Tow a 17B with 3500 lb tow capacity ??

[disneydoc]

Hi folks,

I am a new comer here & need help deciding my tow vehicle.

I have reserved a 17B with a completion date in February 2016, I presently have a RX 350 AWD with a tow package for 3500 lbs.

I want to hear from other forum members who tow a 17B with their vehicles of 3500 lb towing capacity. How has their experience been towing their 17B trailers ??

Please chime in & give me your feed back.

Thanks

[Vermilye]

I've been towing a 17B that weights 3010 lbs loaded with a 2010 RAV4 (3500/350 lbs) for 4 1/2 years & 67,000 miles. The biggest problem I've had is the small gas tank - there are places out west where a combination of a headwind & the distance between stations can get a bit hairy. The RAV4 has the horsepower necessary, and is a stable tow vehicle.

[GRINGOandTICA]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

I've been towing a 17B that weights 3010 lbs loaded with a 2010 RAV4 (3500/350 lbs) for 4 1/2 years & 67,000 miles. The biggest problem I've had is the small gas tank - there are places out west where a combination of a headwind & the distance between stations can get a bit hairy. The RAV4 has the horsepower necessary, and is a stable tow vehicle.

Can you share one of those hairy experiences?

[amirie]

we have a V6 Ford escape--3,500 pounds towing capacity---have been all over BC, to Yosemite and Yellowstone--no issues with towing.
I am at work so don't remember the GCWR but a year ago before the rally we stopped for an hour at a weigh scale and loaded for a two week holiday we were total legit...

Our next vehicle will have a higher tow rating but for the past five years we have been very pleased with the combination.

[disneydoc]

Thanks Jon, yes I follow your wonderful Blog & feel reassured after seeing your RAV V6 doing a great job.

Thanks Anna-Marie for your reply & sharing about your Ford Escape as the TV.

Best regards

Raj

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by GRINGOandTICA

Can you share one of those hairy experiences?

Sure. By hairy, I mean running out of gas, not driving or control.

Twice in Wyoming I found myself towing at 8MPG or less driving into a 40 mile per hour headwind (at times in 2nd gear). Pulled into the closest gas station the first time & put 14.9 gallons in a 15 gallon tank. The second time was a bit better, but still close.

On my current trip to Alaska, I heard enough stories that I carried a 2 1/2 gallon gas can. I never needed it, although I did get down to one gallon left on a section of the Cassier Highway.

[Steve R]

Great question. I pick up my 17b in Feb too, and need to buy a tow vehicle between now and then.

[LeonW]

We towed a 17b with a Toyota Sienna -- 3500 lb towing capacity. it worked great, and I thought the minivan made a wonderful tow vehicle. Plenty of room for bikes and people.

[Devil Dog]

Well, it's like this . A 4L -V-6 barely qualifies as a tow for a FULLY loaded 17-B . I know , I got both . Go for the V-8 that way if you "up" the trailer the tow stays ... And that's the tooth .

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Devil Dog

Well, it's like this . A 4L -V-6 barely qualifies as a tow for a FULLY loaded 17-B . I know , I got both . Go for the V-8 that way if you "up" the trailer the tow stays ... And that's the tooth .

Don't need a V-8. I can tow 8100 lbs with a 2.7L V-6 - and do it well.

[yardsale]

We tow our 17b with a Rav4 with a tow package and an Anderson WD hitch. I think the hitch is really important as the RAV4 would really be down in back without it. Agree with Jon's comments about gas tank size. Plenty of power.

[gbaglo]

Tow 17B with 2008 RAV4 V6 with tow package and Pro Series WDH ( a couple hundred dollars cheaper than Andersen, but heavier ). No problem. 80-90 KPH up an 8 per cent grade for 17 kilometers.
I've twice had to make abrupt lane changes, driven crosswinds, passed by semis and always felt secure.

[disneydoc]

Thanks guys, the comments reassure me some.

