Pulling a trailer with a Civic Hybrid

Discussion in 'Civic' started by R.J. Babin, Apr 28, 2008.

  1. R.J. Babin

    R.J. Babin Guest

    Anyone out there attempted pulling a trailer with a Civic Hybrid? I have a
    400 pd trailer that I pull 2 to 3 hundred pounds of kayak gear with. Anyone
    have some feedback?
    R.J. (Bob)
    Babin
     
    R.J. Babin, Apr 28, 2008
    #1
  2. R.J. Babin

    Jeff Guest

    Look in your owner's manual for the towing limits. I think the limit is
    1000 lbs. However, keep in mind that the car is not meant to tow stuff.

    jeff
     
    Jeff, Apr 28, 2008
    #2
  3. R.J. Babin

    jim beam Guest

    i gotta say, as someone that's lived in europe for a while, the concept
    we have here of needing a honking great truck to pull a tiny little
    wheelbarrow is just bizarre. in europe, the exact same vehicles as we
    have here have up to 3 times the rated towing capacity, same
    transmission, engine, everything. and what do we see? europeans
    hauling honking great trailers with tiny little cars. the hybrid will
    tow a trailer just fine. just look up the towing capacity on an
    european or even japanese website.
     
    jim beam, Apr 28, 2008
    #3
  4. R.J. Babin

    James Sweet Guest

    I've towed a ~2500 lb boat and trailer behind my 2950 lb Volvo 240, it
    handles fine, though you certainly can feel something is back there. The
    hitch design has more to do with it than the vehicle. You don't want to
    exceed the rated towing capacity though, if an accident does happen, it will
    be a legal nightmare. A 400 lb utility trailer will be towable by pretty
    much any car on the road no problem.
     
    James Sweet, Apr 28, 2008
    #4
  5. R.J. Babin

    jim beam Guest

    and whether the trailer has brakes - again something we don't do much
    over here. i think it's pretty much compulsory in europe.
     
    jim beam, Apr 28, 2008
    #5
  6. R.J. Babin

    Dano58 Guest

    Roof rack? Seems crazy to have a trailer that weighs more than the
    gear you're towing.

    Dan D
    '07 Ody EX
    Central NJ USA
     
    Dano58, Apr 28, 2008
    #6
  7. R.J. Babin

    Tony Hwang Guest

    Hi,
    In what terrain? Sea level? Mountains?
     
    Tony Hwang, Apr 28, 2008
    #7
  8. R.J. Babin

    Zeppo Guest

    I think you hit the nail on the head with that one. Your capacity is much
    greater and you are much safer with a trailer that can stop itself.

    I towed a 1500 lb. popup camper behind an '81 Civic sedan 5 sp. once a year
    and it pulled just fine. No harm to the engine or clutch.

    Stopping was another matter altogether. A panic stop from 30 mph at a short
    yellow light in a drizzle took me most of the way through the intersection.
    Dropped the trailer right off at the dealer to have brakes installed.

    Jon
     
    Zeppo, Apr 28, 2008
    #8
  9. Dano584/28/08
    8:
    My 2000 CRV has a factory roof rack with a factory decal on it that warns to
    NOT load it with more than 75 lbs evenly distributed. The OP was talking
    more in the range of 200 to 300 lbs. That would be pushing it pretty hard.
    --
    Pickleman

    Please remove "yourpants" to reply
    1998 Civic HX MT with 142K
    2000 CRV EX MT with 98K
     
    delbert brecht, Apr 28, 2008
    #9
  10. R.J. Babin

    rb Guest

    I just got a 08 Civic Hybrid and the owners manual says that you can not
    tow a trailer with the car. It states that if you do you void the warranty.
    RB
     
    rb, Apr 29, 2008
    #10
  11. R.J. Babin

    Dan C Guest

    Sure, as long as you don't care about the warranty being invalidated.

    You're as ignorant as the OP.
     
    Dan C, Apr 29, 2008
    #11
  12. R.J. Babin

    Dano58 Guest

    I suspect it has more to do with liability issues here in our
    litigious society. I mean, 75 pounds for the roof of a CRV? Come on,
    that's ridiculous. It can certainly hold more than that. But our
    society being what it is, sue-happy, manufacturers have decided to put
    artificially low limits for carrying and towing. So we don't hurt
    ourselves or do stupid things like the Internet picture of the Jetta
    with 1000 pounds or so of sheetrock on it's roof.....

    Dan D
    '07 Ody EX
    Central NJ USA
     
    Dano58, Apr 29, 2008
    #12
  13. R.J. Babin

    Tony Hwang Guest

    Hi,
    Makes sense considering power train and body structure.
     
    Tony Hwang, Apr 29, 2008
    #13
  14. R.J. Babin

    MAT Guest

    Shoot check this out!!

    http://aistigave.hit.bg/Logistics/
     
    MAT, May 2, 2008
    #14
  15. R.J. Babin

    bi241 Guest

    That's true! And in South East Asia, a Honda Cub 50cc moped can haul a
    water buffafo on the passenger seat

    But like a wise man once saith "When not in Rome, DO NOT do what
    Romans do"
     
    bi241, May 2, 2008
    #15
  16. R.J. Babin

    jim beam Guest

    trailers are much more efficient.
     
    jim beam, May 4, 2008
    #16
  17. R.J. Babin

    jim beam Guest

    dude, in europe, if you go to honda.co.uk for english, you can read the
    towing specs for the same cars we have here. the fit [jazz over there]
    is rated at 1000kg. that's 2200lbs. they have 1.2l and 1.4l engines,
    both rated at 1000kg. the civic is rated up to 1500kg, that's 3300lbs.

    the tow ratings we have here are bullshit designed to con us into buying
    honking great [and much more profitable] suv's. just like we can't buy
    the accord wagon here because they want us to buy the much more
    profitable suv's or minivans.
     
    jim beam, May 4, 2008
    #17
  18. R.J. Babin

    Tommy Guest

    I tried to do th
     
    Tommy, May 8, 2008
    #18
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