Topic: Need a new car....would like to use it as a Toad. Any suggestions or favorites? (Read 1429 times)

LostVTer · « **on:** July 26, 2009, 09:00:54 PM »

I was leaning towards the HHR, but this years HHR is not on the list. I need a car that I can drive around town all day and then hitch up to take it with us.

Any favorites? We have 2 adults/2 small children/1 80lb dog. Thinking about checking out the Scion.

ArdraF · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2009, 10:23:40 PM »

Hi Beth and Doug,

These days it's not so much what we might like and/or prefer, but what can be towed without voiding the warranty. There are fewer models to choose from every year, so if you see one you like, be sure to check that specific vehicle manual to see what it says about towing. If all it talks about is using it for towing, as opposed to towing it, then the chances are good you can't tow it without the warranty problem should anything go wrong. If towable, there should be specific directions on how to do it, especially how to set the gear and key. Most of us prefer four-down towing instead of a tow dolly, so towing instructions are mandatory.

Both the Motorhome and the Family Motor Coaching magazines publish annual dinghy towing guides.

ArdraF

BernieD · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2009, 12:12:51 AM »

Quote from: LostVTer on July 26, 2009, 09:00:54 PM

I was leaning towards the HHR, but this years HHR is not on the list. I need a car that I can drive around town all day and then hitch up to take it with us.

Do you know what changes Chevy made to the HHR? We have an '06 that was very easy to set up for towing. Outside of the baseplate and supplemental brake, all that you need to do is pull one fuse (we put in a bypass switch) and put the shifter in neutral.

If you aren't in a hurry, we might be selling our HHR in the fall.

taoshum · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2009, 01:25:48 AM »

for some reason, I think all (most?) of the Saturns are flat towable and family friiendly. I heard that GM, whoever that is anymore, sold Saturn to Penske? but there might be some deals around. Check out the Motorhome Magazine website for a towables list.

BernieD · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2009, 08:16:55 AM »

Just went to the Remco Towing website and it shows the 2009 HHR towable without modification, same as the earlier models.

geodrake · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2009, 08:28:21 AM »

We tow a Honda Fit and love it.

RV Roamer · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2009, 08:44:37 AM »

There are dozens of choices that are towable without modifications and probably a hundred that can be modified for towing with the addition of a transmission lube pump or drive shaft disconnect. All sizes, types and prices are available.

We have a GMC Acadia, a large crossover SUV (the Saturn Outlook, Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse or similar). Some others include: Ford Edge/Escape/Explorer SUVs and Taurus sedan, Chevy Cobalt and Maibu sedans and2009 Equinox & Traverse SUV, Pontiac G5/G6/Torrent, Saturn Aura/View/Outlook, most all GMC/Chevy/Ford/Dodge pick-up trucks, etc.

See the Motorhome Magazine Dinghy Towing Guides for a full list and caveats about specific models and options.

tallyo · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2009, 08:54:33 AM »

Quote from: taoshum on July 27, 2009, 01:25:48 AM

for some reason, I think all (most?) of the Saturns are flat towable and family friiendly. I heard that GM, whoever that is anymore, sold Saturn to Penske? but there might be some deals around. Check out the Motorhome Magazine website for a towables list.

I suspect any sale of Saturn will take time to finalize. In any event I also suspect the new owner won't make too many drastic changes right away; very expensive when one has already laid out a substantial amount of capital to purchase Saturn.
Auto companies often change engine and transmission changes , for example '07 and prior the Saturns had Honda engines and transmissions, and since '08 they have GM engines and transmissions. Thus slight changes in towing preparations.

LostVTer · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2009, 01:42:04 PM »

I was going by the motorhome magazine list and for some reason the HHR for the current year was not listed.....not sure why.

I will definitely look into that.

Lindsay Richards · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2009, 07:22:41 PM »

To me the best car to tow isn’t a car at all, but a midsize, 4 wheel drive pickup truck. They come in two door, 2 ½ door, and 4 door models and can add a whole lot of extra fun to your trip. One of the best times we had on our last month trip was driving n the desert around Quartzite. We normally put a lot more miles on the toad than on the coach and having a 4 wheel drive really opens things up. It is comparable to a car in ride and comfort and tows well. We have a cap and the extra storage space can really come in handy. Be careful with the electronic transfer case as not all can be towed. Don’t take the salesman’s word, but look in the manual under flat towing. Good Luck.

