Newbie with a Question

[Anc]

Hello everyone. Saw there were alot of Washington posters in another Thread. Just got back from the yearly Yakima float trip and am looking at options for retiring the tent. Do any of you use a car to tow your trailer and if so how does it do in the passes? Thank you.

[Miriam C.]

I wish I could give you an answer! I will be watching to see what those who travel in that area say!

[tearhead]

Not a big expert on passes, since we live in Wisconsin, but our Subaru Forester had no trouble at all pulling our 5 by 8 Lil Traveler up, down, and around the Smoky Mountains last month. We of course needed to use lower gears often.

[Randy G]

I pull my tear with a small car with a V6. The trailer was built lite 650lbs dry about 800 lbs loaded, including firewood for a couple nights.
Its not as snappy when pulling the trailer so common sense helps here, I dont need to pass everything, but if I need to get by I can.
Ive been to Bend Or from Tillamook several times and California once and the hills wernt a problem. Again use some common sense. Photos are in the album.

[asianflava]

Towed our 5X10 with a 4-cyl Toyota Highlander over Grapevine and Donner passes with no problems.

[Anc]

Thanks for the replies everyone. It's good for a general idea, but I was hoping some of the 6 or 7 posters from the area that responded to the Seattle guy's intro could offer some specific information on Steven's and Snoqualmie Pass.

[dreadcptflint]

Hello from the Apple Capital of the World. I don't know how much help that I will be because I use my Ford Explorer to tow. I have done Snoqualmie Pass, Blewett, Stampede, Sherman and a few others with out a problem. What kind of car are you looking to tow with?


Matt

[bledsoe3]

I'm not sure how this compares, but I've towed my tear over the Siskiyous to California several times with a Subaru 4 cyl.

[Jack J]

I have several vehicles I tow my TD with depending on the trip I am taking. My TD weighs about 1050lbs loaded. My favorite car to take is the '51 Chev. A 235 6 cyl that is slow going over the passes but is the most fun to take. I probably to 45-50 mph on east bound I-90 over Snoqualmie pass but don't figure the MPG with it, we like the"smiles per gallon" we get. We have taken it across the country to Maine without any problems. Again being among the slower cars on the road gives us more time to see things that freeway speeds miss. I also use a tired '84 Toyota 4x4 p/u with a 4cyl, again a slower drive, A PT cruiser 4cyl non turbo that does ok and a 2008 Ford Escape with a V-6 that does the best towing over passes. Took that to Utah and Arizona last year and it did quite well. Speed is not a factor when towing a trailer. Look at the tow rating for the car you will be using, make sure it is rated to tow wieght of the TD you will have and take it easy when towing. The rest is fun.
How was fishing on the Yakima? It has been a couple of years since I have been able to flyfish the canyon. Beautiful scenery and good looking waters there.

Jack

[Anc]

Thanks everyone.

We'd be using my wife's 08 Ford Fusion (V6). Not a huge car, which is why I am worried about the passes.

[dreadcptflint]

You may wish to check your manual to see what the towing capacity is for the Ford Fusion. I did some looking and couldn't find any numbers which may mean that you are not suppose to be towing with it and you could run into some major problems.