Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **BubbaRHC** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:19 pm

Just drove from Atlanta to Missouri to pick up my Yoder Toter 4 x 8. Spent my first night in it in Bowling Green, KY. Great first day. Made note of my gas mileage with and without the trailer in my 2008 Honda Element SC (automatic). Driving to Missouri without the trailer, I averaged 25.1 miles per gallon. With the trailer, I had two different ranges. When towing through the hills between Missouri and KY, I only averaged 15.1. I ran this using cruise control as I wanted a direct comparison with the 25.1 mpg on the way over. Then Element would down shift a couple of gears on the bigger climbs to 4500 rpm or so (I had cruise set to 74 mph for the entire trip). On the second tank with the trailer, I took off cruise, and also was more on flatter roads. Mileage was right at 21 mpg. Although this was not a controlled test by any means, I believe that I will lose between 3 and 5 mpg towing the yoder. Not bad for towing with a four cylinder vehicle. This was about the same reduction I experienced towing my Trailmanor with my old Tahoe. except there I was going from 15 down to about 11. Here are some pictures of the "Big Rig" in a rest area, and at the campsite. (First attempt at posting photos on a forum)

http://picasaweb.google.com/tazzymarazz ... 7171261010

http://picasaweb.google.com/tazzymarazz ... 7171260994[img]

And here is the "Big Rig" next to a big rig......

http://picasaweb.google.com/tazzymarazz ... 7171260978

by **BubbaRHC** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:21 pm

Well the posting of the photos didn't work out as I planned, but any of the links above will get you to the album where they are posted. Sorry....

by **2bits** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:40 pm

I like to hear abut the different mileage changes you get with towing and without. Nice Teardrop too! I like that design and the colors!

by **bgordon** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 2:30 am

Welcome to the forum BubbaRHC!

I'm just curious. What made you convert from a Trailmanor to a Yoder?

by **Tear Fan** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:18 am

You might really want to think about not using the cruise control when towing. The transmission can overheat much more quickly when it has free reign to shift up and down continuously. I have a Toyota 4Runner, and if the highway is not "Kansas" level, I even take it out of overdrive. A transmission is a terrible thing to waste.

Tear Fan

by **BubbaRHC** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:39 am

Barrie - The Trailmanor was purchased when the whole family thought it would be ideal to vacation. That didn't work out they way we thought. Often, it was just me, or one of my kids that wanted to go, the other two didn't. Many times I would use the Trailmanor on my own.

That combined with living in a subdivision that does not allow rv's parked outside and the Trailmanor not really fitting in my garage forced storage payments. So ultimately made the decision to sell it. It sold on a popular rv sales website the first day.

The Teardrop fits in the garage parked sideways in front of my Jeep Wrangler in a 20 foot long garage. This way, every time I walk into the garage, it is reminding me that it wants to go out and play. When the weather turns warm, the jeep becomes my weekend transportation of choice with either the mountains, lake, or beach as the destination. The yoder toter should serve me well for this. I hope.....

by **BubbaRHC** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:45 am

I agree with you Tear Fan. Once that tank of gas was done - which was only about 175 miles before I filled up, I left the cruise off. The element would only go into overdrive on the downhills which would bring the rpm down to about 2300. Otherwise it was closer to 2900 rpm. The car never really felt like it was straining to increase speed if I needed to, which was a good thing.

by **elmo** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:56 am

Looks like a nice setup!! Congrats! :thumbsup:

by **BubbaRHC** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:59 am

Thanks Elmo for bringing the photo over. I went to the photo help page, but for some reason couldn't figure it out. Thanks again.

PJ

by **elmo** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:32 pm

BubbaRHC wrote:Thanks Elmo for bringing the photo over. I went to the photo help page, but for some reason couldn't figure it out. Thanks again.

PJ

Any time!!

What I did for the picture was...right click on your picture...click properties...copy the address...hit the [img]symbol%20up%20above...paste%20the%20picture%20address...and%20then%20hit[/img]...and it should be there!! Hopefully!!

by **BubbaRHC** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:40 pm

Let me try it again with the other photos....

Thanks again elmo - you taught me something today....

PJ

by **Gage** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:12 pm

So why arn't the pictures showing if ya all got it figured out? :thinking:

by **sonar37** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:02 pm

Congrats on your new rig!
:applause:

We have the same model that we just purchased last month and despite the howling winds, blowing snow and single digit temps, we occasionally go sit in it and dream of spring. We know it's time to go back in the house when the windows and mirror steam up. :lol:

I'm sure you'll really enjoy your new teardrop! I just love the photo next to the semi!!

MJ

by **BubbaRHC** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:14 pm

They are showing for me Gage, but not every time I come back to this page. Not sure why, but I see them now.

by **hiker chick** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:18 pm

Great combo, Bubba!

I've been touting your setup at the Element Owners forum.

First SC I've seen pulling a teardrop.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums ... hp?t=37536

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Just picked up my 2007 Yoder Toter 4 x 8

Just picked up my 2007 Yoder Toter 4 x 8

Who is online