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Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Looking for suggestions for a dinghy that can be flat towed by a Lazy Daze but can also pull a 3,000 lb. trailer.  Ideally it would be 4WD or AWD and probably going to be a small SUV or pickup.  Any ideas?  Is there such a beast?
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Reply #1 –
"Looking for suggestions of a dinghy that can be flat towed but can also pull
a 3,000 lb. trailer. Ideally it would be 4WD or AWD and probably going to
be a small SUV or pickup. Any ideas?"

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

In 2000, we were contemplating fulltiming, with the purchase of a new Lazy Daze and new tow vehicle that would accommodate a pop-up, slide-in camper shell - a Four-Wheel Drive (brand) unit.

At that time, the only thing satisfactory that we could find that had an automatic transmission was a Dodge Dakota/Mazda B-Series pick up truck.

As it turned out, a friend was having a fire sale on their beautiful, nearly-new 1999 40-foot DP, so we took the easy way out.  The cost for the combination Lazy Daze and pickup truck was the same as the DP, and the payload was a lot better on the Mountain Aire.   The Lazy Daze/pickup truck with pop-up camper would have been too heavy, and we saw that just in time.

I haven't looked at the capabilities or capacities for the current Dakota/B-Series, but that should be easy enough to check.

   Virtual hugs,

   Judie
Re: Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Reply #2 –
Been doing a little research on the Motorhome Dinghy Guides and it appears an older (pre- 2012) Chevy Colorado/ GMC Canyon, or perhaps a Ford Ranger may meet my needs.  I was targeting vehicles that didn't have any special towing requirements such as stopping after so many miles and running the engine, etc.  I was also trying to keep the curb weight down in the 3,500 lb. range.

Does/ has anyone towed any of these pickups?

Downloadable Dinghy Guides | MotorHome Magazine
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Reply #3 –
Just a bump. Looking for input from anyone that has flat-towed a smaller pickup with their LD.  Anyone?
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Reply #4 –
Greg,
Since no one has chimed in, I'll  answer from the position of a former Lance Camper guy.
One of the guys on the Lance Camper Forum (LOA) tows an older Toyota Tacoma Pickup, manual locking hubs and manual transmission and transfer case and has towed it all over the USA. That little truck is likely lighter than a Wrangler.
I wish they still made that truck in the manual configuration.
Harold
2014 27 MB
Towd: Either the Jeep Wrangler or trailer containing the BMW R1200GS and 2 E-bicycles
Happy wife=Happy life
Re: Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Reply #5 –
Quote from: HiLola  - 
r perhaps a Ford Ranger may meet my needs. 
Does/ has anyone towed any of these pickups?
A 4X4 ranger is flat towable, when equipped with the aftermarket selector-motor on the transfer-case, which allows the transfer-case to go into neutral, used for towing.
I have thought about buying a Ranger as a replacement for the Cherokee, once it ages to the point where it isn't dependable.
It doesn't have a large aftermarket of upgraded parts, other than stock replacements parts. I would miss the staton wagon interior.

One of my work trucks was V-6 Ranger. It ran fine empty but it couldn't handle much of a load, the rear suspension had very light springs.
With a little work, a Ranger might work for you as long as the trailer is fairly light. It's a very lightweight truck.
You should be able to find a decent Ranger, Ford made a lot of them.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Reply #6 –
Quote from: HiLola  - 
Looking for suggestions for a dinghy that can be flat towed by a Lazy Daze but can also pull a 3,000 lb. trailer.
Did similar research this winter and about the only two SUV types I found going back to 2000 from  motorhome dinghy guides and checking online owners manuals were 00/01 Cherokee XJ or 06/07 Saturn Vue w/3.5 Honda engine.

Didn't find any crew cab type pickups but didn't check 2 door trucks.  Was hoping my 08 Dakota 6cyl man. crew cab was towable but not.  Plus weight is just over 4k.

Ended up with a salvage title low mileage  07 Vue which does have  towing procedure I was hoping to avoid but choices were few.

Had planned on selling truck and getting newer dinghy but newer SUV types that can tow 3500 are 4k plus lbs.

So will keep the truck for now for towing boat and small trailer and use Vue for commuter and dinghy once get it set up as toad - sometime before next spring.  At least that is plan for now.
 
Happy hunting.

Rich M.
2006 MB
Re: Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Reply #7 –
Thanks for the responses so far.  I used to own a Saturn sedan in the 90's. It was a good little commuter car. I noticed the Vue was towable but after further consideration I think we will be targeting a small pickup rather than a SUV.

There doesn't seem to be many options out there that are under 4,000 lbs. that can tow my fully loaded landscape trailer. I think I'll need an engine with more power than a 4 cylinder.  The Colorado/ Canyon has a 5 cylinder option but I'm not familiar with it. The Ranger/ B-series Mazdas have a 6 cylinder so may be the best bet.  I'll need to investigate the Tacoma that Harold mentioned.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Reply #8 –
"The Ranger/ B-series Mazdas have a 6 cylinder so may be the best bet.  I'll need to investigate the Tacoma that Harold mentioned. "

When we were in the market for such a vehicle back in 2000, I had settled on the Dakota/Mazda B Series as being the most useful for our needs to tow behind a to-be-purchased 2000 Lazy Daze.  This never materialized because we bought a nearly-new DP from a friend, but it took a lot of study to come to that point.  Now it is 17 years later, and research on just about any given subject is much easier!

I had wanted a Toyota Tacoma pick-up, but at the time (and maybe still), it was not towable.  Also a test drive of a Tacoma proved that it was uncomfortable to drive, much to my surprise.

Just now I ran across this interesting history of the Dakota.  It may be of interest to you if you are planning a used purchase.  It tells a lot about the evolution of the Dakota over the decades.

Dodge Dakota History

   Virtual hugs,

   Judie
Re: Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Reply #9 –
Judie, I think the Dakota would have been a good toad but it exceeds the 4,000 lb. limit I'm trying to stay under.  Actually, I'm hoping to keep it closer to 3,500 lbs.  Thank you for the suggestion!
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
 
Re: Dinghy's that can also tow a trailer
Reply #10 –
Quote from: HiLola  - 
Judie, I think the Dakota would have been a good toad but it exceeds the 4,000 lb. limit I'm trying to stay under.  Actually, I'm hoping to keep it closer to 3,500 lbs.  Thank you for the suggestion!

   ********************************

 Maybe they were lighter back then, but I had designs of using the pickup as a carrier for a pop-up slide-in Four Wheel Camper(1).  Definitely too heavy for towing.  We finally settled on a Sportsmobile campervan as a "not-towed toad".

(1)  Home - Four Wheel Campers | Low Profile, Light Weight, Pop-up Truck Campers

   Virtual hugs,

   Judie