The Que looks great but what's the point?

flip · 12-28-2007, 07:05 AM

I'm looking for a mini TT that I can pull with a Honda Odyssey
My search has lead from a T@B to an ICAMP to the Que

The Que looks great but slightly exceeds my 3500 limit.
If I (or anyone) was going to upgrade from a family vehicle to a tow capable vehicle why wouldn't I get a bigger trailer than the Que?

Would you say the Que was designed for folks who have smaller pickup trucks? I know I could not get my wife to swap her Odyssey for an
F-150

I'm driving an Accord that was just paid off so I'd like to enjoy that situation for a while.

Thanks for your thoughts

**Tweety** · 12-28-2007, 07:29 AM

I haven't seen the ICAMP, but the QUE has far more amenities than the T@b. There are many "family" SUVs that you can comfortably pull a QUE with, but the Odessey isn't one of them. We did fine with our 5200# rated 6 cylinder TrailBlazer. You wouldn't be pulling it over the Rockies with that vehicle, but it managed I81 through the mountains of Virginia. Any V8 SUV would handle it just fine. We needed a new vehicle anyway and upgraded the tow vehicle in an overkill sort of way. Then of course ended up wanting a bigger trailer. So, I think the point of the QUE is for someone with a vehicle rated around 5000#, and there are LOTS of those on the road. Also, there aren't many GVWR 3500# trailers out there with the beautiful kitchen and sizeable bathroom of the QUE

What6308 · 12-28-2007, 09:15 PM

Our Grand Cherokee handled the Que very well. It was a 2002 with the 4.7L V8 (they made two 4.7s, this was the lesser of the two).

ELPilotto pulls with a Nissan Quest.

**Sunline Fan** · 12-28-2007, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flip

Would you say the Que was designed for folks who have smaller pickup trucks?

Flip,

I don't think so. I think it was designed for the smaller SUV's, like an Explorer/Mountaineer, possibly a Escape/Mariner. I don't know the tow ratings on the Escape at the moment, but I'd suspect it would handle the weight better than a minvan because the rear suspension is designed to hold a little more weight. Minivans are designed to hold the vehicle itself and provide a comfortable ride to the passengers. However, in the case of ElPilotto, a proper weight distribution hitch and tranny cooler turns an ordinary minivan into a tow vehicle.

I would closely inspect your rear axle ratings and go from there. If the axle can handle the load, you can pretty much deal with the other problems. The vehicle should work for towing a Que, but I'm quite confident you won't be happy with it. As I said before, Minivans aren't designed to tow a trailer with significant tongue weight, which does include many of the larger pop ups.

I towed my 2363 with a V8 Mountaineer for a while and wouldn't recommend a much bigger trailer for that vehicle. I would think a Que would be a perfect match for a Mountaineer, either V6 or V8.

Jon

ttfn · 12-29-2007, 08:20 AM

We did look at the T@B and were very impressed...much more room than I would have thought..but (of course there's a but) no shower; no toilet. Part of the reason to give up the tent was the hike to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I really wanted that bathroom!

We tow the B*R*Q with a Toyota Tacoma without issues. (And I really love the bathroom

)

CaptKen · 12-29-2007, 05:44 PM

I pull the Que with a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV with 4.0L V-6, 240 HP engine and 5000 lb tow package with class III 500 lb hitch.

Been out 3 times and even went up steep hills like it wasn't even back there. I use a W.D. hitch and both Toyota and Que set perfectly level.

What is the tow capacity of an Odyssey? Not familiar with that vehicle.

I am a big believer in the rule of thumb that you should not tow more than 75-80% of your rated trailer tow capacity.

Ken

peekay · 12-30-2007, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptKen

I pull the Que with a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV with 4.0L V-6, 240 HP engine and 5000 lb tow package with class III 500 lb hitch.

Been out 3 times and even went up steep hills like it wasn't even back there. I use a W.D. hitch and both Toyota and Que set perfectly level.

What is the tow capacity of an Odyssey? Not familiar with that vehicle.

