New tow beast time

[MacTommy]

Honda CR-V with diesel is allowed to pull 2000kg. More than enough for a with package on a suitable trailer.

[Tomfoolery]

I don't believe the CR-V is, or was, available with a diesel engine in the US. Not many non-commercial vehicles are.

[kmclemore]

I'd love to find a mini-van with a diesel and a stick. *sigh*

[Tomfoolery]

Ford, Chrysler, and Volkwagen make diesel minivans, but they're not sold here (mainly in Europe, I believe), though I don't know if they have manual transmissions. Somehow I doubt it, unless they brought back the column shift (three on the tree?).

[kurz]

ok, take VW Tiguan, 2200kg - 2500kg, diesel, gaz, whatever you like...

My actual favorite is VW Sharan, takes 2200kg front wheel drive, and 2400kg 4wd.

Till now I had never problems at the ramp with 2wd rear wheel drive.

Is it not practicable to slip with 2wd front drive? I never did...

[Tomfoolery]

Is it not practicable to slip with 2wd front drive? I never did...

I used the Admiral's Honda Odyssey minivan, which Honda apparently doesn't market in Switzerland, until I got the Toyota Highlander with all-wheel drive. The Honda had no problem on the two ramps I've used in on exclusively, but in the past I've had some minor difficulty with rear-drive vehicles on ramps, especially when they're wet and slimy.

I don't think my not having trouble with front wheel drive is anything more than a single data point, though, and just because I could pull the boat up the (dry) ramp with no trouble doesn't mean it will always work, especially on slippery ramps.

Oh, and the reason I was asking about diesel SUV's is because we're now seriously contemplating hauling the boat to Florida for the winter next year, and while the Highlander is OK for shorter trips, I don't know that I want to haul it 1500 miles with that smallish tow vehicle. Pickups are out (the Admiral won't have one in the driveway - long story ), so it's either a bigger gas or diesel SUV, or do something to make the Highlander more stable on the highway, but it's kind of still small for all the junk we'd have to bring. Plus our Labrador retriever. Just thought I'd look into diesel SUV's while we're talking about tow beasts, though it looks like gas is going to be the way to go here.

[RobertB]

Pickups are out (the Admiral won't have one in the driveway - long story ), so it's either a bigger gas or diesel SUV, or do something to make the Highlander more stable on the highway, but it's kind of still small for all the junk we'd have to bring. Plus our Labrador retriever. Just thought I'd look into diesel SUV's while we're talking about tow beasts, though it looks like gas is going to be the way to go here.

I figured a way around that one - let the wife pick the color and options. Ends up she drives it more than anyone else Her other car is a VW Beetle Turbo Convertible - seems in the truck other drivers take her seriously. The truck has a huge interior - F150 Super Crew.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Yea, its funny how its the exact opposite in Europe...there its hard to rent a car (or minivan) with an automatic whereas here in the states, you can hardly find anything with a manual that you don't custom order from factory like that. Some very sporty cars still do have sticks, but I think even those are diminishing in number unless you want to pay a fortune. When I go to Europe, we can rent a 9 passenger minivan with a 2L engine in it that probably gets upwards of 35mpg...in city driving and although it doesn't have the same muscle as my V8 American beast, it seems to get up all the hills even when fully loaded. But I don't think it could do that pulling a Mac...nor would I like to be in one during a collision with my 3 ton American SUV as these European vans are built much lighter and supposedly, that is the reason they can't sell them in the U.S. (ie. the lightness means they have taken out a lot of the extra structure that can withstand collisions better). Now, if everything on the road was lightweight and gas efficient like that, then there would be less danger, but put a very light vehicle in a sea of heavy vehicles...and...

[Tomfoolery]

I figured a way around that one - let the wife pick the color and options. Ends up she drives it more than anyone else

I tried that already. That's how we ended up with a Highlander (I wanted something heavier), in black (I wanted a lighter color), that she was going to drive and I'd take the minivan (my man card is solid, mostly because I just don't give a crap), and guess what? She still drives her Odyssey, with 110k miles on it, and she complains that it's old and has 110k miles on it.

She's in Florida right now, driving a BMW 538i rental (which she go for a song, but she does that all the time ), and complaining about it. I guess it's not her Odyssey.

Good thing for me she doesn't read these forum posts.

[kmclemore]

I know what you mean about limited stick shift cars here in the US. Many years ago my dad, a die-hard stick shift man, ordered a brand new Ford Granada with a stick shift (on the floor). The dealer looked at him like he was insane, but they ordered it and it arrived with the requisite shifter on the floor... the car was black with red interior, my dad's usual choice. I often wonder what happened to that car, because I'm certain it is one of only a very small handful (if any!) that were delivered with that specification.

[Tomfoolery]

... the car was black with red interior, my dad's usual choice.

That's a very 1960's look, at least as I remember those days. Lincolns with suicide doors. Beetles with 36 hp or so engines. No air conditioning (not for us, anyway; neither house nor car). Ah the good old days.

Just looked at the Ford site, and the short wheelbase Expedition is as big or bigger than the Admiral's Odyssey, and not as expensive as the Toyota Sequoia. I may have to talk to the local Ford dealer about taking the Highlander off my hands for the much bigger Expedition.

[heinzir]

I was really nervous about this but it worked out great: I towed Chiquita all the way from Minneapolis to Lake Havasu for the HPCC with my 2012 Chrysler minivan. I had my wife and 3 kids along with all the luggage and paraphernalia needed to keep them (the kids) amused. I'm sure we were at or slightly above the van's stated limit of 3600 pounds. The boat towed like a dream; at times I almost forgot it was back there. I attribute this to the heavy tongue weight achieved by moving the axle back six inches and to the electric brakes I added. Previous trips, years ago, were white-knuckle events.

The new generation of minivans is a far cry from the older ones. The Chrysler has 283 hp, more than the old VistaCruiser V8 station wagon I used to tow with. I know there are much better tow vehicles out there but this is also our everyday family car. With 3 kids only a minivan gives us the room, number of seats, and flexibility we need at a price we could afford. We can't afford the price of or the fuel costs of a big Suburban or Excursion.

We arrived last night after 3 long days of driving, about 1800 miles. Even went through a pretty bad snowstorm in the mountains at Flagstaff. No problems with towing at all. Of course we still have to get back home in 10 days as well.

Henry

[mastreb]

I know what you mean about limited stick shift cars here in the US. Many years ago my dad, a die-hard stick shift man, ordered a brand new Ford Granada with a stick shift (on the floor). The dealer looked at him like he was insane, but they ordered it and it arrived with the requisite shifter on the floor... the car was black with red interior, my dad's usual choice. I often wonder what happened to that car, because I'm certain it is one of only a very small handful (if any!) that were delivered with that specification.

Your dad was clearly an awesome person. I love black with red highlights! Just bought this bicycle for black frame with red highlights (and the belt drive) even though it had to ship from switzerland and took 5.5 months to get : http://www.bmc-racing.com/us-en/bikes/2 ... ne_11.html

[Catigale]

VW bringing a diesel Bully (van) to US in 2014 model year according to insider sources. Will have manual option...we will see......

[RobertB]

The recent VW van was a Chysler design/build (VW determined they could not produce to the desired price point). Wonder who will design and make the next VW van?