[quadrajet]

Sorry to bring this up again, but I am really curious if anyone has pulled anything like an ATV or a Jetski with the Caliber yet. It sure feels like the 2.0 has enough stones behind it to pull the rated 1000 pounds.

It really sucks making a payment on an Quad that I can't ride right now. I know, I know...poor me!

 

[DodgeGirlKathy]

::don't feel like looking it up::
Isn't the towing package needed in order to pull that 1000 pounds? Because if so, that's late availability.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

When I priced mine out...I got the towing package from Dodge. Trailer hitch and light hookup. Rated for 2000 pounds..which almost any car is these days. The rated weight ability isn't so much related to horsepower...it's due to wheelbase, weight of vehicle, and braking ability...which if not combined well...leads to easy jackknifing of trailers.

As for enough "oomph" to tow? Granted the Caliber is poor "off the line" in accel, but honestly...I've been towing boats and utility trailers for decades...back in the 70's when most cars mustered up around 70 - 90 hp..such as Chevy Vegas, and Subarus...they towed just fine.

 

[quadrajet]

When I priced mine out...I got the towing package from Dodge. Trailer hitch and light hookup. Rated for 2000 pounds..which almost any car is these days. The rated weight ability isn't so much related to horsepower...it's due to wheelbase, weight of vehicle, and braking ability...which if not combined well...leads to easy jackknifing of trailers.

As for enough "oomph" to tow? Granted the Caliber is poor "off the line" in accel, but honestly...I've been towing boats and utility trailers for decades...back in the 70's when most cars mustered up around 70 - 90 hp..such as Chevy Vegas, and Subarus...they towed just fine.

Was that dealer or factory installed? The reason I ask, is because I believe the RPO code for the factory installed tow package includes a tranny oil cooler in addition to the hitch and wiring, and I thought that option was not yet available off the line. I know the hitch and wiring is currently however.

If I had to speculate, I think it will pull the claimed 1000 pounds, but I guess I am more concerned about the CVT's overall durability. No one can attest to that yet, but I do still wonder how well this thing will pull my ATV. I'd hate to spend major cash on the hitch and wiring kit AND an aluminum trailer (big bucks) just to find out that I can't do anything with them anyhow.

Have you made use of your hitch yet?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Was that dealer or factory installed?
Have you made use of your hitch yet?

Factory option....I was pricing out an R/T...came to 22,200....have not placed the order yet. I'm disappointed in performance...so I'm leaning towards holding out for the srt-4...when that's out..holding out some more in hopes of AWD being an option on that.

Valid question about the impact on the longevity of the CVT..when towing. My towing needs have come down greatly over the years...I'm done clearing my property..so no more trips to the dump pushing trailer capacity every weekend. I'm down to one or two short trips with the utility trailer per year...and ideally...2 trips with the boat to the boat launch..once in the spring to launch..and once in the fall to haul for the winter. Boat is small...a 15' Baja with a 115hp outboard..about 1400 pounds.

IMO, as long as your towing needs aren't an every weekend thing...and are short trips...it should be fine. It's the long trips that have a big impact on things...heat...especially brakes.

 

[Amandyke]

I don't know why everyone is questioning the quality of the transmission. If it wasn't capable of towing 2000 lbs as is claimed by DCX, they wouldn't claim it!

It's not like the DCX engineers just pull numbers out of thin air for vehicle capacities. They're engineers, the car is engineered to be able to tow 2000lbs.

 

[umf]

I don't know why everyone is questioning the quality of the transmission. If it wasn't capable of towing 2000 lbs as is claimed by DCX, they wouldn't claim it!

It's not like the DCX engineers just pull numbers out of thin air for vehicle capacities. They're engineers, the car is engineered to be able to tow 2000lbs.

