I need suggestions for a TOAD

[GGeorge]

Good morning all!.

I currently have a tow dolly and a 2008 Toyota corolla. I find the corolla is uncomfortable and the tow dolly is a pain in the rear. So I am ditching both and looking for a new toad vehicle. My problem is there are hundreds and no time to look.

So.............. here are my specs

1) must be a v6 SUV, I do not want a 4 or 8 cyc.
2) must be able to tow by itself. Light load i.e. bicycle rack with 2-4 bikes. Also, I would like to carry a double kayak on top.
3) must have 4 doors.
4) sky roof optional.

Any suggestions???

Thanks for your help

G George

[rverAnn]

We tow a 2014 Ford C-Max Energi (hybrid) with a Blue Ox. Great car. Drives 20-25 miles on the electric charge and then gets about 45 mpg when strictly gas. Tows like a dream.

[jcandler]

We just bought a Ford Edge - v-6 - flat towable - nice ride - lots of room

[afrescopXx]

I now see the Escape is not four down towable. Almost every other Ford is four down towable.

[kyhawk]

afrescop wrote:
You know that 2015 engine and transmission technology has moved beyond the need of having 6 or 8 cylinder engines for light tows? Ford Escape meets your requirements and tows four down as do others from GM.

Last I heard, Ford Escape cannot be towed 4 down. Has this changed for 2015?

[Bobbo]

Any manual transmission Subaru. Subarus with automatic transmissions can not be towed except 4 up on a trailer.

[1SG]

We use to tow a Suzuki Sidekick but as we have gotten older we found the Sidekick very uncomfortable for us.

We bought a 2010 Buick Enclave for the wife and since it was towable 4 down we set it up to tow. Real easy and very comfortable for us with lots of room inside. We towed it for 4 years.

We recently traded it in on a new GMC Acadia AWD and I am currently setting it up to tow. We like the size and comfort of this style SUV/CUV (same as the Enclave), what ever they classify it now. I have noticed you have to take out more than one fuse on the Acadia but I will handle that by adding toggle switches to disable the fuses.

Good luck on your search.

[afrescopXx]

You know that 2015 engine and transmission technology has moved beyond the need of having 6 or 8 cylinder engines for light tows? Ford Escape meets your requirements and tows four down as do others from GM.
Honda put a CVT into the 2015 CR-V so it is no longer towable four down. #1 selling SUV for ten years running but cannot flat tow.

[Hank85713]

Look at the Hyundai/kia vehicles. Standard trans towable 4 down no fuses to remove etc. BTW what are you gonna tow with and how much are you capable of? Some heavy veh's have been recommended. Do you need 4wd or..? The kia/hyundai cars are fairly light and comfortable, rode in a kia tucson with friends this summer and it was pretty nice, not 4wd however. We drag a Hyundai elantra behind our mh, 2700lbs so pretty light, it is a 4cyl but has 150 hp due to direct injection and runs as well as a v6 IMO. But again you just asked for suggestions, the subaru is towable (standards) and may be considered a suv of sorts by some.

[kalynzoo]

sorry, duplicate

[kalynzoo]

FMCA magazine this month has the guide for towable 2015 cars included. Its a rather comprehensive list...great organization by the way.

[lanerd]

sdianel wrote:

We've been looking at Chevy Equinox but need to research more about the battery disconnect procedure.
Older Saturn Vues are towable.
Toyota Rav4's.

What makes you think the Equinox requires a battery disconnect procedure???:h All it needs is the ignition in the on (not start) position, trans in neutral, and the removal of a fuse (most of us install a by-pass switch in place of the fuse).

That's it! No need to disconnect the battery!

And I don't believe the Rav4 (auto or manual) is 4-down towable.

To the OP, our Terrain fits all your criteria as would the sister to the Terrain, the Equinox. If you want something a little larger, the Chevy Captiva makes an excellent toad.

Good luck

Ron

[sdianel_-acct_c]

http://www.motorhome.com/download-dinghy-guides/

check the above Dinghy Towing Guide (toads).

We had a Suzuki Grand Vitara and we loved it.
We now have a 2008 Chevy Colorado pickup 4 wheel drive 4 door. Just push a button on the dash to tow. Great little pickup. Must be 4 wheel drive to tow easily.
We've been looking at Chevy Equinox but need to research more about the battery disconnect procedure.
Older Saturn Vues are towable.
Toyota Rav4's.

[mowermech]

ANY vehicle that YOU like, and that can be towed four down WITHOUT ANY modifications other than the towbar and lights!

[Islandman]

X2 on the 4 door Wrangler, they are easy to set up for towing