Recommend a daily driver that can tow...

[Jeff7181]

What kind of vehicles should I be looking at to tow a trailer with a couple motorcycles? Let's say the combined weight of the motorcycles is between 1000 and 1600 pounds.

Obviously an F350 diesel would do the job... but I'm thinking of something that would be better suited as a daily driver with the ability to tow a couple bikes a few times a year around the country.

 

[rommelrommel]

How much trailer are you going to pull, enclosed or flatdeck? Double axle?

 

[Jeff7181]

How much trailer are you going to pull, enclosed or flatdeck? Double axle?

Most likely it would be flat. Just big enough to hold two bikes and maybe a tool kit or couple spare tires.

 

[rommelrommel]

I'm thinking that a minimalist trailer would be 600-800 pounds, so a max of 2500 pounds or so loaded.

I personally would want something with 4000-5000 lbs towing capacity at least. Obviously any pickup would do it, what about a midsize? New Canyon/Colorado are nice, and up to 7000 lbs rated. Even the 4 banger is 3500.

I guess what kind of daily driver you want would help, there's an awful lot that can tow 2500 lbs. Some marginally, but even most midsize cars can do it.

 

[Jeff7181]

Yeah, I was thinking any pickup truck would do, but none are going to be too friendly to my 80-mile per day commute to work.

I know Dodge/Jeep have that new diesel V6, but I don't know that I want to be stuck buying diesel all the time considering how gasoline is now below $2/gallon here and diesel is still $3.50.

I was thinking something like a Ford Explorer or a GMC Terrain, although at first look it appears the towing capacity of the Terrain is only 1500 pounds. Maybe that's just the base model and there's one with a towing package that raises that.

Of course, I guess the other option is to rent a vehicle when I travel with the bikes and keep my 30 mpg Fusion daily driver.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

If you're not towing that often, or that far, or in the mountains I would just put a hitch on the Fusion.

 

[skyking]

I could tow that with the diesel beetle. No need to get crazy with a truck, unless you want the other attributes. Once you have a small trailer it will now do the truck hauling stuff anyway.

 

[DeviousTrap]

Honestly, how much towing will you be doing and how far? A 1,000 -1,600 pound trailer really isn't much at all. No need to overdue it with a pickup truck.

Your fusion is rated for 2,000lbs...

 

[Jumpem]

Forester or Outback. Especially if you live in the north.

 

[Jeff7181]

Honestly, how much towing will you be doing and how far? A 1,000 -1,600 pound trailer really isn't much at all. No need to overdue it with a pickup truck.

Your fusion is rated for 2,000lbs...

My 1.6L is rated for 1000. Different transmission in addition to the additional power with the 2.0L Ecoboost engine.

I expect to tow 3-4 times a year, potentially as far as California (from Michigan).

 

[onza]

Is max towing determined by TQ or HP? (generally speaking)

 

[Jeff7181]

Is max towing determined by TQ or HP? (generally speaking)

Engines that produce high torque at low RPM typically tow better than engines that produce high torque at high RPM (high horsepower).

However, the strength of the drive train is as important if not more important than the power the engine makes. That's what I'd be worried about with my Fusion - the drive train and suspension is not designed for towing.

 

[Jeff7181]

Forester or Outback. Especially if you live in the north.

I have looked at Subaru's before due to how well their AWD system works. Nice for Michigan winters.

 

[rommelrommel]

Are your two motorcycles really 1600lbs?

Anyways, even the Escape with tow package and ecoboost can tow 3500 I think it is. I think any v6 or turbo 4 is likely to have a decent tow rating.

Personally I like to have a good margin for error when towing long distance, but as said we're not really talking about a ton of weight. People would pull multiple times that years ago with drum brakes and asthmatic engines putting out 130hp.

 

[Jumpem]

I have looked at Subaru's before due to how well their AWD system works. Nice for Michigan winters.

The newer models with the CVT have very good fuel economy.

 

[Jeff7181]

Are your two motorcycles really 1600lbs?

