Choosing a smaller Truck to Tow
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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14526
Printed Date: 27 Apr 2024 at 9:49am
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Topic: Choosing a smaller Truck to Tow
Posted By: neptune1
Subject: Choosing a smaller Truck to Tow
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 11:10am
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Hi, we are going to be buying a Rpod-178 Forest River. We are wanting/needing to buy a smaller truck mostly due to we don't have space to part a full size and my wife is too small to drive one so its not in the cards at all. We're looking at the Chevy Colorado, around a 2018. There is the V6 2.5L Tow package that has a 5,000 Tow Capacity and the V6 3.6L Tow package that has a 7,000 Tow Capacity Would either of these be capable to tow the RP-178 ? would the 3.6L be better choice or does it matter much? Gas mileage is also a consideration of ours. Thanks in advance for your input/thoughts
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Replies:
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 11:33am
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Yes, either will do the job, but the larger engine will let you carry more junk in the truck. I hope the newer Colorados are better than mine. It was endless trouble. After 2 Pontiacs, that Colorado broke me from ever having another GM product. ------------- John '16 R-Pod 180 |
Posted By: neptune1
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 11:37am
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thanks John!!! can I ask what year was your Colorado? |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 11:38am
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In all actuality I wouldn't worry about gas mileage while towing. Most on the forum here will get 11-14 mpg regardless of what gasoline powered vehicle is used. Lower speed=better mileage. For 8 of the last 10 years we towed our 177 out west on numerous occasions with either an '08 or '13 Explorer which had engine displacements of 4.0 V6 (5000lb tow capacity) and 3.5 V6 (5500 tow capacity) over 26,000 miles with no issues. Certainly we didn't win any races going up or down a lot of the grades in the Rockies, but were not in a race either. Mileage was 12 mpg for both. Also, a Curt friction bar was utilized on both for sway control and was found adequate for the job. I would strongly lean toward the 3.6 engine as you can never have too much power but you can certainly wish you had 'a lot more' when climbing those steep grades in the mountains. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 12:16pm
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The Ford Ranger also offers a 7500 lb. towing capacity when you buy the towing package.
I think that it comes with the 2.7L ecoboost engine. We have that engine in our F-150 and it has plenty of power, especially at high altitudes. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: neptune1
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 1:39pm
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what kind of gas mileage do you get with the Ranger? also isn't that a full size truck? |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 2:17pm
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We have neighbors that have both Rangers and Colorados, both are close to being similar in size. Website shows Ranger gets up to 21 city and 26 highway. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 2:45pm
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Ranger, Colorado, Canyon, Frontier, and Tacoma are all considered mid-sized these days. I think any of them would be good for pulling most Rpods. I think all of them can be gotten with tow capacity in the 6,000-6,500 range. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 2:56pm
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Hello Neptune1! Glad to see you have included a visit here as part of informing yourself before making a tow vehicle purchase. I can't give you specific info regarding your search for a midsize truck, but I believe I can safely say whatever vehicle you purchase, try to ensure that it is a model that already is set up with a (heavy duty) tow package. If it has everything tow specific you need, you won't need to install a lot of aftermarket items unless you want to customize something in particular.
A decent heavy duty tow pkg would include a larger radiator for extra cooling and possibly a heavier suspension/shocks. A transmission cooler is usually included as part of the pkg (also a must-have in my books) as well as a higher rated alternator (a trailer increases the load on your electrical system), a trailer brake controller and the 7 pin trailer plug to plug on the TT should also be factory installed as part of the pkg. It might also include tow mirrors that can slide out but if needed, clip on mirrors can be purchased through the interweb or at a local parts store. Not as good as a factory tow mirror but does the job I need them to do. You may already know all this but I thought it better safe than sorry in mentioning it. Good luck in your search and keep asking questions, we are fortunate to have a lot of people here that are willing to help out where ever possible! ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: neptune1
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 3:06pm
| thanks everyone, great information, I think we are on the right track!! |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 4:24pm
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I would like to add a few more suggestions as I have just spoken to my wife (and listened!).
We also have a bit of a height differential, I am just under 6 ft tall and she is 5 ft tall. Some of the must haves when selecting our truck was an 8 way adjustable drivers seat (we wish ours had both front seats that were adjustable like this...but at a minimum the drivers seat to allow for the different body lengths (we actually have to have a 2x10 piece of wood on the passengers side floor so she can have her feet planted securely and comfortably). The 2nd thing that allows my wife to drive our full size truck is the adjustable pedal option...whoever climbs in can set the seat and pedals etc and off we go. ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2021 at 6:38am
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5000 lbs is the minimum for a 178. If you plan on boondocking I'd suggest higher. I do and I'm right at the limits on tongue weight, water and batteries are heavy.
The only other comment I have is the 170/180 series rpods are narrow enough that they don't necessarily need extension mirrors. I don't use them, try for yourself first. The 190 series are wider and do need them. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2021 at 11:42am
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We don't have tow mirrors on our F150, and the view aft works very well with the narrowness of the RP179. Tow mirrors would probably be better, but it's actually pretty good with the standard mirrors. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2021 at 2:24pm
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+1 Even though our truck is two years newer, mirrors and the like are most likely nearly identical as on yours and do not feel there is a need for additional tow mirrors. Even on the '94 F-150 the view we had from the mirrors was more than adequate. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2021 at 3:47pm
Mine was a 2007. As to wider mirrors, I'd like to have some, but I can see my wheels and some area beside/behind my 180. I've added a wireless rear view camera that I thinks is fabulous! However, I have to put the screen near the rear view mirror because my automatic scan goes to that mirror and all I see is green.  ------------- John '16 R-Pod 180 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2021 at 9:56pm
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I added towing mirrors from 1A Auto to our Frontier. I appreciate the additional visibility that the mirrors give me when they are extended. https://www.1aauto.com/search?q=towing+mirrors&page=2 - https://www.1aauto.com/search?q=towing+mirrors&page=2 ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2021 at 7:25am
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The majority of states mirror requirements are that they reflect a view of the roadway of at least 200 feet behind the vehicle.
Personally this "at least" language doesn't make much sense to me. Any mirror with an outer edge that is set out as wide or wider than the trailer will do that, but could still leave a big (or infinite) blind spot. Seems like it should say something like "reflect a view of the entire roadway beginning at most 200 feet behind the vehicle". That would require mirrors to be set wide enough so that the view from the two mirrors overlaps withing 200 feet so the blind spot is shorter than that. But maybe I'm missing something. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2021 at 10:44am
All the times you have posted about these mirrors, I would look and say " nah, I don't need those", but I finally gave in. They are on order. Mostly i'm hoping they help me see when backing into a site. My back up camera is great for when i'm on the road ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2021 at 2:19pm
 ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2021 at 5:37pm
Yeah I can just imagine the state governments' specs for rear facing cameras to meet blind spot requirements. Resolution, field of view, display sizes and daylight visibility brightness specs.  ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2021 at 10:36pm
They help in seeing what the trailer is doing. I don't have a backup camera on the trailer, so I can't compare the view each gives. I look forward to reading your report when you get them, install them, and test them. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |