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Topic: Which autos make the best toads?????? (Read 8 times) previous topic - next topic
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Which autos make the best toads??????
Yahoo Message Number: 108290
I love my PT cruiser, but it does not do snow well and since I will be living in the mountains starting in Feb.  I want to buy another "run about" - I will have to pull it behind my LD.  I have never towed anything - so I am a complete virgin about what to start looking for.  Please everyone chime in.....I need help with this.  What are the Favorites, what not to buy, what should I be looking for?  Is there somewhere to compare autos for this purpose?

Patricia in Austin '91 - 23.5' LD
Re: Which autos make the best toads??????
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108291
"Trish2u"  wrote: Is there somewhere to compare autos for this purpose? --- A good starting place is the "Dinghy Guide" published by MotorHome magazine:
 http://motorhome.tl.com/dinghytowingguide/

(See the link at the top of the list on the right side of the page for 2009 vehicles.)
 You might also look through the many past posts on this topic; see the "searchable archives" link in the introduction paragraph on the home page of this message board.
 There are also many websites and message boards (try the Escapees board) which offer discussions on this topic; just google or "Bing" the topic and you'll have several days' worth of reading.
 And, you are also likely to get additional suggestions, testimonials, and advice on "good" tow vehicles (and the equipment to haul them along behind safely and conveniently) from this board.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Which autos make the best toads??????
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108292
Quote
I love my PT cruiser, but it does not do snow well and since I will be living in the mountains starting in Feb.  I want to buy another "run about" - I will have to pull it behind my LD.
I don't know what is the problem with the PT Cruiser in snow, but you might then want to choose a 4WD that is towable. A so-equipped Honda CR-V would fit that bill, without being too heavy. Most lighter vehicles that offer 4WD might not tow as easily.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Which autos make the best toads??????
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108293
The first thing to do is get out the manual for your LD and find out what the towing limits are for your specific model. The newer units are limited to 4,000 lb without modification. Then check out the various dinghy reviews from Motorhome magazine and pick one (it's a free download from their website). Also check out the GCWR.  Do not exceed this number regardless of what you choose. If you do not know, visit a truck stop with your LD loaded for travel, and weigh it. Then add the weight of the proposed toad to that number.
 Most car manufacturers only support flat towing on their models with standard transmissions. If that is acceptable, pick one and go for it.  You might also want to check with  your local towing equipment vendor and ask about the relative complexity of setting up your proposed car for towing, i.e. ask for a quote on the tow plate .
 If you must have (or really would like) an automatic transmission, the choices are much more limited, without modification anyway. General Motors products are the only ones that support flat towing with automatic transmissions. Chevy Cobalt, Malibu, Impala etc, saturns.  There are a few Hondas that do, but they are model and year specific. For example, my 2004 Pilot can be flat towed, but the more modern ones can not. Unfortunately, at 4500 lb, the Pilot is far too heavy.
 Remember, the lighter the better. Personally I tried to stay below 2500 lb, but ended up with a Cobalt (automatic) at roughly 2700 lb.  If I had to choose now, I would probably go with a Honda Fit or one of the Ford Focus models (manual transmission of course).

-- Dave '06 MB, Indianapolis
Re: Which autos make the best toads??????
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108294
We are presently towing a Subaru Outback AWD with a standard transmission. Works well. Wife would rather have an auto transmission.

Bob in Florida

__
St Pete Boat Show in Florida
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108295
We attended the St. Petersburg Boat Show last weekend and noticed an LD in the parking lot. It was there for most of the show days, so assume that it belongs to a vendor. Nice looking red model.

Anyone here?

Bob in Florida

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Which autos make the best toads??????
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108296
We have towed a 99 Saturn automatic SL2 for over 100,000 miles.  It's been great.  We had only one problem with the tranny in all those miles.
 Of course Saturns will no longer be built, so I would probably go with the Subaru Outback that Bob in Florida mentioned.  We have owned a Subaru Outback automatic since since 03 and have just loved it.  A standard tranny outback will probably be our next toad.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2006 27' MidBath
Re: Which autos make the best toads??????
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108297
"I love my PT cruiser, but it does not do snow well and since I will be living in the mountains starting in Feb."

Patricia
 You have received some good advice. The 2009 MH dingy guide is a good start. It has a lot of information on the toads as well as the equipment needed to tow.
 For snow, you want to have AWD (all wheel drive) or four wheel drive (4X4). High ground clearance is important if the snow is more than a few inches deep. Snow rated tires are recommended.
 If you can use a manual, it's hard to beat a Subaru Forester for snow.
The Honda CRV AWD, with an automatic is popular buts it does not have a lot of ground clearance.
The Suzuki Vitara 4X4 is popular as well as various Jeeps models.
If a small truck fits your life style, a Ford Ranger 4X4 might be good choice.
 Take all of the weight ratings with a grain of salt. Once fueled and loaded with the usual stuff people carry, most toads weigh several hundred pounds more than the listed weights. Winter driving calls for extra gear and clothing.
Lighter is better for towing. Heavier is usually safer and roomier.

