Does anyone have experience pulling a popup camper (about 2500lbs) with a Vue - 4 or 6 cylinder?

 

I was on a trip to Florida and saw a 2005 VUE pulling a pop-up. Sadly they were in the middle of the road jack-knifed and a Semi was parked right behind it. The Police just flagged us around the wreck.

 

I pull the smallest model Coleman pop-up camper that weighs about 1,300
lbs with my 4-cylinder, 5-speed manual 2004 Vue. I also sometimes pull a
heavy 16'' fishing boat with 40 hp outboard.

No problems at all with handling, but I do need to gear down for big hills.

If your Vue is the automatic transmission model, consider installing an
external transmission oil cooler if doings lots of towing. You can buy these
after-market coolers for about $60 and install them in a couple hours.

The coolers are cheap insurance against overheating and ruining the
transmission.

 

Which is it..the 4 or six cylinder?

The four cylinder is supposed to be maxed out around 1500lbs
The six at 3500lbs.

OR you could just throw the dice and stand on it.

 

It''s the 4-cylinder. That''s the only Vue model that has the 5-speed manual
transmission.

"Maxed out" is open to interpretation. I sometimes pull a construction trailer
with just over one ton of gravel. I pull it very gingerly on rural roads only
and never at more than 60 mph.

Even this load handles OK, but if I had to do a sudden evasive swerve, I
might be in a little trouble.

 

Ah yes...and 16" (inch) fishing boats are very common too