Community Forums

6grengs · 03-02-2005, 03:40 AM

New Class A owner needs info: Have 1997 36' Tropical 7.5 liter/Automatic w/overdrive and need a small toad that seats 6? Any suggestions and information on braking/tow bar issues would be greatly appreciated!!! Can you tow in overdrive?
Thank you for your time and what a great site!!!
Chris

6grengs · 03-02-2005, 03:40 AM

New Class A owner needs info: Have 1997 36' Tropical 7.5 liter/Automatic w/overdrive and need a small toad that seats 6? Any suggestions and information on braking/tow bar issues would be greatly appreciated!!! Can you tow in overdrive?
Thank you for your time and what a great site!!!
Chris

Allegro Happy · 03-02-2005, 04:17 AM

Welcome Chris, check out our national Rally in LAncaster PA in June. Hope you can make it. Yes you can tow in overdrive, Blue OX tow bar, Brake Buddy for in the car to slow it down (add brakes when needed) and check out Saturns for your toad. Ask the salesman which ones you can pull without much change. Good luck

Rick A · 03-02-2005, 05:20 AM

We had been contemplating trading the trailer and truck for a motorhome and found the same problem. The most feasable solution we came up with was towing the wifes Caravan, but that required a transmission pump as not to destroy the tranmission while towing. There are a lot of mid size SUV's out with 7 passenger seating, but you will have the same issue. The other big issue is weight. Make sure the motorhome is rated to tow the weight of the toad, both the GCWR and the hitch rating. We ended up sticking with the trailer and truck.

I am not familiar enough with tow bars and braking systems, so not much help there.

TXiceman · 03-02-2005, 08:05 AM

How about a Honda Odessy (sp).

Ken

Joe-K · 03-02-2005, 09:05 AM

A Honda Pilot makes another nice toad. Camped with a fellow iRV2 couple last summer. We comfortably fit our family of 5 and the two of them into their Pilot toad.

If you're looking for a less expensive solution, check out the iRV2 classifieds. I know there was a 5 speed manual transmisson Voyager for sale there. Seats 7 and it was already set up to tow.

Fred B. · 03-02-2005, 04:07 PM

We are currently towing a 99' Caravan. I bought a used Tranny pump ($250) that came with a new pump & installed it myself. Also bought a used Blue Ox Baseplate ($100) a new Roadmaster All-terrain towbar ($375) & a used SMI brake unit That I had upgraded at SMI to a stay-n-play($600). After installing it we've put on about 4,000 miles wo any problems. A little bit of work but I lot of bucks saved.

Gary RVRoamer · 03-03-2005, 12:12 PM

First you need to check your towing capacity, both the hitch rating and the remaining weight capacity once you subtract the fully loaded motorhome weight from the GCWR. That will give you the uper boundary on the weight of the toad (including any gear it carries while being towed). However, with your 7.5L gas engine and 4 speed transmission, you will want to stay as light as possible.

A small SUV or mini-van is probably your best bet. Except for the Hondas (e.g. Odyssey), all the mini-vans will need a Remco lube pump to be towed, but that is not a big deal except for some extra expense. The Suzuki XL7 with 4WD is a minivan-like SUV that carries 6 (if you get the three seat configuration) and it is towable as is.

Vet Man · 03-04-2005, 04:35 PM

6Grengs, I have been telling you for years you needed a school bus, for the family. Maybe you could tow the MoHo, with the school bus. Vet Man

Dsouthw524 · 03-13-2005, 03:41 AM

You could look into the Suzuki XL7. You can tow the automatic 4X4 with no pump and the vehicle comes in a 7 passenger version, the nice thing is the 7 passenger has AC and heat in front and back. We tow ours all the time. The weight is 3600 pounds.

Arch Hoagland · 03-13-2005, 04:48 AM

I've got the Suzuki XL 7 and I'm here to tell you the back row is for little kids only!! Mine weighed in at about 3800lbs. Tows fine and is easy to connect up and pull 4 down. Doesn't register miles when towed. It requires stopping every 200 miles and running engine for a few minutes. I get about 20 mpg with it on highway and 13-15 in town.

6grengs · 03-20-2005, 01:06 PM

Thanks for the great info, picking up our MH next month and will get a few miles under my belt before attempting to tow!!! Hey Vet Man , do you give lessons!!

Ajslovinlife · 03-20-2005, 08:25 PM

I'm not sure where my parents found it but they had a list of vehicles that could be towed without major changes to the tow vehicle. I know the Odessy was one and they ended up with a Saturn as did my sister but they are small and would only seat 5...not sure if the bigger saturns are the same as the cars. I'll see if I can find out how they got that list..I know it made it alot easier for them to figure out what to do. With their previous mh they pulled my moms 99 oldsmobile cutlass and it had to have all sorts of stuff done to disengage etc. What a pain!! Hope you find something that works!