Towing with 2008 Honda Civic

i'd like to know, what popup camper weighs only 825lbs.

can't be a conventional popup. has to be a super-minimalist type.
probably not one from a regular RV manufacturer.

Well, I cant answer your question, but if I were looking for an answer to that question I wouldnt ask people who tow huge rv's with heavy duty diesel pickups. ;)
Your gonna get laughed at.

Personnaly I dont think its out of the realm of the car, but it also depends on the drivers experience pulling trailers and posted speed limits.
I wouldnt take it on the interstate when semi's are doing 75mph.
That would be scary...

Maybe google 2008 civic pulling trailer etc... you'd be surprised what comes up.
Try a civic forum.

heres an example.

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/garage/289936-question-regarding-towing.html

Twenty five years ago we had a Coleman folding trailer and were sitting around at the campground. We were using our '76 Impala, RWD, 350 V8 to tow...no problem.

A man came to our campground and had the same Coleman folder trailer, but was using a new (at the time) Toyota Tercel, 1.5 liter, 4 speed standard. It was his family's first trip. He said he had come 50 miles towing the trailer on flat, prairie roads, with the Tercel. He asked us if our engine was overheaing and how fast could we tow our Coleman. I said the 350 V8 was running at normal temp and we were traveling at the speed limit (65mph) with no problems.

He replied that his 1.5 liter four's engine temp gauge was running close to the red mark and that all they could get out of the car, towing the trailer, was 50 mph...flat out.

He said for the summer holiday they planned to tow the trailer over the Rockies, but with this initial 50 mile run of flat land, he was having misgivings.

I told him his car, engine, brakes, cooling system, etc...were too small for towing the trailer. I told him he needs a bigger, more powerful vehicle as obviously his car was not up to towing.

He told me the trailer salesman said his Tercel could handle the trailer no problem.

I rest my case.

You are goofy.. Tell me you are not serious...

Don't tow with that car.

I had a 2008 civic and it could hardly handle an extra passenger let alone a trailer of any size. I'd recommend against it.

I had a neighbor tow an 8' pup with his Corolla. He didn't pack light either. Trailer was stuffed full, including an extra fridge, rooftop cargo pod and 2 bikes. Had to be pushing 2k or more, plus 2 adults and 2 kids. Poor car was dragging its ass but he towed it from Ontario to Florida and back one winter. No problem he said! Didn't even have tow mirrors.

The posted weight sounds empty? Which would easily exceed 1k lightly packed. It'll do it but I can't recommend it.

I don't think your Civic has any kind of transmission cooler. I was amazed when I found out that my son's Honda mini-van didn't have one. Even if it came with one, if there is no lock-up, it might not be enough. I would suggest, if nothing else, putting in a transmission cooler.

Well the paperwork with the trailer says 825 lbs, and some of the things inside it have been removed. The car is an auto trans, so thanks for the insight on that aspect. The hitch weight is maybe 80 to 100 pounds. I can lift it easy. Thanks again for the opinions/advice.

I tow up to 2,000 pounds with my Fiesta, and it does great, and stays under payload. However, my Fiesta makes peak torque starting at 1700 RPM and stays flat until ~5,500 RPM. The Civic makes hardly any torque at lower RPMs, so towing a trailer you'll be wound out to 3500 RPM on the flats and red-lined on the hills. So... you could probably do it, but I don't think it will be enjoyable. If you have an auto transmission.... watch out. The Hondas only lockup the toque converter in 4th and 5th, and if you're stuck towing in 3rd it'll roast that transmission ASAP. If you have a manual transmission, you're probably fine.

As mentioned, watch your payload and rear axle rating. Your gen Civic has a long rear overhang compared to most cars that size, which mean 200 pounds of hitch weight will put more than 200 pounds on your rear axle.

Finally, how do you know the camper weighs 850 pounds? If that's the published "dry" weight, it probably weighs quite a bit more even before loading it up.