I have a motorcycle and I'm contemplating getting a trailer so I can take the bike with me on my travels. I've been looking at a single motorcycle trailer that weighs 140 lbs. The bike itself weighs roughly 750 lbs. I have a '99 Corolla 5 speed and I know these cars aren't really meant to tow anything, but this trailer is fairly well balanced so it only has a loaded tonque weight of about 40 or 50 lbs. I don't encounter many hills in the areas I travel, so most of the driving would be on pretty much level ground. What I'd mainly be looking at is the rolling and wind resistance and whether or not it would be too much for the Corolla to handle. Does anyone have any experience in this area?
Have you ever towed anything with your Corolla?
- Thread starter grampi
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I don't have a Corolla, but I do have a car with similar power, and I'd do it... but as long as the hitch is OK and there is not too much tongue weight applied, you really should be OK. 900 or so lbs rolling behind the car is not that much weight, I'd be much more concerned if that was pushing down on the car also. And since it's a 5 speed, you won't have to worry about straining your automatic trans.
Go for it, I tow much more with much less hp. My only advice is don't be afraid of using 4th gear on the highway. I doubt you'll have too into a headwind on the flat, but a long gradual slope with some headwind might need a downshift. Its better to use 30-40% thottle at 3000+ rpm than 90-100% at 2000 rpm to avoid the potential for knocking and abuse of the rod and crank bearings.
Edmunds says your year Corolla can tow up to 1500#. I know I've seen Corollas from that generation with trailer hitches on them.
http://www.edmunds.com/used/1999/toyota/corolla/12427/specs.html
http://www.edmunds.com/used/1999/toyota/corolla/12427/specs.html
No problem! You should see what they tow with small vehicles in Europe! I personally have towed a 16' Caravan with a 1600cc car at 70mph for extended distances with no problems.
This is a stability video, but it does show a 'typical' combination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4MQEYe4_0Y&feature=related
This is a stability video, but it does show a 'typical' combination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4MQEYe4_0Y&feature=related
Originally Posted By: defektes
Drive it in third gear to prevent transmission failure.
Driving at highway speeds in 3rd gear would have my engine RPMs up way too high. I could see times where I would need to drop down into 4th gear, but if I had to drive in 3rd gear I'd probably decide not to tow.
Drive it in third gear to prevent transmission failure.
Driving at highway speeds in 3rd gear would have my engine RPMs up way too high. I could see times where I would need to drop down into 4th gear, but if I had to drive in 3rd gear I'd probably decide not to tow.
I was actually wondering about this for my cavalier. I was thinking about picking up a cheap trailer, and using it to haul lawnmower/snowblower around and other things. the 2.4L has a 1000lb towing rating, and afaik the only difference between the 2.2 and 2.4 is the engine and transmission, so I figured it should be ok.
What a timely topic. I don't have a Corolla but I do have a similar Civic and I just got done putting a hitch on it. I will be towing a 14' aluminum jon boat and a 5x8 utility trailer.
Unfortunately I don't have any feedback to give you yet because I just installed the hitch last weekend and I haven't towed yet. With gas prices on the way up again there will be more of us going this route. Good luck.
Unfortunately I don't have any feedback to give you yet because I just installed the hitch last weekend and I haven't towed yet. With gas prices on the way up again there will be more of us going this route. Good luck.
I saw a Corvette towing a Jet Ski once so go for it! Have fun finding a bolt in hitch?
Originally Posted By: JohnBrowning
I saw a Corvette towing a Jet Ski once so go for it! Have fun finding a bolt in hitch?
No problem, they are easy to find for a Corvette or a Corolla.
I saw a Corvette towing a Jet Ski once so go for it! Have fun finding a bolt in hitch?
No problem, they are easy to find for a Corvette or a Corolla.
There are other places to go, but this vendor makes it easy.
www.etrailer.com
www.etrailer.com
timely topic as someone else said.
Go for it. it's like having a little truck you can cart stuff around in.
if it's a five speed don't lug the engine.
I am just in the process of buying a 7ft by 4ft by 20" (tray height) utility trailer for my 4 cylinder camry.
your owners manual should have good section on towing. mine says the following:
max towing - 2,600 lbs
max tow ball down load - 5 - 10% of total trailer weight but no greater than 200 pounds
however your towing capacity may be limited by law or the tow hitch attachment - that's why a genuine OEM hitch is sometimes best. mine is not OEM (got it with the car I am the second owner). down here you need trailer brakes if towing more than 1,100 pounds (i think). so because i am only getting a little utility trailer i will be limtied to 1,100 pounds...
there may also be restrictions in towing capacity with respect to gross vehcile mass. so the total trailer + trailer load + car curb mass + car load must be less than a certain number.
Go for it. it's like having a little truck you can cart stuff around in.
if it's a five speed don't lug the engine.
