Towing experience with the new 21
Hello all, just reporting back as promised.
We just finished our 2014 adventure. We drove from Seattle to San Simeon State Park (4 hours south of Frisco) then up the coast to the redwoods, over to Crater Lake and up to Sisters. We then went back to the coast at Tillamook, over to Mt. Rainier, over to Sequim, and back home to Auburn Washington. In all we traveled 3838.9 miles, used 265.16 gallons of gas at an average of $4.27 per gal (the highest being in California) for a total cost of $1,138.04 and 14.5 mpg. We towed at sea level on up to 7,000 feet. The Ridgline did fine climbing the hills and controlling our descents. If the grade was 6% or less, the engine took care of speed control, while 7% and above required assistance from the brakes. We maintained 55 to 60 most all the way, flat or climbing, if it wasn't too curvy. The engine had to rev up to 5,000 rpm at times on the steeper slopes, but engine temp didn't budge and red line is around 6,500. I didn't feel bad about that at all.
I stopped at multiple weigh stations along the way because of my weight concerns and came up with some interesting numbers. The Ridgeline was almost maxed out in the following categories; rear axle 3245 lbs(GAWR-R), truck 6050 lbs (GVWR), combined 10085 lbs(GCWR), and tongue weight 500 lbs. The Escape 21 was also near its max (GVWR) at 4250 lbs. The trailer GVWR/Tongue weight was 9.39%. I know it’s a little lower than suggested. I don’t know if the Anderson had anything to do with it, but the towing experience was smooth and controlled.
We had a great experience and look forward to many more in the future.
Tom
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