Towing with a small car?

Bill, I use a VW Jetta TDI Wagon to tow a 4x8 open trailer. I have done this the last couple years without issue. I get ~40mpg towing, diesel's rule.

In regards to your Civic, what does the manual say for towing capacity, if any. Definitely add a trans cooler if it is an auto.


John

 

I looked and late 90's Civics show 1000lb towing capacity, but I cannot find any numbers for newer ones....



John

 

Mary was pulling her R6 with a dodge Neon for several years. Hell might still be doing it that way as far as I know but as long as you don't load it down to much I'd say you'll be alright.

 

The crazy Europeans tow with anything. You should be fine if you take it easy and like I said add a trans cooler if it is an automatic.


John

 

I used to tow a 17ft. fiberglas boat w/90hp outboard and galvanized trailer with a VW GTI. That included launches and retrievals. Worked fine. But, just like anything else...it all depends.

 

I tow my daytona 955i and 250lbs 'port-a-chopper' trailer with my '06 4 door civic 1.8 vtec at 80mph all day, along with a trunk full of gear, tools, spare tires, generator; change to 4th up the hills around the smokey mt range and flat get 30mpg!

I think that both the trailer and bike together are very low profile and aerodynamic, which contributes to good gas milage.....i'll refrain and hold my tongue when it comes to the subject of a bigger is better' society that we Americans have to have...

 

I've towed my 06' Kawasaki 636 with my 15 year old Miata (1.6L engine). No problems at all. It's a manual transmission so I don't have to worry about torque converter slip but for an automatic car, just lock it in a lower gear. Cargo capacity on my car is 400 or so pounds and I waaaay exceed that.

Adam O.

 

I tow my R6 with a 4cyl Fusion. Gets about 26mpg under normal driving conditions(some freeway) and about 20mpg when towing. Only downshifts a gear when going up hills. No problems heating up so far this year, temps stay the same as when not towing anything. I use a class I hitch and a small trailer. I have used an aluminum trailer to tow two bikes with it once, had to shift the bikes back a bit to keep the tounge weight down, but she did just fine (this trailer did not have a ramp that folded up at the rear to create a lot of wind drag, ramps stow on the underside of the trailer (that helped out a bit).

 

Get a Draw Tite - very easy to install > I did with my Integra ( glorified civic) Towed My ZRX on a 4x8 Harbor Freight Trailer from Columbus to GA , easy 80 mph cruise , AC on 30 MPG . Didnt even have to downshift a gear . Honda 4 cylinder VTEC's are the best motors going.

I gave the car to my son , I now use a 4 cyl Frontier , I cruise @ about 70-75 with it , get an easy 24 mpg.
Just make sure when you place the bike the tonque weight should be about 10-15 of your total weight . SO if you trailer and bike weigh 800 Lbs then 80-120 should be on the tongue. I used a batroom scales to get that right.
http://www.fourwheeler.com/techarticles/129_0607_trailer_towing/

 

begin here:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/...-10101/N-111+1998+200728709+600002309/c-10101

or call your local U-Haul and they'll sell, install and give you the limits on towing with your car.

BTW I have towed two bikes on a triple beam bike trailer with my '88 5.0 Mustang.

 

Troy and I use to haul a SV650 and Ducati 750SS tools, gear, stands, camping gear, tires and 5 cans of gas in a 6x12 enclosed trailer behind a Kia Sportage. Put 36000 in one season. Didn't go much over 60 (unless we had a tail wind and a down hill grade).

 

I tow with an 02 Jetta TDI. Trailer is about 500 lbs and both bikes I would put around 430 wet? No power issues and I still get 30+ mpg.

www.tdiclub.com

These cars kick ass, mine is not stock.