Tow Vehicle Woes

On Oct 16, 9:58 am, Dan G wrote:
The Caravan Club of the UK has just released a report testing lots of
Euro and Far East cars (and a few American ones) for caravan towing.
Might be of interest, although nearly all of the cars are diesel, so I
guess very few are available in the US.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tx5wt

Note that the lightest caravan towed was 880 kg, compared to Ray's 750
kg laden trailer, pulled by what I think are called "subcompact" cars
in the States. Larger cars were towing caravans up to 2,000 kg.

The last page also lists the same advice on weight and balance you've
all probably grown tired of me listing here :-) - at least it proves
I'm not making it up!

Dan

After watching the Top Gear segment on their caravan holiday, I'm not
sure the Caravan Club is where I would look for advice on tow
vehicles.

The British have to be unique in this respect - dragging a small tin
or fiberglass box halfway across the country through congested roads
in an underpowered tow vehicle to sit for a week in a muddy field so
they can eat baked beans and sh1t in a bucket.

Mike

So, I think I've narrowed my search to the current Toyota RAV4 with V6

The RAV 4 is in PERMANENT four wheel drive. I owned one for a bit, and the
fuel consumption was horrendous. And that was a 2 liter 4 cylinder example
so God knows what the six will be like. I'd ask some searching questions
before purchase.

Alistair Wright
Scotland.

On Oct 16, 9:51 am, rlovinggood wrote:
I'm curious why you're not considering the gas powered CR-V?

I have been a Honda person for years, with four Honda motorcycles, my
first Accord that ran for 396,000 miles before it was totalled in a
wreck and my current Accord that has 201,000 miles on it and remains a
great car. If Honda made sailplanes, I would probably be lusting
after one all the time.

The CR-V is rated to tow "only" 1,500 lbs. Remember how I started
this thread: Trailer hitch getting ripped off the car and the trailer
most likely weighs more than 1,500 lbs. I'm tired of having to weld
up the car where the trailer hitch is attached...

Now, after driving the 2000 Accord for a few years, I do like the
power of the V-6 over that of a four. Also, it seems that some V-6's
give very similar mileage as four cylinder engines. My wife drives a
2006 Hyundai Sonata with a four cylinder and on the same trek as I
drive to work, it gets NO BETTER mileage than my six cylinder Accord.

From the web page: www.fueleconomy.gov

The numbers shown below are the "new" EPA estimates on mileage. Note
that the four cylinder CR-V doesn't do much better than any of the V6
vehicles.

Since a very high percentage of my driving is highway driving, I tend
to look at those figures more than the city or combined numbers.

Yes, a four cylinder will work, but for not much, if any, penalty, why
not use a V6?
Power corrupts and absolute power is pretty neat.

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
3.3 litre V6
4WD
17 city
19 combined
24 hwy

2007 Toyota RAV4
3.5 litre V6
4WD
19 city
21 combined
26 hwy

2007 Honda CR-V
2.4 litre inline four
4WD
19 city
22 combined
26 hwy

2000 Honda Accord
3.0 litre V6
FWD
18 city
21 combined
25 hwy

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

I second the "treading water" approach. A well depreciated Subaru or
even (and I'm admittedly biased here) Dodge with a Cummins diesel,
until newer smaller diesels start showing up. I'm addicted to owning
3/4 ton pickups. I bought mine (on ebay) with 124,000 miles on it for
under $11,000. I'm always amazed at the fuel economy. Empty, I get
19.5 mpg on the highway, 17ish around town. Towing my trailer, 19
highway and 16ish around town. I feel it's about twice as much
vehicle and engine than I really need. If I could find a mid size
pickup with a 2.5 to 3 liter TD engine (that I could afford) I'd have
one.

On Oct 16, 6:21 pm, Mike the Strike wrote:
Dan

After watching the Top Gear segment on their caravan holiday, I'm not
sure the Caravan Club is where I would look for advice on tow
vehicles.

The British have to be unique in this respect - dragging a small tin
or fiberglass box halfway across the country through congested roads
in an underpowered tow vehicle to sit for a week in a muddy field so
they can eat baked beans and sh1t in a bucket.

LOL, you do realise that Top Gear is an entertainment show? Not a lot
you see is actually real...

BTW, repeating what the "cool" people say on TV with no critical
thought is something most people grow out of at age 13.


Dan

rlovinggood wrote:
I'm curious why you're not considering the gas powered CR-V?

I have been a Honda person for years, with four Honda motorcycles, my
first Accord that ran for 396,000 miles before it was totalled in a
wreck and my current Accord that has 201,000 miles on it and remains a
great car. If Honda made sailplanes, I would probably be lusting
after one all the time.

The CR-V is rated to tow "only" 1,500 lbs. Remember how I started
this thread: Trailer hitch getting ripped off the car and the trailer
most likely weighs more than 1,500 lbs. I'm tired of having to weld
up the car where the trailer hitch is attached...

