I tow my M15 (Vanilla) with a Subaru Forester. The 165 HP, plain jane L
model handled it ok, but the S model has 4-wheel disk brakes that stop
it better. Currently, I have a Forester with a turbo in it (210 HP),
and hardly know the boat is back there--just finished the 800 mile
round-trip Pullman- to- Anacortes and the 2-week sail with the Monty
group in the San Juan and Gulf Islands.
--Gary Hyde
N24 'Sailabration'
M15 #235 'Vanilla'
On Jun 09, 2005, at 6:41 PM, William B. Riker wrote:
I had one near miss towing Storm Petrel with my RAV4. The short
version is
that a semi and I tried to move into the same lane just before the
interstate split. I ended up taking the other split, not the intended
one,
via the shoulder at 55 or 60. He was bigger - lots bigger, so he got
the
lane. It was close but no damage was done. My rig felt as secure as
it
could under those circumstances. I sure was glad the boat was tied
down
well. I checked things out at a rest area, then headed back to my
original
route.
The RAV is a small but tall SUV with a very short wheelbase. I think
it
feels more stable that its size would indicate because of the full
time all
wheel drive. I really like the way it handles, both with and without
the
trailer.
SP's Dilly trailer is larger and heavier than those I have seen other
M15s
sitting on. It has a lot of tongue weight but not enough for the
RAV's rear
to sag. You can tell the boat is back there and I notice the unusual
motion when first leaving on a trip.
I often tow over the mountains to the Chesapeake, such as the
Appalachians
are. I prefer the scenery of toll-free I68 through Western Maryland
to the
PA Turnpike, even though the hills are steeper. I run comfortably at
65-70,
except up the hills, of course. The RAV gets about 20 mpg when towing
and
27 when unencumbered.
Bill Riker
M-15 - #184
Storm Petrel
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