Understandable and point well taken! But.....Those "Same" engineers also state highway gas mileage at 39mpg! I have yet seen anybody post those results on this forum or any other for that matter! There just may be a number tree in thin air that they pull them from . Nonetheless....great car and can't wait for mine on the 31'st of this month! I don't put all of my faith in an engineer, but real world results i will. And if a paragraph states "will tow up to....", i would probably slice off some of the measurement. My Ford Tempo's speedometer went up to 180km/h........the Tempo did not . That is just my opinion though and the whole point of a forum is many opinions.....is mine right? Probably not....but it is mine.
Cheers!

 

[Amandyke]

Understandable and point well taken! But.....Those "Same" engineers also state highway gas mileage at 39mpg! I have yet seen anybody post those results on this forum or any other for that matter! There just may be a number tree in thin air that they pull them from . Nonetheless....great car and can't wait for mine on the 31'st of this month! I don't put all of my faith in an engineer, but real world results i will. And if a paragraph states "will tow up to....", i would probably slice off some of the measurement. My Ford Tempo's speedometer went up to 180km/h........the Tempo did not . That is just my opinion though and the whole point of a forum is many opinions.....is mine right? Probably not....but it is mine.
Cheers!

First off, no where does Dodge claim Caliber MPG to be over 32. Secondly that number is determined by the EPA, not DCX.

And if you don't put your faith in the engineer, better not get in the car at all then because they're the ones that designed, tested, re-tested, and blueprinted the car for production. So if you don't trust their work, you don't trust the car/you caught yourself in a terrible logic loophole. Whoops.

 

[umf]

First off, no where does Dodge claim Caliber MPG to be over 32. Secondly that number is determined by the EPA, not DCX.

And if you don't put your faith in the engineer, better not get in the car at all then because they're the ones that designed, tested, re-tested, and blueprinted the car for production. So if you don't trust their work, you don't trust the car/you caught yourself in a terrible logic loophole. Whoops.

! I have the Dodge Caliber Promotions magazine/folder right in front of me now! The 1.8L engine states 33city/42 highway......the 2.0L states 31city/39 highway and the 2.4L states 28city and 34 highway. So....no...i don't trust thier numbers on this Dodge Caliber promotions material made by the same company that makes the car. No loophole here....it's just that most car manufacturers inflate thier gas mileage stats on thier promotions material. Does this mean you do not have faith in the car....hardly not! Just that you can't always take numbers as etched in stone! Who cares who made the numbers for Dodge....it is in thier promotions material, so it is thier responsability to produce accurate numbers to thier spec as well. I am pretty sure DCX proofreads stuff! I mean...Toyota Corolla states 40mpg for city and 53mpg for highway! (base manual tranny). I had a company car of the same....and believe me....those were not the numbers! Are you a politician? You have an uncanny ability to twist things around like in your last sentence of your reply . Check this thread out for fun....http://www.caliberforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=360. It is all about problems with a car we all love! S$#t happens with new cars....they fix it.... all is good in the end. But this proves that all aint perfect in the world of cars. Does this mean we hate DCX....? Hardly not!!! All/most mass produced items will have flaws, it is what the maker does to fix them that is important! Anyways....all is good and the world will not end from false/misconstrewed gas mileage numbers. And i am pretty sure i can trust this [email protected]# Caliber!!!!

 

[Amandyke]

Are you talking imperial gallons or something? Because my window sticker says 23/26 mpg for the 2.4. 27/32 for the 1.8 and 26/30 for the 2.0.

Also, MPG is wholey determined by your right foot. I've gotten 28 mpg with my R/T.

Oh and no need to be telling where to look for things on these forums. I've been here longer than you. kthnx.

 

[umf]

Are you talking imperial gallons or something? Because my window sticker says 23/26 mpg for the 2.4. 27/32 for the 1.8 and 26/30 for the 2.0.

Also, MPG is wholey determined by your right foot. I've gotten 28 mpg with my R/T.

Oh and no need to be telling where to look for things on these forums. I've been here longer than you. kthnx.

Ok...no worries ! It is probably Imperial Gallons then as it just states mpg. kthnx!
Cheers!

