Tyboo posted his Prius mileage on another thread. It's got me thinking...I tow with a 4 cylinder Volvo which gets 24 mpg. I also have a Ford Escape Hybrid AWD which gets maybe 28 mpg, but can't tow anything. Since Dotty no longer drives (and I got a speeding ticket which raised insurance about $200 per year), I have no need for two cars. I have parked the Volvo for the winter and taken it off insurance. In the Spring I will park the Ford and drive the Volvo. My goal is to have just one vehicle that gets mileage approaching Tyboo's Prius and will tow the Lizzie. Oh, and it has to be made in America. Anybody know of anything on the drawingboard that will fit?
Towing a 16 footer
- Thread starter dotnmarty
- Start date
Tyboo posted his Prius mileage on another thread. It's got me thinking...I tow with a 4 cylinder Volvo which gets 24 mpg. I also have a Ford Escape Hybrid AWD which gets maybe 28 mpg, but can't tow anything. Since Dotty no longer drives (and I got a speeding ticket which raised insurance about $200 per year), I have no need for two cars. I have parked the Volvo for the winter and taken it off insurance. In the Spring I will park the Ford and drive the Volvo. My goal is to have just one vehicle that gets mileage approaching Tyboo's Prius and will tow the Lizzie. Oh, and it has to be made in America. Anybody know of anything on the drawingboard that will fit?
Hey Marty,
Here's an article that might interest you...
http://www.starclass.org/artman/publish ... _357.shtml
Here's an article that might interest you...
http://www.starclass.org/artman/publish ... _357.shtml
Holy Mackeral! The Ford Escape Hybrid pictured in the article is exactly like mine, even the same colors. Everything I've read, including stuff from Ford, says you can't tow with the hybrid although, as the article states, the gas engine models do have a towing capacity. Since I have 42,000 miles on it and the warranty has expired, I guess I should just go ahead and put a hitch on it. The Ford, by the way, has been trouble free up to this point, no downside at all that I can think of. But, I do hate to end my 17 year relationship with Inge.
Oh, well... Thanks Jim.
Oh, well... Thanks Jim.
Marty
There was some talk that Chrysler was coming out with a Cherokee like rig with a small diesel engine Dont know whenit is due for sale or if it is even still in the works or not. But would think that should get pretty good milage. I get 14-15 mpg towing my loaded 22 with a Dodge 4x4 diesel. But on the down side diesel was 16 cents higher than premium today 80 dollars to fill the tank and I already had a quarter tank of fuel.
Chuck
Bootleg Hooch
There was some talk that Chrysler was coming out with a Cherokee like rig with a small diesel engine Dont know whenit is due for sale or if it is even still in the works or not. But would think that should get pretty good milage. I get 14-15 mpg towing my loaded 22 with a Dodge 4x4 diesel. But on the down side diesel was 16 cents higher than premium today 80 dollars to fill the tank and I already had a quarter tank of fuel.
Chuck
Bootleg Hooch
Marty it seems like you have what you need .Other possible cars are Subaru outback with 2.5 litre 4 cyl 2700lb rating 29 mpg hwy
Subaru forester with 2.5 litre 4cyl. 2400lb rating 27-28 hwy
toyota rav 4 with 3.3 v-6 3500lb rating 27 mpg hwy
maybe another newer Volvo or Just keep the Volvo there's enough spare parts up there in PNW
Pat anderson has a Forester ask him about it ,MY advice keep the Ford and put on a class 2 tow hitch(2000) put on a transmission cooler and use synthetic oil and call it good .
Subaru forester with 2.5 litre 4cyl. 2400lb rating 27-28 hwy
toyota rav 4 with 3.3 v-6 3500lb rating 27 mpg hwy
maybe another newer Volvo or Just keep the Volvo there's enough spare parts up there in PNW
Pat anderson has a Forester ask him about it ,MY advice keep the Ford and put on a class 2 tow hitch(2000) put on a transmission cooler and use synthetic oil and call it good .
starcrafttom
Active member
sell the cars buy a live aboard boat and tow the 16 behind it where every you go. No traffic tickets on the water.
DaveS":1fj2ftlg said:starcrafttom":1fj2ftlg said:
Jim as you well know, Tom isn't too worried about traffic tickets on the water, because they are difficult to get when you are stuck in the shallows....
Do they give tickets for... um... "squatting"?? :twisted: You are a very naughty boy, Dave... I admire that quality. :wink:
dotnmarty":1fve43tn said:
You were in the area known as the "triangle of death"....Hwy 92, Hwy 9, and Hwy 2 form a rough triangle which is heavily patrolled (emphasis patrol) and the tickets are given out generously. Given the alternative of the numerous maiming collisions that I've seen on those highways in the past 32 years, a $92 ticket is cheap.
(I do my best to stay out of that area.....difficult to do while at work, but I try to limit my personal time in that area).
You are definitely safer in the your 16 footer in the water than in a vehicle on those highways!..... :thup
Christopher-Robyn
New member
Maybe I'm missing something here? Does this guy launch & recover his boat at a ramp with this Ford Escape Hybrid or just tow it up & down the road?
Paul K
Paul K
Marty,
No matter how hard you try, eventually, if you drive enough it happens. My Dad was a preacher and even he got a ticket, one time, that I remember. Now, on the other hand, I am not, and I got one too
:twisted: in a 16 year old Toyota going down hill at 62 in a 55. I didn't know it had it in it :roll:
In something like 5 years it's all off the record and your good as gold again, (I think, Hey Mark -- confirm please) :star
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
No matter how hard you try, eventually, if you drive enough it happens. My Dad was a preacher and even he got a ticket, one time, that I remember. Now, on the other hand, I am not, and I got one too
:twisted: in a 16 year old Toyota going down hill at 62 in a 55. I didn't know it had it in it :roll: In something like 5 years it's all off the record and your good as gold again, (I think, Hey Mark -- confirm please) :star
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Christopher-Robyn":15hwwgrg said:
Paul-
If you're asking about the original article by the guy with the Star Class sailboat, they usually launch them with a hoist and a steel cable sling off of a pier, so, no, he doesn't have to back down into the water at a ramp.
Joe. :teeth :thup
Christopher-Robyn
New member
Joe:
Thanks for the reply! That's kinda what I thought. I don't believe the Escape Hybrid has enough power to pull even a 16' C-Dory & trailer out of the water.
Paul K
Thanks for the reply! That's kinda what I thought. I don't believe the Escape Hybrid has enough power to pull even a 16' C-Dory & trailer out of the water.
Paul K
Paul- I'm glad I read your posts before I put a hitch on the Ford hybrid. I do value you engineering experience. My question is this. I've been pulling, launching and retrieving the 16' (and an 18 before) with the 114 hp Volvo for many years. Why do you think the 133hp Ford hybrid doesn't have enough power? Is it the CVT transmission? In addition, I do have a concern about getting the battery pack wet if a wave comes up the ramp. Thanks again for your commentsChristopher-Robyn":2n0a3rbk said:
Captains Cat
New member
He might be able to do that on a level surface but bet he still couldn't pull a 16 and trailer up a launch ramp with any kind of slope...
Why don't they ever show anything useful!??
charlie
Why don't they ever show anything useful!??
charlie