I have an '04 Corolla and during the summer months I use it to tow my motorcycle quite bit. The trailer with the bike on it weighs around 1000 lbs...towing capacity listed in the manual for the Corolla is 1500 lbs. Just as a precautionary measure, I added a tranny cooler, and I change my tranny fluid every 3rd oil change, which works out to being every 18K miles. I have not experienced any problems from towing and I'm just wondering how much additional wear and tear this puts on the car.
Do you tow a motorcycle with your compact?
- Thread starter grampi
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I haven't heard of any additional wear/tear as long as the load is reasonable and the maintenance is stepped up to reflect the harder use the car is now being put through.
Shouldn't hurt it, your well within capacity.
Dob't forget, the 1,000 lbs is about 4-5 average sized adults, something your car is totally able to do without any problems. Unless you also TOTALLY load up the car in addition to the trailer and bike.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
You're towing something fairly light, you've added a tranny cooler and your doing frequent drains and fills.
I'd say your car should be just fine with this use.
+1 I agree.
You're towing something fairly light, you've added a tranny cooler and your doing frequent drains and fills.
I'd say your car should be just fine with this use.
+1 I agree.
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Might want to keep it out of overdrive. Keep the revs up a little. Does your owner's manual address this?
No, but I sometimes kick it down out of OD when I know I'm approaching an incline where I know the tranny is going to downshift anyway...the car seems to have no problem cruising along at 70 or 75 in OD with the cruise control set on fairly level roads...
Might want to keep it out of overdrive. Keep the revs up a little. Does your owner's manual address this?
No, but I sometimes kick it down out of OD when I know I'm approaching an incline where I know the tranny is going to downshift anyway...the car seems to have no problem cruising along at 70 or 75 in OD with the cruise control set on fairly level roads...
I bet you're OK. Might want to use synthetic oil in the engine for the towing months.
I tow a utility trailer about that size with my 4 cyl HHR and have no issues.
I'd pay attention to the trailer: grease the spindles, keep the tires up. Secure the bike so its bouncing on its suspension doesn't loosen it or chafe it. The car will be fine.
I'd pay attention to the trailer: grease the spindles, keep the tires up. Secure the bike so its bouncing on its suspension doesn't loosen it or chafe it. The car will be fine.
I tow my compacts with a motorcycle, like a real man!
Originally Posted By: eljefino
I tow a utility trailer about that size with my 4 cyl HHR and have no issues.
I'd pay attention to the trailer: grease the spindles, keep the tires up. Secure the bike so its bouncing on its suspension doesn't loosen it or chafe it. The car will be fine.
I'm very picky when it comes to maintaining the trailer. I pull the wheel bearings twice a year, thoroughly cleaning and re-greasing them using a good quality synthetic, and I frequently do hardware checks on the trailer to make sure everything is secure. Oddly, the one thing I have the most trouble with on the trailer is keeping the lights working, and it's always a grounding problem. I've had to install "star" washers on all the grounding points...corrosion gets in between the connector and the ground point and breaks connection causing the lights to quit working...with the star washers installed, all I have to is loosen the connection a bit, then re-tighten and the washers bite into the metal making a solid connection...
I tow a utility trailer about that size with my 4 cyl HHR and have no issues.
I'd pay attention to the trailer: grease the spindles, keep the tires up. Secure the bike so its bouncing on its suspension doesn't loosen it or chafe it. The car will be fine.
I'm very picky when it comes to maintaining the trailer. I pull the wheel bearings twice a year, thoroughly cleaning and re-greasing them using a good quality synthetic, and I frequently do hardware checks on the trailer to make sure everything is secure. Oddly, the one thing I have the most trouble with on the trailer is keeping the lights working, and it's always a grounding problem. I've had to install "star" washers on all the grounding points...corrosion gets in between the connector and the ground point and breaks connection causing the lights to quit working...with the star washers installed, all I have to is loosen the connection a bit, then re-tighten and the washers bite into the metal making a solid connection...
Originally Posted By: grampi
Oddly, the one thing I have the most trouble with on the trailer is keeping the lights working, and it's always a grounding problem. I've had to install "star" washers on all the grounding points...corrosion gets in between the connector and the ground point and breaks connection causing the lights to quit working...with the star washers installed, all I have to is loosen the connection a bit, then re-tighten and the washers bite into the metal making a solid connection...
I would suggest, based on my experience with fighting corrosion, cleaning the ground connection nice to the bare metal, tightening the connection and then treating it with some Fluid Film, Rust Check, or even brushing on a thin coat of all-purpose lithium grease. Re-check annually.
You will not have a grounding problem again.
Oddly, the one thing I have the most trouble with on the trailer is keeping the lights working, and it's always a grounding problem. I've had to install "star" washers on all the grounding points...corrosion gets in between the connector and the ground point and breaks connection causing the lights to quit working...with the star washers installed, all I have to is loosen the connection a bit, then re-tighten and the washers bite into the metal making a solid connection...
I would suggest, based on my experience with fighting corrosion, cleaning the ground connection nice to the bare metal, tightening the connection and then treating it with some Fluid Film, Rust Check, or even brushing on a thin coat of all-purpose lithium grease. Re-check annually.
You will not have a grounding problem again.
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