What "toad" to buy

The wife and I just got a MH and needed something to pull. I wanted easy to hook up and light and didn't want to spend time looking. I got a hyundai elantra the next day, light and nothing to do but put it in neutral and take off the parking brake. We may get something later but that got us going for now.
If you need to jump thru hoops to pull something it would have been easier to keep the TT. Try to find something that makes it easy.
And yes, it took me 6 hrs to install the blue ox base plate and put diode and wire back to the lights, but ow it's easy to hook up.

lanerd wrote:
x2 for the Equinox...and it's sibling, the GMC Terrain. Both are excellent toads, much quieter, smoother, better mpg than any Jeep Wrangler or Honda CRV, plus they can be loaded with options that can make it a perfect toad and every day car.

Ron

Many true things; but your Terrain is heavier, longer, and more expensive than my Jeep. The Terrain also has less ground clearance, a larger turning radius, and no 4 wheel drive.

With a Jeep, I get a convertible, go anywhere, vehicle that expands my access in most all conditions and is a lot of fun to drive. We wander beaches, deserts, mountains, and forests all over the country. Most of those places would not have been reachable with an all-wheel drive, no clearance SUV.

Your choice is really dependent on what you like to do. If you stick to paved roads, get something small and practical. If you like to explore where the pavement ends, a Jeep is your best choice.

I tow a Smart Car and a 2004 Grand Cherokee. Not at the same time. The Smart is light and super easy but small so we tow it when the circumstances permit. The Grand is much bigger obviously but also an easy tow. The older Grand cherokee's are lighter. Difference between 2004 and 05 is about 500 lbs. I found my used for 8 grand and put a little money into it and have a great tow car and good overall car upon arrival. Debating which to take to Florida this winter. Last year with trip to west coast and to Florida and home we towed the Smart just to be lighter in the mountains and parking in the city.

We tow a Ford C-Max hybrid 4 down. It's automatic, four wheel drive, put on a blue ox tow bar, simple to hook up, only problem we have is if we tow it more than 6 hours, the battery goes dead, so we put in a 12V line to the battery and fixed that issue. We've towed it over 6000 miles now with no problems.

My 2007 VUE is indestructible...even though I purchased by Sonic to replace it, but the VUE is just too valuable to me...A good VUE used has auto, AWD and I don't even have to pull a fuse.

x2 for the Equinox...and it's sibling, the GMC Terrain. Both are excellent toads, much quieter, smoother, better mpg than any Jeep Wrangler or Honda CRV, plus they can be loaded with options that can make it a perfect toad and every day car.

Ron

Chevy has many options available. Best one, in my book, is the HHR. Unfortunately Chevy quit making them in 2012. If you're looking used, grab one of those. 3100#, no mods needed other than pulling a fuse. Seats fold flat and can hold a 4X8 sheet of plywood. We currently have an Equinox LTZ and it's almost as good as the HHR. I installed a simple switch so I don't have to pull the fuse. (The fuse shuts off all the electronics of the car so your battery doesn't run down) I also use the ReadyBrute system with readystop. (Toad breaks loose from the tow vehicle, the toad stops dead in it's tracks) Nothing else to buy or hook up. Weight is 4200#. We found the Jeeps to have too harsh a ride. The Chevys are smooth....Dennis

I vote Jeep Wangler. most any year.

Remco

Check on this site for cars that can be towed or modified to be towed.

dshinnick wrote:
Well, you'll get a zillion replies here,...

X2!

Along with looking over the motor home towing magazine edition.

Easier way:
Find a car you like that fits your families needs.
Then look at the cars manual under "Recreational Towing".
It will clearly state in the manual if the car is capable of towing 4 down.

I will just add IMHO more importantly is to research what brake assist you decide to buy. When I was new in the game I just bought the most popular/advertised Brake Buddy. Got real old real quick having to get on my hands and knees to put that puppy in, hook it up and reverse the process, IMHO a back breaker.:W