favorite tow vehicle for small trailer??
Hi, Newbie here. Wife and I are looking into a small trailer (Aliner, Scamp, teardrop, etc) for maybe next year. We want something small so we can tow it with a car/SUV. I am thinking <3500lb total...
Forum Discussion
I put 140,000 towing miles (out of 185k) on a 2008 Highlander. Mostly a cargo trailer about 3000 lbs and 6’ wide, but on vacation I towed a 7’ wide, 2700 lb travel trailer. Mostly drove about 60-62 mph when towing. On long, steep grades I took it easy and slowed to maybe 35-45 mph. Good ride, good handling, good brakes. If my wife hadn’t despised the seat, I would still own it.
With a 500 lb hitch weight you’ll never have to give much thought to how heavy your trailer tongue is; when loaded for camping and with battery & full LP tanks, even a small, light trailer can be pretty nose-heavy. I’ve known 17’ front bath Casitas to have 550 lb tongue weight. With only a 350 lb hitch weight limit, you’ll be checking it with a bathroom scale on every trip. (The notable exception is the 16’ Scamp which is actually a challenge to load the tongue to more than 250 lbs or so.)
Do the newer Pilots still get lousy mileage? I’ve never looked. They and the Ridgelines would do the job, though. So will the Highlander. Turbocharged engines will let you charge up the grades at full speed and with less engine noise, but they’re not absolutely necessary... and you still have to slow down on the curves and when descending.
With a 500 lb hitch weight you’ll never have to give much thought to how heavy your trailer tongue is; when loaded for camping and with battery & full LP tanks, even a small, light trailer can be pretty nose-heavy. I’ve known 17’ front bath Casitas to have 550 lb tongue weight. With only a 350 lb hitch weight limit, you’ll be checking it with a bathroom scale on every trip. (The notable exception is the 16’ Scamp which is actually a challenge to load the tongue to more than 250 lbs or so.)
Do the newer Pilots still get lousy mileage? I’ve never looked. They and the Ridgelines would do the job, though. So will the Highlander. Turbocharged engines will let you charge up the grades at full speed and with less engine noise, but they’re not absolutely necessary... and you still have to slow down on the curves and when descending.
