favorite tow vehicle for small trailer??

[albireo13]

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 Outback
Honda Passport
Toyota Highlander

I was wondering what folks use (and like) for towing their small trailers.
Whatcha got??

[ppine]

Same as for a big trailer.

[albireo13]

Let me edit it a bit. Max dry TT weight will be 2500lb, not 3500lb.
Looking into teardrops, Aliner, etc.

[Desert_Captain]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[We_ll_See]

albireo13 wrote:
Right now, my short list is:
Outback 2.4/turbo 3500lb tow
Subaru Ascent 2.4/turbo 5000lb tow
Honda Passport 3.4L/V6 5000lb tow
Toyota Highlander 3.5L/V6 5000lb tow

I looked at the Rav4 and really liked it. It is very tempting. The wheelbase seems the shortest though. I hope to test drive them and that will thi the list out methinks.

The RAV4 is a compact suv and has an even lower tow rating and is just a 2.5 liter naturally aspirated four cylinder which wouldn't be adequate.

Of your shortlist, I'd choose the highlander.

[SweetLou]

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.

[p220sigman]

Of the ones on your list, I'd probably rank them thusly:

Highlander
Ascent
Passport
Outback (last mainly due to the tow rating)

I too would be a little leary of towing with a CVT. Of course, if you are looking at a new Highlander with the 8 speed transmission, there have been some complaints about it too so who knows?

[JAC1982]

I don't tow much with it, but I love my 2016 Explorer Sport (with the 3.5 Eco-Boost). It could tow the types of trailers you mention without issue. Not sure you'd be too happy with the gas mileage though. I average around 19-20 with city driving, gets up to 23-24 on the highway. But I have a lead foot and live in an area where a lot of the highways are 75mph speed limits.