Towing with the Miata works in a pinch, but it's nice to be able to lock stuff in the car. As a hypothetical, a good MPG car (otherwise I'd get a truck) with lots of room, able to pull a HF trailer with two dirtbikes max, plus gear/camping equipment.
Doesn't have to be manual, although that would be nice.
Fit? Mazda3 hatch? Focus?
I should mention that it only has to seat me and one other passenger. No SUV's needed.
Loaded weight of the trailer?
Anything less and you're just risking death.
ProDarwin wrote: Loaded weight of the trailer?
600 pounds or so. 900 with two bikes.
97-up 4runner 3.4
These do anything for you?
OSULemon wrote:ProDarwin wrote: Loaded weight of the trailer?600 pounds or so. 900 with two bikes.
Ouch... that much? I may have went too small on my recommendation.
If its under 1000lbs, just about any 4 banger FWD econo-box will tow it. A P5, SW2, etc. would be good choices due to good mpg and lots of interior room, but there are a bazillion options out there.
OSULemon wrote:ProDarwin wrote: Loaded weight of the trailer?600 pounds or so. 900 with two bikes.
Sky is your limit. Short of a Geo Metro, there is really no vehicle out there that can't handle that. Even a Corolla has a 1500lb towing capacity.
Depending on your budget, I'd be looking at a Saturn wagon, Mazda 6 wagon, Focus/3 hatch/wagon, etc.
I'm partial to the Subaru Forester/Impreza/w/e, anyone of them will tow that with ease and be happy to bounce about any light trails.
Unless your dirtbikes are 50cc, two of them will weight more then 300lbs. A new 450 will be 250lbs with fluids.
I would go big. Not F350 big, but bigger then a geo metro.
Dirtbike gear takes up a lot of room, and is generally dirty. Camping gear is the same way. Plus you want to be able to bring tools and other stuff.
Keep the gas on the trailer and your other stuff in the car.
Rusnak_322 wrote: Unless your dirtbikes are 50cc, two of them will weight more then 300lbs. A new 450 will be 250lbs with fluids. I would go big. Not F350 big, but bigger then a geo metro. Dirtbike gear takes up a lot of room, and is generally dirty. Camping gear is the same way. Plus you want to be able to bring tools and other stuff. Keep the gas on the trailer and your other stuff in the car.
600 is one bike + trailer, 900 is two + trailer.
I am also impressed by the Mazda6 wagon. I wonder if it comes in a manual...
In reply to OSULemon:
It does, I own one. And they only come v6 too I believe. Mine has a tiny trailer hitch on it too that I keep forgetting about.
Pontiac Aztek, because ugly and tent.
t25torx wrote: Pontiac Aztek, because ugly and tent.
Ohhh no. Not after Breaking Bad.
They actually can traverse some decentness oddly enough...
I'll go with "old Forester," since it can tow that easily, gets ok MPG if you get non-turbo, has AWD to go where you want to go, lots of inside room for gear, and it's actually surprisingly fun to drive in anger. I see them (and older Outbacks) for well under $5k in decent shape all the time.
Honda Element.
Chevy Astro? More than able to tow, but also a lot of room to store stuff or even you if it starts to rain
S10 or Colorado. Check out Zomby Woof's build thread
Saturn SW1?
I buy and sell motorcycles and haul them with a 4x8 HF type trailer. My 96 Saturn pulls fine.
Occasionally I grossly overload the Saturn and borrow a tow dolly to haul home something bigger. The sand rail pictured was not a problem, however I once hauled a 81 BMW 320 on a dolly and it was scarey.
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You said no SUVs but I'm still going to say XJ Cherokee. They aren't big on the inside (or outside for that matter). You want it with the automatic trans so that you get the good gear ratios. Manuals got saddled with 3.07s for some strange reason. Autos got 3.55s and sometimes even 3.73s. They aren't expensive. They are reliable as gravity and tough as nails. '97 and up is a nicer rig but any with the 4.0 is pretty darn good. I still miss mine. I traded it for a new Wrangler with the 285 HP 3.6 VVT. The Wrangler is not any faster nor does it get any better mileage than the old XJ did. 
Granted, it does weigh about 1000# more.
I helped recover some stolen equipment a few years ago. A couple had stolen a pickup with camper, utility trailer with a boat on a rack and 2 quads. All stolen over the same week from different locations. Then they went camping for a long weekend and when they were done they left everything there.
Just offering another option you may not have considered.
The Wrangler is not any faster
It may not feel any faster but it DEFINITELY is.
I love me some Cherokee too. I've had 4. If i were to get another i wouldnt bother with a pre-98, the later ones are just MUCH nicer.
Also, the 5spd/3.07 is still faster than the auto/3.55. It may not FEEL faster, but it definitely is. These differences show up if you keep it floored long enough. Like, have you ever taken 3rd gear to 85mph in a 5spd Cherokee? I have.
The autos start feeling much slower somewhere around 60-70mph.
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