cars to flat tow for class C motor homes

We used to tow a 2001 4 door 4x4 blazer that we replaced this year with a 2003 4 door 4x4 exploder.

we tow a hyundai elantra about 2800 lbs, good wide stance and wheel base. It is a 6sp manual as that is all that can be towed by the manual. Actually fairly roomy has full fold down rear seats for cargo space, 150hp direct injection 4 cyl engine. Have taken short trip to mountains with it and it did very well. We average around 8mpg with and without it in tow so its light weight does help it seems.

Jayco-noslide wrote:
When they say " I don't even know it's back there", don't believe it unless it's a bit diesel pusher. I certainly know my 2700 lb. Sonic is back there behind out 30 ft. Class C V-10 because the MH feels like a lively car when not towing. I would never tow some of the pick-ups and big SUV's I see towed.

I know my tow is back there because as soon as I pull out of my street I am trying to accelerate to 30 mph going up an 8% grade. The other times I know it is there is when entering a 15-20 mph curve a little too fast, because the towed vehicle first pushes the rear of the RV to the outside of the curve, then pulls it back to the inside as the tow starts to come into the curve.

When they say " I don't even know it's back there", don't believe it unless it's a bit diesel pusher. I certainly know my 2700 lb. Sonic is back there behind out 30 ft. Class C V-10 because the MH feels like a lively car when not towing. I would never tow some of the pick-ups and big SUV's I see towed.

I'm looking to replace our 2012 Chevy Sonic auto trans(excellent dinghy) next spring so I've researched it considerably. The 1st question is do you have to have an auto trans? If yes, that narrows down the choices quickly, especially if you want a late model. The 2nd question to me is weight. You might, but I don't want to tow anything heavier that the 2900 to 3000 lb. range; Sonic is 2700. As far as I know anything with a CVT trans is out. I've narrowed down to a Ford Focus hatchback auto.(but you can't tow all models) and a Honda Fit(has to be a manual trans if very new) There are others but not many. The final say on whether you can tow it or not, is the vehicle manual. Most will address "towing behind a motor home". I believe Toyota and Honda make no new towable vehicles with auto. I think SUV's are too heavy except for the very smallest. Not sure about Jeeps but I would check the consumer reports repair record(not good).

I've towed a 2001 Ford Ranger pickup (about 3600 pounds) and a 2012 Honda Fit (2600 pounds). Smaller tows better. Both were manual transmission, an issue for some folks. For "less expensive" consider used vehicles (now called pre-owned). My son-in-law seldom pays more than $5000 for a vehicle, and has had a couple in the $500-1000 range (both would have been towable four-doors), which he considers disposable, drive it until it breaks.

I would not buy any new car as a towed vehicle. I bought the Ranger 6 years old, for about 1/3 of original price. I drove the Fit three years before converting it to a towed vehicle.

Take a look at the Ford hybrids - C-Max, Fusion and Lincoln MKC. Very good fuel economy and they tow very well also - - no fuses to pull or battery cables to disconnect. Just put the transmission in neutral and go.

You can tow anything behind a class C that doesn't exceed the various tow ratings of the class C. Consult your weight ratings and a good CAT weight is helpful. There's nothing different or special about it being a class C.

We either tow a VW Beetle Convert on a Demco or a Wrangler via a Roadmaster bar with our Coachmen 28QB.

Gary

Mom towed a Chevy Cobalt (don't remember the year, but I think it was an 08 or 09) because it was so very light. I remember driving their Class C on a trip and wondering why that little car was so close behind me. With the right set up, you could forget it was there. She used blue ox tow bars.