Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Tow vehicle and oil change (Read 1399 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Tow vehicle and oil change

Yahoo Message Number: 96541
Hi all, I'm currently looking at replacing my tow vehicle from a 2002 Honda CRV to something newer. The CRV has been a great tow vehicle but I was thinking I would like something with a little more room. I have a Roadmaster tow bar which I would like to convert over to the new vehicle and am not sure if that will be compatible with other SUV brand names. I'm thinking perhaps I should stick with the CRV since it has worked out in the past. Any suggestions??


Also, am wondering about an oil change. Last fall when my husband got sick we had the oil changed, winterized the coach, and placed it in storage for the winter. I have drivin it a couple of times short distances since then. I am planning to take it to FL this fall and do some additional traveling. Would you suggest getting an oil change again before leaving, or would I be good for a while? Also, I will be getting new tires but is there anything else you would suggest maintenance wise I need to do?
Thanks!
Diane

aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96549
As fr the oil change, you are good for awhile. I would suggest you change it again in the fall unless you are driving more than 5 or 6 thousand miles before then.

As for larger toads, there are options. Honda Pilot and Acura MDX were towable until the 2005 model year. If you are looking for something newer, Buick Enclave or Cadillac SRX are towable. Many people tow Honda Odysseys successfully even though Honda does not endorse it. For Odyssey, make sure it has a five-speed and not a six-speed transmission. Jeep Grand Cherokees are towable only if they have a certain 4-wheel drive transmission. Ford Edge, Focus and Lincoln MKX are towable, Chevy Equinox and Traverse are towable. Some GMC SUVs are towable. And maybe the Ford Taurus and Chevy Malibu. And I am sure I missed some.

Lots of choices, but make sure you consult the actual manufacturer's owners manual which is the last word for towability. Do not take a salesman's word for it as they often do not know what they are talking about when it comes to towing.

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96550
While you'll not gain a lot of room, there is a night and day difference between the early CR-Vs and the new models.
My 2003 CR-V was a truck. My 2013 CR-V is a very nice car, with all the bells and whistles. I had to buy a new base plate and wiring for the car (Roadmaster Falcon all-terrain), but all other parts are the same used on the '03. You should add a hot lead from the coach to the car to keep the battery charged.

I recommend you at least give it a look and take a test drive.

Good luck.
Jay

05 Inspire

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96556
Honda only approves of Towing the CR-V and Fit this year. But if you do your research you will see you

can tow the Odessey and Pilot as long as they have the 5 speed transmission, but they are not covered under warranty. If the Pilot or Odessey have the advanced 6 speed transmission you cannot tow the

vehicle under any circumstance. I'm driving an 2012 CR-V and they unit has really been refined in the

last 5 years. The floor area was dropped and the area in the rear increased with the 2012 model.

There are rumors going around about n advance in engines for next year.
Either by adding a turbo for

the 4 cylinder or installing a Six cylinder engine. My problem with the CR-V is the engine has very low

torque so fuel milage in stop and go driving is just average and as I live in hilly terain the in town milage is even worse. Other wise out on the highway as long as I stay under 70 easily exceeds 33 mpg using
the economy mode function.

I believe with ISX engines your suppose to change the engine oil every 12 to 15,000 miles and at least

once a year. The chassis was to be lubed every 5000 miles. But with the newer synthetic lubricants

for the chassis and rear end the intervals can be extended. I travel 7 to 9000 miles a year And I have

the chassis lubricated once a year. Its very important to change filters at recommended intervals for the

hydraulic system, the genset, and transmission. I hope you have upgraded to Transynd for the

transmission, it will guarantee longer life under adverse conditions.
Coolant is another issue. There

are three different grades and each has a different life, so make your choice and follow the intervals

recommended for each.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Original email:
-----------------

From: David Tuttle william_byte@... [Country-Coach-Owners] Country-Coach-

Owners@yahoogroups.com Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:40:22 -0700 To: country-coach-owners@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Tow vehicle and oil change

Hi all, I'm currently looking at replacing my tow vehicle from a 2002 Honda CRV to something newer.

The CRV has been a great tow vehicle but I was thinking I would like something with a little more room.
I have a Roadmaster tow bar which I would like to convert over to the new vehicle and am not sure if

that will be compatible with other SUV brand names. I'm thinking perhaps I should stick with the CRV

since it has worked out in the past. Any suggestions??

Also, am wondering about an oil change. Last fall when my husband got sick we had the oil changed,

winterized the coach, and placed it in storage for the winter. I have drivin it a couple of times short

distances since then. I am planning to take it to FL this fall and do some additional traveling. Would

you suggest getting an oil change again before leaving, or would I be good for a while? Also, I will be

getting new tires but is there anything else you would suggest maintenance wise I need to do?

Thanks!

