Towing Capacity?

[V-K]

What kind of weight should I be able to tow with my 4 door Civic? I have an 1900 lb. trailer I need to pull about 300 miles. Think the car can hanle it?

[redmanjd]

this is not a hauling vehicle. It only has a unibody, not a frame to bolt a hitch to . I have seen people tow jet skies with them but not something that alost wights as much as the car itsself.

[viper_2_4]

I think in the manual it should say what it is rated at to tow, but I can't imagine it is that high......

[sastanley]

I have a hitch built for this car installed on my car rated at 2,000 lbs. - techincally I think that puts the car at Class I capable. 1,900 is pushing it, but inside the limit if that is the total weight you'll be hauling.

I often pull a boat/trailer combo that weighs about 1,100 lbs total. The DX's 92 HP motor wasn't real happy with me, but seem to handle it fine. I still got 27MPG on a 400 mile trip, with 3 people in the car.
I have hauled more...a heavy duty utility trailer loaded with lumber, but only a few miles. The car didn't have a whole lot of giddy-up, but made it the short distance without any problems.

A 5-speed is much better suited for this type of application. I'd worry, and not pull anything bigger than a jet-ski, if I had an automatic. (I also own a 14ft. single-handed sailboat which weights about 400 lbs. total, which was the original reason I put on the hitch...I suspect that is about equivelant to a jet ski in weight.) When I haul a utility trailer, I tend to run in 4th gear also, since I think 5th is too tall for towing, and makes the engine work too hard at low RPM.

The real key is balancing the load so the trailer axle holds as much weight as possible. Keep the tongue weight light to keep the vehicle itself balanced. Without a scale, I'd guess I try to tow things with about 30-50 lbs. of tongue weight. Just enough to keep the trailer from pulling up off the ball.
Also, make sure your brakes are in good condition too, since they are used to only stopping about 2,400 lbs (car + driver). I have Brembo "OEM" rotors and AEM pads on my car.

But like readmanjd said, they aren't really designed as a towing vehicle..I probably wouldn't haul anything bigger than my 1,000 lbs. boat any type of distance, so use your own judgement...what type of terrain do u expect to see on your trip? Flat roads near the coast are one thing, but hills and mountains are an entirely different beast.

[MethodMan420]

WOW I thought I saw someone ask if you can tow with a civic .. just thought I better come look for myself ....geesh some people.... but then again my grandfather has towed a log wagon full of wood (about 3000# tongue weight with his old 88 Toyota, from the day he got it. Never underestimate the power of Rice I guess.

Ok I guess it could be done but I dont wanna be following you on the onramp to I-75 hehe

[Killa_CRX]

I've towed my mom's '90 Chevy 1500 extended cab truck without much trouble when her transmission went out.

That's a little over 4,000lbs for the truck, and then my mom, stepdad, little brother, and two little sisters and myself.... and my 91 DX pulled it all like champ over 70 miles back to my house!

Only thing was, the truck was hooked up via tow rope, and my stepdad was working the brakes in my mom's truck, so I didn't have to deal with stopping it too... I would say deffinately make sure your brakes are in GOOD condition though.

[sastanley]

Originally Posted by Killa_CRX

I've towed my mom's '90 Chevy 1500 extended cab truck without much trouble when her transmission went out.

That's a little over 4,000lbs for the truck, and then my mom, stepdad, little brother, and two little sisters and myself.... and my 91 DX pulled it all like champ over 70 miles back to my house!

Only thing was, the truck was hooked up via tow rope, and my stepdad was working the brakes in my mom's truck, so I didn't have to deal with stopping it too... I would say deffinately make sure your brakes are in GOOD condition though.

Nice - Go Civic!

[V-K]

I see mixed opinions, but maybe I'll try to borrow, or even rent, a truck for this. Thanks guys.

[travagliante]

Id definatley go UHAUL $19.95 + miles
lol
Good luck

[90civicracer]

Yeah of if you have a buddy w/ a truck/suv that'd be even easier, just tell him you'll buy him a case of beer or pay for gas or somethin, lol.

[travagliante]

Originally Posted by 90civicracer

Yeah of if you have a buddy w/ a truck/suv that'd be even easier, just tell him you'll buy him a case of beer or pay for gas or somethin, lol.

Yep thats so true. I offer my friends linch, pay for gas, and fill it up when im done.
Works all the time. lol

[90civicracer]

Hell its worked for me when my friend wanted to borrow my car. Last year for his prom he didnt wanna drive his shitty lil '92 mazda 2200 so he gave bought me lunch and filled up my tank when i let him use it.

[EF You]

my 90 STD pulled stuff all the time. i put a u-haul tow hitch on it.

things ive pulled:

a 16 foot aluminum flatboat and trailer. probably weighed 1500 lbs with all the gear in it, and brought 3 people with me. handled it like a champ, just had a little trouble pulling the boat back out of the water on a backdown boat launch ramp. not enough traction with the concrete being wet, and i had to get the three friends to push the back of the car while i floored it, but the car finally caught dry cement and pulled it out easily.

i also towed a CRX Si with b16a in it from baton rouge to new orleans which is about 90 miles. i used a uhaul style tow dolly, and i imagine that the combined weight of towdolly and car was 2500+ a little more.

all of this was with the stock d15 with 4 speed tranny and stock 175,000 mile clutch.

now that my 88 has the b16a in it from that CRX, im anxious to throw the tow gear on it and build a mini trailer out of the back end of one of my junk hatches

[nemo_wolf]

Originally Posted by incucivic

now that my 88 has the b16a in it from that CRX, im anxious to throw the tow gear on it and build a mini trailer out of the back end of one of my junk hatches

ohhh ohhh if you do do that PLEASE take pics!

[account]

towed 1751lbs on axle for over 17k miles while traveling around the country. No problems but a blowout on a used 20 dollar tire while on freeway. clutch working great. Also hauled that load + 4 girls up grueling roads up oregon mountain.

setup: modified class 3 jeep tow hitch + steel from recycle center + steel to sandwich all parts of the frame where tow bar bolts into.

Make your sh1t happen