Towing

[mydogsowner]

I have a 2009 1.8L manual and want to put a hitch on it and tow a boat. Can anyone tell me how this vehicle does towing? I know it has a 1500 lb weight limit. I would also get a transmission cooler too.

[Eloi]

Quote, originally posted by mydogsowner »I have a 2009 1.8L manual and want to put a hitch on it and tow a boat. Can anyone tell me how this vehicle does towing? I know it has a 1500 lb weight limit. I would also get a transmission cooler too.I have a 2009, but with the 2.4L manual and it tows very well. With 4 people in the car (2 adults and 2 teens), we towed our tent-trailer (which weighs 1300 lb., with the luggage and all, must have been over 1500 lb.) We went to Lake George, NY, from Quebec. The I-87 doesn't have many steep hills, but there is a quite long one (2 miles long) in Elisabethtown and I was able to ride it in 4th gear, at 60 MPH (3500 RPM) without any problems at all. Now, I don't fear to head for the steepy hills on the way to the East Coast Maine.

[mbc]

i have a 2006 1.8, manual and it pulled a Uhaul 4x8, I believe, packed and car was also packed runnning 55 to 60 easily...

[djb383]

Manual trannies don't require a cooler - only automatics, so you're good to go. My concern would be the clutch lining when retrieving the boat out of the water on a steep ramp. Slip the clutch as little as possible.

[mydogsowner]

Thanks for all the responses. I didn't know that manuals didn;t need coolers, so that was good to hear. It also sounds like the Vibe can-do this quite adequately. I have the confidence now to go boat shopping. Thanks Again!

[JohnC]

I have pulled a 1300# trailer (2 quads+ trailer wieght) about 25 times per year for the last four years. The average trip has been about 30 miles both ways. At first I was checking my transmission pan temperature with a non-contact pyrometer after towing and comparing it to normal non-towing temps, no difference. Although we don't go riding when the outside temps get over 85.Advice would be to make sure tongue wieght is at 10% of total trailer wieght, check the torque of the hitch bolts after towing (unibodies are notorious for loosening up), give yourself lots of room to stop and generally take it slow and smooth.Good luck.