What is the smallest/lightest Toad that I can tow 4-wheels down?

[CountryB]

I'm thinking about getting Toad - but I want something that can be towed 4-wheels down (no dolly). Also must have automatic transmission so wife can drive it.

This is my wish list:
1) small and light weight (under 5,000 lbs, ideally)
2) automatic transmission
3) Air conditioning



**Nevermind - found this guide http://www.roadmasterinc.com/pdf/dtg_2017.pdf *** sorry too late to delete this post.

[Unplanned Tourist]

Older Suzuki? New Ford Fiesta, 2,537 pounds.
Happy Glamping.

[CountryB]

Thanks

[Rockwood27]

Chevy Sonic. 4 door sedan or hatchback. Auto or manual transmission. Under 3,000 lbs. Buy used, they depreciate fast!

[FIRE UP]

Hey MIke,
Not sure of your opinion on them but, there's quite a few that also tow "Smart" cars too. I used to see a few forum answers from a couple called "John and Angela" about their excursions with towing their Smart Cars. Yep, they had two of them and towed both of them, not at the same time. But, they had a trailer build for either one. It was a stout little trailer, just big enough for the Smart. When the Smart was unloaded, it was hooked to its own trailer so it could go hide the trailer while the motorhome was bing parked.

Both of their Smart cars were Canadian diesel versions. They both hovered around 75 miles per gallon, consistently. Now, they didn't have to trailer either one, they just did it 'cause they wanted to and, could back up if needed. Those two folks were the premier experts on Smarts for towing. Don't know if it was here or RV.net for them. Just a thought though.
Scott

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Mike-

iRV2 user "radar" may be selling his SmartCar and trailer; post to a picture is here.

I was going to post this morning, but stopped because it's not a four-down answer. But, since Scott brought it up ...

[GeorgeandTheBear]

My AWD Edge is 4-Down towable. Weighs about 4100 lbs.

[powercat_ras]

I towed a Fiat 500 w manual transmission, 2,400 pounds. Just put manual transmission in neutral, make sure parking brake is off, and go. Has no steering wheel lock, can tow with key out and car locked. Automatic transmission version not flat towable.

I now tow a Honda HRV 4 door hatchback, LX with 6 speed manual, 2,900 pounds. About the lightest that can seat 5 adults and carry some cargo behind the back seat. Has steering wheel lock so has to be towed with key in, with some battery drain. Can pull fuses or wire RV to Toad harness with a charge line. Automatic transmission version not flat towable.

Had / have Blue Ox Base Plates. Have a portable Blue Ox Brake Buddy (Patriot, current model is Patriot 2) as in my state (Kansas) you have to have brake assist in any item you tow that weighs 2,000 pounds or more.

Both with manual transmission are hard to find, as only about 2% of them being made have manual transmissions.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Mike-

You have a few more choices if you are willing to buy a used car. For instance, a Honda Fit with automatic, pre-2015, can be flat-towed. Published curb weights for a 2009, like ours, is 2,650 pounds or less.

I'm sure there are more listed in the older Motorhome Towing Guides.

[radar]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Hey MIke,
Not sure of your opinion on them but, there's quite a few that also tow "Smart" cars too. I used to see a few forum answers from a couple called "John and Angela" about their excursions with towing their Smart Cars. Yep, they had two of them and towed both of them, not at the same time. But, they had a trailer build for either one. It was a stout little trailer, just big enough for the Smart. When the Smart was unloaded, it was hooked to its own trailer so it could go hide the trailer while the motorhome was bing parked.

Both of their Smart cars were Canadian diesel versions. They both hovered around 75 miles per gallon, consistently. Now, they didn't have to trailer either one, they just did it 'cause they wanted to and, could back up if needed. Those two folks were the premier experts on Smarts for towing. Don't know if it was here or RV.net for them. Just a thought though.
Scott

That would be us FIREUP. Good to see you are still hanging around as well. We have moved on from our diesels Smarts as we needed to get a 5 passenger vehicle for a couple reasons. We bought a Nissan Leaf. We still have a smart car but it is electric and we tow it on the same trailer. However any gas smart car can be towed four down and we seem them commonly. Around 2200 pounds. Fun to drive and they are an automatic...or better said...an automated manual. (No clutch pedal) Here is our set up for the last almost 4 years. We are switching to a Tesla in the next year or so but will cross that bridge when we get there.







We set the motorhome up with its own charge station. Convenient.



Good little car. We have racked up a ton of miles on it. Very fast and parkable anywhere. We'll keep it when we get the Tesla...at least until we retire, but we have a couple things planned where we will have some very long (read 1200 KM trips planned) and the smarty won't work for those situations. So we are thinking of trailerring the Tesla. Not sure yet. Time will tell.

[Kxbronco]

Honda Fit automatic up thru 2014. Great little car and mileage, but not much power. Can run 80 mph, but takes a little while to get there. Approx. 2700 lbs.

[gljurczyk]

You are not correct, please post that law for Kansas. It states at 20 mph you have to be able to stop in 40 feet.

Originally Posted by powercat_ras

I towed a Fiat 500 w manual transmission, 2,400 pounds. Just put manual transmission in neutral, make sure parking brake is off, and go. Has no steering wheel lock, can tow with key out and car locked. Automatic transmission version not flat towable.

I now tow a Honda HRV 4 door hatchback, LX with 6 speed manual, 2,900 pounds. About the lightest that can seat 5 adults and carry some cargo behind the back seat. Has steering wheel lock so has to be towed with key in, with some battery drain. Can pull fuses or wire RV to Toad harness with a charge line. Automatic transmission version not flat towable.

Had / have Blue Ox Base Plates. Have a portable Blue Ox Brake Buddy (Patriot, current model is Patriot 2) as in my state (Kansas) you have to have brake assist in any item you tow that weighs 2,000 pounds or more.

Both with manual transmission are hard to find, as only about 2% of them being made have manual transmissions.

[Air Conditioned Gypsy]

Honda Civic. Auto trans, under 2500 lbs.

I used to tow one of these. It was a 2011 model. Later models with auto trans are not flat towable - not sure which year made the change. Weighs next to nothing, has auto trans. I think that's what the OP asked for.

I would still be towing it, but it was totaled in a wreck last year. Had to upgrade to a Honda CR-V - another light car (3400 lbs) with auto trans and easy to drive and tow.

Regards.

Chuck

[gljurczyk]

In fact Kansas allows double towing, and only then still only requires the second towed to have aux. Braking installed on the second or last towed trailer, not the first. So please enlighten me as where this DMV law is located, thanks...