Best tow vehicle for a camper

[needmyfi]

The camper weighs 2700 pounds unloaded so a 4000 plus towing capacity would be optimum.  First priority is Very high reliability for the next 50 k miles of vehicle life.  Second priority is of course cost, including gas and insurance.

We are considering a certified preowned V6  awd Kia Sorento We can get one with under 50 k miles for 20 k that would come with a 100k mile bumper to bumper warranty.

A truck is not out of the question, our last tow vehicle was a Ford Ranger, but we need a club cab/ 4 door truck for our large dog.

I know this forum loves Honda and Toyota, we just have a hard time justifying the cost of a low mileage Japanese

[Goldielocks]

I have a Toyota Highlander, only cost me $13k, and it tows very well.    Older vehicle without too many miles (maybe 80k) when we bought it.

Remember a Toyota can function similarly to another brand with lower miles.

[needmyfi]

Will look again. Would love a v6 Highlander, but most low mileage models were cost prohibitive.

 We really want a certified preowned, we have had to fix a tow vehicle while traveling before and it’s a fast way to ruin a trip. 

[nwhiker]

Will look again. Would love a v6 Highlander, but most low mileage models were cost prohibitive.

 We really want a certified preowned, we have had to fix a tow vehicle while traveling before and it’s a fast way to ruin a trip.

Be careful about buying certified preowned. I'm not sure what every manufacturer requires of dealerships to resell used vehicles as certified preowned, but there are cases where vehicles have been traded-in and the put on the lot the same or next day as certified preowned. So you are paying a premium for a thorough inspection that likely never happened or was very rushed.

[boarder42]

class C RV and towing a fuel efficient car is usually a more economical solution in most cases

[Goldielocks]

Will look again. Would love a v6 Highlander, but most low mileage models were cost prohibitive.

 We really want a certified preowned, we have had to fix a tow vehicle while traveling before and it’s a fast way to ruin a trip.

Well,  we bought ours at 7 years old and 80k miles...for $13k.     I would consider that reasonably "low mileage" for the type of vehicle and service life that you are getting compared to a Hyundai.

[JLee]

I paid a smidge over $8k for my 2005 Lexus GX470 about 1.5 years ago.  Miles were high but they're known to go 400k+ so I didn't really care. Fuel economy is not great but it's a mountain goat offroad and can tow 6500lbs.

[needmyfi]

Will look again. Would love a v6 Highlander, but most low mileage models were cost prohibitive.

 We really want a certified preowned, we have had to fix a tow vehicle while traveling before and it’s a fast way to ruin a trip.

Be careful about buying certified preowned. I'm not sure what every manufacturer requires of dealerships to resell used vehicles as certified preowned, but there are cases where vehicles have been traded-in and the put on the lot the same or next day as certified preowned. So you are paying a premium for a thorough inspection that likely never happened or was very rushed.

Our thinking on this is a repair when you are a thousand miles away from home is a nightmare.  It happened once years ago.  We were really in a vulnerable spot and in no position to negotiate or shop around.  Basically got hauled to the nearest dealership and bent over.    Cpo bumper to bumper would mean the repair would be covered at the nearest dealership.  We are still pricing out specifics so will have to try to sort out the cost difference.  Thanks

[needmyfi]

class C RV and towing a fuel efficient car is usually a more economical solution in most cases

We have owned a 60’s Airsteam for almost 20 years now.  Still sweet.  And worth more now than what we paid for it, so at least there is some lip fur there

[needmyfi]

I paid a smidge over $8k for my 2005 Lexus GX470 about 1.5 years ago.  Miles were high but they're known to go 400k+ so I didn't really care. Fuel economy is not great but it's a mountain goat offroad and can tow 6500lbs.

Any repairs (other than brakes, standard maintenance etc.)? 

[needmyfi]

Will look again. Would love a v6 Highlander, but most low mileage models were cost prohibitive.

 We really want a certified preowned, we have had to fix a tow vehicle while traveling before and it’s a fast way to ruin a trip.

Well,  we bought ours at 7 years old and 80k miles...for $13k.     I would consider that reasonably "low mileage" for the type of vehicle and service life that you are getting compared to a Hyundai.

It’s been pretty hard for us to figure out life vrs cost vrs usage.  One year we might put 20 k miles, and then 1000 miles over the following 2 or 3 years.  Boy, my non mustachian friend just traded her Highlander in last year when it hit 100k miles!  Still breaks my heart.  Her husband is a very detailed oriented engineer and I know they took great care of it too.  She got a new one “just because”.

Have you had any repairs?

[HPstache]

We did a bunch of towing with our tent trailer last year (weighs around 3,500 fully loaded) with our 2003 Honda Pilot.  Not sure if this is the most idea situation, but it has worked well for us.  I added an aftermarket transmission cooler.

[calimom]

class C RV and towing a fuel efficient car is usually a more economical solution in most cases

We have owned a 60’s Airsteam for almost 20 years now.  Still sweet.  And worth more now than what we paid for it, so at least there is some lip fur there

Vintage 1960s Airstream *swoon* I love them. I have my grandparents' 1950s Aljoa trailer in my backyard, it just serves as a spare room because I don't think my Volvo could tow it. The only suggestion I have for a possible tow vehicle is a Jeep Grand Wagoneer with woodgrain. Probably not a good solution, but it would look really cool.

I'm no help at all, but wish you luck in your search for the perfect vehicle.

[Goldielocks]

Can you rent a tow vehicle for the 2-3 weeks a year that you want to use the camper?   It reads like you are looking at an expensive vehicle, when another type of car may be better for you 90% of the time.