Larry

Lifted Jeep Cherokee, tall snow tires and locked axles
Looking for snow
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Which autos make the best toads?
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108298
To add to the good suggestions that others have made, you might find my web page "Follow the Leader" (http://www.andybaird.com/travels/skylarking/2009/towing.htm>), which describes the process of outfitting my Lazy Daze and Honda Fit for towing, worth reading.
 While I and others with Fits have had great success with this model as a toad, it sounds as if you really should be looking at all wheel drive and four wheel drive cars. According to Consumers Union, the most reliable cars in that category are Honda's CR-V and Subaru's Outback. (Their Forester model is also a popular toad, but its weight is above LD's maximum towing capacity.)
 The CR-V's automatic-transmission version can be towed four-down, according to Honda; you just have to go warm it up for five minutes and then through all the gears in a specific sequence before towing. (I don't know about the automatic Subarus.) The manual-transmission versions, of course, just have to be put in neutral... so if you're comfortable driving a stick shift, that's the preferred choice.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Which autos make the best toads?
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108299
Quote from: Andy"

 (Their Forester model is also a popular toad, but its weight is above LD's maximum towing capacity.)
 Sorry Andy, but you are mistaken on the Forester weight being above the tow limit.  I tow an 05 Forester and it's curb weight is 3135lbs.  The 2010 model weighs 3250.  Both are well within the 4,000lbs allowed by Ford.
 I very much enjoy my Forester and have had zero problems with it since buying it in January of 2005.

Dick Ridgecrest, CA
Re: Which autos make the best toads?
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108300
"I tow an '05 Forester and its curb weight is 3,135lbs. The 2010 model weighs 3,250.  Both are well within the 4,000lbs allowed by Ford."
 You're right, Dick! I did a quick check before my previous post, but I mistook the GVWR for the curb weight. Thanks for catching my mistake. :-)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Which autos make the best toads??????
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108301
Is there somewhere to compare autos for this purpose?


 Each year Motorhome Magazine publishes a Dinghy Towing Guide for vehicles approved by the manufacturer for 4-down towing.  You can find the current issue, plus several past issues, online at their website,
www.motorhomemagazine.com.
 Just because a vehicle doesn't appear in the Dinghy Towing Guides doesn't necessarily mean it can't be towed 4-down, either as is or with modifications (such as a lube pump).  If you don't find the vehicle you're looking for in the Guides, contact Remco Towing, www.remcotowing.com, to see what they have to say about towing it 4-down.

Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Linda Hylton
Re: Which autos make the best toads?
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108305
After much research and test driving, I decided to purchase a new Subaru Forester (2009) stick-shift, last June as our tow vehicle. I love the way it drives and handles on the road, more like a sportscar, and like the lighter Honda FIT. Just pla
Re: Which autos make the best toads?
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108314
I bought our 2001 Forester (manual) new to replace a Saturn SL2 because it was highly rated and one the lightest of the available awd vehicles...just over 3100 lb unloaded.  It has proven a reliable, relatively good gas milage car.  It has 105K recorded miles and an estimated 30K as a toad. Highly recommend IF you are comfortable with a manual tranny.  Jack
Re: Which autos make the best toads?
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108319
Quote
I bought our 2001 Forester (manual) new to replace a Saturn SL2 because it was highly rated and one the lightest of the available awd vehicles...just over 3100 lb unloaded.  It has proven a reliable, relatively good gas milage car.  It has 105K recorded miles and an estimated 30K as a toad. Highly recommend IF you are comfortable with a manual tranny.  Jack in snowy Reno
I'll echo all of this post regarding our 2007 Forester with manual tranny. Also, we were getting about 24 mpg on average until we hit 35,000 a while ago and now we are getting about 28 mpg. With the vehicle driving all wheels all the time, I find this gas mileage to be more than good!
 The topper for us is we continue to w*rk and live on the plains and as you may have heard, he got crushed by a blizzard over the last couple days and Soobie chews up the snow like nobody's business.

Dave Ruby the red 04RK, covered in snow but uncovered the solar panel today to keep the batteries happy.  :)
Dave

2017 TK
 
Re: Which autos make the best toads?
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108327
WOW.....Thank you all for the responses.  It gives me a place to start in my search for the perfect toad.  One of you asked what was wrong with the PT in snow.  I have a place in the mountains in Cloudcroft, NM.  When it snows, the little PT scoops the snow on the front until she can go no farther.   They are very low to the ground in the front.  Otherwise, she is the perfect car.  Maybe I should have her jacked up off the ground like some of the big trucks......................  again thank you for all of your help.

Patricia in Austin