Tow vehicle

We each have our limit of what aggravates us.  I agree, I recently downsized to a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder with a 5K towing capacity.  Had a 2005 Tahoe with 6,800 lb. towing capacity.  The Nissan has been holding its own, however I can feel it running out of power on the longer climbs.  Overall, the better gas mileage and a newer vehicle were the deciding factor.  Money unlimited, back to a 2015 Tahoe.  Big V8, big gas bills, big smile.  Safe Travels.

It seems that you don't want to listen to any of the advice here.  That being said, please let us know where and when you will be towing so that I can stay far away from you.  Safe Travels.

My bride won't let me!

Podders,
Is a Chrysler 300 too small? Let me compare it to a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Both have the same drive train--engine, transmission, drive shaft axles, etc. Both have the same unibody construction and a good argument can be made that the Chrysler is the stiffer of the two. Both have the same brakes. Yes the Chrysler has softer springs and less suspension travel but as long the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is not exceeded that should not be an issue. For example I have five good full sized adults as passengers along with a full trunk. That load was 950 lbs and the car was fine.   A Chrysler tech contact confirmed to me that both the Jeep and Chrysler had the same drive trains but when challenged as to why the tow ratings were so different, he smugly said that the suspension was the limiting factor. A properly loaded car does not know where the weight is. If you do not exceed the individual axle rating or the gross vehicle weight, then the car should pull what the drive train is capable of. Add to this the fact that a Chrysler 300 has a long wheel base and very short overhangs. This always makes for a good towing vehicle. I say advantage Chrysler 300.
Andy at CanAm RV has proved this with many different tow vehicles and claims the Chrysler 300 as one of the best. Does than mean that if you have and accident you will not be sued. Of course not, but you will probably be sued anyway.

I thank everyone for their thoughts and interest in this post. But I still ask--Is anyone pulling an RPOD with a car?????   Anyone?????
Argueably, many SUV's are just cars with different skin and more ground clearance, but does that make them better tow vehicles. I have owned many vehicles in my life from sports cars to trucks and the most comfortable vehicle to go down the road in is a long wheelbase big heavy four door sedan. Among the many cars I have owned there were some that filled this description but none has done it better than my 300. Can you imagine towing in that lap of luxury?   My wife calls it our big fat ass retirement car. The trunk is large enough for two dead bodies but remains mostly empty. When we fill the trunk with stuff for the grand kids gas up and take off we get 30-35 mpg at speeds up to 70.
We now tow with a Ford Edge which is almost as nice as the Chrysler but I am getting older and want the most comfortable vehicle I can have to go down my last roads of life.

PODSKI

I've towed with underrated vehicles (or I should say I've towed some loads that were way beyond what I should have, by any measure), and I've gotten away with it.  But I'll say this, aside from the legal and safety issues, the peace-of-mind factor, when going down the road in a tow vehicle that is towing something comfortably within its limits, is worth a whole lot.

I've sweated bullets trying to stop before hitting the guy in front of me and it's crossed my mind what I'd have to do if my TV gave out on me before I reached the top of a hill and I start rolling backwards.  These scenarios are not fun.  If your vehicle doesn't have a nice little fudge factor for towing, the stress can be constant.

If you have to move your sister out of her house and across town on short notice because her husband is beating her, maybe it's worth it.  To voluntarily tow a pleasure trailer across country with a vehicle that is really too small is not worth the stress, even if you don't have any real issues.  Vacations are about getting away from stress, not putting yourself in stressful situations.

RPods and travel trailers in general aren't the only options for camping.  A car-top carrier and a Coleman tent work great too.  That was my solution for many years.

My opinion.

TT