Towing vehicle

Using a Nimbus 3 in a Pfeiffer trailer for reference, towed behind:
00 Subaru 2.5L Outback (stick)
96 Chevrolet Tahoe 5.7L (auto)
97 Holden Commodore 3.0L (auto)
Before the trailer had functioning brakes, the Subaru was useless to stop it, hence the Tahoe purchase.
After installing trailer brakes, got rid of the Tahoe. Most of the horsepower/fuel was used to lug its own weight around anyway.
The Holden did pretty well, but the best trailer handling of the N3 and also the heavy and long Cobra ASH26E trailer was behind the Outback. Even handled X-wind, passing large vehicles, everything but starting up a hill, better than the Tahoe. Handled towing in high temperatures better than the Holden. Probably due to the RPM the water pump was turning!
However... Eventually replaced the Subaru's clutch, then had to replace the viscous coupler in the AWD at about 120k miles. Both seem weak links. Note that newer Subarus with 3.0L automatic still have the same viscous coupler.
Currently towing with Toyota RAV4 3.0L (auto) FWD. It has plenty of power, and will pass other vehicles at a vast rate of knots even when towing a Cobra trailer with ASW27. A friend proved the 4-cylinder RAV4 is adequate. Front Wheel Drive seems pretty silly to me, it should have AWD.
Thinking if the Audi Allroad 2.0 TDI had a reasonable maintenance record, it would be a great tow and everything else vehicle. This year Audi put the 2.0TDI in the N. American A3 FWD. Be years before the A3 Quattro or Allroad get it.
Jim

Automatic or Manual?

To me, it doesn't matter, as long as the vehicle is rated to tow the weight of your loaded trailer. Some have mentioned power, some have mentioned brakes, but nobody has mentioned maximum tongue weight.

I had to sell my 2000 Accord V6 (automatic) because the Swan trailer, loaded, far exceeded the max tow capacity and max tongue weight capacity. Honda listed those as 1,000 lbs and 100 lbs, respectively. After the trailer had "almost" ripped two different designs of hitches from the rear of the Honda, I decided to weigh the trailer: 2,040 lbs with a tongue weight of 180 lbs. There's not much metal in the back of cars these days to attach a hitch to. It's all "crumple zone" stuff. Made to fold up in event of a crash.

I searched the interwebs for an affordable vehicle, in both purchase price and feeding price, to tow the trailer and came up with a Subaru Forester. Mine has an automatic because that's what I found on the dealer's lot of used cars. I wasn't going to be too picky. It's rated to tow 2,400 lbs with a max tongue weight of 200 lbs. I did have a transmission oil cooler installed. The car does have a "hot transmission oil" light, but I've never seen it come on, including some towing when the outside temperature was hitting 101F degrees.

Ray
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

I currently tow with a Ford Edge, 3.5 liter, automatic, and it does just
fine locally. I'll be making my first road trip with it in a couple of
weeks going to the dry lake in Nevada and, if there are any short comings,
I'll note them here.

We brought my glider (LAK-17a in a LAK-T5 trailer) back to Moriarty, NM from
Dallas, TX (about 600 miles) using my wife's Subaru Outback, 3.6 liter,
automatic. It's got plenty of power but the trailer wanted to sway a bit.
We also made the round trip to Nevada (1,200 miles round trip) with it last
October and, other than a little swaying at 80 mph, it was fine other than
the reduction in mileage. I suspect a bit more load in the front of the
trailer will take care of that.

Prior, I used a Ford 150 truck with 5 liter and automatic. It was bullet
proof! I changed the ATF every 105,000 miles whether it needed it or not.


"rlovinggood" wrote in message
...
Automatic or Manual?

To me, it doesn't matter, as long as the vehicle is rated to tow the weight
of your loaded trailer. Some have mentioned power, some have mentioned
brakes, but nobody has mentioned maximum tongue weight.

I had to sell my 2000 Accord V6 (automatic) because the Swan trailer,
loaded, far exceeded the max tow capacity and max tongue weight capacity.
Honda listed those as 1,000 lbs and 100 lbs, respectively. After the
trailer had "almost" ripped two different designs of hitches from the rear
of the Honda, I decided to weigh the trailer: 2,040 lbs with a tongue
weight of 180 lbs. There's not much metal in the back of cars these days to
attach a hitch to. It's all "crumple zone" stuff. Made to fold up in event
of a crash.

I searched the interwebs for an affordable vehicle, in both purchase price
and feeding price, to tow the trailer and came up with a Subaru Forester.
Mine has an automatic because that's what I found on the dealer's lot of
used cars. I wasn't going to be too picky. It's rated to tow 2,400 lbs
with a max tongue weight of 200 lbs. I did have a transmission oil cooler
installed. The car does have a "hot transmission oil" light, but I've never
seen it come on, including some towing when the outside temperature was
hitting 101F degrees.

Ray
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

Prior, I used a Ford 150 truck with 5 liter and automatic. It was bullet

proof! I changed the ATF every 105,000 miles whether it needed it or not..

I'll second the F-150. They come in various towing flavors, with and without the towing kit. Permissible towing weight sans tow kit depends on final drive ratio. I chose the 3.77 rear which has a 4600lb max towing weight for mine. However at 75mph it tends to shift up and down between 3rd and OD. At 85mph, it sticks in OD. At 65-75mph in rolling mountains, I stick it in 3rd and leave it.

Frank Whiteley