hey all, I've got a quick question about a saturn vue for a possible "expedition" vehicle. we are on a very tight budget and don't have the time or money to make an actual build of an expedition vehicle. it'll be pretty much all on road, no paved road and we'll be staying @ national parks w/ a pop up camper we plan on getting. we want to do a 3-5 month trip next year before i start nursing school. it's a stock 2004 saturn vue with a 4 cyl 5 speed tranny and around 85k miles. would the vue be sufficient to tow a light pop up camper? we plan on sticking to rural'ish roads and it'll be me, my wife, and her mother i think. any input would be great!
saturn vue?
- Thread starter bwhite829
- Start date
Toyotero
Explorer
Vues are good vehicles.. my parent's have a 2004 V6 and it has treated them very well.
If you can find one, I highly recommend looking for a V6. 2004 was a good year for them.
This SUV from General Motors' Saturn division trades V6s for 2004, going from a 181-hp GM engine to a 250-hp Honda unit.
The V6 comes with a conventional 5-speed automatic transmission, also supplied by Honda.
3.5l V6 - 250-hp - Up to 18 cty/25 hwy mpg
2.2l 4cyl - 143 hp - Up to 21 cty/26 hwy mpg
References:
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2004-saturn-vue.htm
http://www.edmunds.com/saturn/vue/2004/features-specs.html?style=100363996
If you can find one, I highly recommend looking for a V6. 2004 was a good year for them.
This SUV from General Motors' Saturn division trades V6s for 2004, going from a 181-hp GM engine to a 250-hp Honda unit.
The V6 comes with a conventional 5-speed automatic transmission, also supplied by Honda.
3.5l V6 - 250-hp - Up to 18 cty/25 hwy mpg
2.2l 4cyl - 143 hp - Up to 21 cty/26 hwy mpg
References:
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2004-saturn-vue.htm
http://www.edmunds.com/saturn/vue/2004/features-specs.html?style=100363996
Frankspinz
Adventurer
I don't see why not. If you're traveling in North-America, maintenance and parts availability should not be an issue. Check what the towing weight and load rates are for your Vue and make sure you don't exceed them. It is harder to get moving with a manual transmission (especially uphill) so you will want to keep your total weight down ... Make sure everything is mecanicaly sound, good tires on the Vue AND on the trailer, go with a high load rating if possible.
Happy trails !
Happy trails !
Last edited:
stevec
Adventurer
Definitely check the tow rating. My brother bought a Vue a few years ago without doing enough research, and then found he couldn't tow his trailer behind it. I think the 4 cylinder is only rated to tow 1500#. Remember that 1500# includes everything you have in the pop-up, including water and propane, so the dry weight of the pop-up will need to be around 1000# or less.
ihatemybike
Explorer
I show the 4 cyl 2005 Vue as having only 1000 lbs for the towing rating.
http://autos.msn.com/research/compa...0&tb=0&ph1=t0&ph2=t0&dt=0&v=t100175&v=t100176
There are pop ups out there under the weight enough to allow loading them with gear and still be below your limit. As long as you keep under the weight limit you should be fine.
http://autos.msn.com/research/compa...0&tb=0&ph1=t0&ph2=t0&dt=0&v=t100175&v=t100176
There are pop ups out there under the weight enough to allow loading them with gear and still be below your limit. As long as you keep under the weight limit you should be fine.
We have a 2005 Vue with the 4cyl and 5-speed. I use it regularly to tow my race bike w/ trailer, tools and gear, probably about 2000lbs worth of stuff without a problem. The fuel mileage definitely drops when towing, but it still gets 22-23mpg on the highway, WAY better than my Grand Cherokee does.
life_w_vagabonds
Explorer
We used to pull a Fleetwood Taos with our Forester. I believe the camper was about 1600 lbs. The Forester is specd at 2000 lbs towing. The Forester towed it well until you get into some long steep grades. You can't be in a hurry in those situations.
Aside from the car. We sold our pop-up after a cross country trip. For us it became a PITA to set up and knock down every morning. They are great for towing out to the lake and chilling for a few days but thats about it. We took very good care of ours and it was starting to show wear after a couple years of moderate use. We went back to a ground tent and are much happier. We go more often, on the spur of the moment, and we go much farther on the fire roads. You guys sound like you are pretty young. To young for a pop-up and a Saturn (I'm kidding). Someone on here will try to talk you into a RTT, if you don't want to sleep on the ground. Of course it doesn't matter what you have, its all about the trip.
Aside from the car. We sold our pop-up after a cross country trip. For us it became a PITA to set up and knock down every morning. They are great for towing out to the lake and chilling for a few days but thats about it. We took very good care of ours and it was starting to show wear after a couple years of moderate use. We went back to a ground tent and are much happier. We go more often, on the spur of the moment, and we go much farther on the fire roads. You guys sound like you are pretty young. To young for a pop-up and a Saturn (I'm kidding). Someone on here will try to talk you into a RTT, if you don't want to sleep on the ground. Of course it doesn't matter what you have, its all about the trip.