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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / March 2006Smaller type of car to tow 1200 lbs pop-up...
Hi everyone... need some advice... i was trying to convince me that i would be able to tow my future 1200 lbs popup camper with my 2001 ford focus... but seems that i won't be able... what would be your best type of car to tow that type of camper? i need the smaller car possible.... anyone have suggestion? thanks! Jonathan > i was trying to convince me that i would be able to tow my future 1200 > lbs popup camper with my 2001 ford focus... but seems that i won't be > able... > > what would be your best type of car to tow that type of camper? i need > the smaller car possible.... Go to the following website: http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?id=962029 to research towing and tow vehicles. Most 'small cars' are NOT made to tow anything to speak of. Additionally, your future pop-up will probably weigh several hundred pounds more than 1200 pounds when it is loaded with gear, propane, and options. Adding in the 75% safety factor, to safely tow 1400 lbs, you should have a vehicle that can clearly tow 1600 lbs. Also, how much you can tow with a vehicle depends on how many people will be in the vehicle and how much gear is in the vehicle. The more people and gear, the less you can safely tow. Most popups this small do not come with brakes, so the ratings of the tow vehicle is even more important, as the tow vehicle brakes will have to stop an additional 1400 pounds or so. Greetings, I wholeheartedly agree with everything said here, especially the part about the camper being heavier than you expect. If you are looking to tow your camper with something like a Ford Focus or similar, then you will be disappointed by the selection of vehicles in that size range that have a tow rating even close. You might need to step up to a small SUV or minivan - something with a 2500 lbs or greater towing capacity just to be safe. Cheers - Jonathan >> i was trying to convince me that i would be able to tow my future 1200 >> lbs popup camper with my 2001 ford focus... but seems that i won't be [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > with brakes, so the ratings of the tow vehicle is even more important, as > the tow vehicle brakes will have to stop an additional 1400 pounds or so. According to Ford max trailer weight is 1000 lbs and recommends a transmission cooler. > Hi everyone... need some advice... > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Jonathan > Hi everyone... need some advice... > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > anyone have suggestion? No way would a ford focus or similar compact tow much of anything safely. Some mini SUV's are capable of towing a small popup. I towed a 1200lb loaded Coleman popup with a 1993 Suzuki 4-door sidekick. It pulled it with ease. My 1999 Isuzu Amigo with V6 easily pulled it as well. I don't know about todays current mini SUV's capability. > Hi everyone... need some advice... Remember: You asked. <g> > i was trying to convince me that i would be able to tow my future 1200 > lbs popup camper with my 2001 ford focus... but seems that i won't be > able... You're ahead of "the curve" already. Most folks get the camper then proceed to beat their Focus to death while endangering themselves and others on the road. > what would be your best type of car to tow that type of camper? i need > the smaller car possible.... Your two goals are, mostly, mutually exclusive. One does not usually buy a trailer then see how SMALL a tow vehicle they can get by with. You should look for something with as LARGE a 4-cylinder as possible. A V6 would be better. There is NO free lunch: To tow *properly*, you should not use a vehicle that is maxed-out, tow rating-wise. If fuel economy is your top priority, towing is NOT for you. Good luck!  Signature:) JR My wife just traded her ' 99 Durango for a new Jeep Liberty diesel . I was surprised to see the Liberty has a 5,000 lb. towing capacity . It seems U-Haul will put a hitch on almost anything . Bear in mind taking weight off the front of a FWD vehicle and transfering it to the rear has a very adverse effect on traction , braking, and steering . > Hi everyone... need some advice... > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > what would be your best type of car to tow that type of camper? i need > the smaller car possible.... Jonathan, I'm glad you came over here to check with people who tow. Some of the folks over in the Focus news group (who don't have trailers) were basically saying "yeah, it should be okay, just take it easy." Uh huh, and it's not their tranny (or their lives) at risk. Happy camping. Hope you get a good setup. -- Tony (owner of a 2001 Focus but who tows with an Olds Custom Cruiser) >Hi everyone... need some advice... > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Jonathan The group is giving some really good advice.. just wanted to add one comment.. IMHO, you're going about this the right way... too many of us got the trailer and THEN found out that we needed something better to tow with... Much safer and less stressful to know what you want to tow and then get the TV for it.. Have a great time and years of happy, healthy camping!! Mac https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm thanks everyone for your answers.... i'll go see if i can find a cheap older car to tow without having *any* problems.... sort of.... lol Greetings, Other than the ability to tow your pop-up, what are the criteria for the vehicle you are looking for? Room/space? Mileage? Cost? Warranty? Many