[Goldielocks]

Can you rent a tow vehicle for the 2-3 weeks a year that you want to use the camper?   It reads like you are looking at an expensive vehicle, when another type of car may be better for you 90% of the time.

Uhaul.

[YttriumNitrate]

I've heard good things about the Smart Fortwo's towing capacity...

[JLee]

I paid a smidge over $8k for my 2005 Lexus GX470 about 1.5 years ago.  Miles were high but they're known to go 400k+ so I didn't really care. Fuel economy is not great but it's a mountain goat offroad and can tow 6500lbs.

Any repairs (other than brakes, standard maintenance etc.)?

Hood struts ($26) after I bought it.  Other necessary repairs:

Steering rack boots at ~186k,
I replaced the lines on the power steering reservoir (they were seeping) and the reservoir itself (the old one looked terrible and the new one was only $50) at ~194k

I have a loose inner tie rod end now and a clunk in the front end I haven't been able to find so I'm probably going to put a low-mileage junkyard steering rack in and replace the inner and outer tie rods.  My center differential lock isn't working now but from the research I've done it's probably a bad wire between the 4wd computer and the actuator, and I haven't had the time to look into it yet.

I'll be due for another timing belt at 210k (previous owner did it 30k miles late, at 120k instead of 90k) and when I do that, I will do the water pump and probably the alternator and starter as preventative maintenance. I go places where a breakdown would be more than inconvenient:

[CanuckExpat]

Have you weighed your camper fully loaded so you know your needs exactly?
How often do you use the trailer? If it's infrequent, the idea of renting a tow vehicle might be good. Push the maintenance, depreciation, and storage off.

[needmyfi]

Have you weighed your camper fully loaded so you know your needs exactly?
How often do you use the trailer? If it's infrequent, the idea of renting a tow vehicle might be good. Push the maintenance, depreciation, and storage off.

We haven’t ever weighed it loaded.    We want to take one long trip, maybe for 5 or 6:months.  Most categories go from 3500 to 5000.  Since the weight of the camper is 2700, a full black water tank could push things to close to 3500 I think.  We use a 2003 Ford Ranger, weused to take lots of trips and had the transmission rebuilt once already.  It’s rated for 5000 with tow package.  It got about 200k miles and is fine for small local trips, but we might want to drive from Georgia to Alaska! 

[needmyfi]

Can you rent a tow vehicle for the 2-3 weeks a year that you want to use the camper?   It reads like you are looking at an expensive vehicle, when another type of car may be better for you 90% of the time.

We are looking at a 5 to 6 month trip.  We have an old Ford Ranger 2003, 200 k miles, that’s great for a weekend.  We have a Nissan Versa with only 70 k miles to use for daily use. 

[needmyfi]

I paid a smidge over $8k for my 2005 Lexus GX470 about 1.5 years ago.  Miles were high but they're known to go 400k+ so I didn't really care. Fuel economy is not great but it's a mountain goat offroad and can tow 6500lbs.

I go places where a breakdown would be more than inconvenient:

Sounds pretty good actually.  Low cost repairs.  Trying to sort this out with husband since most repair duty will fall on him.  That photo is stunning.  We definitely will try to go places where a breakdown will be more than inconvenient.  Where is that?

[needmyfi]

class C RV and towing a fuel efficient car is usually a more economical solution in most cases

We have owned a 60’s Airsteam for almost 20 years now.  Still sweet.  And worth more now than what we paid for it, so at least there is some lip fur there

Vintage 1960s Airstream *swoon* I love them. I have my grandparents' 1950s Aljoa trailer in my backyard, it just serves as a spare room because I don't think my Volvo could tow it. The only suggestion I have for a possible tow vehicle is a Jeep Grand Wagoneer with woodgrain. Probably not a good solution, but it would look really cool.

I'm no help at all, but wish you luck in your search for the perfect vehicle.

We call those little trailers like you have “canned hams”. Talk about impractical, I would love to take your camper for a huge stretch of Route 66 with a old 1950’s muscle car. 

[JLee]

Sounds pretty good actually.  Low cost repairs.  Trying to sort this out with husband since most repair duty will fall on him.  That photo is stunning.  We definitely will try to go places where a breakdown will be more than inconvenient.  Where is that?

That was somewhere in VT.  I have more pics / places here: https://squashingrocks.com/trip-reports/

[Reddleman]

Looks like you've got a 4.0l tow package Ranger.   Great vehicle for a smaller camper, but fully loaded you're looking at the trailer weighing more than the tow vehicle!  While you can do this, you're bumping near your weight limit.  Never good. 

If you're looking for reliability and hauling capacity, your idea of a full size truck/SUV is a good one.  Full ladder frame, heavy duty components, made for hauling and towing.  I wouldn't consider a crossover or front wheel drive minivan (CRV, RAV4, etc.).  While their tow ratings have increased in the past 10 years, they really are made for "occasional use" at their tow ratings, and some components like the transaxle and auto transmissions are not built with durability first. 

I'd suggest a well-kept F-150/F-250 (or similar) of any time in the past 20 years.  Best option would be a V8, although the older Ford 4.9L straight six was an excellent tow engine.  Something with a factory tow package would be great because it already has the right gearing (4.10 or so, higher being better), although you could make due with a standard model.   Check that all maintenance is up to date, change the fluids, add a good transmission cooler (and a real temperature sensor), and you're probably good for at least a few years of solid towing goodness without any major problems.  Also- any repairs are well within the capability of any mechanic, and parts are dirt cheap.

If you don't need the "truck" part, have you considered a full-sized van? Same components, more interior room.  I've seen many, many 20-30 year old Econoline vans towing boats/canoes/hauling people well into 300-400k mile territory without major incident.