Community Forums

RM Art · 08-29-2021, 06:42 PM

HI!!

Looking to find your recommendations for light-weight flat tow 4wd vehicle wherein we could hook up a link to make its own brakes active during brake use needs.

We have great condition 1996 Tiffin Allegro 25' RV with 454 engine... 37K cared for miles. When family obligations provide relief Linda and I would like to do 6 months to a year of "feel free" U.S. travel... to wherever we want to be or go.

We're both adventurous, have adventure backgrounds and will be doing a lot of boon docking as we travel.

Thanks!

Art n' Linda

PS: Mod Steve helped me out by moving my first post onto this [the correct] forum. Thanks, Steve!!

Nick-B · 08-29-2021, 10:57 PM

Please define "light weight" and your price point.
Any braking system must physically put pressure on the brake pedal of the toad. There are several options.

RM Art · 08-29-2021, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-B

Please define "light weight" and your price point.
Any braking system must physically put pressure on the brake pedal of the toad. There are several options.

Thanks for reply!

- 3750 lbs. max. / would prefer in the 2K + range.

- Brand, model and year of car, truck or SUV is basically incidental.

- Price is relatively incidental... although I'm not purchasing new or even near new as we'll use it only as a toad.

- Interested to learn about brake systems for a free wheeling toad. I feel it only wise to have the toad assist breaking while coming down steep mountain grades... especially as our RV is a 454 gasser.

Cheers! - Art

W.J. Demo · 08-30-2021, 05:03 AM

Google “Dinghy Towing Guide”. There is a lot of good info about several of the popular Toad braking systems in that guide. The guide is published every year and you will also find good info about towable vehicles.

Isaac-1 · 08-30-2021, 05:42 AM

4WD under 3750 pounds is going to be the limiting factor, to get that you are likely going to be looking at something around 15 years old, Geo/Chevy Tracker, Suzuki (Vitara, X90,...), maybe a manual transmission 4x4 Jeep Compass or Patriot, you might be just under or right at 3750 on some 2 door Jeep Wranglers with soft tops, etc. Maybe down to 3,100 pounds looking at 20 year old 4 cylinder jeep wrangler. There are probably a few others, some older Toyota RAV4 4x4 are flat towable and under your weight, some Subarus in the 10 year old range, ...

McCampbell · 08-30-2021, 05:59 AM

We have had no problems flat towing our 3200 pound 2019 FWD Chevrolet Equinox. It has one of the easiest setups I’ve encountered in years of RVing.

SteveJ. · 08-30-2021, 06:00 AM

I have two brothers that have Trackers/Sidekicks, one has three of them. '98 and earlier are the preferred, pre- rack and pinion front suspension.

I've spent some time knocking around with them on trails out west. Great little vehicles, quite gutless in the power department but it all works. Decent ride and quieter than one would expect. Weight is around 2600 lbs.

The manual trans ones get an honest 30 mpg, even beating around on goat paths. The auto trans ones are getting in the low twenties.

Demand for these is pretty strong, a decent example will likely be a minimum of $3000, and up from there depending...

RM Art · 08-30-2021, 06:51 AM

Hi everyone who posted pre this post of mine. Sent you each a "Thanks" from the thank button. Have copied each pertinent item and each post is great help.

Again... Thanks! - Art

SteveJ. · 08-30-2021, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RM Art

Hi everyone who posted pre this post of mine. Sent you each a "Thanks" from the thank button. Have copied each pertinent item and each post is great help.

Again... Thanks! - Art

Yer welcome.

Tov61 · 08-31-2021, 09:59 AM

Check out the Ready Brake system for your toad. We have used it for a number of years. The Ready Brake design is simple to install and use and it works well. We have a gasser also, 8.1 Ltr Workhorse. We tow a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - 4400 lbs. We have recently upgraded the engine with Ultra Power system. The 8.1 engine is a beast in the mountains. We outpull many diesel rigs. Happy Trails

RM Art · 08-31-2021, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tov61

Check out the Ready Brake system for your toad. We have used it for a number of years. The Ready Brake design is simple to install and use and it works well. We have a gasser also, 8.1 Ltr Workhorse. We tow a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - 4400 lbs. We have recently upgraded the engine with Ultra Power system. The 8.1 engine is a beast in the mountains. We outpull many diesel rigs. Happy Trails

TY for Ready Brake suggestion. Looks simple and interesting. Have a few questions before I jump in. Not ready to hook anything up yet. I watched videos etc.

"We outpull many diesel rigs." I'd like to be a fly on the wall listening to persons in the DPs while you roar past! - LOL

How long is your RV?