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Old 12-12-2012, 04:30 PM   #1
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What do you pull?

I am new to this rv adventure. I bought a 02 26 ft Jayco about 6 months ago, it has the Ford v10. I want to pull a small car. I don't want to spend a lot on a newer one. I am thinking of a older VW. Anybody pull a VW? I am thinking VW because of the weight. What do you think? Stan
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Old 12-13-2012, 08:29 AM   #2
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Originally Posted by stans02 View Post
I am new to this rv adventure. I bought a 02 26 ft Jayco about 6 months ago, it has the Ford v10. I want to pull a small car. I don't want to spend a lot on a newer one. I am thinking of a older VW. Anybody pull a VW? I am thinking VW because of the weight. What do you think? Stan
I was pulling our 2000 Mazda Protege sedan, but it was an automatic transmission and we had to use a tow dolly to keep the front wheels up. That proved to be a major pain in the ---. So we sold the Protege and found an 03 Mazda B2300 pickup with a standard transmission so it can be towed 4 wheels down. Much, much simpler to hook up and disconnect.

Recently took it on a 9,300 mile motorhome trip to Alaska and the combination worked great! I would highly recommend towing a vehicle w/4 down - it is the way to go! :hihi:
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Old 12-13-2012, 09:10 PM   #3
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When we bought our Jayco, we sold our trailer and my truck (which was also my daily driver). I replaced the truck with a Honda Fit (manual trans). It's nice and light and also makes a really efficient daily driver. I'm planning to set it up as a toad as soon as funds permit. FWIW...
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Old 12-15-2012, 10:51 AM   #4
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... I'm planning to set it up as a toad as soon as funds permit...
I got my tow set up on craigslist. Total set up at Camping World would have been around $1500. I found the towbar and vehicle specific mounts for $250 - had it installed by my neighborhood mechanic for $90 and I am good to go.

You may not be able to find the vehicle specific tow mounts, but there are plenty of towbars for sale there. Good luck!
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Old 12-15-2012, 11:12 AM   #5
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Back in my Flair motorhome days I sought out and found a 4X4 Geo Tracker as they could be towed four flat with no mods. At around 2300 lbs, it was an excellent toad. I went with a Demco baseplate and installed it myself. It was a good set up and we enjoyed many trips with the Geo with virtually no difference in MPG with the Flair.

I sold the Tracker last year after having owned it 10 years. I paid $3300 for it and sold it for $2300. They make great toads but good examples are becomming scarce.
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Old 12-15-2012, 07:57 PM   #6
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I see TONS of older VW/dune buggies being flat towed coming/going to the campgrounds all summer long here. I'd stick with a standard (torsion front beam suspension) or non-superbeetle if possible. The front tow bars for these can be found everywhere and pretty inexpensive.
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Old 12-23-2012, 07:46 PM   #7
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This one is so small you have to go outside to change your mind.
But its wAY cool.
if i didnt have my motorhome Id be looking to buy one of these.

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Old 02-16-2013, 03:45 PM   #8
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Setting up 2007 HHR using Blueox baseplate and tow bar to pull behind 2005 Granite Ridge 3100 SS. Still researching brake systems and wiring options.
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Old 02-17-2013, 06:08 PM   #9
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Pulling a Toyota Matrix

I am pulling a 2003 Toyota Matrix XRS (Manual) four wheels down

I used hitchsource.com and would recommend that you call them as part of your research. They are very knowledgeable and will explain your options and make sure you order the right parts.

