote:
> Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

- Accord automatic - just change the transmission oil once a while. Did a major cross country with a asw19 trailer a couple of times. Reached speeds of 85 mph and 100K and absolutely no issues.. Fellow club member has one with 240K regularly towing different trailers - including Blanik. 4 bangers of course. I think the fact that this was the last year produced in Japan had a lot to do with it. So a Acura TSX is the last one from the family still produced in Japan. Jetta TDI with a double clutch transmission should work well too - fast shifting transmission and lots of low end torque should be ideal for this purpose.

[[email protected]]

On Friday, April 5, 2013 9:17:42 AM UTC-5, Colin Roney wrote:
> Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?
- Accord automatic - just change the transmission oil once a while. Did a major cross country with a asw19 trailer a couple of times. Reached speeds of 85 mph and 100K and absolutely no issues.. Fellow club member has one with 240K regularly towing different trailers - including Blanik. 4 bangers of course. I think the fact that the car was produced in Japan had a lot to do with reliability. So a Acura TSX is the last one from the family still produced in Japan. Jetta TDI with a double clutch transmission should work well too - fast shifting transmission and lots of low end torque should be ideal for this purpose.

[Brad Alston]

;836278']Oh, Bob. Nothing on a religious level. So far. The OP asked "Manual or Automatic?" Tony said "I have only towed with an automatic. Best to get a transmission cooler." And I added "A tachometer is nice so you will know what is going on because a transmission cooler won't save your transmission."

Nobody was saying bigger is better. The only reason you would need a big crew vehicle is if you have lots of support equipment that won't fit in the trailer with the glider. That is why I have a full size van. The gas mileage sucks, but I deal with it. And, I just got done removing the extra transmission cooler the previous owner had added to my van. He use to pull travel trailers and guess what? I got to have the transmission replaced. Even with his added cooler. The van also now sports a tachometer. Those who are unaware laugh at this add on.

I agree with you and much prefer a manual transmission. That way, you KNOW what is happening in that part of the drive system. Pulled all sorts of things all over with my V-6 Camaro with its 5 speed manual. In and out of fields, up and down hills, and all around. Never any brakes on the trailers.. And only once was there ever a problem. Not transmission related.

I have towed various objects on trailers with both manual and automatic transmission vehicles...both transmission types have worked fine.

One observation I've made is that having more weight in front of the hitch is preferable to having it behind the hitch. Driving a 4,500# vehicle in front of a 4,500# sailboat was a real treat in a crosswind! ;)

[Bruce Friesen]

On Friday, April 5, 2013 7:17:42 AM UTC-7, Colin Roney wrote:
> Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

When towing, I run my car with the automatic transmission in "O/D Off", which I believe is no different than 3rd gear. I have watched the tach - in normal 4th gear operation, the torque converter slips. In 3rd gear, it does not. Mileage with the trailer is similar whether in 3rd or 4th.

Lexus LS400, 22 years old, purchased well used to have a comfortable rear wheel drive V8 sedan tow vehicle. Going on 230,000 miles with much of that over the past 15 years towing the glider. No tranny or engine problems to date; I did replace the rear shocks at 200k.

[GM]

>> Jetta TDI with a double clutch transmission should work well too - fast shifting transmission and lots of low end torque should be ideal for this purpose. <<

NOOOOOOOOOO !!! ;-) VW does not recommend any towing with vehicles using DSG transmissions. While I agree that the TDI equipped (Turbo Direct Injected Diesel engines) are ideal towing vehicles - I have one myself - I would always opt for the straight manual 6-speed transmission. BTW, in Germany, the Jetta TDI station wagon is certified for towing trailers around 1,700kg if they are equipped with a surge brake. That should take care of most glider/trailer combinations I know.
For the long hauls, I use a Passat SW (2L, 4-banger gasoline engine) which only comes with a 6-speed automatic (in the US). I went from SC to Parowan, UT twice now and had no issues. Of course on the steepest and longest climbs, one has to make an allowance for having only 4 cylinders on duty but so what.

