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cowgirly's avatar
cowgirly
Explorer
Feb 26, 2017

Newbie w/ tow vehicle question...

Hi all! I'm thinking of purchasing my first trailer (a vintage 1964 Aristocrat Mainliner) and am hoping for some advice from you knowledgeable folks:

I’m trying to get an idea of what kind of vehicle I’d need to tow this trailer. Seller said it's 2,000 pounds but I can't find anything online to corroborate this... any one have an idea?

And regarding a tow vehicle: currently I drive a 1997 Honda Civic 4-door manual transmission - and everything I read online advises against towing anything with this car. So I’d need to sell it and buy another - what kinds of older-model, reliable cars could easily handle towing it up the occasional mountain (I live in the NW), but still be an everyday around-town vehicle for the other 48 weeks of the year? I'm only looking to own one vehicle, mostly used for city driving with the occasional roadtrip. I'm also NOT looking to buy a pickup truck (I live in the rainy, wet Pacific NW where it seems like a bad choice for most of the year). So what are the specifications I should look for in a tow-worthy, city-livin' vehicle - engine size etc?

Many thanks for your advice!

27 Replies

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  • mbopp's avatar
    mbopp
    Explorer
    Feb 27, 2017
    If you insist on sticking with a car.....
    My wife's V-6 Toyota Venza is rated for 3500# towing WITH THE TOW PACKAGE.
    And I recall her previous Subaru was rated for 3500 or 4000# towing.
    Either way, I'd make arrangements to get the trailer weighed before you buy it.
  • NYCgrrl's avatar
    NYCgrrl
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2017
    Think of what you originally comfortably towed it with and find out the specs "backwards" via your experience:).
  • cowgirly's avatar
    cowgirly
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2017
    Thanks to everyone for your input! I'm getting a better idea of what to look for. Also, I edited my original post to say that I"m NOT looking for a pickup truck - it's rainy much of the year here so it seems like a bad choice for an everyday vehicle (no room for friends, and would need a cap to have a useable "trunk" space). Please keep the ideas coming, I appreciate it!
  • kohai's avatar
    kohai
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2017
    jawsthemeswimming428 wrote:
    I would recommend towing with a small SUV or something similar. The tow rating for your vehicle is a theoretical maximum. I don't like getting anywhere near that number. My TT is just below 4000lbs empty. Then add all the essentials and it's probably somewhere between 4750 and 5000. My Jeep is rated to tow 6200lbs.


    I agree, if you don't want a truck for 48 weeks a year, probably an suv of some sort however many have poopy tow capabilities. Our Toyota 4runner can do 500 tongue weight and 5000 tow weight (v6). Gas mileage is not impressive either for a daily driver -- about 18-21.
  • jawsthemeswimmi's avatar
    jawsthemeswimmi
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2017
    I would recommend towing with a small SUV or something similar. The tow rating for your vehicle is a theoretical maximum. I don't like getting anywhere near that number. My TT is just below 4000lbs empty. Then add all the essentials and it's probably somewhere between 4750 and 5000. My Jeep is rated to tow 6200lbs.
  • samsontdog's avatar
    samsontdog
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2017
    I had a Aristocrat Mainliner way back in the 60s. I towed it with a 59 Chev 1/2
    Apachi 6 cy or some name like that. Also had several more Aristocrats that the names I can not remember. They were good TTs. I remember another name, Low Liner. Those were the days. We had 5 kids at the time in one of those 14 or 16 ft TT with no BR and ice box for ref. I would buy a 6 cy Toyota P/Up or a Ford half ton. Either one would tow it just fine
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Feb 26, 2017
    Buy a 150/1500 PICKUP truck with 'tow package' (trans cooler, larger radiator, receiver hitch/wiring harness)

    Great grocery getter, adequate bumper pull tow vehicle and truck bed for hauling items

    Replace the 'P' rated tires with some good LT 'E' rated tires


    On Edit:
    Some Aristocrat info....weights listed are most likely DRY weights

    https://www.tincantourists.com/wiki/doku.php?id=start

    http://www.myvintagetraveltrailer.com/vintage-aristocrat-trailers/

    http://aristocrattrailer.webs.com/

    https://www.pinterest.com/explore/aristocrat-trailer/

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