Towing with Vibe

[CanadianTim]

[IMG][/IMG] I wanted to post this since I couldn't find that much experience on this site from people who had towed a trailer with the Vibe. Thanks go out to the guy who posted the photos on this site of connecting to the rear wire harness - saved me some brain power.The Vibe tows VERY well. The rear axle is close to the bumper so makes a very stable tow vehicle. I just towed a tent trailer for about 500 miles, at altitude, over and through the Rocky Mountains in 90 degree weather and I barely had to make the car work.The trailer weighed in at 1620lbs so I was over the 1500lb maximum mainly due to the electric brakes and sway bar I added to the trailer to make sure it was stable. Tounge weight was at the max - 150lbs. There was nothing in the car but the family and dog so only 320lbs in the car itself (yep small people).My car is a base 2005 with a 5 speed. I question the durability of automatics at the best of time so would be a bit leary to try this with an automatic unless I had some serious external cooling and filitering. Trailer Brakes are a good fail-safe and help avoid overworking the stock brakes with a trailer this heavy. Hitch was a Reese with 1.25x1.25 receiver. I do have a bypass oil filter on the engine but stock otherwise besides synthetic fluids throughout.I know the car did not struggle with this as I averaged 38MPG while towing this trailer. I was impressed. I did try to find a big camper going slower than my "ideal" speed so that I was never "the guy slowing down traffic" and having to stand on it on the big grades. Tim

[zionzr2]

1st. WELCOME TO OUR VIBEDOM!!!2nd. if you tried to get a pic posted it didnt succeed. We Love Pics!!3rd. Great info on the Trailering a tent trailer. Pop-Up right?? Others here would strongly recomend a tranny cooler if you going to be towing much. I dont have any expirence myself, but would concur. I have been interested if the Vibe could deal with a small pop up. Now I know it has been done!!Quote, originally posted by CanadianTim » [IMG][/IMG] I wanted to post this since I couldn't find that much experience on this site from people who had towed a trailer with the Vibe. Thanks go out to the guy who posted the photos on this site of connecting to the rear wire harness - saved me some brain power.The Vibe tows VERY well. The rear axle is close to the bumper so makes a very stable tow vehicle. I just towed a tent trailer for about 500 miles, at altitude, over and through the Rocky Mountains in 90 degree weather and I barely had to make the car work.The trailer weighed in at 1620lbs so I was over the 1500lb maximum mainly due to the electric brakes and sway bar I added to the trailer to make sure it was stable. Tounge weight was at the max - 150lbs. There was nothing in the car but the family and dog so only 320lbs in the car itself (yep small people).My car is a base 2005 with a 5 speed. I question the durability of automatics at the best of time so would be a bit leary to try this with an automatic unless I had some serious external cooling and filitering. Trailer Brakes are a good fail-safe and help avoid overworking the stock brakes with a trailer this heavy. Hitch was a Reese with 1.25x1.25 receiver. I do have a bypass oil filter on the engine but stock otherwise besides synthetic fluids throughout.I know the car did not struggle with this as I averaged 38MPG while towing this trailer. I was impressed. I did try to find a big camper going slower than my "ideal" speed so that I was never "the guy slowing down traffic" and having to stand on it on the big grades. Tim

[CanadianTim]

Thanks for the welcome...Photo of Vibe and Trailer. Yep "pop up" indeed.Tim

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[Mavrik]

thats pretty cool. my folks really liked my Vibe when I left it with them for a bit when I was moving. They might possibly consider one but are looking at what can haul a trailer like yours. Only I think they are looking for a somewhat bigger one. We used to camp a lot when I was a kid and they had one of those but larger. Great times

[zionzr2]

great pic.I would like to know all you can tell me about your "pop-up." If you dont mind.How many it sleeps?What are it amenities and such?cost?Maintenance?I used to do a lot of tent camping when i was younger and would like to get back into camping and thought some sort of pop-up would be a great way to do that.Quote, originally posted by CanadianTim »Thanks for the welcome...Photo of Vibe and Trailer. Yep "pop up" indeed.Tim

[Kari]

It's nice to know the Vibe can tow a popup...I was wondering if it would be able to. My dad and I were just talking about that on our camping trip last weekend. We saw people come in with two small popups that looked like the Vibe would certainly be able to pull it, and I guess we were right.