I am a big believer in the rule of thumb that you should not tow more than 75-80% of your rated trailer tow capacity.

Ken

Ken, I have that same engine in an 07 Tacoma with the auto. Do find yourself putting it in 4th gear for everything but downhill? I find that D causes the tranny to unlock the torque converter too much.

CaptKen · 12-30-2007, 06:41 AM

Peekay,

If you consult your Toyota owner's manual it will tell you to always tow in 4th. In fact, almost all vehicle manufacturers do not recommend towing in the overdrive gear because the engine/transmission will do too much "gear hunting" causing overheating of the tranny.

Like you, I will shift up on downhill runs just to reduce RPMs and save a little fuel.

I am planning a 2-week trip to the Rocky Mountains (CO-Gunnison/Beuna Vista area) in Sept. I hope I get get good performance from the FJ on the slopes. The Toyota mechanic told me the other day that FJ's were crawling all over out there pulling all sorts of things and he expected I would be pleased.

Ken

flip · 12-31-2007, 07:26 AM

Very thoughtful responses. Thank You.

The Odyessey is tow rated for 3500 when properly equiped.

The Que specs read

Dry Weight: 2700 lbs.* (1224.70 kg)
Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating: 3500 lbs.* (1587.57 kg)
*Weights are approximate w/o options

the competitor I'm interest in (that I know people are towing with their odyessey) is the Casita
Dry Weight for the Deluxe model 2385

I'm just looking to see if there is a vehicle that I can tow with the oddessey (that contains a bathroom).

**Tweety** · 12-31-2007, 08:05 AM

I am SO loyal to Sunline that I just hate to be a naysayer, but if you want to keep the van I don't think the QUE is your trailer. People seem to love their Casitas, and the smooth rounded outside will be an advantage as far as wind resistance. Have you seen the T@da version of the T@b? Very expensive, but it's larger than the traditional T@b and it has a wet bath, AND a European flair like the QUE.

**Sunline Fan** · 12-31-2007, 09:37 AM

Flip,

If you can wait a couple months, check out Chalet.

Jon

ELPilotto · 01-01-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What6308

ELPilotto pulls with a Nissan Quest.

Close, we actually pull Q*Bert with our '05 Toyota Sienna. (Or our '97 Mountaineer.) The Sienna does a little better. (AND burns less gas doing it.) I suspect that the properly equipped Ody would do fine. As with any vehicle, you gotta watch the weights.

The Que's GVWR is 3500lbs. Not a lot of load carrying but being that it is really designed for 2 people, I find it tough for the 2 of us to overload it.

luvrque · 02-20-2008, 04:27 PM

[quote= Flip wrote:

If I (or anyone) was going to upgrade from a family vehicle to a tow capable vehicle why wouldn't I get a bigger trailer than the Que?

Our reasons for buying the Que had nothing to do with the tow veh.
My TV was a GMC Yukon w/7700 lbs tow cap.
We looked at many TT's before we went with the Que, none looked as good or as well built. The only negative was the price, for what we paid for it we could of had a much larger TT.
THE POINT IS: We wanted the smallest TT that we could find for ease of towing and garaging....but it had to have a bath w/seperate shower, a king size bed, and large windows at the seating area.
The Que RE has a full king bed plus more kitchen counter space than you see in much larger TT's.
These were some of OUR reasons for choosing the Que.
We LUV R QUE!

SYLPHIL · 02-21-2008, 09:50 PM

Hello Everyone
Its good to be back. Well we relocated to Florida. The first trip down from NY, I towed the Que (with a 2006 Toyota Sienna). It was great and the sienna handled it rain and all. The second trip from NY to Florida was to tow the second car . a Toyota corolla (the sienna towed it). The Que is in RV storage waiting to come home. I am preparing the yard to receive it. It looks so small next to those big rigs in the RV storage place. BUT it is great for 2 people and 4 chihuahuas. I'll write more later. Thanks for all the advice.
Sylvia