Diane

aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

mail2web LIVE Free email based on Microsoft Exchange technology - http://link.mail2web.com/LIVE

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96567
Hi Jay,


Thanks for the info. Are you saying that there is quite a bit more room in the 2013 CRV than in the older one you had? Also we used to start the car and let it run every now and then when we were traveling distances. Would this still work or do you think the hot lead wire would be advisable?
Diane

aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443



On Wednesday, July 23, 2014 7:51 AM, "'Jay Williams' wjay@... [Country-Coach-Owners]" wrote:

While you'll not gain a lot of room, there is a night and day difference between the early CR-Vs and the new models.
My 2003 CR-V was a truck. My 2013 CR-V is a very nice car, with all the bells and whistles. I had to buy a new base plate and wiring for the car (Roadmaster Falcon all-terrain), but all other parts are the same used on the '03. You should add a hot lead from the coach to the car to keep the battery charged.

I recommend you at least give it a look and take a test drive.

Good luck.
Jay

05 Inspire

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96568
When my Tow plate was installed I had a switch put in to turn off the accessories that would drain the

car battery while the CR-V was being towed. It has worked perfectly over the past two years. Honda

replaced my battery just before this trip, but they said there weren't any issues with the car, They said

the battery was just not up to snuff and would rather replace it now than further down the road. TWI
2012 CR-V 2004 Intrigue 11731

Original email:
-----------------

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96571
We tow a 2014 CRV. Just turn off the radio power button which above the radio, we have never had a dead battery. This after towing 8 + hrs.

- Kent

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96580
Research any Ford product you consider buying as a tow vehicle. Ford rescinded the towing on several of its models after too many transmission failures. You have to research each model on line because the manual might say one thing but a later bulletin has changed it.

Gene Merryman

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96583
The towing rescinded was on the 2012 Fusion on rear radiator coaches the trans fluid was getting hot from radiator exhaust from the coach and the fluid was expanding and causing failures. There were very few issues and only on rear radiator coaches. Ford decided to rescind the towing due to lack of control.

The Fusion Hybrid is towable. I have one and love it.

Mikee

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96589
The interior space (cargo) in the latest generation CR-V is not significantly greater than the older models, but there seems to be more leg room in the "cockpit"?, especially on the passenger side due to a redesigned glove box/dash. It just seems like a bigger car.
I too run the engine and go through the gears when I'm making pit stops, but purely for transmission health. I never felt like the five or ten minutes was significantly charging the battery. The electrical drain in the '13 is significantly higher than the '03. The charge line keeps the battery completely charges, which will prolong the life of the battery.

Jay

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96604
This message just made my day. We recently purchased a CC Intrigue and have a 2012 Fusion that we will be towing. After arriving home from the dealer, we found the battery to be dead on the Fusion. I decided to research the issue on the forums and found all the comments about transmission failures. I was very concerned. I had the trans fluid lowered today by Ford. I am relieved to hear the transmission issue was with Fusions towed behind rear radiator coaches, mine is a side radiator. Our Fusion has a 3.0 V6, automatic. Ford says lower the trans fluid, let it run for five minutes, shift to drive, then reverse, then neutral, turn the key off and go. Repeat every 500 miles or six hours, max speed is 65mph.

Britt

Intrigue 11836

www.cojobluegrass.com

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96610
Hi thanks for the suggestions on the tow vehicles. Due to gas mileage I don't want a full size SUV but just something a little bigger than the CRV. Also you mentioned oil change in the fall? The RV is sitting at a campground and I will be driving to FL in Oct. or Nov. The question is do I need to change it before leaving since I haven't done many miles since last fall when it was changed.

Dave

aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96611
Britt,

They later issued a Service Bulletin that rescinded the towing on a Fusion, the Hybrid can be towed.
The reasons are as stated in my previous email. That being said, I do know some folks still towing them.

Mikee

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96623
Hmmm, the folks at the dealership didn't mention that yesterday. Even the service manager said I should be fine if I followed the instructions in the manual. Now I'm not so comfortable. Guess I'll have to call Ford corporate and get their yay or nay.

Britt

Intrigue 11836

www.cojobluegrass.com

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96629
When you take your trip in the fall will it be parked for a while afterwards? If so change after trip. Best to change before parking for extended period as it will minimize the acids and crud sitting in the pan.

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96631
The service was most likely talking from experience. There were very few issues with rear radiator coaches. There are some folks that still tow them and have no issues. Ford does not endorse it
If you contact that Service Manager and ask him about the Service Bulletin, he will probably be familiar with it, if not he can find it.

Mikee

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96649
I towed my 2011 Escape for a couple years behind my rear-radiator Itasca. Had no problems. Ford warranty covered any drivetrain issues. It is essential, however, that the transmission fluid level be adjusted to the specs in the owner's manual, given in the "recreational towing" section to keep the warranty in force.
I did hear that owners of 2012 Escapes got an addendum to their owner's manuals that disallowed "recreational towing".

Tim Gerrity

2002 Magna #6081
2011 Ford Escape

Re: Tow vehicle and oil change

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96671
You can also have your oil tested at Speedco service centers for a fraction of the cost of the actual oil change, I think the cost is $20 or so, might be $30. It will test the condition of the oil and identify any impurities that might cause your engine a problem, if it tests good then no need to throw away good oil. They draw a sample and then analyze it while you wait. I would do this on yours since the oil was recently changed. Speedco also will change your oil and filters at a much more reasonable price than the RV service centers, as in more than 50% less!

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040