Help Choosing a Tow Vehicle - R-pod Owners Forum

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Pod_Geek

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Joined: 04 Dec 2019
Location: Colorado
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Topic: Help Choosing a Tow Vehicle
Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 9:12am

Here's a (possibly) helpful link:

https://news.pickuptrucks.com/2019/10/breaking-down-the-2020-toyota-tacomas-towing-capacities.html

2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River
2018 RAM 2500 6.4L

offgrid

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Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 9:46am

For me the reason for choosing a full size pickup over a mid sized one would be to have the additional safety margin in weight handling capacity, particularly if you are going to boon dock and carry water and lots of gear in the tow vehicle.

The fuel economy of a full size pickup vs a mid size is not really significant when not towing and nonexistant towing. For example the 3.5L 4wd Taco is rated 18 city/22 highway vs the F150 4wd 3.5L at 16/22. Either is going to provide around 13-14 mpg towing on flat ground in the 60-65 mph range.

Beyond that its what you're comfortable with driving around not towing. You might want to consider an SUV rather than a pickup as well. Depends what other uses you plan on for the vehicle and how many passengers you have. Personally I need two row seating and find the double cab pickups with a "vestigial" 5 to 5.5 foot bed pretty useless as work vehicles, and the full size bed double cab trucks too long to maneuver. So not being able to afford dedicated vehicles, I use an SUV and a utility trailer for work and the SUV and rpod for travel.

Test drive a few vehicles with tow ratings of 6500 lbs or more and 4wd then decide.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Pod_Geek

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Location: Colorado
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Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 10:01am

Originally posted by offgrid

...Test drive a few vehicles with tow ratings of 6500 lbs or more and 4wd then decide.

I found it interesting that in the link I posted that 2WD Tacomas have a higher tow rating than 4WD. Is that due to the added weight associated with 4WD vehicles?

2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River
2018 RAM 2500 6.4L

offgrid

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Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 10:34am

Yep, if you look at the Toyota website the 4wd weighs 240lbs more than the 2wd with the same trim. The GVWR and MCVWR are identical. The payload on the 4wd is 240 lbs less. The towing capacity difference is rounded up to 300 lbs.

I'm with CharlieM though re 4wd for towing, there have been many many times I've been glad to have it, not just in inclement weather but on soft surface roads with steeper grades, and even pulling a trailer up a slight slope on wet grass.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

StephenH

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Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 10:58am

The same exists for the Frontier. It likely is the additional weight and drag of the 4WD gearing.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

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Capt Kidd

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Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 12:32pm

I tow my 196 with a Dodge Durando V-6. No WHD hitch or sway bars and it tows just fine. I get 12 to 14 mpg at 60 mph. The Durango has paddle shifters and I use them and mostly tow in 7th gear if there us no head wind.

The Pirate's Pod

Capt Kidd

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Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 12:34pm

My Durango is a 2016 with all wheel drive. It is rated to tow up to 6200 lbs.

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podwerkz

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Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 12:45pm

You did not mention a budget (or shopping used) so I assume you are looking at brand new trucks?

I'm not a Toyota fan so I will steer you towards the mid-sized Nissan Frontier or Ford Ranger.

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Pod_Geek

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Joined: 04 Dec 2019
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Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 12:54pm

Originally posted by Capt Kidd

I tow my 196 with a Dodge Durando V-6. No WHD hitch or sway bars and it tows just fine. I get 12 to 14 mpg at 60 mph. The Durango has paddle shifters and I use them and mostly tow in 7th gear if there us no head wind.

I think it might be important to indicate the conditions/areas that one tows in. Nebraska <> SW Colorado.

2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River
2018 RAM 2500 6.4L

Gypsiejanie View Drop Down

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Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 8:31am

Thank you for your response. It's just me and my little dog. However, I will be moving out of my house and toting some bins with me in the tow vehicle...travel camping on my way to relocating on the other side of the US. The tow vehicle will be my only vehicle, so it's got to be. good and reliable one. At this point I'm thinking full size SUV or full size truck but the sticker shock difference is...well, OUCH! So I'll have to buy used. Lots of research to do.