Light/Short/4 down tow vehicle?

[superrayzor]

What is the best 4 down tow vehicle that can fit 6 people comfortably? Minimal modification to make it 4 down towable.

2 kids in booster seats, 1 teenager, 3 adults.

Those are the main requirements, but nice to haves would be AWD/4WD, and the shorter/lighter the better.

[superrayzor]

rk911 wrote:

superrayzor wrote:
I have a class a mh and can pull up to 5000 lbs. right now i am towing a honda odyssey but it is 4300+ lbs and I would like something lighter.

sorry...you're assuming that you can pull 5000-lbs but unless you know what your MH weighs as it is loaded for travel you can't be sure.

in general, the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:

- the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.)

- the weight rating of your tow bar

- the weight rating of your hitch

this is why it's vital to know what your MH weighs as it is loaded and configure for travel before choosing a toad. Your MH will not collapse if it is overloaded but you will experience handling issues as well as longer braking distances and accelerated wear on suspension, brakes, steering, etc.

in any case I doubt you're going to find a 6-passenger vehicle that's lighter than 5K much less lighter than 4300-lbs.

The GCWR of my coach is 23,000 lbs. They actually state that unladen (no passengers, pets, etc.., and including full liquids other than potable fresh water) as weighed at the factory is 15,805 lbs. The GVWR is 18,000 lbs, leaving 2,195 lbs for liquids/passengers.

Right now if potable water is full, we are at ~1500 lbs so we still have a lot of weight left, and 5K is reserved ONLY for towing.

The hitch is rated at 5K lbs, the tow bar at 10K lbs.

I do appreciate you posting that though, it forced me to check everything to make sure it is safe :P)

[superrayzor]

luvlabs wrote:
Honda Odysseys are not really 4-down towable either. Honda doesn't recommend it on older ones and new ones are just plain no.

Just curious, what do you use now to haul this group around?

Right now I am using a 2007 Honda Odyssey and I am towing it. The fact that it is not recommended is why I am looking for an alternate. I don't really care about any tranny problems. If it goes, I will look at the cost to rebuild it, and if it is more than 2.5K i'll scrap the vehicle.

But if something was recommended/towable that could fit 6 people I would consider trading it in.

[luvlabs]

Honda Odysseys are not really 4-down towable either. Honda doesn't recommend it on older ones and new ones are just plain no.

Just curious, what do you use now to haul this group around?

[rk911]

superrayzor wrote:
I have a class a mh and can pull up to 5000 lbs. right now i am towing a honda odyssey but it is 4300+ lbs and I would like something lighter.

sorry...you're assuming that you can pull 5000-lbs but unless you know what your MH weighs as it is loaded for travel you can't be sure.

in general, the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:

- the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.)

- the weight rating of your tow bar

- the weight rating of your hitch

this is why it's vital to know what your MH weighs as it is loaded and configure for travel before choosing a toad. Your MH will not collapse if it is overloaded but you will experience handling issues as well as longer braking distances and accelerated wear on suspension, brakes, steering, etc.

in any case I doubt you're going to find a 6-passenger vehicle that's lighter than 5K much less lighter than 4300-lbs.

[superrayzor]

I have a class a mh and can pull up to 5000 lbs. right now i am towing a honda odyssey but it is 4300+ lbs and I would like something lighter.

[rk911]

gbopp wrote:
What will you be using to pull the Toad?

precisely. you just can't safely tow any vehicle behind your motorhome. the OP needs to know his motorhome's actual weight...preferably by axle...as well as the various weight ratings...GCWR, GVWR and the GAWR for each axle.

[mowermech]

Sorry, off hand I can not think of any vehicle built since 2005 that meets your specifications.

[gbopp]

What will you be using to pull the Toad?