Hi,Newbie here.Wife and I are looking into a small trailer (Aliner, Scamp, teardrop, etc) for maybe next year. We want something small so we can tow it with a car/SUV.I am thinking <3500lb total weight.My current car is a 2009 Pilot which is very long in the tooth. I relly need a new car so, I am shopping for that first. It will also be my daily drive car so, gas mileage is important, as is driving comfort. It will also be our tow vehicle in the future. I'd prefer a crossover or compact SUV or something like that.My Pilot is chunky and gas mileage isn't great (< 20mpg highway, towing nothing). Plus, it has blind spots which bother me. I want to replace it soon. Budget is <$35K so high end vehicles are out of the picture.Some cars I am considering:Subaru OutbackHonda PassportToyota HighlanderI was wondering what folks use (and like) for towing their small trailers.Whatcha got??

A tow vehicle with an engine that has turbos(either diesel or gas) will give you a significantly better tow experience than most naturally aspirated engines in this class. Especially if you are planning to tow in higher elevation or over mountain passes.

Of the ones you listed, I think the Highlander has the highest towing capacity so with it and a <3500 trailer you aren't at the limits. The Outback will probably have the best non-towing MPG. I don't know if you have considered the Subaru Ascent or not. It is a little larger than the Outback, but can have a 5000 capacity. Mileage isn't terrible either.I can't say how any of them will tow as I don't have any experience with any of them. We towed our Popup that was close to 3500 total weight with our Toyota Sienna and it did great, but I'm not sure I'd want to tow a full-height trailer right at that limit with minivan.

I had a hybrid that weighed 2800 pounds and liked towing it with a Ford diesel.

Not sure if it's from Covid or not but I do't recall ever seeing so many single women or older people camping in small Casita type TT's or R-Pods being towed with Subaru's and other small SUV's.

goducks10 wrote:Not sure if it's from Covid or not but I do't recall ever seeing so many single women or older people camping in small Casita type TT's or R-Pods being towed with Subaru's and other small SUV's.The spike in small trailers sales were triggered by Covid. People wanted out quickly and this was a seamless transition vs buying a $70K HD truck to pull a 30 footer.....they have they're little trailer and get to keep the commuter, for the most part.Yes we've been seeing many variations of micro trailers of late.

favorite tow vehicle for small trailer?? | Good Sam Community

ppine
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2020
Same as for a big trailer.
albireo13
Explorer
Oct 24, 2020
Let me edit it a bit. Max dry TT weight will be 2500lb, not 3500lb.
Looking into teardrops, Aliner, etc.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Oct 23, 2020
mkirsch wrote:
My favorite tow vehicle for a small trailer is my 2002 Chevy Silverado 3500 DRW.

I know that's not helpful in your decision by any stretch of the imagination, but the question specified FAVORITE. I simply like driving the truck.

Nothing wrong with that... most folks who actually “get it”
feel the same way. For 15 years my favorite truck was an F-150 SCab now it’s my Honda Ridgeline. Drive what you like/love.

:C
mkirsch
Nomad II
Oct 23, 2020
My favorite tow vehicle for a small trailer is my 2002 Chevy Silverado 3500 DRW.

I know that's not helpful in your decision by any stretch of the imagination, but the question specified FAVORITE. I simply like driving the truck.
Stclairm
Explorer
Oct 23, 2020
I personally found the Tacoma to be really lacking in bottom end torque and just overall power. Our Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk V6 towed 3000 plus with no issues. If I were looking to tow 3500-4500 or so, it would be the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon/Denali.
FishOnOne
Nomad
Oct 23, 2020
SweetLou wrote:
I have an outback with CVT. I tow a 500lb trailer with a 700lb load. It tows it just fine with no issues. Someone mentioned trailer brakes. That is overkill and not needed. If your small car needs to pull a trailer with trailer brakes, you have the wrong TV.

I'm not sure I can agree with this!
Wishin
Explorer
Oct 23, 2020
I'd go with the Highlander on that list. They are a nice vehicle, reliable, descent gas mileage and more than adequate towing capacity for 3500 lbs of trailer. I would not go with the Outback and be maxed out or beyond. Does the rating get reduced for every lb of stuff that goes in the car? Most likely. Plus you need to look at the hitches on these vehicles and make sure they can handle the tongue weight. They probably can, but check to be sure.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Oct 23, 2020
SweetLou wrote:
I have an outback with CVT. I tow a 500lb trailer with a 700lb load. It tows it just fine with no issues. Someone mentioned trailer brakes. That is overkill and not needed. If your small car needs to pull a trailer with trailer brakes, you have the wrong TV.

Don't expect the same results if you triple that weight and add some wind resistance. A 1200lb trailer could be towed ok with a Yugo, but CVTs are HORRIBLE for towing. Actually they will pull ok, for a while, but it is hard on a trans that never truly locks up.

And don't believe me, but believe my buddy who is a career auto mechanic and self proclaimed Suby nut. He wouldn't tow anything with a CVT.
TomG2
Explorer
Oct 23, 2020
I really like my 2020 Ford Ranger XLT Crew cab. Less than $35k, 25+ mpg highway. 7,500 pound tow rating. 1,750 pound payload. Room for 5. 300 pound feet of torque with a 2.3 turbo 4 cylinder engine. Rear wheel drive and can be had with 4wd. A little more tow vehicle than you asked for but ready for that 3,000 pound unit in two years
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Oct 22, 2020
SweetLou wrote:
I have an outback with CVT. I tow a 500lb trailer with a 700lb load. It tows it just fine with no issues. Someone mentioned trailer brakes. That is overkill and not needed. If your small car needs to pull a trailer with trailer brakes, you have the wrong TV.

Cheap insurance. If you shop around, the parts to add electric brakes on a small trailer are <$500 (backing plates, shoes, hardware, drum and hubs, brake controller). 3 hours labor tops.