Smallest but most effective tow vehicle

I was a bit worried, buying a 6-cylinder, but its rated towing capacity was 5100 lbs, so I bought it. I towed my cd22 from Wisconsin to Florida last winter, and intend to do so again this February. I'm a little light-footed on the gas, and rarely go over 60 mph, but at that speed, the Explorer doesn't seem to work very hard, and I get between 12 and 13 mpg. I couldn't be happer with it.
 
We Tow with a 2001 Ford Crew Cab 4x4 it does a great job, but when I Tow it only get 11 mpg. Have not had any problem stopping, the Boat has brakes on 1 axle.
If I was going to update I would get another one like this
Jim
 
flrockytop":1iy7yj26 said:
marvin4239":1iy7yj26 said:
The Hemi in hilly country will get less than 10 mpg towing and around 12 mpg on flat land not towing it gets around 19 mpg. .
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That's a hugh difference in towing and no towing.

Roger
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The difference is the Hemi runs on 4 cylinders when there is no load and 8 when it's under a load. Also it has a switch for deactivating the overdrive when towing.
 
I have a 2003 Honda pilot (all wheel drive in lower gear ranges). No problems on ramp with the 22 on a tandem trailer. We have also driven the 22 from S. Calif over the Cajon and Hurricane grades (to Powell) with no problems in over heating, transmission, or brake fade. I found that the pilot was up to towing the 22.

Double check on towing 4 down. At some point--and it may have been in 2005, Honda no longer allowed four down towing. We have towed our Pilot behind the RV more than we have driven it.
 
thataway":3w4a85b1 said:
I have a 2003 Honda pilot (all wheel drive in lower gear ranges). No problems on ramp with the 22 on a tandem trailer. We have also driven the 22 from S. Calif over the Cajon and Hurricane grades (to Powell) with no problems in over heating, transmission, or brake fade. I found that the pilot was up to towing the 22.

Double check on towing 4 down. At some point--and it may have been in 2005, Honda no longer allowed four down towing. We have towed our Pilot behind the RV more than we have driven it.
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Thanks Bob,

I was going to ask you about your Pilot the other night but my list was too long and time too short. :( :( We had a great time.. :) According to Remco towing charts the Pilot is good for 4 down through some time in 2006. However, Mary Jo and I stopped by Pensacola Honda yesterday(before I checked Remco) and the salesman said, after checking with the parts person, that the Odyssey was the only thing that could be towed 4 down. I didn't think that sounded right. I feel in love with the Ridgeline but that will not tow at all. My list is getting very short.

Roger
 
I don't think you're going to find a best one. A small but good tow vehicle is like a skinny person at an all you can eat buffet - it just isn't likely to happen.
 
I'm towing my 19 with an 03 V6 4Runner. It works quite well though the mileage drops from 27/28mpg to about 15/16mpg. Whoops that's 'Imperial' gallons. The V8 version has a higher towing capacity but poorer fuel economy.
 
The amount of towing experience you have may dictate the size of tow rig you are comfortable with. I used to drive truck and don't need a larger rig to muscle the trailer around.
We tow our C-D 22' with a 4.0L, 4wd Ranger pickup equipped with 4.10 gears. 20 mpg empty, 14mpg towing.
 
The Honda ridgeline tows Great 5000lb We have the Pilot it's a Great tow vehicle also for the c-22 It's a little light for cc-23 but it does it in florida no mountains . I dont know about towing all four down .
 
I have a 2007 Honda Ridgeline that towed my CD-22 without any effort.
Rides like a car with room for 5 adults. Lockable trunk storage in bed is a plus.
I just finished a 7 day trip to Phoenix and back ( 4600 miles ) - averaged 22 MPG. - above the sticker stated 20 MPG. Locally I get 15 MPG. Towing highway I got just below 15 MPG - locally 12.

Allan
 
Well, I would cast a vote for V6 Toyota access cab with 4wheel drive and the tow package. This is more truck than is needed though I would add that both the boat trailer and camp trailer have 4 disc breaks.
 
We have an 05 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4 it has 6000lbs tow capacity with the V6. It is on a truck frame (Nissan Titan) and it tows my 21 Arima Sea Ranger (+/- 5000lbs all loaded) very well (very solid).
 
Keep in mind the terrain that you will be towing on when choosing a tow vehicle. What might work fine for someone in a flat state (no offense) might not be such a good tow vehicle if you live where there's mountains and hills. For me the Ford Explorer Sport trac (the 2007 and later models not the 06 model in my pictures) with the v8 engine did a good job. Gas milage while towing over the oregon coast range wasn't the greatest at 10mpg. If I could stay on flat ground and on a freeway it would of been around 14mpg but the hills just killed the milage. Anyway, suprisingly the Sport trac has a long wheel base, this helps to keep the boat from steering the truck.
 
Our Dodge Grand Caravan has towed C for Two just fine ... up and down ramps, up and down hills, through stops and starts. We weren't sure it could do it, but it really stepped up to the plate.
 
After the wife looked over all the possibles we both settled on the Toyota 4runner. Good gas Mileage, should be a good commuter, and it's good looking.
It was kinda sad seeing the dually go but that sat all but a few days a month.
 
Just a quick plug for Toyota. Now if your looking for a truck I'd always suggest taking a real close look at Ford. Their built and they last. But....yesterday I drove the Toyota 4runner around all day. From one place to another. Some short driving and some freeway. I drive conservatively, no jack rabbit starts, but I do drive at the speed of traffic. Yesterday even though we ran into a traffic jam of sorts we were able to obtain 21.7 MPG. This is impressive considering the EPA is only suppose to be 20 on the freeway and we haven't even broke in the motor yet. Good job Toyota! :thup
 
bshillam,

Good decision. We have a 2003 4-Runner with almost 80,000 miles and not a single problem. It has the 4 liter V-6 and we get an average of about 19 mpg and we live in the mountains but don't have traffic jams. On the road we get around 23 unloaded. Pulling our 20 foot Lund Alaskan we usually get 16 to 17. Our transmission is a 4 speed auto so your 5 speed should do even better.

Hope your experience is as good.

Harper
 
Boy there is sure a lot of different opinions on which truck to choose. Sort of like asking which is better a C-dory or a Cape Cruiser. I personally had great success with my Dodge Dakota. It pulled and stopped the 22 C-dory very well. Heck I even towed my 24 ft Maxim stern drive cuddy cabin overweight bubble boat with it! Not smart but... it worked. I also towed my C-Dory 25 for a few months until I got a Dodge Ram 1500. At least the tow rating for the Ram was minimally enough for the 25. One of the things I did just before leaving on our current trip was to change the brakes on the trailer to electric hydraulic disk brakes. Wow definitely worth the money if you tow a lot or are at the high end of your vehicles tow capacity. Totally takes the stress out stopping.

Cheers
Ron
 
Smallest but most effective tow vehicle?
I think that would have to be Jack Lalanne.

Jack_Lalenne_towing_boats_reduced.jpg
 
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