Can I tow with a V-6 camry?

[rcrete]

Hello,
I am going to trade in my 1994 explorer soon. I own a 1990 scamper 240C (12' box)which I also may sell.  We only camp about 3 times a year so what I want to do is buy a fuel efficient car or truck and the lightest weight trailer I can find.  An older model 8footer will be ok.  I was looking at the V-6 camry's and u-haul says they can tow 3500 lbs. Would this be ok to tow a small popup?  I'm not exactly sure how much my scamper weights. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.

[fritz_monroe]

Welcome to the forums.

As for towing with a Camry.  If it's rated at 3500#, it's got as high a rating as many other vehicles that are towing pups today.

There's an outfit in Canada that sets up towing rigs using cars.  I don't remember exactly the setup, but I recall some sort of car and an Airstream.  It all depends on how it's set up.  I also saw someone towing a pup with a Jetta wagon.

[tknick]

Hello,
I am going to trade in my 1994 explorer soon. I own a 1990 scamper 240C (12' box)which I also may sell.  We only camp about 3 times a year so what I want to do is buy a fuel efficient car or truck and the lightest weight trailer I can find.  An older model 8footer will be ok.  I was looking at the V-6 camry's and u-haul says they can tow 3500 lbs. Would this be ok to tow a small popup?  I'm not exactly sure how much my scamper weights. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.

You may be under the weight rating for the camry, but keep in mind the Camry is a passenger car and built to carry passengers not tow trailers.  If you tow 2 or 3 times a year you are probably going to be OK.  That being said, the brakes on the camry are going to be no where close to adequate for stopping any kind of trailer in an emergency stop.  I would avoid any trailer that doesn't have it's own brakes (don't know if the ones you are looking at have them or not).  You should also install an oil and tranny cooler.  You could probably get by changing the oil before/after towing, but you can't do that with the tranny fluid.  

long story short, the camry can tow, but it's not ideal and may shorten the life of the camry.  towing w/ a brand new one may void the warranty as well.

sorry for the bad news.
travis

[fallsrider]

I would be very cautious about towing with a Camry. We owned a '98 for about 5 years. The car was a great car, but it had the softest, mushiest suspension I've ever seen in a car. With 5 normal adults (no one overweight), it would scrape over every speed bump around.

At the time we had the car, we also owned a 750 lb. jet ski. I wouldn't have even wanted to tow it with that car.

Maybe the V6 has a different suspension, as we had the 4 banger. I don't know. I just know that even with more power/torque, if the suspension is the same, I wouldn't do it.

[JungleJim]

There are people over on PUX that tow very successfully with a Camry.
There are some people who think that you can only tow with a truck.

[Done Working]

Welcome to the forums.

As for towing with a Camry.  If it's rated at 3500#, it's got as high a rating as many other vehicles that are towing pups today.

There's an outfit in Canada that sets up towing rigs using cars.  I don't remember exactly the setup, but I recall some sort of car and an Airstream.  It all depends on how it's set up.  I also saw someone towing a pup with a Jetta wagon.

The outfit in Canada is called Can-Am RV they are located in London Ontario.
They use smart ways of getting the most of your two vehicle. They equip the combination with the proper set up by using weight distribution systems, sway bars and they have even changed tire sizes to change the axle ratio.  

Their web site is Can -Am RV have a look.

[mbopp]

My middle brother towed his PU with a V-6 Camry wagon. He did add a brake controller to it. Not the best TV but it got the job done for him. Now he's towing an 18' TT with his Sienna.

[mike4947]

I don't know if Mike (Camping Colorado) frequents here, but you might try him at http://www.popupexplorer.com/forum/default.asp  

or http://www.rv.net/forum/
 
Mike is the resident expert on towing with Camary's and can give you all the particulars, such as trailer size, weights, tongue weights,l brakes, etc.