I'm running into issues trying to haul bikes and gear with my sonic. Especially since a hitch bike rack requires a 1.25" to 2" adapter which halves the max tongue weight, which after weight of a rack, leaves room for one bike. I need to haul up to four, plus gear. So I figured a small enclosed trailer would work and that way I could also haul fishing gear, camping equipment, etc. However it turns out they are quite heavy. I did find one used that might work though.
So my inquiry to the forum is if an 800# trailer with a few hundred pounds of gear (say 1200# max) would be doable. Obviously tongue weight would be up to 120# in that scenario. Wouldn't be using an adapter so that should be OK. For trailer weight I deducted GTWR from max payload, and there's a 800# difference which I assume is the weight of the trailer. That seems about right since empty there is no tongue weight to this trailer, seems very light. Besides weight, there is the windage issue. Wonder if that would overly bog me down, forcing higher RPMs, constant turbo use, resulting in damage. See photos.
I've got a 2014 LT, 1.4T/6sp
Thought of getting a CRV (the 2015 gets 27/24mpg!) but the cost difference after trade-in would be $15k. Used trucks in decent shape cost a lot more than I could get for my car (which is paid off) and I'd be commuting with a gas guzzler when really I don't need to haul a lot of weight, just need general cargo room here and there. So not sure what to do. Like my Sonic fine other than some quality issues, grinding 2nd/3rd sometimes even with clutch all the way down (I've read all the posts on it so have just accepted it), and the general lack of space. But is a great commuter. If I could just haul a trailer like this when needed I'd be fine...so long as it doesn't destroy the car.
Thanks in advance for any input!
So my inquiry to the forum is if an 800# trailer with a few hundred pounds of gear (say 1200# max) would be doable. Obviously tongue weight would be up to 120# in that scenario. Wouldn't be using an adapter so that should be OK. For trailer weight I deducted GTWR from max payload, and there's a 800# difference which I assume is the weight of the trailer. That seems about right since empty there is no tongue weight to this trailer, seems very light. Besides weight, there is the windage issue. Wonder if that would overly bog me down, forcing higher RPMs, constant turbo use, resulting in damage. See photos.
I've got a 2014 LT, 1.4T/6sp
Thought of getting a CRV (the 2015 gets 27/24mpg!) but the cost difference after trade-in would be $15k. Used trucks in decent shape cost a lot more than I could get for my car (which is paid off) and I'd be commuting with a gas guzzler when really I don't need to haul a lot of weight, just need general cargo room here and there. So not sure what to do. Like my Sonic fine other than some quality issues, grinding 2nd/3rd sometimes even with clutch all the way down (I've read all the posts on it so have just accepted it), and the general lack of space. But is a great commuter. If I could just haul a trailer like this when needed I'd be fine...so long as it doesn't destroy the car.
Thanks in advance for any input!