I did all of the install myself

This everything I ended up buying

03-04 TOYOTA Matrix | Blue Ox Tow Bar Baseplates Item# BX3750
Blue Ox 7-wire to 6-wire Coiled Electrical Cable
Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow Bar - 10,000 lb --- I love this tow bar, you can connect up from pretty much any angle.
Blue Ox Aladdin and Aventa II/LX tow bar cover
Blue Ox Patriot Portable Brake System --- Break system has been very easy to set up and auto configures without any issues
Blue OX 4-Lock Kit For BlueOx Base Plates and Tow Bars
Tow Defender Rock Shield - For Blue Ox Towbars --- I think if I had to do it again I would just add a once of the gaurds to the camper bumber instead but this is working, I just imagine having to replace the material in a couple of years and it is a little dirty to roll up
Blue Ox tail light wiring kit. --- they helped me make sure I ordered the right diodes as well

The baseplate just took a quite Saturday morning to install and was not as difficult as I expected it to be.

Adding this all up came close to $2800 but you $490 for the Tow Defender Rock Shield

The Patriot Bake system is the big ticket item at almost $1000.

Big investment for all of this but I can move all it except some wiring and the base plate to another vehicle when the time comes.
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Old 02-17-2013, 08:54 PM   #10
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pulling a 2008 Miata with Roadmaster gear.
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Old 02-18-2013, 01:15 PM   #11
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Pulling either a Ranger Reata 1850 or a 2012 Ford Fusion (on a dolly)
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Old 02-18-2013, 07:41 PM   #12
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Pulling a 2013 Ford Focus automatic 4 down using the Roadmaster Sterling tow bar. Can't feel the toad behind me.
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Old 02-20-2013, 09:27 AM   #13
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Towing a Ford Edge FWD 4 wheels down using Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bars and SMI Stay-in-Play DUO braking system.... the SMI is the easiest to use braking system out there... I highly recommend both....
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Old 03-02-2013, 10:16 PM   #14
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Back in 2011, I bought a brand new Chevy Cruze to tow behind the motorhome that I knew I would be purchasing in the near future. I chose the Chevy Cruze because it would make a great daily driver but the main reason was because the automatic transmission was compatible with dinghy towing. In January, 2013, I finally found the motorhome I had wanted and bought it. A few days later, I found the letter from General Motors that they mailed me stating that they had changed their mind about the Chevy Cruze being flat towable. I immediately contacted GM and requested that they either set me up with a different car with the same payment each month that would be flat towable, or buy me a tow dolly. They opted to buy me the dolly. It arrived yesterday. This was certainly not the scenario that I had envisioned, but it is now the one that I have. Maybe one day I will be able to trade for the Ford Fusion that I had looked at before going with the Chevy Cruze and won't have to deal with the tow dolly. For now, it is what it is.
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Old 03-14-2013, 07:36 PM   #15
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I purchased a used Honda CR-V to tow. Love it.
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Old 04-08-2013, 01:05 AM   #16
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Any recommendations for flat towing? Right now I'm considering the Fiat 500 or Mini Cooper. Anyone have experience with either?
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Old 04-17-2013, 10:02 PM   #17
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I am towing a 2007 Honda CR-V. Put it in neutral (run it thru the gears first to lub everything first) and take off. Should run it for a little after about 200 miles but that is a days trip for me anyway. Not in any hurry. I have installed a diode from the Coach to keep it charged. Been going for 6 years with little problems.
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Old 04-19-2013, 09:06 PM   #18
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I am towing a 2007 Honda CR-V. Put it in neutral (run it thru the gears first to lub everything first) and take off. Should run it for a little after about 200 miles but that is a days trip for me anyway. Not in any hurry. I have installed a diode from the Coach to keep it charged. Been going for 6 years with little problems.
Hi Chuck,
I'm getting ready to buy what I need to tow our 2008 CRV behind our Greyhawk, can you describe your setup please?
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Old 04-20-2013, 08:52 AM   #19
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Lol. Saw a MH pulling a 5x10 landscape trailer which had a Smart car on it the other day.
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Old 04-20-2013, 12:00 PM   #20
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I am in the process of setting up our 2013 CRV for towing. I have to do it in piece work. I have the tow bar adapter purchased already, looking into braking systems and the plan is to get the adapter and braking system installed at the same time.
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