I am just in the process of buying a 7ft by 4ft by 20" (tray height) utility trailer for my 4 cylinder camry.
your owners manual should have good section on towing. mine says the following:
max towing - 2,600 lbs
max tow ball down load - 5 - 10% of total trailer weight but no greater than 200 pounds
however your towing capacity may be limited by law or the tow hitch attachment - that's why a genuine OEM hitch is sometimes best. mine is not OEM (got it with the car I am the second owner). down here you need trailer brakes if towing more than 1,100 pounds (i think). so because i am only getting a little utility trailer i will be limtied to 1,100 pounds...
there may also be restrictions in towing capacity with respect to gross vehcile mass. so the total trailer + trailer load + car curb mass + car load must be less than a certain number.
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http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/2005_10_towingtrailers.pdf
guidelines for australia (NSW) but a good read in any case.
guidelines for australia (NSW) but a good read in any case.
Uhm, you also need to be concerned about the braking and to not be overloading the capacity of the braking system to slow the vehicle down under the conditions you are driving under.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6zaiy_fatality-rollover-on-donner-pass_webcam
Not a car... but an example of what happens when your vehicle starts to run away from your control.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6zaiy_fatality-rollover-on-donner-pass_webcam
Not a car... but an example of what happens when your vehicle starts to run away from your control.
Originally Posted By: crinkles
your load also has to be spread 60% in front of the trailer axle and 40% tot he rear.
That can't be achieved. The tongue weight limit for the Corolla's hitch is 200 lbs. Using your ratio with an 800 motorcycle would put roughly 500 lbs of weight in front of the trailer axle. That would far exceed the 200 lb tongue weight limit of the hitch. Besides with a FWD vehicle like the Corolla, you don't want to be taking weight off the front wheels, so my aim is to load the bike on the trailer so I end up with about 100 lbs of tongue weight.
your load also has to be spread 60% in front of the trailer axle and 40% tot he rear.
That can't be achieved. The tongue weight limit for the Corolla's hitch is 200 lbs. Using your ratio with an 800 motorcycle would put roughly 500 lbs of weight in front of the trailer axle. That would far exceed the 200 lb tongue weight limit of the hitch. Besides with a FWD vehicle like the Corolla, you don't want to be taking weight off the front wheels, so my aim is to load the bike on the trailer so I end up with about 100 lbs of tongue weight.
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: crinkles
your load also has to be spread 60% in front of the trailer axle and 40% tot he rear.
That can't be achieved. The tongue weight limit for the Corolla's hitch is 200 lbs. Using your ratio with an 800 motorcycle would put roughly 500 lbs of weight in front of the trailer axle. That would far exceed the 200 lb tongue weight limit of the hitch. Besides with a FWD vehicle like the Corolla, you don't want to be taking weight off the front wheels, so my aim is to load the bike on the trailer so I end up with about 100 lbs of tongue weight.
no, you got it wrong. the 60%/40% DOES NOT mean the 60% goes onto the tow hitch!!!
now concentrate.
say the trailer weighs 1000 lbs.
Assume there is 10 feet between the tow hitch and the trailer axle.
the sum of the tow hitch load and axle load must be 1000 lbs, right.
the centre of gravity on a 60%/40% load spread may be say 1 foot in front of the trailer axle.
think about lever arms now. consider them about the trailer axle.
the 1000 lbs through the centre of gravity at 1 ft, must equal the tow hitch downforce times the distance from the trailer axle 10 feet away. therefore, 1000 ft-lbs need to be applied by the tow hitch relative to the trailer axle.
if it is 10 feet away from the trailer axle, it only needs to be 100 lbs (1000 ft-lbs / 10 ft) to maintain equilibrium.
remember, the trailer axle will support 90% of the weight with a 60%/40% spread to the front BECAUSE the centre of gravity is only slightly forward of the trailer axle.
loading a trailer with the centre of gravity behind the axle WILL MAKE IT SWAY!
Originally Posted By: crinkles
your load also has to be spread 60% in front of the trailer axle and 40% tot he rear.
That can't be achieved. The tongue weight limit for the Corolla's hitch is 200 lbs. Using your ratio with an 800 motorcycle would put roughly 500 lbs of weight in front of the trailer axle. That would far exceed the 200 lb tongue weight limit of the hitch. Besides with a FWD vehicle like the Corolla, you don't want to be taking weight off the front wheels, so my aim is to load the bike on the trailer so I end up with about 100 lbs of tongue weight.
no, you got it wrong. the 60%/40% DOES NOT mean the 60% goes onto the tow hitch!!!
now concentrate.
say the trailer weighs 1000 lbs.
Assume there is 10 feet between the tow hitch and the trailer axle.
the sum of the tow hitch load and axle load must be 1000 lbs, right.
the centre of gravity on a 60%/40% load spread may be say 1 foot in front of the trailer axle.
think about lever arms now. consider them about the trailer axle.
the 1000 lbs through the centre of gravity at 1 ft, must equal the tow hitch downforce times the distance from the trailer axle 10 feet away. therefore, 1000 ft-lbs need to be applied by the tow hitch relative to the trailer axle.
if it is 10 feet away from the trailer axle, it only needs to be 100 lbs (1000 ft-lbs / 10 ft) to maintain equilibrium.
remember, the trailer axle will support 90% of the weight with a 60%/40% spread to the front BECAUSE the centre of gravity is only slightly forward of the trailer axle.
loading a trailer with the centre of gravity behind the axle WILL MAKE IT SWAY!
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