Tow Vehicles info please

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Tow Vehicles info please

Postby 4123 » Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:22 pm

Hello all. Its been a while since I've posted on this forum.

Olga and I are going to buy a newer tow vehicle. Its time to retire the 2002 Nissan Xterra. I would like to hear anyone's opinion and/or experience with their tow vehicles. Our budget will be around $15,000 and would like something that gets good gas mileage when not towing and reasonably good mileage while towing our 1500+ pound Camp-Inn.
Our 4WD Xterra averaged about 12 MPG while towing and about 15/16 mpg not towing. This, to me, is terrible! Please give me your suggestions. I would prefer an automatic transmission and maybe even AWD if possible. Thanks in advance for any recommendations!
Ron and Olga Christianson
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby Jdw2717 » Mon Jan 26, 2015 10:51 pm

My 2013 Dodge Ram regular cab pickup gets 23.5 to 24 mph highway and drops to 19 when towing our teardrop (750lbs). It is the 6 cylinder with the eight speed automatic transmission. I can't even tell the camper is back there on the interstate.
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby Socal Tom » Mon Jan 26, 2015 10:57 pm

I'm using a Jeep Wrangler, I get between 15 and 16 mpg towing my TD in hilly CA. If I were shopping for a new car, I'd look at the new Jeep Cherokee, 31 mpg highway and can tow 2000 lbs.
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby S. Heisley » Mon Jan 26, 2015 11:02 pm

Socal Tom wrote:I'm using a Jeep Wrangler, I get between 15 and 16 mpg towing my TD in hilly CA. If I were shopping for a new car, I'd look at the new Jeep Cherokee, 31 mpg highway and can tow 2000 lbs.
Tom


New Jeep Cherokee? ...Ahhhh....double that $15,000 that they wanted to spend. (...But, they are awfully nice!) :yes:
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby Socal Tom » Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:04 am

S. Heisley wrote:
Socal Tom wrote:I'm using a Jeep Wrangler, I get between 15 and 16 mpg towing my TD in hilly CA. If I were shopping for a new car, I'd look at the new Jeep Cherokee, 31 mpg highway and can tow 2000 lbs.
Tom


New Jeep Cherokee? ...Ahhhh....double that $15,000 that they wanted to spend. (...But, they are awfully nice!) :yes:

I must have missed that in your specs. It does say they start at 23K for a FWD version.
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby eggsalad » Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:31 am

How much does your camper weigh?
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby 4123 » Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:49 am

Thanks everyone for the replies. I guess that I didn't make myself clear. I want to stay away from 'truck' like vehicles. I want to find out more about smaller or medium size vehicles like Subaru, Honda Element etc. As I stated in the opening post, our TD weighs about 1500.
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby Vedette » Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:03 am

We have a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe 270 hp V6, 6 spd auto, 2WD.....loads of torgue, out pulls any jeep, great gas milage, drives smoother than any car I have ever own.......and best of all we can tow Miss Piggy at any speed without even knowing it is there (towed at 100mph plus!)
She has 210 lbs tongue weight, weighs 1450 lbs loaded, and has no brakes.
Towed her 21,000 miles to date.114154
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby 4123 » Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:09 am

Thanks Brian,
Now were talking! What type of mileage have you been averaging?
Ron
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby dales133 » Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:10 am

Hyundais are hard to beat bang for buck
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby Vedette » Tue Jan 27, 2015 2:54 am

Sorry Ron
We don't really keep track? :NC
I just know how much it usually cost me at my usual "Gas Stops" when we travel and how much I spend on fuel for specific trips.
We get double or better with the Hyundai as we do when we take my 46 Studebaker PU. It gets about 12 miles to the gallon with Miss Piggy in tow. Sandi's Hyundai is getting in the mid + 20's. And I find we actually get better mileage with the trailer on back to reduce drag (do to shape)with increased aerodynamics.
Thus, we seem to take the Santa Fe more than the Stude....but maybe it has something to do with the Cruise control, A/C, windshield wipers, quiet exhaust system, etc. etc. :oops:
I believe the 2010 was the last model year for the big V6 & most Santa Fe's are AWD.
Ours had never been used for towing......but we added the factory tow hitch and I installed the plug & play wiring harness.
This is Sandi's third Hyundai in the last 20 years. ;) And she loves it! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby wagondude » Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:14 am

While I can't give you much towing info(Shadow Catcher will be your best source), I can tell you that a 6 cylinder Subaru will get decent fuel economy (Mine are both 4 cyl). It will also have the capacity for your gear. The big problem is your budget. Used Subarus with lower miles seem to be priced very close to new prices. Your budget will end up getting you a car with pretty close to 100K miles on it. Not really a problem for a well maintained car, but you will need the previous owner to show you service records if you want to know the history.
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby Redgloves » Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:51 am

Ron,

I have towed the Camp Inn 550 ( and will be towing a 560 soon) with a 2010 Subaru Outback 4 cylinder. Gas mileage= guess I really don't pay attention, have a heavy foot, would guess around 19 to 21. General driving: 20 to 24.
I purchased mine in 2011 (loaded model) with high miles (45,000, sales man car) for $24,000. No problems navigating the passes in Tenessee to Georgia. Like I said, I have a heavy foot.


Craig from Camp Inn tows with a 2008 or 2009 Outback. There are threads on the Camp Inn forum related to towing also.

Love the vehicle, espically the high clearance and AWD.

Jean
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby Shadow Catcher » Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:01 pm

Subaru Outback 3.6L H6 18 Towing 24 winter 26 summer 28 cursing. 1700# 6 wide.
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Re: Tow Vehicles info please

Postby bdosborn » Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:15 pm

Shadow Catcher wrote:Subaru Outback 3.6L H6 18 Towing 24 winter 26 summer 28 cursing. 1700# 6 wide.


Hmmm, I don't think I'd want a car with such a high cursing number.

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