Have a 2000 Winnebago Minnie Winnie with V10 and am considering adding an inexpensive toad. I was thinking of something from the 90's. Doesn't need to be fancy...just needs to work and get me around when I workamp for any period. Would want to tow 4 down. THANKS!

mikeleblanc413 - If you can find a lower mileage Geo Tracker or Suzuki Sidekick you get possible 4 wheel drive, can tow 4 wheels down, is light weight, and many had removeable convertible tops. I have owned 3 and they have been trouble free. Traded or sold them at about 125,000 miles so do not know about their reliability after that. My last one was a 1995.

Also look at a Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4. We towed a Tracker and a Grand Vitara. The are both great little cars and be towed four down as long as they are 4wd. The Vitara was more comfortable and had better air than the Tracker.

I believe many Saturn's can be towed 4 down. Even the automatic transmission. There's a lot of them around, maybe you can find one equipped and ready to tow.

You didn't mention what your budget is, but early 2000's Honda CRV and mid 2000's Chevy HHR and Malibu can be flat towed and under $10,000.

We have towed a 2000 Honda Civic over 40K miles. You have to shift thru the gears every 500 miles and let it run for a couple of minutes. Works for us.

Inexpensive Toad Recommendation | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

rockhillmanor
Explorer II
May 31, 2014
Bumpyroad wrote:
DougE wrote:
If you get a 4wd Tracker or Sidekick be sure to get one with manual hubs. The automatic hubs are tricky to disengage.

back when I towed my tracker it had to be one with manual hubs to tow it. that changed later.
bumpy

x2
RV repair shop said they now have a swap out for automatic hubs now. They change the auto to manual and I was told it had to be done to use for 4 down. Luckily mine had manual.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
May 30, 2014
DougE wrote:
If you get a 4wd Tracker or Sidekick be sure to get one with manual hubs. The automatic hubs are tricky to disengage.

back when I towed my tracker it had to be one with manual hubs to tow it. that changed later.
bumpy
Jayco-noslide
Explorer
May 30, 2014
We tow a 2012 Chevy Sonic 4 wheels down and it works great. It weighs about 2700 lbs and I don't have brakes on it. When we need it for driving it gets 30-40 MPG. I researched it before buying and the manual addresses towing behind a motorhome very specifically. One fuse has to be pulled and it has to be started and ran with every fill-up. It is pretty low which required an annoying drop hitch on the MH.
wolfe10
Explorer
May 30, 2014
Another option is a Ford Escort or Focus with manual transmission. Light weight, easy to tow and inexpensive.

We have towed one of each (Escort was station wagon).
j-d
Explorer II
May 30, 2014
Manual transmission Toyota products are largely towable. Our 1993 Tercel made a very good toad. As I recall, towing wasn't mentioned in the owner manual, we just did it. Our 2006 Corolla specifies that it IS towable, no restrictions, again both manual shift.
tpi
Explorer
May 30, 2014
Would a motorcycle work? Enjoy them? Small flatbed trailers and used motorcycles can be inexpensive and often in really nice low mileage condition. I just picked up a very clean '12 Sportster w/ windshield and rack for about 6K. These are durable easy to service motorcycles with lots of accessories available. Just browsing Craigslist I could find nice local low mileage garage kept midsize or larger bikes of many makes as low as $3000. The trailers are generally light enough not to require expensive braking systems or controllers.
Harvard
Explorer
May 30, 2014
Have towed a 1990 Honda Accord, a 2001 Honda Civic and am currently towing a 2007 Honda Civic. All manual transmissions.
DougE
Explorer
May 30, 2014
If you get a 4wd Tracker or Sidekick be sure to get one with manual hubs. The automatic hubs are tricky to disengage.
Bobbo
Explorer III
May 30, 2014
tenbear wrote:
Manual shift Subarus can be towed 4 wheels down with no restrictions. Makes a great 4wd toad.

tenbear beat me to it. My toad from now on will be a standard shift Subaru.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
May 30, 2014
I bought used because I was not sure how long I was going to full time and if I was even going to like towing. And I lucked out 'quite' well with my choice.

I went with used Chevy Tracker 4x4, 4 door. You can't beat it one of the lightest toads AND no matter how many miles or how old it is it remains the most popular toad amongst RV'ers.

Once you add your towing equipment to it when you go to sell it?
Stand back!! It will be sold in minutes. I listed mine on an RV site and it sold in one day.