On Sunday, May 10, 2020 at 4:25:28 PM UTC-7, Stephen Coan wrote:
What do you think is the best tow vehicle for a single place glass sailplane? What is the smallest vehicle one can safely tow with?

Depending on the sailplane and trailer, you're probably looking at 1,500 to 2,500 pounds. There are plenty of small vehicles that will tow this much. I've towed with a Honda CR-V (tow capacity 1,500), but the smallest vehicle for the job is unlikely to be the best vehicle for the job.

If you plan to do a lot of towing, especially in mountains, then you probably shouldn't push the tow capacity. I'd personally prefer to have at least 3,000 pounds of tow capacity.

Also, consider how much stuff you want to throw inside the tow vehicle: parachute, oxygen bottle, tool kit, wash bucket, wing stands, etc. Other than that, pick the vehicle that best meets your daily driving needs. Do you need to haul a family? Do you take dirt bikes to the track? Do you drive in much snow?

For most people, a mini van is probably a very practical soaring crew vehicle. The Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey are both highly rated and have tow capacities of 3,500 pounds. They have plenty of room for gear and you can even sleep comfortably in them. If you drive in a lot of snow, the Sienna is available with AWD.

After owning a couple of minivans, I finally upgraded to a full-size Chevy Express AWD. I put in a fridge/freezer (yay ice cream and cold drinks!), sink, stove, outdoor shower, desk, wifi repeater, cell phone booster, Webasto furnace, ceiling fan, LED lights, ARB awning, etc. This vehicle supports all of my hobbies and allows me to spend long weekends in the mountains, at the coast, or at distant gliderports. Last night, I slept in the van with a girlfriend, wing rigger, and climbing gear. We cooked pesto linguini with shrimp, watched a movie with popcorn, and had ice cream for dessert. The furnace kept us warm overnight, and then we woke up at a trail head and started a sunrise climb. This has been my best crew vehicle so far, but certainly not the smallest.