Uli

[Richard[_9_]]

On Friday, April 5, 2013 7:17:42 AM UTC-7, Colin Roney wrote:
> Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

1991 Toyota Previa Van Automatic 370,125 miles so far.
Maintenance: change oil, replace spark plug 3 times, brake pad a bunch of times.
Biggest problem name changed to deer killer at one contest.

Richard

[Craig R.]

On Friday, April 5, 2013 7:17:42 AM UTC-7, Colin Roney wrote:
> Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

IIRC, some of the car manufacturers give a tow rating only for the automatic transmission version and not to the manual transmission version(same model). Best to check the vehicle specs to clarify.

[Roy Clark, \B6\]

Richard,

Kill sticker for your tow rig.

http://www.zazzle.com/deer_hunting_round_stickers-217120779415734136

Will see you in Nephi!

[son_of_flubber]

On Saturday, April 6, 2013 8:12:22 AM UTC-4, GM wrote:
> >> Jetta TDI with a double clutch transmission should work well too - fast shifting transmission and lots of low end torque should be ideal for this purpose. <<
>
> NOOOOOOOOOO !!! ;-) VW does not recommend any towing with vehicles using DSG transmissions.

Regarding DSG, there are numerous reports of people "chipping" their VWs to increase power output and then promptly toasting their DSG transmissions. Not exactly the same strain as towing, but instructive. The DSG have some reputation for self-immolation with normal driving and stock power output, so I tend to agree that towing with a DSG is penny-wise and pound-foolish. The DSG on the Golf TDI is otherwise a real pleasure to drive.

The towing recommendations of different brands cannot be compared because there is no cross manufacturer accepted SAE performance standard for towing. I believe that towing recommendations are largely influenced by marketing.. For pickup trucks and such, towing recommendations are clearly a liar's contest. There is a proposed SAE towing performance standard, but I believe that only Toyota has adopted it.

Curiously, the VW Golf is rated to tow 3000 lbs in Great Britain, but only 1000 lbs in the USA. That may be because towing is longer, steeper, and hotter in the USA or it may be that the Golf is marketed as a youthful and sporty car in the USA and VW does not like the marketing image of youth passing grandpa towing his trailer with Golf at 60 mph. The weight of the Jetta and Golf are nearly the same. The rear axle of the Jetta is farther in front of the tow ball and that would make it less stable for towing.

The VW Golf TDI won "tow car of the year" in GB. Go figure.

[Mike the Strike]

On Friday, April 5, 2013 7:17:42 AM UTC-7, Colin Roney wrote:
> Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

Years ago, I once towed my glider trailer with a VW Golf (manual) and it was only once - it scared me so much I bought a larger, heavier vehicle straight away.

There seems to be this strange contest, especially in Europe, to see how small a tow vehicle one can get away with. In my view, there is no substitute for power and mass. Power to get you out of trouble and climb those hills and mass to control the weight of the combination. Small vehicles just don't have enough braking power.

I have a rule of fives - a tow vehicle of at least 5,000 pounds mass with a 5 liter engine!

Mike

[Tim Taylor]

The only question to ask is can "The Crew" drive it.

So you've landed out in a field and you call to get someone to come get you and the reply on the other end of the phone is I don't know how to drive a stick. Few of the younger generation even know what a stick shift is.

[GM]

>> The towing recommendations of different brands cannot be compared because there is no cross manufacturer accepted SAE performance standard for towing. I believe that towing recommendations are largely influenced by marketing. <<

Not so in Germany. There is a standardized method of determining the towing capacity for all manufacturers to get their vehicles certified. Braking power is one criteria but getting a load started on an incline is another one.

Uli

[AGL]

On Sunday, 7 April 2013 17:51:30 UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
> On Saturday, April 6, 2013 8:12:22 AM UTC-4, GM wrote:
>
> > >> Jetta TDI with a double clutch transmission should work well too - fast shifting transmission and lots of low end torque should be ideal for this purpose. <<
>
>
> > NOOOOOOOOOO !!! ;-) VW does not recommend any towing with vehicles using DSG transmissions.

