Towing Question

[Karefree31]

Hello!I have an '05 5-speed Base vibe and was wondering what the experience people are having with towing. I'm looking into getting a hitch installed and towing the smallest enclosed Uhaul trailer from Oregon to Florida. I just loaded everything into and onto the car for the drive up here. But going back I would like to have some breathing room inside the car. Please let me know if anyone's done this and what you found to be pros and cons of towing.

[beemerphile1]

You can see in my signature what I tow. It weighs 2,000 pounds total and 230 of that is on the tongue.Uhaul trailers are heavy to start with and then whatever you load on them is likely to be very heavy if you are moving normal household stuff like furniture.You absolutely must be careful of the tongue weight. The difficulty is in striking a balance. Too much tongue weight and the bolts will start to pucker the frame. It is only heavy sheet metal. Too little tongue weight and you will have a terribly dangerous trailer swaying all over the road.Although Vibes can tow, it is something that has to be done with great thought and understanding. Your Vibe (and mine) has a towing weight limit of 1,500 pounds total. I successfully exceed that number but am very cautious and have weighed my trailer numerous times rather than guess.If I remember the numbers correctly the UK tow rating on the Vibe is 2,200 pounds with trailer brakes and something like 1,300 without trailer brakes.Edit to add; an enclosed trailer like what you are considering also has the disadvantage of wind resistance. My trailer tucks behind the car and stays within the air pocket created by the car. Any trailer that sticks up higher will be a lot worse towing. Once on the highway, wind resistance is a bigger factor than weight.

[star_deceiver]

Yes, uhaul trailers are very heavy. And given the cost of renting one for that far of a journey it might be cheaper to buy a small light trailer off kijiji or craigslist.

[chevelle_lover]

I have towed with the Vibe a couple times. Mine is a 05 with a 5 speed in it. I does pretty good but hills will not be a friend. If you have cruise accelerate before the hill and the car will slow a fair bit. As stated U-haul trailers are naturally heavy so they can survive life in the rental industry. For the cost of the rental from Uhaul ($252) you would be half way there to buy a trailer. Unless storage is an issue I would go that route.