Need help on buying a toad

[Windsurferlady]

I have a 35 ft. Adventurer with a Triton V10 gas engine in it. I need a toad and at the moment have a 12 yr. old Chevy Venture van with only 114,000 Km. on it. It's the perfect vehicle for what I need (windsurfing, cross-country skiing, cycling) but I'm not sure if it's too heavy to pull. I was thinking of a 2009 Honda CR-V but I'm not even sure if that's too heavy to pull. I don't really need a new car as my van is perfect for my work (holding all my tools and picking up 4x8 sheets) and pushing a button and walking in with my bike and loading all my windsurfing gear but I would have to have a transmission disconnect put on it and a base plate. I don't mind that cost, I'm just worried about the weight.
Does anyone have a solution? I don't know of a vehicle that is light enough that will serve my sporting needs. If I buy new I want a moonroof, roof racks and at least be able to put a hitch on it to be able to take my bike on behind.
Windsurferlady, Kingston, Ontario

[Gary RVRoamer]

You need to find out the motorhome's tow capacity, or at least its GCWR (max combined weight of coach and anything towed). The Ford motorhome chassis used in the recent Adventurer models has a nominal tow capacity of 4000 lbs and a GCWR of 26000. If the motohome weighs less than 22,000 lbs when laoded for travel, you may be able to tow a bit more than 4000 lbs as long as you don't exceed the 26,000 lb combination.

My guess is that a Chevy Venture weighs somewhat over 4000 lbs when empty and thus exceeds the nominal tow rating. With your gear in it, it is almost surely going to exceed the Adventurer's GCWR as well.

[CbtEngr]

What Gary said and go to Dinghy Towing and Dinghy Guide and look in the top right hand corner of the page (year with Dinghy Guide). Download the .pdf and read until your hearts content. The towing guides are for vehicles between 2002 - 2010. Hope that helps and happy searching!

For 2011 http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/ass...?id=4294968673

[bluepill]

Don't know if it would meet your needs, but a 1996-2000 Honda Civic hatchback model or an early Fit would offer good inside storage space in a lightweight vehicle with great reliability. If you can find one in good mechanical condition but somewhat rough exterior condition you will save money on purchase and insurance costs, and won't have to worry about it getting damaged by any road debris that you throw behind you.

Make sure that a baseplate kit is available for the tow bar before buying any vehicle.