crazes

Well I have decided to follow a fellow drag racers idea of purchasing a new vehicle for towing my drag car. I have realized that trying to borrow a truck or suv is getting annoying for towing my car to get tuned and soon when i plan on going full drag by next year which would require me to be towing the car all the time to the track and back.

I am currently paying about 350 on a car I finance right now. I am looking at leasing an suv instead of a truck. The reason I want to get an suv is due to the fact I travel to the city often and its a major pain in the back side to find parking and drive around with one. I and am also looking at the fact of the amount mpg compared from suv to trucks.

I think a suburban or yukon's are to big to have. I was looking like something maybe like a pathfinder se that has luxury and towing. I looking for a good balance since this will become my new daily driver. Somewhere that would be around 400 to 450 a month good credit isnt an issue. Well guys need your help give some suggestions and some ideas of what way i should go and maybe some vehicles I should look at.

Thanks for all your help

P.S. getting a used vehicle isnt out of consideration either but would prefer new incase of mechanical issues

paulzy

iTrader: (1)

get something with a tranny that won't scream while towing. Depends on what you're towing as well: dolly, flatbed, enclosed.


Also, never go into a car purchase on how much you want to pay monthly. That is a great way for the dealer to rape you without lube. They will tack on useless **** to get that total price back.

vectorsolid

^ yea, what he said.

You can't just hook a 32' enclosed bumper pull trailer to the back of a Suzuki Samurai. well, you could, but...

I've had a LOT of experience towing a 24 foot enclosed bumper pull trailer all over the country with newer Suburbans. I "hated" being on the interstates getting blowed around by big rigs going 75-80 and you're out there, 60-65. We had the best hitch and sway stuff you can get. You still get blowed around. Gotta match the trailer to the tow vehicle. A big trailer will drive the tow vehicle.

I wouldn't go past 24 foot with an SUV. A full size, BIG SUV.

If you're going to tow with it a lot, contemplate a diesel version. 10-12mpg is always better than 7.

JayWest

I'm kind of in the same boat. I use a dolly and lately been looking in to getting a chevy blazer. Theyre pretty cheap and can tow a good amount. Thats probably the way ill go

2fastGSR

Dave, I looked into the Nissan Pathfinders before. They have a pretty decent tow capacity and are still nice daily drivers.

Poootie

i have been towing my car on a 2 wheel dolly for the past 2 years with a 99 Honda CRV!!

Thing is a work horse.. But the tranny does screamm lmaooo

I have to map out my trip b4hand and see how many hills i have to deal with. lol

It does take $30 to fill up, and most tows i still have 1/2-1/4 tank of gas, I am also looking into somthing that is good for the family ( i have 2 kids) and can also pull my car.

So i'm in for ideas!

I also live in midtown Manhattan and i knoww exactly how hard it is to find parking ( and indoor parking is usually around $500/month for anywhere within walking distance from my Apt). So im not looking for a Tank either.

crazes

I would be using a tow dolly in the begining since I have access to one on a constant basis for free. Next year i would look at maybe getting a flat bed but enclosed willnt happen for sometime.

i looked at the chevy blazer but I read there was issues with the rear defs anyone got any info on this?

crazes

yea I dont how people drive with the tanks in the city cause damn its pain to drive and do anything.


well its a good thing i made this thread there are others in the same position.

evilclown312

iTrader: (2)

My dad averaged like 20-22 mpg towing a f150 on a 18ft trailer with his f250 diesel from Tenn. to Ohio.

sanman000719

i use to have a tow dolly then went to a 18 foot open trailor using a BMW X5, and absolutely loved it riding in style and comfort pulling the trailor and car averaging about 24mpg is the ****. i traded it off for a 09 ford f350 dually, and it was getting 10.9mpg then i added a programmer and whamo 17.5 mpg. the only reason i got the ford is because i do car audio as well, and had a 13k lb astrovan to haul around and wasnt wanting to tear the bmw up.

zakura R

1999 expedition 5.4 v8 awd 3"drop is been good to me I have a 16 foot open trailer + I did the air lift kit for the real suspention for towin it work nice

CHEETAH

iTrader: (2)

the 2009+ Honda Pilot is actually very good and might work well for you...it holds its own for a 6cyl. I used my wife's Pilot a few times to pull an open trailer and tow dolly...cars as heavy as a Supra t/t and a corvette, and of course my civic...pulls great and you hardly feel like you're pulling anything on back. Compared to my F250 where you do feel what you're pulling.

Funny enough that on the flat highways when not on too much throttle the "ECO" light comes on even while pulling the trailer.

if you go that route and plan on a lot of towing, get some airbags in the rear.

dyno76

iTrader: (1)

09 or newer Honda Pilot..Great for dailly driving, awesome down the interstate for any amount of time, and damn impressive in snow or blizzards for that matter ( had couple experiences with those last winter).. Towing capacity on AWD one is 4500 pounds.

boostek9

iTrader: (1)

I have a Avalanche Z71 which tows awesome. Has all luxury items, including dual DVD players in rear headrests. I love the truck.

I am looking to sell it, if your interested let me know, I have some pics. I think Im gonna go diesel and get an enclosed trailer.

beavis

Damn, I have a 99 CRV and ive always wondered if it would tow a car. I know it takes a boat load of abuse from me. The trannies in them are iffy to begin with. lol How far do you tow with it?

h22 civic

i will tell you this from experience if you dont want a big truck tahoe/suburban etc and dont want to buy new look into a pathfinder i have towed with a pathfinder with a 18 foot closed deck (1800pds) with a 3500pd supra on it going on 2 years now and on looong journeys 10-15 hours with 5 peeps inside (no light weight either none under 200 pds) and over 100k on the odometer now!! if i wasnt doing it my self i would not beleive it, tows like a charm . only thing i did was put the airbag setup in it (cheap ****).i also have a 2003 tahoe and a 2007 tahoe they both tow good but i excpected that ..

here ya go a trip from new york to chicago to speed&sound (my tuner) it was 13 hours their 6 hour doing what we had to and 13 back all in one shot did this more times then i want to remember only had a problem once.........the trailer tire blew out ...lol

jnv255

same here for my Excursion, 20-22 towing an open trailer with my car. Gets right at 30mpg going 70mph without towing anything. It didn't do that stock, but it does now.

JayWest

what year pathfinder?

h22 civic

2003

rookiepains

whatever you do don't get a ford superduty ,mine gets 7.2 mpg.

It's murder.

j-bird20

wut year? diesel?

crazes

wow really there so many things going on guys thanks for the imput alot keep it coming. damn pepsi what the hell is wrong with ur truck?

SL0WEGG

i'm surprised to see a pathfinder in here lol. I'm on the same boat as well. I'll have to look into the pathfinder

85mmek9

We have a 05 1ton duramax dually, programed, exhaust etc... towing a 42' inclosed goose neck with 2 cars in it getting around 16 mpg. The truck barley knows anything is behind it. But we are looking into the new 2011 Denali 1ton duramax now.

dantamparacer

I towed my DC integra from Tampa, FL to Colorado Springs, Co with my GMC Envoy on a flat bed and averaged 11-14 mpg When I was going through the hills and mountains it really did not like it and you could definatly tell it was there when slowing down as well. Without towing anything it only got 17mpg. Now I have a 7.3L diesel Excursion and it gets 22mpg on the highway and about 16mpg in the city. I plan on buying a flat bed trailer for the teg and I wont even be able to tell its behind me. Also the bigger trucks are not that bad once you get familiar with how they handle and park