Check this: http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/#/new/golf-vi/which-model/engines/towing/

Looks ok. Mine's 700kg total.

The German version has higher trailer weights shown, and shows larger engines, such as the 2500cc 5 cylinder gas. Google translate is BRUTAL on owner's manuals with tables. It would be very helpful if someone that speaks German could check this out. Perhaps I was reading out of context.

If mine blows, I'll post. :-)

[Chris Nicholas[_2_]]

I used to work for a car company in Europe, and the towing standard that we worked to was, IIRC, ability to start and maintain towing on a 12 percent slope. That resulted in the maximum towing weight in the European car handbook.

I was also given to understand that in the USA there are longer and higher mountains that may need to be climbed (this was in relation to breathing, carburetion, etc.) which led to different general requirements, and I could well understand that it might also lead to different criteria for towing. You also commonly have more extreme temperatures than we normally operate in..

It is common in Europe to tow 15m glider trailers with relatively small cars – in the 1970s, I used to tow with 1100cc small family cars. I only got stuck once on a 1 in 4 (25 percent) hill, when I could not take a run at it. Most people these days can run larger cars, but still much smaller engines than are common in the USA. FWIW, I always have auto these days, with a 2.0 litre engine, and that is fine for our conditions in the UK.

Somebody with more up to date car company exoerience may be able to throw a bit more light on it.

I did find mention of a proposed USA (SAE) standard which includes a 12 percent slope. See:

http://www.trucktrend.com/features/consumer/163_0910_truck_towing_capacity/viewall.html



Chris N

[noel.wade]

Just as data-points: The last 5 years, I've towed over 2000 miles per
year (including 3500' to 5000' passes in the Cascade and Siskyou
mountains) with my DG-300 in a metal-top Cobra trailer. My tow
vehicles have been a 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX and a 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 -
both with manual transmissions. The WRX was slightly better (given the
all-wheel-drive and better rear-weight distribution), but the seats
aggravated some back/spine issues I have and it had to go. But even
with the Mazdaspeed 3, it hasn't been an issue: I had a trailer tire
blow-out on the way back from Utah (outside Twin Falls, Idaho at 2am)
and was able to ease the car over to the shoulder without a problem.

--Noel

[Jim White[_3_]]

Bought a Ford Kuga 2l diesel manual 4wd in 2011. I believe this is called
the Escape in US.

Have now towed asw27 (and a nimbus 4dt) a total of 8,000 miles since then
on fields, minor roads, motoways, and autobahns, in good and bad weather,
wet, dry, snow, and ice. Typically Ford (bits fall off) but otherwise I
can't fault it.

My only tip is to make sure the hitch load is heavy ~ 60kgs ~ then it will
go up to 80mph without snaking. This may also have something to do with the
hitch being very close to the rear axle.

Jim

[son_of_flubber]

If you're in the mood to be gobsmacked, take a gander at this VW TDI towing something a lot bigger than a glider trailer (in the USA)

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=333675

[[email protected]]

Look at the manufacturers recommendations. In most cases, the towing capacity of the vehicle is higher (in some cases much higher) when equipped with an automatic transmission rather than a manual transmission. The weak link in a manual transmission vehicle is the clutch, not the transmission. For example, I once bought a Mazda 2600 pick-up truck which came manual or auto and had a V6. With the manual (which I had) towing capacity was limited to 2000lbs, while the same vehicle equipped with an automatic (with no additional towing package) was rated for 3500lbs.

One thing overlooked in the discussion, is the effect of wheelbase. The longer your tow vehicle is the easy it will be to tow anything, and particularly a long glider trailer that can be affected by side winds. My current tow vehicle is a Toyota RAV4 and it is not as nice to tow with as either my previous Ford Freestyle or my Toyota Sienna, even though it has more power than either of those vehicles and is AWD. When you hear stories or go on youtube and see for yourself, tow
vehicles crashing, it is almost always the case that the tow vehicle is small (and has a short wheelbase.)

