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itat · 07-26-2018, 03:32 PM

Welcome to the forum from 40 minutes east of Toronto!

We used to tow a '99 Coleman Santa Fe popup (about 2500# loaded) with a 2005 Sienna LE and no WDH. We needed air bags to prop it back up and were likely overweight but we didn't know any better back then. Kudos to you for asking before buying!

I would never tow a trailer that's supposed to be 3000# "dry weight" with a Sienna and especially not something taller than a popup. Are you looking at the Passport 175BH? I see one advertised at Layzee Acres right now. (We bought our current camper from them - used - in 2015 but never had to use them for after sales service so I can't really rate them as good or bad.)

If you can't upgrade your tow vehicle:
... look for a regular popup (not a high wall) with air conditioning. It will be low so it won't be like towing a parachute which would be the case for the Passport 175BH. Personally, I would prefer a popup to a small travel trailer. It'll be more more open feeling. The only negatives would be putting it away in the rain and it would be more difficult to keep cool in the middle of summer. But a set of custom made Popup Gizmos tent end covers will help a lot.

If I were in the market for a popup, I'd look at either an A frame model or a Rockwood "tent trailer". IMO, the Jaycos are poorly built - I wouldn't touch one. Colemans were always the best built but they stopped making them a long time ago. Rockwood "tent trailers" are the closest quality you can buy compared to the Colemans.

Now, if you can upgrade your tow vehicle:
... go straight to at least a half ton. Look at the payload (aka Cargo Carrying Capacity) on the sticker on the B pillar on the drivers door. Ignore all the claims about "towing capacity" since you'll always exceed the payload capacity before the towing capacity. I tried to tow a 23' hybrid TT with a Toyota Tacoma which is probably on par with the current Chevy Colorado. The trailer was 5200# fully loaded - well under the Tacoma's claimed 6500# max. - but with the trailer attached, as soon as I put a 3rd person in the Tacoma it was over its GVWR, and we are a family of 5. The 4.0L was under-powered, too. We ended up taking 2 vehicles until I upgraded the truck.

Look for a payload number of at least 1500# but 1700#+ would be ideal as long as you don't go bigger than a 26' trailer.

Good luck!

07-26-2018, 03:32 PM	#21
itat Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Eastern GTA Posts: 195	Welcome to the forum from 40 minutes east of Toronto! We used to tow a '99 Coleman Santa Fe popup (about 2500# loaded) with a 2005 Sienna LE and no WDH. We needed air bags to prop it back up and were likely overweight but we didn't know any better back then. Kudos to you for asking before buying! I would never tow a trailer that's supposed to be 3000# "dry weight" with a Sienna and especially not something taller than a popup. Are you looking at the Passport 175BH? I see one advertised at Layzee Acres right now. (We bought our current camper from them - used - in 2015 but never had to use them for after sales service so I can't really rate them as good or bad.) If you can't upgrade your tow vehicle: ... look for a regular popup (not a high wall) with air conditioning. It will be low so it won't be like towing a parachute which would be the case for the Passport 175BH. Personally, I would prefer a popup to a small travel trailer. It'll be more more open feeling. The only negatives would be putting it away in the rain and it would be more difficult to keep cool in the middle of summer. But a set of custom made Popup Gizmos tent end covers will help a lot. If I were in the market for a popup, I'd look at either an A frame model or a Rockwood "tent trailer". IMO, the Jaycos are poorly built - I wouldn't touch one. Colemans were always the best built but they stopped making them a long time ago. Rockwood "tent trailers" are the closest quality you can buy compared to the Colemans. Now, if you can upgrade your tow vehicle: ... go straight to at least a half ton. Look at the payload (aka Cargo Carrying Capacity) on the sticker on the B pillar on the drivers door. Ignore all the claims about "towing capacity" since you'll always exceed the payload capacity before the towing capacity. I tried to tow a 23' hybrid TT with a Toyota Tacoma which is probably on par with the current Chevy Colorado. The trailer was 5200# fully loaded - well under the Tacoma's claimed 6500# max. - but with the trailer attached, as soon as I put a 3rd person in the Tacoma it was over its GVWR, and we are a family of 5. The 4.0L was under-powered, too. We ended up taking 2 vehicles until I upgraded the truck. Look for a payload number of at least 1500# but 1700#+ would be ideal as long as you don't go bigger than a 26' trailer. Good luck! __________________ 2023 Rockwood Signature 8262RBS 2016 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCrew, 6.2L, 4x4, 6'9" bed, 3.73 2019 Rockwood Signature 8290BS (2019-2023) 2011 Rockwood Signature 8293SS (2014-2018)