Anybody pulling a cargo conversion with a 4 Cyl ?

[tcolar]

I only have a Subaru Outback 4cyl (167HP), rated for 2500#, although I'd like to be well bellow that.

Anybody pulling a conversion with a 4 cylinder ? what size trailer(5x8, 6x10), how heavy? what's "too much"?

Thanks.

[drcurran]

Was not using a 4 cyl. but I was pulling a 6 X 12 (about 1200 lbs empty)with a 6 cyl Rav 4. Did very well. Of course I knew it was there expecially on the hills, but not really a problem. Hope this is some help.

Dan

[mikeschn]

I tow my Giant Teardrop with a Forrester... I'm guessing the Giant Teardrop is about 1200#. I had no problems, even in the Smokey Mountains...



Mike...

[tcolar]

Is your Forester 2.5 liter ? is it automatic ?

How big(W/L/H) is that teardrop ? that's probably about the size I might need.

Thanks.

[mikeschn]

Is your Forester 2.5 liter ? is it automatic ?

How big(W/L/H) is that teardrop ? that's probably about the size I might need.

Thanks.

Yep on the 2.5L auto.

The Giant Teardrop is 78" wide by 12' long by 64" high (or 83" high from the ground).

It was built on a 5x10 chassis. You can see the build here...

http://www.mikenchell.com/Generic_ET_Photo_Album/

I am also working on a design that is just 2 feet longer which adds a table in the front, and moves the bathroom into the highest part of the trailer. Yes, it keeps the galley... The goal is to keep the weight under 1400# which is well within the towing capacity of the Forrester!



Mike...

[tcolar]

Very nice design, I might just immitate your base, though my interior has different requirements.

I really like the extra width because i'd like to put a bed sideway and I'm 6'1 tall, I was actullay thiking of adding a side 2' "popout" "drawer" for my feet but your 78" width would be perfect !

What material did you use for the outside ... well I got many more questions, maybe you have a journal/description of your build ?

Also with such width/heighh how much is drag/wind/mpg affected ?

Do you have breaks on the trailer ?

Thanks again.

[mikeschn]

Very nice design, I might just immitate your base, though my interior has different requirements.

I really like the extra width because i'd like to put a bed sideway and I'm 6'1 tall, I was actullay thiking of adding a side 2' "popout" "drawer" for my feet but your 78" width would be perfect !

What material did you use for the outside ... well I got many more questions, maybe you have a journal/description of your build ?

Also with such width/heighh how much is drag/wind/mpg affected ?

Do you have breaks on the trailer ?

Thanks again.

I don't have a journal of that build. That was before we had the journal threads... I did the photo album thing which captured many of the important things...

Although the Giant teardrop was built with 1/2" birch plywood walls and covered with Epoxy Paint, the next one will probably be covered in aluminum, and will probably not have any plywood on the outside. (See my threads on delamination.)

There is about a 5 mpg penalty when towing the giant teardrop.

Mike...

[tcolar]

Thanks Mike, the pics are pretty descriptive.

I would probably make mine about 76 x 10' on a 5x8 frame.

[tcolar]

Mike, what kind of frame did you use ? is that a kit or homemade. Last time I used a welder I was 16, so not sure I want to go there

[mikeschn]

That was purchased from redtrailer.com.

I don't believe they sell that one any more...

For my next build I'm going to have a custom chassis built.

Mike...

[SurfStone]

I tow a 6x10 flat bed (and am building a 5x10 cargo with raiseable roof)with pallets of tile and hardwood with my geo tracker 4cylynder 1.6 liter 5 speed and dont worry about it... just got my 1.8 liter suzuki sidekick and pulling same thing it does real well even pulling up hills in hill country, I know its ther and it slows me down but its ok, this is my first automatic so i baby it, and am going to put a transmission cooler in it (wich is gunna take some work to make room) but americans have this idea that you gotta have an 8 cyl to pull with (or at least a 6 if you gunna push it) when the rest of the world has been pulling with 4rs for years... However... it does make a big difference... get a tranny cooler, and change and check your tranny fluid more often. And leave WAY more room to stop that thing... It Probably wieghs more than your tow vehicle so its gunna push it.. trailer brakes are nice.

[tcolar]

I lived in France until I was 22 or so, and over there you always see trailers behind "normal" cars.
"Normal towing cars" over there usually means a 4 cyl in the 90 to 120 HP range, in other words, over there my 165HP subaru would be considered a powerful towing machine

On the other hand most of those are stick shift and mostly diesel, which helps a bit with towing (torque).

[tcolar]

@SurfStone : You are driving a Geo Tracker in Texas ?? I wonder what the locals think of your 'truck'

[bobhenry]

I only have a Subaru Outback 4cyl (167HP), rated for 2500#, although I'd like to be well bellow that.

Anybody pulling a conversion with a 4 cylinder ? what size trailer(5x8, 6x10), how heavy? what's "too much"?

Thanks.

It ain't a cargo ..... It ain't a teardrop........ It IS as aerodynamic as a barn

and yes I can stand up and put on my pants

4 cyl 5 speed manual Suzuki Esteem..



However...... You must be extremely careful how
you approach this subject. There are those among
us that feel we are putting ourselves and the rest
of the driving populus in eminent danger while
towing with our anemic little tugs.

[SurfStone]

Yeah, Texans luv ther trucks but when gas hit $4 a gallon i started looking for more options, put a lift and big tires with a roof rack as big as the geo to try to fit in tho . Other countries have had expensive gas for so long that they have those little diesel trucks... sure wish we could get um here. Towing with a little vehicle makes you have to be a much more defensive driver tho.. no cutting people off at 60mph like the big trucks do, they can speed up and stop as fast as they want... just takes a gallon of gas everytime they do it... I kinda like getting 28mpg.