...I got another call about towing with these things...
...and the very fact that the manufacturers installed them at the factory has alot of people wondering if they're just being chicken not towing their boat to the lake with their Dolphin 6-cylinder. The truth is that, given enough flat ground and time to accelerate, you can tow pretty much anything within reason...the problem is whether or not it's safe. The motorhome has enough mass and dual wheel stability to pull a small boat or trailer straght down the road with the substatial class three hitch that's often seen on the coaches...and the coach isn't going to get whipped around like you might see a Jeep CJ or Wrangler 6-cylinder trying to tow a small boat. The question is what are the other factors involved: hills and steep boat ramps...steep freeway on-ramps where you'd be a hazard to everyone within 5 miles...long grades that would kill that poor motorhome...only you know what your planned route is like. Attention: If you have an Odyssey 3.0/5-speed, you're excused from this discussion because you can pull pretty much anything within reason because of your increased torque. My friend Joe launches his little boat on a pretty steep with his Dolphin and , really, those 3.0/automatic drivetrains by the millions have pulled unbelievable stuff while disguised as Toyota pick-ups/ 4x4's/ and 4Runners from 1989-1995. A girl at our stables tows her horse and trailer with her 1994 Toyota 4x4 all over the place...you just have to get a feel for what your motorhome will pull and pull safely on your individual route. And remember that the receiver has other valuable functions: storage platforms that fit into the receiver that can be storage for extra stuff and fuel for your Alaska trip...quality bicycle racks...and some new hitch based ladder and rack systems for your Kayaks and surfboards.
posted by Kirk at 4:45 PM
4 Comments:
Kirk, I'm not sure whether or not this website is yours, but I thought I'd congratulate you on a job well done if it is. This is a great site and I think many current and future Toyota motorhome owners such as myself will be glad they've found it. As far as the towing issue goes I think there are two things people need to remember. One is the rig is rated to tow 3,500 pounds maximum. A horse trailer would be more than I'd be comfortable with, as the tongue weight is only 350 pounds maximum. If the weight inside, horse or otherwise, moves forward, the tongue weight would far exceed the maximum, negatively effecting the control of the combo at highway speeds. Second, the wheelbase-to-length ratio on these little gems is not the best, and any weight being added to the rear only adds to the highway control problem. Anyway, congrats again on a great new site!
Randy
Kirk, I'm not sure whether or not this website is yours, but I thought I'd congratulate you on a job well done if it is. This is a great site and I think many current and future Toyota motorhome owners such as myself will be glad they've found it. As far as the towing issue goes I think there are two things people need to remember. One is the rig is rated to tow 3,500 pounds maximum. A horse trailer would be more than I'd be comfortable with, as the tongue weight is only 350 pounds maximum. If the weight inside, horse or otherwise, moves forward, the tongue weight would far exceed the maximum, negatively effecting the control of the combo at highway speeds. Second, the wheelbase-to-length ratio on these little gems is not the best, and any weight being added to the rear only adds to the highway control problem. Anyway, congrats again on a great new site!
Randy
I was wondering if you had any information on how you would add a tow hitch to the toyota motorhome if it doesn't have one to begin with? We recently bought our new toy a 1991 Toyota Sea Breeze Motorhome and we would like to add a hitch to it so we can add a platform on the back to carry our dip net and fishing gear since it does not have a rack on top. Do you have any ideas on what we need to do to get a hitch added and who would do something like that. Will it need to be welded on or can it be bolted on? We live in Homer Alaska, bought the motorhome in San Diego, CA and drove it up to Alaska last month. It's great and we look forward to having lots of fun with it this summer fishing and camping with our 5 year old son. Thanks for any info you might have to pass on to us.
Liz Pepper
We've been considering the purchase of an older ('86 or '88) Toyota 4 cylinder motorhome. My wife and I are musicians and were wondering if it would be at all possible to tow a small cargo trailer of any kind with one - something to carry our small PA and some musical instruments.
We used to own an '88 Corolla SR5 2-door and were able to fit all our gear in it (packed full including the trunk), I mention that to give you an idea of the size of cargo trailer we would want to tow. Any advice would be welcome!
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