Honda CR-V suitability for towing camper

Submitted: Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 11:34
ThreadID: 61415 Views:6147 Replies:4 FollowUps:2
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I would be interested to hear from anyone with experience in towing a camper trailer with a Honda CR-V (2005 model, manual).

Travel will be mainly on sealed roads, but it would also include some gravel roads. No off-road activity is contemplated. I don't have the camper yet, but I expect that it will be one of the smaller camper trailers, probably grossing about 700kg.

My principal concern is the handling of the CR-V on gravel, and the vulnerability of the underside to stone damage. Any comments, either positive or negative, will be appreciated.

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Reply By: Member - Madfisher - Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 13:13

Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 13:13
t favoured spot by the river. Xtrails do have a bit more off road ability.
Chs Pete
AnswerID: 323965

Follow Up By: Member - Madfisher - Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 13:16

Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 13:16
Sorry comp is playing up.
What I was trying to say till the Comp ditched it was that Falcons and Commodores have been doing dirt roads towing bigger vans then yours for decades, so cannot see a problem.
Cheers Pete
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Follow Up By: Peter 2 - Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 14:33

Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 14:33
The difference was though that an older Falcon or Holden was far stronger and heavier than a CRV.
CRV's don't perform that well on muddy slippery tracks and as for off road forget it, by the time the "4wd" system has detected wheel slip you are in the poo.
Xtrail's are much better off road with a proper 4wd system.
My thoughts are that a CRV is a Civic with big wheels and a "4wd" occasionally, Xtrail would be a much better bet. Willem has one and it performs very well when Judith lets him drive it ;-))
Remember too that a 700kg camper will carry a fair payload as well. Easily over the tonne.
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Reply By: Trevor W(Brisbane) - Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 14:26

Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 14:26
We have just returned from the Flinders where we met up with 2 Young at heart Gents in their 70'ishes and they were in a CRV towing a Mid Size camper and having a ball.Just been down the Birdsville Track with the dust and then hit the rain and the mud in the Flinders.There car covered in both and the smiles on everyones faces,my wife took a photo as the mud dripped off then we noticed the rear broken window and one of the gents open the door and scooped up the red dust from the dash.But they were enjoying every minute of their adventure so I guess the Little Honda was going well.But make sure you protect your back window when on dirt roads
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Reply By: escapesilv - Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 14:50

Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 14:50
I can't see you will have problems as long as you drive according to conditions when you are on gravel.

Going off road is another thing as once you are in the poo you have no more than what got you in.

Good luck.

AnswerID: 323983

Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 15:53

Friday, Sep 05, 2008 at 15:53
What is the maximum tow weight stated in the vehicle handbook? If you keep the maximum weight of your rig to no more than 2/3rd to 3/4 of that you should be able to go most places the trailer is capable of going.

PeterD
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