 

[mealso]

I spent a few days try to figure out why the canadaian caliber got more milage than the american version before I realized we were talking about two diferent gallons one has 128 ounces the other 160 ounces big difference. Why not just use the liter per kilometer. 34 ounces in a liter easier conversion than us gal. to imp.gallon.

 

[umf]

I spent a few days try to figure out why the canadaian caliber got more milage than the american version before I realized we were talking about two diferent gallons one has 128 ounces the other 160 ounces big difference. Why not just use the liter per kilometer. 34 ounces in a liter easier conversion than us gal. to imp.gallon.

Amen to that!!

 

[katiescaliber]

I saw a hatchback focus pulling a small trailor today. Just thought that info might be helpful to you.

 

[umf]

I saw a hatchback focus pulling a small trailor today. Just thought that info might be helpful to you.

Was this the hatchback focus you saw towing a trailer Katie!!??!! Could'nt resist this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21dTTe76UJA&search=car%20crash

 

[n1vek]

kthx.

I love that word.

 

[pacerman]

I don't know why everyone is questioning the quality of the transmission. If it wasn't capable of towing 2000 lbs as is claimed by DCX, they wouldn't claim it!

It's not like the DCX engineers just pull numbers out of thin air for vehicle capacities. They're engineers, the car is engineered to be able to tow 2000lbs.

Its not 2000 its 1000#, and to top it off thats only with the driver, add passengers and actual trailer towing capacity drops....legally, that said my 91 Maxima has a rating of 1000# and I've towed trailer weight @3900#, not for far and not fast,(me bad) but I have towed my trillium 13' fibreglass trailer all over the land and it weighs 1600# loaded. No tranny problems, but I flush (tranny) once a year.I have no doubt a Caliber would tow1500-2000#, but legally is a different story.Note the Vibe is rated @1500 and the HHR @1000. The Vibe has less HP and weighs less than the Caliber or the HHR...........and in the fine print adding passengers reduces to towing capacity.......Also on a note the Nissan Murano with a CVT is rated at 2000 or 2500#if I remember correctly.....hmmmm maybe it was 3500....

 

[pacerman]

I spent a few days try to figure out why the canadaian caliber got more milage than the american version before I realized we were talking about two diferent gallons one has 128 ounces the other 160 ounces big difference. Why not just use the liter per kilometer. 34 ounces in a liter easier conversion than us gal. to imp.gallon.

Just add 5 miles to the US EPA rating..........I'm to old to convert to "stinkin" metric now...........

 

[pacerman]

Was this the hatchback focus you saw towing a trailer Katie!!??!! Could'nt resist this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21dTTe76UJA&search=car%20crash

That is hillarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good one !!!!!!!!!

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I don't know why everyone is questioning the quality of the transmission. If it wasn't capable of towing 2000 lbs as is claimed by DCX, they wouldn't claim it!

It's not like the DCX engineers just pull numbers out of thin air for vehicle capacities. They're engineers, the car is engineered to be able to tow 2000lbs.

The question of "durability" is certainly a valid question. There's a difference in some corporate sales pitch of their product being "able to tow 2000 lbs"...every now and then...versus on a somewhat regular basis.

As I stated above..I've been towing for a loooong time..across quite a few different cars. Any almost any vehicle..even some super el-cheapo budget econo-box, can tow something once in a while. But start doing it on a regular basis..and you'll start replacing parts that wear out pre-maturely. Clutches/trannies are one component that bear the extra load of towing..as well as brakes, rear springs/shocks, CV joints, engine rear main seals, etc.

Now the Caliber...cute 'n all, but comon..it's a 15 thousand dollar car..1/2 econo, a touch of sport, a small dab of mini-sport ute, an aweful lot of lightweight plastic. The CVT...when you break it into simple terms..it's really just a belt drive. It's not made with "heavy duty" components. So..if you have some occasional heavy duty work...approaching this with some caution is a smart move.