I guess my jitters are similar to getting into the water for the first time, I hope the first looonnnggg ride will be alright.

I guess, one cannot learn swimming with out getting into the water first & one cannot learn towing (With a 3500 lb capacity) with out towing first.

Well...............

Best

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by Devil Dog

Well, it's like this . A 4L -V-6 barely qualifies as a tow for a FULLY loaded 17-B . I know , I got both . Go for the V-8 that way if you "up" the trailer the tow stays ... And that's the tooth .

Maybe your Tacoma needs a tuneup. My 4L 6 cylinder FJ is an excellent tow vehicle for a loaded 19'.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Devil Dog

Well, it's like this . A 4L -V-6 barely qualifies as a tow for a FULLY loaded 17-B . I know , I got both . Go for the V-8 that way if you "up" the trailer the tow stays ... And that's the tooth .

Ah, that's why my Sienna (a decade old and so with substantially less power than current minivans) is fine with 3000 pounds of trailer... it's a 3.3L V6, not a 4L V6.

[jxoco]

I agree that a 4 liter V6 is plenty.
And gong up a long grade, like the one west of Princeton, past the Copper Mine, you will be slow. That's why there are passing lanes up hills.

I think the more important considerations are;
Will you be carrying more than 2 people, like grand kids possibly.
Is there covered dry space in the tow vehicle for a couple of chairs and a cooler and maybe a small bbq and a small step stool. We really hacked up the inside of our prior Camper by carrying that stuff inside of it. The bottom 4 inches above the floor of any wall got ripped to pieces. And you, lots of times need a step or two to get up to open and set the front window struts and the canopy de-flappers. A small BBQ so you don't heat up and stink up the Trailer interior.
( Pre cook your bacon before you head out, or everything gets covered in grease.)
You will find that you live and die by the rear view mirrors, do they, or can you get ones that stick out enough to have a good view down the side of the trailer?

Diesel engines are great and in Europe and Australia cars like Jettas and Diesel variants of land cruisers and BMW and Audi and gm cars are quite common. Trucks like our north american pickups just don't exist. Some say it is a conspiracy. A VW Golf in Europe is rated at 1600KGs towing, in North America it not recommended to use for towing. What is? The VW Toureg and it is about 3 times the price. So if you walk into a VW dealership and need something to tow your 1000KG Escape they do have something to sell you but it's going to cost.

Anyways the Escape 17 is light. You and your wife can crank down the hitch foot with a wheel on the bottom of it and push it up and down your driveway and spin it around quite easy if you need to.

[jxoco]

Originally Posted by disneydoc

Thanks guys, the comments reassure me some.

Dude, Florida is Flat, you can pull it with anything....

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by jxoco

I agree that a 4 liter V6 is plenty.
And gong up a long grade, like the one west of Princeton, past the Copper Mine, you will be slow. That's why there are passing lanes up hills.

I've done that hill dozens of times. I'm generally in the left lane and passing other vehicles, such a trucks and RVs. Doing 80-90 kph ( 50-55 mph ). Maybe I'm just old, but that's fast enough for me.
I'm much more concerned about going down that hill.

[gharper]

We are using an Anderson hitch for 2 years and it has worked well. The red liner now needs replacing as it has creeped up and is exposed by at least 1/2 inch and creaks and groans when towing. Unfortunately, I am finding the service from Anderson not so good as I have been waiting 3 weeks for a replacement and no response from my phone calls. I gather the new liners used no longer do this.

[Sandra L]

Originally Posted by LeonW

We towed a 17b with a Toyota Sienna -- 3500 lb towing capacity. it worked great, and I thought the minivan made a wonderful tow vehicle. Plenty of room for bikes and people.

I too have a Toyota Sienna and tow with it. It is a 2005 with 204,000 miles on it, and it has slowed down the last couple of years going up those 6% grades (35-40mph)( I don't floor it to avoid gas guzzling). However, it gets me there and gets me back!