of us who have been towing pop-ups for a while have already done that search, and maybe if you let us know what you want then you might get some good recommendations. Cheers - Jonathan > thanks everyone for your answers.... i'll go see if i can find a cheap > older car to tow without having *any* problems.... sort of.... lol probably will try to find an older vehicule, that will serve as my second, and mostly to tow the pop-up... have 2 kids and my wife to travel with (lol)... Since i was looking to change my Focus for a Toyota Yaris to go to work, i'll probably try to do an exchange with the focus for an older car/suv/van that will be able to tow.... so i was looking so pay the less possible..... >probably will try to find an older vehicule, that will serve as my >second, and mostly to tow the pop-up... have 2 kids and my wife to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >car/suv/van that will be able to tow.... so i was looking so pay the >less possible..... Look into used pickups... nice to have for towing, 2nd "car" and odd stuff that you don't want to or can't do in the family car.. Mac https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm Greetings, A small pick-up would be able to tow your camper, but with a wife and two kids you have to consider interior space and that translates into a crewcab model (Chevy S10, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier - all will seat 4 but won't have any extra interior room for "stuff"). This is why I think it would be a wiser choice to consider a smaller SUV. I don't know what your budget is, but the first thing that comes to mind is the Kia Sorento. Sized between the mini-SUV's (Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4, Suzuki XL-7/Grand Vitara) and the mid-sized SUV's (Chevy Trailblazer, Ford Explorer) but has a tow rating of 3500lbs. It's priced like the smaller ones as well but has a respectable 6 cylinder motor with rear wheel drive and a full frame, both great for towing. You can pick up a 2003 or 2004 model that would still be under some of the factory warranty for a reasonable price. An older Chevy Blazer would be a good choice as well, especially a 4-door model with the kids. Many of the mini-SUV's are only glorified cars with a high roof - unibody construction and front wheel drive (and not much of a tow rating because of it). Some of the minivans can tow a reasonable amount, but that's just not my schtick. Better to ask someone else for a minivan recommendation. Cheers - Jonathan > probably will try to find an older vehicule, that will serve as my > second, and mostly to tow the pop-up... have 2 kids and my wife to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > car/suv/van that will be able to tow.... so i was looking so pay the > less possible..... OK, here is my minivan recommendation. I have been using a 98 Toyota Sienna for some years as a tow vehicle for a mid sized popup with no problems either with power or handling. Class 2 hitch and about 172K miles (all mine) on it now. Lots of room for all the stuff and gets me 23 MPG normally and about 17-19 towing. For that small a trailer getting a used one and adding a hitch would do. Tomes > Greetings, > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >> car/suv/van that will be able to tow.... so i was looking so pay the >> less possible..... > OK, here is my minivan recommendation. I have been using a 98 Toyota Sienna > for some years as a tow vehicle for a mid sized popup with no problems [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > adding a hitch would do. > Tomes Another option is the Chevy Astro. They're practically giving them away these days (used), and it'll tow your pop-up and carry your family and stuff with ease. It's an old design that lacks many of the 'creature comforts' of just about all of the other minivans, but it does the job at hand very well. Craig >> OK, here is my minivan recommendation. I have been using a 98 Toyota Sienna >> for some years as a tow vehicle for a mid sized popup with no problems [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Craig Unfortunately '05 was the last year they made the Astro/Safari models. That was the lest of the rear wheel drive, so called "mini-van". It is in a different class than the front wheel drive vans. It was built on the S-10 Chassis and was rated to pull a 5500 pound trailer. Front wheel drive don't quite rate with the rear wheel. Now to get a rear wheel drive it is necessary to buy the full size van but they are still available with a 4.3L engine. Or with the GM line you can even get them with a small Duramax Diesel. >>> OK, here is my minivan recommendation. I have been using a 98 Toyota >>> Sienna [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > they are still available with a 4.3L engine. Or with the GM line you can > even get them with a small Duramax Diesel. Agreed, but the OP is looking only to pull a 1200 pound trailer. Either front or rear wheel drive vans will handle that. Tomes The kids have to go too? damn! *g* >Greetings, > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >> car/suv/van that will be able to tow.... so i was looking so pay the >> less possible..... Mac https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm I guess you are looking at a small car for low gas consumption?? have you looked at Jeep Liberty Diesel... would be OK to tow a pop-up and most likely, better than any other small car Mel the_decker a écrit: > Hi everyone... need some advice... > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Jonathan
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