Towing things

[klutzygirl]

I'd like to know more about towing with my Insight. I would be interested in hauling some sort of very user-friendly camping gear, such as this http://www.tent-trailer.com/ Check out the video--even I could do that! It only weighs 255 lbs; add the driver and it's ~400, add a passenger we're ~550, plus minimal clothing, cooking gear, etc. Is this feasible? I currently have the ordinary tires the used car came with and am getting 51 mpg. With well-inflated Provenza tires but NOT doing things like driving in the breakdown lane or slip-streaming behind big rigs, what sort of mileage could I expect with two people?

[boogetyboogety]

You would have the most fuel-efficient tow vehicle on four wheels. Of course, your mileage would vary... regardless of the light trailer weight, aero would suffer, stopping distances would lengthen, acceleration would be more leisurely, etc. etc. etc. What kind of hit you would take mileage-wise, who knows.

Attaching the hitch might be problematic, although others here have done it. There's not much to anchor the hitch back there, so normal hitches may need to be modified to find a more substantial attachment. Be sure and do a search, IIRC, others have done it and have been happy with their results... but the hitch has been used mostly as, say, a bike rack attachment. There are lightweight motorcycle trailers that would probably be perfect for the Insight...

Do keep us posted, but as long as you're a reasonable driver and pay attention to the Insights limitations, I can't imagine why you couldn't do this...

[Dgate]

Is this feasible?
It certainly is, I do not have towing experience with the Insight but do have with very small engined cars.
Its all relative, if you lack a big engine just keep the weight and profile low and its amazing how well small cars will tow things.
Not car related but I have previously owned a tiny 550cc Honda pick up that had a demountable camper with cab over storage and couldn't tell much difference between it being on or off the tiny truck.

Your biggest problem will be to find a trailer hitch/tow bar for the insight ......keep the weight down here as well for they can be heavy..remember you will be towing a light wt trailer not a 35 footer.

DGate

[Roger Crier]

In the UK, some small cars are not approved for towing a trailer and you cannot buy an approved tow bar for those vehicles. This probably means you will be breaking some petty law if you make your own tow bar and are therefore not insured etc etc.

I fitted a tow bar to a Reliant three wheeler van in my youth, just like "Dell Boy" had in "Only fools and horses" (google it) Cars don't come any punier than that! It towed two MX bikes fine (in a mad, slow, get looked at by just about everybody sort of a way)

Check out your local towing laws to see if you are pushing your luck........

Rog

[b1shmu63]

I used a 1980 Honda Prelude that was 10 years old to haul a trailer that I filled with rocks repeatedly while build a retaining wall. I broke three sets of springs on the trailer!I also used the trailer to haul an ancient oak upright piano on back roads 150 mile from Montreal to where I'm now living, destroying a tire on the trailer. I sold the Prelude in working condition when it was 13 years old with 200,000 miles on it. It still had the original clutch and transmission.

I would never treat my beloved Insight like that, but I'm suggesting that a small lightweight trailer, driven with intelligence shouldn't be a problem. Just don't ever forget that it is there!

[Dgate]

Just don't ever forget that it is there!

Especially when reversing.

DGate

[klutzygirl]

"Don't ever forget that it is there!...Especially when reversing." Oh boy, ain't that the truth! I once forgot the front end was there...I doubt I'll ever forget anything about this crazy car after greeting a certain shrub a little too warmly! Backing up is still the only thing I don't like about it, though; I'm so in love.

Thanks everyone for your answers. At least I know it can be done if the right hitch can be attached. I'd still like to see a likely MPG; then I'll know whether I can travel past the neighboring states this summer. I would like to go to Newfoundland from western Massachusetts. I'd much prefer to meander through the Maritimes for a month or so, but flying and hotels may be so much cheaper than driving and camping that it just won't be feasible. I sure never thought a time would come when planes/hotels would cost less than cars/campgrounds, but apparently that time is now.

[IamIan]

here is a link to some pictures if you like.

http://yves.fungiart.com/pages/trailer.htm

I also saw a trailer and hitch last years ( 2007 ) Alt Wheels festival in Boston... that trailer was as big as the insight itself... I don't know if others have any pictures of it or not... I thought I took some but can't find them now...