New RAV4 for 2018

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Who says! only $95,000.00.

The "Doc Hudson" might be more within my budget!

[thoer]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

The "Doc Hudson" might be more within my budget!

Yah but sometimes you gotta turn right to go left....

[bitsnbytes13]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Having towed a 17B many, many miles with a V6 RAV4, I don't think I'd be interested in doing the same with a 4 banger, no matter what the tow ratings. Now, that V6 made the RAV4 a tiger! I was not impressed with the same engine in a Highlander...

Upgrading/getting my new 17B in June!

I'll be towing my new 17B with my RAV4 (has Toyota's towing package, 3500 lbs). I've estimated (conservatively, with our stuff + options + full fresh w/tank and propane) that I'll be essentially towing at full capacity.

I always tow with empty gray/black tanks.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[bitsnbytes13]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I'd also ask where the full-size spare is.
And, magazine article says all new RAV4s have a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine.
My RAV4 V6 has a 3.5 liter engine.

Upgrading/getting my new 17B in June!

I'll be towing my new 17B with my RAV4 (has Toyota's towing package, 3500 lbs). I've estimated (conservatively, with our stuff + options + full fresh w/tank and propane) that I'll be essentially towing at full capacity.

I always tow with empty gray/black tanks.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[gbaglo]

I use a weight distribution hitch and wouldn't tow without it. Makes the ride much more comfortable and secure. You would need to ensure that you have a class III hitch receiver rated for weight distribution. The factory hitch receiver is not capable.

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

Just my luck. The 1954 Hudson isn't available any more, either, and I think I'd rather have it.

They used to win races with those Hudsons in the early 50s I remember gassing them up when I worked in a standard oil station. They had a chrome emblem set at an angle in the trunk lid which declared as previously noted "Twin H Power". There's one in a salvage yard about two miles east of me. It looks restorable from the outside to me. They looked like a fast turtle careening down the road. Lotta green ones.
Iowa Dave

[bitsnbytes13]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I use a weight distribution hitch and wouldn't tow without it. Makes the ride much more comfortable and secure. You would need to ensure that you have a class III hitch receiver rated for weight distribution. The factory hitch receiver is not capable.

Thx for the quick reply and recommendation. I'll upgrade to a class III. They're all rated for weight distribution and much higher tongue weight.

BTW I'm having the WDH with integrated sway control with the 17B.

[gbaglo]

Mine is the cheap Pro Series, without sway control.
I've had to make a couple abrupt lane changes over the years, and the trailer just follows.

[War Eagle]

I wish someone would make a WDH out of high-strength aluminum or some light weight alloy that could handle 750 tongue weight and 7,500 trailer weight. (Are there any out there already that I've missed?) I just have a hard time wrapping my head around a hitch that can weigh up to or even over 100 pounds itself.

[Chapitre]

I wAs pretty much always at or near full towing capacity , bikes on the back helped by about 40 lbs on the tongue weight- I was always measuring and making sure that I was under by a bit, as should you be in an accident, it's likey you wouldn't have any insurance. First step for insurance companies seems to be find a reason why we don't need to pay. It was always too close for my level of comfort - and too many cat scales if we added anything along the way. I did have a weight distribution hitch.

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

I wish someone would make a WDH out of high-strength aluminum or some light weight alloy that could handle 750 tongue weight and 7,500 trailer weight. (Are there any out there already that I've missed?) I just have a hard time wrapping my head around a hitch that can weigh up to or over 100 pounds itself.

I have not found it either. At least the E2 weighs 35 pounds less than
the hitch I had on the previous trailer. That thing was heavy !!
This one just makes me brace a bit before I remove it.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

I wish someone would make a WDH out of high-strength aluminum or some light weight alloy that could handle 750 tongue weight and 7,500 trailer weight. (Are there any out there already that I've missed?)

No, I don't think that you have missed any, with the exception of the Andersen No-Sway WD, which has an aluminum head on a lighter-than-usual steel shank, and a bit less weight of other hardware (although still all steel) than typical designs. If Andersen offered it in various capacity ratings one for 7,500/750 would be lighter, but they only have their single version, rated for almost twice that; the chains are extraordinarily hefty.

There are adjustable aluminum ball mounts rated to beyond the top of the VESC V-5 / SAE J684 limit of 10,000 pound trailer weight. It would certainly be easy to build an aluminum-shank and aluminum-head WD system, but I'm not surprised that no one does. WD systems are generally constructed in the cheapest manner possible - it's obvious in the design and construction.

[float5]

I would be glad if the ball mount did not weigh about 43 lbs. I believe, for our WDH Pro Series. Could barely manage it last trips. No interest in the others now available and wish there were something lighter.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by float5

I would be glad if the ball mount did not weigh about 43 lbs. I believe, for our WDH Pro Series. Could barely manage it last trips. No interest in the others now available and wish there were something lighter.

They're all heavy, even my Andersen Hitch. I don't know how much my rack and ball assembly weighs, but it's definitely stout.

[float5]

Yep, all heavy. I am going to want to drop that WDH eventually or I don't know what.