Another thing to consider is the brakes. When you tow with a vehicle that is loaded no where near its gross vehicle rating, then it will handle braking with a trailer without difficulty. If you are fully loaded and towing a trailer, you will start smelling your brakes with use!

[Justin Craig[_3_]]

If you use the rule of 5's in Europe you could expect to do $5000 in fuel!!


I tow my cobra trailer (ASW27) behind an Audi A6. When I was younger and
could not afford big cars, or more to the point insure big cars, I towed
happily with a Peugot 306. Just modify your speed for suitable to the size
of the tow car. I will tow at speeds in the A6 that I would never have
dream t of with the the 306!

>
>Years ago, I once towed my glider trailer with a VW Golf (manual) and it
>wa=
>s only once - it scared me so much I bought a larger, heavier vehicle
>strai=
>ght away.
>
>There seems to be this strange contest, especially in Europe, to see how
>sm=
>all a tow vehicle one can get away with. In my view, there is no
>substitut=
>e for power and mass. Power to get you out of trouble and climb those
>hill=
>s and mass to control the weight of the combination. Small vehicles just
>d=
>on't have enough braking power. =20
>
>I have a rule of fives - a tow vehicle of at least 5,000 pounds mass with
>a=
> 5 liter engine!
>
>Mike
>

[Steve]

Justin Craig > wrote:
> If you use the rule of 5's in Europe you could expect to do $5000 in fuel!!
>
>
> I tow my cobra trailer (ASW27) behind an Audi A6. When I was younger and
> could not afford big cars, or more to the point insure big cars, I towed
> happily with a Peugot 306. Just modify your speed for suitable to the size
> of the tow car. I will tow at speeds in the A6 that I would never have
> dream t of with the the 306!
>

I'm on my second Audi A4 - stick transmission. I don't do as many miles as
some on this thread. My first A4 had a nice speed control - the trailer
would start fish tailing at about 70. My new car has a trailer stability
control algorithm. I once noticed I was doing 80 as I was passing slower
traffic on a back road - hardly noticed the trailer was on the back. I'm
more careful now.

I've got the 2 liter turbo. I get nearly 27 mpg on the highway with the
trailer on the back.

A trailer hitch is a factory option in Europe. I had to go to the UK web
site to get trailer specs. There isn't any info in my US owner's manual.

[JS]

Using a Nimbus 3 in a Pfeiffer trailer for reference, towed behind:
> 00 Subaru 2.5L Outback (stick)
> 96 Chevrolet Tahoe 5.7L (auto)
> 97 Holden Commodore 3.0L (auto)
Before the trailer had functioning brakes, the Subaru was useless to stop it, hence the Tahoe purchase.
After installing trailer brakes, got rid of the Tahoe. Most of the horsepower/fuel was used to lug its own weight around anyway.
The Holden did pretty well, but the best trailer handling of the N3 and also the heavy and long Cobra ASH26E trailer was behind the Outback. Even handled X-wind, passing large vehicles, everything but starting up a hill, better than the Tahoe. Handled towing in high temperatures better than the Holden. Probably due to the RPM the water pump was turning!
However... Eventually replaced the Subaru's clutch, then had to replace the viscous coupler in the AWD at about 120k miles. Both seem weak links. Note that newer Subarus with 3.0L automatic still have the same viscous coupler.
Currently towing with Toyota RAV4 3.0L (auto) FWD. It has plenty of power, and will pass other vehicles at a vast rate of knots even when towing a Cobra trailer with ASW27. A friend proved the 4-cylinder RAV4 is adequate. Front Wheel Drive seems pretty silly to me, it should have AWD.
Thinking if the Audi Allroad 2.0 TDI had a reasonable maintenance record, it would be a great tow and everything else vehicle. This year Audi put the 2.0TDI in the N. American A3 FWD. Be years before the A3 Quattro or Allroad get it.
Jim

[rlovinggood]

Automatic or Manual?

