Dinghy suggestions

[jrcaffrey]

We are new 2014 Solera owners who need a towable vehicle for our Solera. Any suggestions and pro/con comments on tried vehicles will be appreciated.

[Phil57]

Can't go wrong with a Wrangler. What is the tow capacity for the Solera?

[mckirby50]

We tow a wrangler rubicon, it's close to the max, but the Solera pulls it well! Recommend a very good tow bar & aux brake system. We've pulled through Colorado mountain passes and if it gets to slow will unhook and drive both!

[Sandiegodoug]

We tow a 2013 wrangler rubicon also
It weighs 4000 and tows great
Close to the 4200 capacity but if you travel with tanks empty and 1:4 tank fresh I think its fine
Towed it from San Diego to Oregon with no problems. I wanted a vehicle to tow 4 wheels down that was a convertable and fun to have along camping
We did put an active braking system with its own booster for safety

[devilsquid]

It all depends on how many will be travelling with you. If like us, you only have two (we can also fit two small dogs in a pinch) then a Smart car will do. We tow it 4-down on a tow bar and at 1700 lbs. we do not even know it's back there. Our mpg suffers a bit (1 mpg at 60-65 mph) but not as much as pulling a 2 ton car...I'm thinking. The down side to the Smart car is that it is a two-seater with limited trunk (if you want to call it that) space. We use it to travel around the area we a camping to see the sights. It was also extremely helpful when we had wheel problems on the road...safety boat.

[reinerka]

It all depends on what you want the vehicle to do that you tow behind....

We're towing a Suzuki Samurai (~2000lbs) and don't have any issue doing it. Sure the mileage goes down to about 12mpg when towing the Sami but that is to be expected. No issues up or down the hill.

We mainly use the Sami for 'exploration' at the destination and shopping when needed. The Sami isn't a high speed vehicle but sure at least it is fun and there is hardly a limit on where to go.

[dswiss]

Originally Posted by jrcaffrey

We are new 2014 Solera owners who need a towable vehicle for our Solera. Any suggestions and pro/con comments on tried vehicles will be appreciated.

We tow a Honda Fit automatic. Blue Ox base plate, tow bar and brake buddy. Works very well. It is below the weight limit and it offers a lot of room and weight capacity for cargo.

[redeant]

2013 kia soul ... 6 speed

Sent from my SM-N900V using Forest River Forums mobile app

[Luvnlife]

We also tow a Fit auto with Blue Ox set up. Really tows easy and seems to have little effect on mileage.

[Taylorgso]

We have towed our Mazda3 thousands of miles without problems. Blue ox baseplate and Patriot auxiliary brake system works well - affected mileage perhaps one and a half miles per gallon. We would have to check the rearview camera to make sure it was back there!!!

[Toolman Taylor]

We are old school and recently bought an all original 1969 vw bug for $3000 to tow behind our 24R.

1800 lbs. it can do the Baja 1000 if need be and is VERY easy to maintain.

I will take the back seat out and install a platform for the dogs, gets 30 mpg and is easy to get parts for.

Running gear is trouble free when towing on all 4 and most importantly is aerodynamic and retro cool.

Already have the plates that read "CABOSE"

[Taylorgso]

Originally Posted by Toolman Taylor

We are old school and recently bought an all original 1969 vw bug for $3000 to tow behind our 24R.

1800 lbs. it can do the Baja 1000 if need be and is VERY easy to maintain.

I will take the back seat out and install a platform for the dogs, gets 30 mpg and is easy to get parts for.

Running gear is trouble free when towing on all 4 and most importantly is aerodynamic and retro cool.

Already have the plates that read "CABOSE"

Tim:
You can now change your screen name to COOLman Taylor

[Toolman Taylor]

Ed is your AK schedule set yet?

[BigJohnD]

When we had a motorhome, 2010 Honda Fit. Great car, super light weight, can tow 4 flat, excellent fuel mileage, 4 door, and a lot more room in it than you'd think. We had the Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain set up.

[Taylorgso]

Originally Posted by Toolman Taylor

Ed is your AK schedule set yet?

Hi Tim:

Thanks for asking. We've had to call it off for this year. I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in January. Been going through chemotherapy weekly and radiation daily ever since. (had last Radiation Tuesday). I'll be having surgery to remove my esophagus at Duke University Hospital sometime in May. Sort of sidetracked our plans for this year.

We had signed onto a caravan for the AK trip. We've decided when we go, we'll probably wing it on our own. Have you officially retired yet?

That being said, I hope you can still make it to the east coast, and if you do we've got a pad for you to park, and a feed bag to hang on you!!!

Ed

[Toolman Taylor]

Ed we are very sorry to hear about your health issues I know you guys were really looking forward to this trip.

Just remember Alaska will always be there and our door will always be open. Hang in there and keep us posted about next year

Tim

[Taylorgso]

Originally Posted by Toolman Taylor

Ed we are very sorry to hear about your health issues I know you guys were really looking forward to this trip.

Just remember Alaska will always be there and our door will always be open. Hang in there and keep us posted about next year

Tim

Thanks, Tim. Alaska has been on my "bucket list" for a long time. I'm just hoping the bucket hasn't gotten a hole in it! Good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, 2015 looks to be a big catch-up year!

Ed

[Susan94066]

We have a 2014 solera 24R and bought a Chevy Sonic with automatic/manual transmission with 1.8 ltr engine (no turbo) . Did lots of searching and this is well within weight limit at about 2500 lbs. good gas mileage and more horsepower than the Honda fit. It is a great car!

[jrcaffrey]

Originally Posted by Susan94066

We have a 2014 solera 24R and bought a Chevy Sonic with automatic/manual transmission with 1.8 ltr engine (no turbo) . Did lots of searching and this is well within weight limit at about 2500 lbs. good gas mileage and more horsepower than the Honda fit. It is a great car!

Susan, thanks for the Chevy sonic review. Do you pull with 4wheels down?

[Susan94066]

Yes, did research on that too, and apparently 4 wheels down is the only way to pull legally in all states. Besides a dolly adds weight and you'd have to store it and we did not want to do that.