Now this is where we get controversial. The Toadmobile isn't your usual TV, you see, but it is a Mom Car; a Minivan! At this point, sage old trailer people will be rubbing their chins and thinking that you can't tow a 28' Airstream with a Minivan. Well, folks, you can and we will be (with a little help from our friends at CanAm RV).
Say hello to the Toadmobile, a 2011 Toyota Minivan. It`s the LE model with the V6 3.5 litre engine and eight seats. It doesn`t have the Toyota towing package because that`s where CanAm RV of London Ontario come in. Their version of a towing package includes a custom fitted hitch, a bigger transmission oil cooler and a good brake controller to add to the Weight Distribution and Sway Control systems. With that little lot, and the excellent qualities that minivans, and this model in particular, bring to towing performance, we think we`re on to a winner. Sure we`re never going to break any speed records, especially going up hill, and we`re going to have to make full use of the six-speed transmission going down hill, but the physics and math add up to a very workable solution. Don`t think it`ll work? There are plenty of very satisfied CanAm customers who will tell you otherwise, like Einar and Anne-Grethe in their blog, Not At Home (anne-grethe-einar.blogspot.com).
Anyway, the Sienna it is and we will have no truck with trucks!
Actually, the Toadmobile is really nice to drive. It's not vannish at all and only the length and width are things I have to adjust to. The tadpoles love the big seats in the second row and the larger of the two likes to recline across the third row. Of course, we're never going to go thirsty what with the 16 (count them!) cup holders.
The next item in the project is to get the Toadmobile up to London for her towing modifications. We're not sure when that'll be but you can guarantee that you'll be the first to hear about it. Apart from us. And CanAm, obviously.