To me, it doesn't matter, as long as the vehicle is rated to tow the weight of your loaded trailer. Some have mentioned power, some have mentioned brakes, but nobody has mentioned maximum tongue weight.

I had to sell my 2000 Accord V6 (automatic) because the Swan trailer, loaded, far exceeded the max tow capacity and max tongue weight capacity. Honda listed those as 1,000 lbs and 100 lbs, respectively. After the trailer had "almost" ripped two different designs of hitches from the rear of the Honda, I decided to weigh the trailer: 2,040 lbs with a tongue weight of 180 lbs. There's not much metal in the back of cars these days to attach a hitch to. It's all "crumple zone" stuff. Made to fold up in event of a crash.

I searched the interwebs for an affordable vehicle, in both purchase price and feeding price, to tow the trailer and came up with a Subaru Forester. Mine has an automatic because that's what I found on the dealer's lot of used cars. I wasn't going to be too picky. It's rated to tow 2,400 lbs with a max tongue weight of 200 lbs. I did have a transmission oil cooler installed. The car does have a "hot transmission oil" light, but I've never seen it come on, including some towing when the outside temperature was hitting 101F degrees.

Ray
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

[Dan Marotta]

I currently tow with a Ford Edge, 3.5 liter, automatic, and it does just
fine locally. I'll be making my first road trip with it in a couple of
weeks going to the dry lake in Nevada and, if there are any short comings,
I'll note them here.

We brought my glider (LAK-17a in a LAK-T5 trailer) back to Moriarty, NM from
Dallas, TX (about 600 miles) using my wife's Subaru Outback, 3.6 liter,
automatic. It's got plenty of power but the trailer wanted to sway a bit.
We also made the round trip to Nevada (1,200 miles round trip) with it last
October and, other than a little swaying at 80 mph, it was fine other than
the reduction in mileage. I suspect a bit more load in the front of the
trailer will take care of that.

Prior, I used a Ford 150 truck with 5 liter and automatic. It was bullet
proof! I changed the ATF every 105,000 miles whether it needed it or not.


"rlovinggood" > wrote in message
...
Automatic or Manual?

To me, it doesn't matter, as long as the vehicle is rated to tow the weight
of your loaded trailer. Some have mentioned power, some have mentioned
brakes, but nobody has mentioned maximum tongue weight.

I had to sell my 2000 Accord V6 (automatic) because the Swan trailer,
loaded, far exceeded the max tow capacity and max tongue weight capacity.
Honda listed those as 1,000 lbs and 100 lbs, respectively. After the
trailer had "almost" ripped two different designs of hitches from the rear
of the Honda, I decided to weigh the trailer: 2,040 lbs with a tongue
weight of 180 lbs. There's not much metal in the back of cars these days to
attach a hitch to. It's all "crumple zone" stuff. Made to fold up in event
of a crash.

I searched the interwebs for an affordable vehicle, in both purchase price
and feeding price, to tow the trailer and came up with a Subaru Forester.
Mine has an automatic because that's what I found on the dealer's lot of
used cars. I wasn't going to be too picky. It's rated to tow 2,400 lbs
with a max tongue weight of 200 lbs. I did have a transmission oil cooler
installed. The car does have a "hot transmission oil" light, but I've never
seen it come on, including some towing when the outside temperature was
hitting 101F degrees.

Ray
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

[Frank Whiteley]

> Prior, I used a Ford 150 truck with 5 liter and automatic. It was bullet
>
> proof! I changed the ATF every 105,000 miles whether it needed it or not..
>
I'll second the F-150. They come in various towing flavors, with and without the towing kit. Permissible towing weight sans tow kit depends on final drive ratio. I chose the 3.77 rear which has a 4600lb max towing weight for mine. However at 75mph it tends to shift up and down between 3rd and OD. At 85mph, it sticks in OD. At 65-75mph in rolling mountains, I stick it in 3rd and leave it.

Frank Whiteley