[CanadianTim]

This popup is just under 12' long and 8' wide so is not one of the smallest out there. I've seen some about 30% smaller and lighter. Also seen some that are absolutely stupidly huge. It's 19' long when open so it sleeps 6, has a 3 burner stove that can be used inside or outside, icebox cooler, small sink, table that seats 4 and a furnace. It has a 12v battery, charger and inverter so you can have power away from electrical hookups. Our kids are small so this is a neater solution than a tent and the bonus is that ALL of the camping crap fits inside so there was nothing in the car. It's something different to tinker with...

[Mavrik]

sounds like a nice loaded trailer.

[jake75]

Friend says he just ruined his Ford Astro tranny pulling a boat on the WVa turnpike - dealer told him he should not have left the AT in overdrive. But I am not convinced that was the problem. Might have just been the straw that broke that Astro trannys back. It probably was ready to go.

[zionzr2]

RULE #1 when towing with an Auto tranny is NO OVERDRIVE!!I never have towed anything but i know that!!!

[Mavrik]

ford astro? I thought chev had the astro van... and depending on the size of the trailer it probably would not have hurt to use a tranny cooler.

[jake75]

Nope - it's the FORD Astro. Old minivan on a truck base. Probably rear wheel drive. Trailer and boat not that big - but driving in the hills. I'd have junked the thing but he paid $1,750 for a new (?) transmission.

[JohnC]

Thanks. Great info about towing.

[Mavrik]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »Nope - it's the FORD Astro. Old minivan on a truck base. Probably rear wheel drive. Trailer and boat not that big - but driving in the hills. I'd have junked the thing but he paid $1,750 for a new (?) transmission. you mean the ford AEROSTAR before it switched to front wheel drive Windstar...Astro is Chev and they would not be using the same name. But the chev astro van (same as the GMC Safari) is rear wheel and still in existance and production.anyway back on topic...

[AKLGT]

they also made them in AWD tranny.and we had a FORD AEROSTAR as well as a CHEVY ASTRO VAN and DODGE CARAVAN.... amidst many of the vehicles my family has owned.

[vgs]

Where will I find photos of the wiring harness & a description of the Reese hitch. Any help is appreciated.

[zionzr2]

Quote, originally posted by vgs »Where will I find photos of the wiring harness & a description of the Reese hitch. Any help is appreciated.WELCOME TO OUR VIBEDOM!!!! You have come to the right place for all your vibe related information.This feature might help; located at the top right part of screen: SEARCH search criteria used was "tow"usuing this feature will return this result:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1139Happy wiring!!

[vibecrxsi240sxse]

Howdy-My popup was purchased in Jan. 06 specifically for the vibe to tow it. Weight comes in right at 1400lbs per the manufacturer and the vibe tows it wonderfully.We wanted to keep it under the max for the car (1500 lbs) so we went with one of the smallest Fleetwoood popups made...I did put a Hayden? tranny cooler on it before we started towing down here in Southeast Texas. It gets REALLY hot during the summer.The tranny cooler is rated for vehicles up to 10,000 lbs or trucks that tow a fifth wheel. Measures about 11" X 11" and 3/4" thick. I skinned my knuckles up pretty well installing that thing, but I know it was done right and only cost me $50.

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[vibecrxsi240sxse]

Pic of the trans. cooler when looking down from the top of the radiator. See the exterior temp guage down there at the bottom left?

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[kayakjim]

That's a cool popup. I see that it's a Fleetwood, but can you provide a model or a website to check it out? I have a 2005 Vibe, automatic, AWD - wondering how it would do pulling a popup such as yours?

[vibecrxsi240sxse]

Kayak Jim-The model is a 2006 Taos, but last time I checked, it wasn't on the Fleetwood website. With the A/C it cost about 5k and the Vibe tows it very well!!See my post about 2 above this one for my experiences towing this popup. My wife drives the Vibe with the camper while I tow a boat with my Honda Pilot.

[vibecrxsi240sxse]

Kayakjim,Go to fleetwoodrv.com and click on folding campers. Then click on the element series, then the cobalt model. That is identical to mine except mine is white and has a good looking interior scheme. Both beds are 48" X 72" while the website shows two different sizes on the cobalt.

[CaptTractor]

I just bought a 2009 2.4 L SE FWD Vibe Ultra White...mostly because of the rated towing and interior cargo capacity. What I'm looking for is what kind of loads and trailers people have had experience with.My potential loads would be: Skidoo - 510 lbs miscellaneous goods from local do-it-yourself storesPossibly an ultralight trike - 600 lbs (approx)Comments?