Wanting to haul a trailer - how much do you pull?

[tef1964]

Hi - I have a 2003 AWD. I am wondering whether anybody has hauled any trailers, and up to how much in terms of weight? I see the stated limit is 1250 lbs, but has anybody actually hauled up to that amount? I am contemplating the purchase of a little fibreglass camper. The dry weight is supposed to be 950 lbs, but practically I believe it is close to 1200 lbs. Wondering if there is really a chance in heck I could pull that much - or even 1000 lbs for that matter.

Thank you!

[EricTMah]

http://matrixowners.com/index.php?/topi ... or-towing/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[creekhed1]

I once hauled two Full Size John Deere garden tractors at once with a 5X8 trailer.... with my old 03 AWD.
That was about 1500 lbs plus trailer...close to 2K!
And....it was through some pretty hille terrain for about 80 miles!
Whew!
Handled it fine.

[creekhed1]

My above experience was pushing it,.... but ONE garden tractor was always effortless lol

[trickyVibe]

I've hauled a seadoo 900lbs with single trailer. i have a 2003 FWD

[beemerphile1]

Not a 2003 but a 2009 with 1.8L. My factory tow rating in North America is 1,500 pounds. In the UK our Vibe has a tow rating of 2,200 pounds if the trailer has brakes and something like 1,300 without brakes. Not sure of the exact rating without brakes.

I have towed with my Vibe for over 16,000 miles. Most of those miles have been towing the folding camper in my signature picture. I had it weighed fully loaded for camping and it was just under 2,000 total. I also tow a flat utility trailer with my motorcycle on it. The trailer and motorcycle are maybe 1,000 pounds. I have pulled the motorcycle to Florida three times for a total of nearly 6,000 miles.

My Vibe tows great, I am very happy with it. The biggest problem I have had is that only light duty class I and II hitches are available for the Vibe. I have had to modify the camper to reduce tongue weight.

[tef1964]

Thank you very much for your comments. I think I might leave well enough alone and not try to tow. 10-yr old vehicle....And I'd like to keep it going as long as possible!

[tribalman]

no way, go for it! over the last month i've been working on wiring up my vibe and getting the hitch and then rebuilding a trailer and stealing it from a family member.




with my trailer i've been keeping it modular so that i can maybe haul more. I might be getting a 1k LBS camper next year. Been a long time since I've gone camping, maybe about 20 years, and I really want to again.

[Bing12345]

I realize that this is an old thread, but I'm thinking about what kind of tent trailer to buy over the winter, especially in regards to weight. I've seen the off quoted 2200 lbs in the uk number, but I can't find any backup for that anywhere other than here (and they don't sell the Vibe and/or Matrix in the UK). Can someone point me toward where that number comes from?

[beemerphile1]

When I bought my 2009 new I did a lot of research. At that time the UK Pontiac website was up and running. I am not certain if it was on the factory website or elsewhere but I am confidant of its accuracy.

[creekhed1]

I just moved from Western New York to Colorado and towed a trailer that was soooooo overloaded the entire 1600 miles. The vibe performed flawlessly and even averaged 24MPG doing it! including interior cargo i was probably at 4000 LBS!!!! While I would not recommend this I had no choice... it was lose it or bring it in regards to my possessions. 0-60 times were somewhere in the 90 second range lol.
Not once during the trip did I let the engine get into "lift" mode and kept her under 4000RPM.
The "trick" is HOW you drive it while towing....especially a standard. Roll slowly off the line... dont shift too early and dont lug or over rev the engine.