Ned · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2009, 07:45:26 PM »

We towed a Honda Accord for 8 years and finally traded it for a GMC Canyon crew cab, 4WD, so we could take our own vehicle off road and still have room for passengers. A pickup truck is a very handy vehicle to have

ArdraF · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2009, 08:00:37 PM »

Four-wheel drive SUVs are the greatest! We started with a Geo Tracker, moved to a Jeep Grand Cherokee (best for four wheeling), and now have a 7-passenger Acura MDX. The MDX isn't a heavy duty 4WD but it's adequate for most of our offroading. If you ever meet our group either at Quartzsite or in Utah you'll find a 4WD useful. It's fun to have your own vehicle and we chose our MDX because three couples can go out to dinner in one car. We also chose it for its safety features because it gets many more miles driving on regular roads than it does either four-wheeling or being towed. By the way, all three were towable four-down.

ArdraF

Pierat · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2009, 05:17:23 PM »

FWIW, we are enjoying our Honda CR-V and have noticed quite a few of them being towed four down behind other motorhomes.

crosscountry · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2009, 05:29:05 PM »

Check out the class c towing capacity. Your choices may be restricted to how much weight you can pull.

A friend of mine just called and said he purchased a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and is going to the Hershey RV show to purchase towing items. He has a class C Winnebago with a V10.

Russ, WB3FQI/6

porscheracer · « **Reply #14 on:** September 26, 2009, 12:01:40 AM »

A little late to the party - we've been on the road. We bought a 2009 Ford Escape V6 AWD. It appears to be the lightest automatic transmission / AWD vehicle that's towable 4 down. Our 2003 Dakota 4x4, that we tow behind the Vectra was just more than the little View wanted.

So far it's got about 5000 miles on the clock, with another 10K+ towing. Our only problem has been with the transmission - before Ford figured out some were leaving the factory with too much tranny fluid in them. It let go at 700 miles - while being towed.

It won't go rock climbing like the Dakota, but it's more than adequate for most "off road" outings. And it gets ~23MPG, average. The best tank was a bit over 27, and the worst was slightly under 20.

dawop2 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2009, 01:16:05 PM »

When you say, "let go" do you mean the transmission let go or the transmission fluid boiled out the vent holes? We towed our 2009 V6 (not AWD) and at about 100 miles it boiled out the fluid. We talked to our dealer and they have ordered a new, read different, dip stick and provided the instructions on lowering the level of transmission fluid in order to tow. Are you keeping the fluid at the lower, towing, level all the time? If so have you had any problems. We really like our Escape and don't want to have to go to a tow dolly or another car.

mrboyer · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2009, 08:28:01 PM »

We towed a 2003 Pontiac Vibe, same as a Toyota Matrix for 53,000 miles. While not being towed, wrecked it. Bought 2009 Vibe to replace it. Easy to mount tow bar available from Roadmaster ordered through Camping World. Installed myself. Did have to drill 2 holes, but not hard to do. Instructions were great. First highway trip driving Vibe, I got 38 mpg. Weight is 2857 pounds. Don't even know that it is back there when towing. It is a 5 speed manual transmission with cruise control. Put gear shift in neutral, key in accessory, and pull one fuse or put in bypass switch. Easy routing of wiring lights using diodes to use existing brake lights, turn signals, and parking lights.

CaptBill · « **Reply #17 on:** November 07, 2009, 10:47:05 AM »

Quote from: ArdraF on July 28, 2009, 08:00:37 PM

Four-wheel drive SUVs are the greatest! We started with a Geo Tracker, moved to a Jeep Grand Cherokee (best for four wheeling), and now have a 7-passenger Acura MDX. The MDX isn't a heavy duty 4WD but it's adequate for most of our offroading. If you ever meet our group either at Quartzsite or in Utah you'll find a 4WD useful. It's fun to have your own vehicle and we chose our MDX because three couples can go out to dinner in one car. We also chose it for its safety features because it gets many more miles driving on regular roads than it does either four-wheeling or being towed. By the way, all three were towable four-down.

ArdraF

Late to join this topic, but I wanted to know what model year MDX you chose. It has been on my "short list", but seems that Acura removed the towing endorsement after 2005 model year, (although I think that '06 is the same drive train, and probably also towable).

ArdraF · « **Reply #18 on:** November 07, 2009, 06:42:13 PM »

CaptBill,

We have a 2004 MDX. The 2005 was still okay, but the 2006 they said no towing four-down. The only way to know for sure is to check the model's owner's manual.

ArdraF

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Author Topic: Need a new car....would like to use it as a Toad. Any suggestions or favorites? (Read 1429 times)