Toad vehicle

[heatseaker]

Since I downsized to a class c from a class a the calculations for towing a Jeep Grand C don't compute. What car do you class c folks recommend for light weight towing.

The Jeep weighs 4800 empty and I'd like to get down to the 3800 range. Also the Jeep is easy to disengage the tranny and I'd like find a car that is also that easy.

Thanks for any input.

heatseaker

2008 R-Vision Freedom Traveler
28' Blue Ox Chevy G3500 6.0 V8

[R.Wold]

Originally Posted by heatseaker

Since I downsized to a class c from a class a the calculations for towing a Jeep Grand C don't compute. What car do you class c folks recommend for light weight towing.

The Jeep weighs 4800 empty and I'd like to get down to the 3800 range. Also the Jeep is easy to disengage the tranny and I'd like find a car that is also that easy.

Thanks for any input.

heatseaker

2008 R-Vision Freedom Traveler
28' Blue Ox Chevy G3500 6.0 V8

An older TJ with a straight six weighs around 3300lbs, has the transfer case, and is a very common vehicle to tow. Im setting up a low milage 2001 right now.1998 was the first year of coil spring suspension and 2006 was the last year of the straight six. The V6/6 speed JK (2007 and later) is probably a good combo also but they got more complicated and started gaining weight. A friend’s 2008 weighs 3800.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by R.Wold

An older TJ with a straight six weighs around 3300lbs, has the transfer case, and is a very common vehicle to tow. Im setting up a low milage 2001 right now.1998 was the first year of coil spring suspension and 2006 was the last year of the straight six. The V6/6 speed JK (2007 and later) is probably a good combo also but they got more complicated and started gaining weight. A friend’s 2008 weighs 3800.

If looking at old, and I know they're getting hard to find, then the classic Jeep Cherokee might be an idea. About 3600 lbs, transfer case to neutral, tranny in park and it's ready to go. I've towed ours to Colorado a few times (Monarch and Raton included) and could hardly tell the Jeep was back there.

Newer vehicles, not sure. I have read on here that the new Cherokee models sometimes don't tow well. Death Wobble, I believe is the term used to described the issue.

[R.Wold]

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

If looking at old, and I know they're getting hard to find, then the classic Jeep Cherokee might be an idea. About 3600 lbs, transfer case to neutral, tranny in park and it's ready to go. I've towed ours to Colorado a few times (Monarch and Raton included) and could hardly tell the Jeep was back there.

Newer vehicles, not sure. I have read on here that the new Cherokee models sometimes don't tow well. Death Wobble, I believe is the term used to described the issue.

I watched several sites daily, sometimes hourly, and saved searches and missed out on a couple good candidates and finally pounced on one in the first hour it was advertised. I got a decent deal (at today’s prices) found an extremely clean (inside, outside, under the hood and underneath), all stock, low milage example (tires were 15 years old and still had about half the tread) and aside from the color, couldn't be happier. But its a competitive market and most of them are way over priced. I had to drive three hours to snag this one. Initially I was looking at everything for sale from Washington to New Mexico, but I realized if I was patient a good deal would come up closer to home. And prices weren't any better farther away. This one was in a somewhat remote area outside of Redding Ca. If it was in Sacramento or Reno or the Bay Area I never would have gotten to it in time and the price would have been higher. So, long winded story of how I got my new buggy, but its nice and it was worth the effort. It looks like a 2-3 year old vehicle and its 20 years old!

[TJFogelberg]

Honda CRV (2014 and earlier) and Chevy Equinox (Check owners manual for specific year to make sure flat towable). Install Demco "Stay and Play" permanent brake system. We have been towing a 2002 Honda CRV since 2012 (bought from another RVer who towed it). We now have a 2013 Honda CRV we recently bought and will set up for towing next Spring. Both options I mention come in around 3,500.

[hippopapamus]

Originally Posted by TJFogelberg

Honda CRV (2014 and earlier) and Chevy Equinox (Check owners manual for specific year to make sure flat towable). Install Demco "Stay and Play" permanent brake system. We have been towing a 2002 Honda CRV since 2012 (bought from another RVer who towed it). We now have a 2013 Honda CRV we recently bought and will set up for towing next Spring. Both options I mention come in around 3,500.

CRV is a great light weight option

[Hurricane-TX]

We towed a couple of CR-Vs when we had a class c. They were great and super reliable.

[nodine]

Originally Posted by heatseaker

Since I downsized to a class c from a class a the calculations for towing a Jeep Grand C don't compute. What car do you class c folks recommend for light weight towing.

The Jeep weighs 4800 empty and I'd like to get down to the 3800 range. Also the Jeep is easy to disengage the tranny and I'd like find a car that is also that easy.

Thanks for any input.

heatseaker

2008 R-Vision Freedom Traveler
28' Blue Ox Chevy G3500 6.0 V8

We purchased a new 2020 Chevy Sonic RS and set it up to tow. It weighs 2700 lbs, drives like a sports car, has a turbo and six speed braking transmission. Very peppy car and we love it. Easy to get in and out of but a little shy on trunk space. Unfortunately 2020 was the last model year as GM quit making the Sonic. You might be able to find a used one.

Bob

[chs]

It's not as light as you would like but....
We went from a 2021 Jeep wrangler to a 2021 Ford Ranger. Weighs in at 4620 with a full tank of fuel. 4512 without.
Great truck. Like it much better than the jeep and way easier to engage and disengage the tranny too. Pretty much the same weight as the jeep too.

If you just want a get around car. Light and good MPG, I have the Chevy Spark.
We love it, but I cannot tow it because it's an automatic. The manual version is towable.

[heatseaker]

I've been looking at Saturns. They are light weight, some low miles, some low cost high miles but they are rv friendly.

I appreciate all your information so now it's just a matter of pulling the trigger on something.

Also have to sell my '07 . Since it's set up to tug I might try the IRV2 classifieds.

heatseaker

[BeagleDad]

We pull a 2017 Ford CMax (3600 lbs). Love the Class C - Love the CMax!

[tizeye]

As far as new 2021, 2022 SUV's in the 3500lb consider the Ford Escape Hybrid, Chevrolet Equinox - but not the twin GMC Terrain (per owner's manuals - but some owners have stated is possible citing corporate inquiries), and the slightly smaller SUV twins, Chevrolet Trailblazer/ Buick Encore GX (not original Encore still sold along side the GX). The Trailblazer and Encore GX must be AWD and have the larger 1.3L engine as the 1.2L FWD with CVT transmission is not 4 down towable. Unfortunately, the Cherokee tips the scales just over 4000lb and must be the 4WD that disengages, standard in the Trailhawk line, and a related 4wd returns as a third offering in one of the other trims (Latitude???) but probably has to be special ordered as most dealers would just keep the default 4wd that is not 4 down towable, rather than increase the price with the option.

[Bobthegod]

There a lots of lite weight cars out there. Me, I went with a Jeep Wrangler TJ 1997-2006.
I have a 1999 it weighs in at 3100 lbs. It's a 4 cylinder 5 sp 4X4. You could get a car but the Jeep gives you off road capabilities and more. Plus you don't need to do anything to make it tow worthy. Just get a tow bar (Roadmaster) and auxiliary brake unit and you're ready to go.