Now, after driving the 2000 Accord for a few years, I do like the
power of the V-6 over that of a four. Also, it seems that some V-6's
give very similar mileage as four cylinder engines. My wife drives a
2006 Hyundai Sonata with a four cylinder and on the same trek as I
drive to work, it gets NO BETTER mileage than my six cylinder Accord.

From the web page: www.fueleconomy.gov

The numbers shown below are the "new" EPA estimates on mileage. Note
that the four cylinder CR-V doesn't do much better than any of the V6
vehicles.

Since a very high percentage of my driving is highway driving, I tend
to look at those figures more than the city or combined numbers.

Yes, a four cylinder will work, but for not much, if any, penalty, why
not use a V6?
Power corrupts and absolute power is pretty neat.

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
3.3 litre V6
4WD
17 city
19 combined
24 hwy

2007 Toyota RAV4
3.5 litre V6
4WD
19 city
21 combined
26 hwy

2007 Honda CR-V
2.4 litre inline four
4WD
19 city
22 combined
26 hwy

2000 Honda Accord
3.0 litre V6
FWD
18 city
21 combined
25 hwy

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA


1500 lb towing capacity, not so good. I checked the Element, it's the
same. Wonder if a diesel Rav is on the way...


Shawn

LOL, you do realise that Top Gear is an entertainment show? Not a lot
you see is actually real...

BTW, repeating what the "cool" people say on TV with no critical
thought is something most people grow out of at age 13.

Dan

Oh no - I thought Top Gear was all real!

But you must admit their caravan holiday sequence had some funny
moments that reflected the British psyche just a bit! And the Caravan
Club approved tow vehicle was what I would call very wimpy.

Glider pilots never age past 13.

Mike

rlovinggood wrote:
I'm curious why you're not considering the gas powered CR-V?

I have been a Honda person for years, with four Honda motorcycles, my
first Accord that ran for 396,000 miles before it was totalled in a
wreck and my current Accord that has 201,000 miles on it and remains a
great car. If Honda made sailplanes, I would probably be lusting
after one all the time.


Do let me know when you take delivery of your Honda business jet. I'd
love a ride in one :-).

https://hondajet.honda.com/default.aspx?bhcp=1

Tony V.
http://home.comcast.net/~verhulst/SOARING

Tony,
While I'm not in the market for a powered aircraft,
Honda or other make, I do live somewhat close to the
place where they will be assembled: Burlington, North
Carolina. In fact, Burlington is a common turnpoint
for us when we fly our 300 km FAI triangle around the
RDU Class C airspace.

This evening as I got off the bus coming back from
work, I saw a Subaru Forester in the park and ride
parking lot with a 'For Sale' sign on it. 2002 'S'
model with 72,000 miles. Asking $10k or best offer.

Normally aspirated four banger with four speed auto
tranny.

Has a trailer hitch on it.

Ray



At 23:00 16 October 2007, Tony Verhulst wrote:
rlovinggood wrote:
I'm curious why you're not considering the gas powered
CR-V?

I have been a Honda person for years, with four Honda
motorcycles, my
first Accord that ran for 396,000 miles before it
was totalled in a
wreck and my current Accord that has 201,000 miles
on it and remains a
great car. If Honda made sailplanes, I would probably
be lusting
after one all the time.


Do let me know when you take delivery of your Honda
business jet. I'd
love a ride in one :-).

https://hondajet.honda.com/default.aspx?bhcp=1

Tony V.
http://home.comcast.net/~verhulst/SOARING

http://world.honda.com/news/2004/4040506.html

The Honda Diesel will be the car to own. Incredible. achieved up to 92
MPG to boot.

Tony,
While I'm not in the market for a powered aircraft,
Honda or other make, I do live somewhat close to the
place where they will be assembled: Burlington, North
Carolina. In fact, Burlington is a common turnpoint
for us when we fly our 300 km FAI triangle around the
RDU Class C airspace.

This evening as I got off the bus coming back from
work, I saw a Subaru Forester in the park and ride
parking lot with a 'For Sale' sign on it. 2002 'S'
model with 72,000 miles. Asking $10k or best offer.

Normally aspirated four banger with four speed auto
tranny.

Has a trailer hitch on it.

Ray



At 23:00 16 October 2007, Tony Verhulst wrote:
rlovinggood wrote:
I'm curious why you're not considering the gas powered
CR-V?

I have been a Honda person for years, with four Honda
motorcycles, my
first Accord that ran for 396,000 miles before it
was totalled in a
wreck and my current Accord that has 201,000 miles
on it and remains a
great car. If Honda made sailplanes, I would probably
be lusting
after one all the time.


Do let me know when you take delivery of your Honda
business jet. I'd
love a ride in one :-).

https://hondajet.honda.com/default.aspx?bhcp=1

Tony V.
http://home.comcast.net/~verhulst/SOARING