Anyways, even the Escape with tow package and ecoboost can tow 3500 I think it is. I think any v6 or turbo 4 is likely to have a decent tow rating.

Personally I like to have a good margin for error when towing long distance, but as said we're not really talking about a ton of weight. People would pull multiple times that years ago with drum brakes and asthmatic engines putting out 130hp.

No, I said let's assume the combined weight is between 1000 and 1600. A couple sport bikes, spare tires and a tool kit will be easily over 1000 pounds. Swap out one or both of those sport bikes with cruisers and you're talking more like 1600 pounds.

 

[rommelrommel]

Ok, so your upper possible limit is about 2500, and more likely around 1500... I would not worry too much about towing that long distance with a vehicle rated for 2500-3500 or so.

(Assuming your vehicle will not be loaded to the gills with stuff. Tow ratings usually assume driver and no passengers or load in the vehicle.) If you're going to have another person (presumably) and your luggage you have to account for that too.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

A Ford Escape with the 2.0L Ecoboost and a Class II hitch is good for 3,500 pounds. The 1.6L Ecoboost is good for 2,000 pounds.

 

[Ferzerp]

 

[Yuriman]

^ 55 horsepower 3 cylinder

If you're not towing a ton, I'd just put a hitch on what you have and try to get a decently lightweight trailer.

EDIT: I feel pretty safe towing up to around 800lbs in my car, so you should have no problems in a Fiesta if you take it easy, and won't be going down any mountains:

 

[Jeff7181]

I guess one of the concerns I have is with the transmission in my Fusion. I've done some data logging with the SCT X4 tuner that I have, and I've never seen the trans fluid temp level off. Granted I've only logged ~1 hour trips. But an hour of driving seems like it should be long enough to bring the transmission up to temp and have it level off, but it hasn't. It's gotten up to about 240F I believe, which doesn't concern me unless it increases much above that.

I'll be taking an 8-9 hour trip to PA in the next month or so, so I'm sure I'll be able to see the temp stabilize during that trip.

So even with a trailer like this: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=145557-15476-4X6G
... which apparently weighs 350 pounds, plus my 450 pound bike is 800 pounds. Plus tools, tires and luggage and that's approaching 1000 pounds. Now add a second 450 pound bike and it's well over the 1000 pounds Ford claims my Fusion can handle.

 

[skyking]

240 is too high and I agree with being concerned. The biggest part of tow ratings is not power or torque, but worst case cooling capacity.

 

[bamx2]

A supplemental ATF transmission cooler is a must for towing. They are usually not difficult to diy install. ( Use metal straps /brackets and fasten it to the body vs fastening to the radiator with the pull-through ties). Also, consider installing an inline ATF filter while you are at it (eg- Magnefine, B&M 80277 ) if the vehicle doe not have one (more than just a filter screen at the bottom of the transmission).

I prefer using the stacked plate type of ATF cooler. I have used the Long Tru-cool brand (and would probably use the 4454 for this situation ) . There are other brands of stacked plate ATF coolers made by others ( eg B&M Racing, Derale). Go to amazon and search for stacked plate transmission cooler


http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=2&Category_Code=tru-cool-lpd

 

[olds]

As someone who has worked on the highway system for 25 years, let me tell you what I see wrecked a lot, in hilly country.
Small vehicles/cars towing trailers. Mostly trailers that are at the limits of the tow capacity of the vehicle. I would always oversize my vehicle. IE, if the load was 1500#, I'd want a vehicle that could tow 3000#. I am not saying to double the rating though. Plus I don't think car brakes or transmissions are really up to towing much. If I am looking for a used car and it has a hitch on it, I automatically pass on it.

Worst wreck I saw was a a CJ type Jeep towing about a 22' trailer. Going down hill, the trailer passed the jeep. It drug the jeep with it.

 

[Tuanies]

2015 Outback 2.5i can tow up to 2700lbs, 3500lbs with the 3.6. The 2.5 CVT gets respectable gas mileage.