whats an acceptable tow vehicle?

Every vehicle has an optimal power gear/rpm I've read - The Jeep appears to be 3rd gear at 3000 rpm.

I got 18 mpg on a couple of different 10K trips over the past couple of years in my forester.  I tend to go no more than 55 mph (the reason I'm traveling is to take it easy -- life's to short).  

We started with a CRV, towing a T@B maxx S, and it did okay, but then found out that since the TV was not rated for the weight of the trailer, we needed to get a bigger vehicle or we wouldn't be covered by insurance in the event of an accident. So we changed to a 2012 Honda Pilot, and it tows that trailer like there is nothing even there. The trailer really dings the mileage, but we expected that. The electronic brake on the trailer really helps too.

Is anyone towing the T@B S with a Ford Freestyle AWD  (2006) ??

That's impressive - I did the freeway from south of Sadona to Flagstaff and it's a steady climb.
I could remember wrongly but I don't think the T@B tires (or any trailer tire) are rated for 70-75. The most common speed I hear T@Bbers citing is 60-65.

We have a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the factory tow package as our TV.  We have the 6cyl gas engine.  If money were not an object, I would have gotten the diesel engine.  Very happy you have no idea it is back there.  It is great through the mountains and everything.  One thing to consider is the tongue weight rating of the vehicle as well as the total weight rating.  The Jeep has 6200 total and 620 for the tongue.  We have our bikes on a Swagman rack on the receiver while towing.  We also get 12-15 towing 25-27 at highway speeds while not towing.  TV's are very personal decision and not a one size fits all just another option. 

John

I've only gone on one extended trip towing my 2016 S Maxx with my 2011 Subaru Outback 6-cylinder. Like some other comments, we normally get about 26 mpg for highway driving, but with towing the T@b at reasonable speeds, i.e., 60 to 65 mph, our mpg dropped to 13. When I drove for a short distance at about 70 mph or a bit faster, the indicator in the Outback said I was getting 9.9 mpg. While the Outback had no trouble pulling the T@b, keeping up 65 mph or so while going over moderate hills in Wisconsin got the rpm's up to over 4,000. After just a short time at that level, the a/c stopped working and did not resume to cooling us until I returned the rpm's to about 3000. I have since learned that this is normal, i.e., when the engine is really working hard (and I guess 4000 rpm in an Outback qualifies as hard work) the compressor on the a/c unit stops working. I can certainly live with this issue and will just make sure that I keep the rpm's down, even if that means slowing to 55 or so on future trips. But it sure would be nice to have a more powerful vehicle that could truly effortlessly pull the T@b in any and all situations without straining itself. I looked at a new Jeep Grand Cherokee with a diesel engine, but I did not want to spend $65,000+ on a new tow vehicle. (I bought the T@b primarily because I could tow it with my current car, the Outback). 

I have a 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5XT which has the sport shift (manual) and turbo, in excellent condition.  The dealer and trailer sales told me I'd be fine with it pulling.  I plan on putting a transmission cooler on it.  My plan is to use it 3 years then replace it.  I have a deposit on my T@B but now I'm a little worried.  I've seen lots of Outbacks being used as a TV.   I'm in WA state so I will be going over our mountains maybe twice a year, elevations are 4,000-5,000.  Any others with Outbacks 4 cy who are happy with the performance?

Debbie

It's not the elevation so much as the grade and distance. I struggled on a 9% with my Wrangler. 3rd gear, 3000rpm all the way at 30-35mph.

Thanks. Ack, that's slow   ...  I'll have a lot of po'd people behind me.  Will plan my driving times accordingly and do a lot of pullovers.  My cars HP is 250 slightly higher then the 2012 Forester and the tow capacity is 2,700 also slightly higher then the Forester.  I think I'll be fine for what I'm doing before I replace the car.  With the eastern half of our state burning up there might not be any reason to head over the mountains, unfortunately.

Debbie 

Just checked the grades on the passes I would most often use and the highest has a 6% grade, the other is about 4%  so I feel better.  I like the Jeep Grand Cherokees so I think I'll keep that on the top of the list for future.  
Love this forum!
Debbie

It's true, PXL--I've noticed the same thing.  This past week in the Canadian Maritimes I encountered grades of 16%.  Eek!  I'm guessing in the west things are more spread out, and switchbacks are more feasible to reduce the grade.  Mountain passes out west are usually 5-6%.  My Lexus hybrid can get 20 mpg towing on relatively level ground going less than 55 mph.  At 55 it averages about 18.5.  At 70 (my boyfriend driving!) over hills and it plummets to 11 or 12.  

I was finally able to test mountain climbing with our Jetta TDI. With the t@b packed for a weekend and my wife and 9 month old twins, we could pull a 6% climb at 50 mph in 3rd, 2700 RPM. It could pull faster but I was concerned with the turbo intake air temps (monitored with a scan gauge) rising over 165f and the engine temp was sneaking up to 230f (above this the needle starts moving above the middle). This was on the west slope of Stevens pass.
On the east slope, 4%, we could maintain 65 in 4th and temps were much lower. I just discovered (and repaired) the large radiator fan was broken, so next trip might be cooler. The outdoor temps was in the 70s during these trips. Mileage was 20-22 ish, and I get 25-28 towing on flat interstates at 65.
While we certainly don't plan on long travel with our setup, we're OK for Washington and Oregon until we get an SUV.

For anyone looking for a different TV, I'm very happy with my new Jeep Cherokee.    I've got the 3.2L version with 271hp and it pulls the T@B like a dream.   I have the factory installed tow package which is rated at 4500 pounds and comes with a class III hitch, 7 and 4 pin wiring harnesses, heavy duty engine cooler and full size spare.    On the highway I've been getting 29-31mpg and when pulling the T@B about 18mpg.   I'm a happy camper!

Sgtjohn - forget the Forester unless it's a 2013 or earlier. We have a 2015 and thought we were ok...not! Rating changed with the 2014 to 1500#. So Mahit@bel will be residing in the yard for the near future!