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Penske is usually great (Price and truck).
Seems you will need a pretty small truck (I usually get the 26' with DT 466 for heavier moves) I have done 4 moves for friends, PNW to TX and AZ. Just ask for return airfare and a Penske truck! (I don't drive Uhaul or Budget)
As mentioned... my tow rigs are 48HP (VW Pickup) ... 17 yrs prior to TDI arriving on the scene. (in USA)
My TDI's (91hp) I expect a bit more out of (economy and performance)
I would never own a German engineered car with an Automatic. That is a curse.
Automatic = No Tow for me.
I do have a friend with DSG TDI that tows a pop-up camping trailer ~ 38MPG through Canadian Rockies. Way low economy for my tastes.
CR-V... and Honda in general is pretty close to minimally powered and driveline for car w/ passengers.
The CR-V, when I follow them, I marvel at the drive shaft size (15mm?) much smaller than my motorcycles!
I do wonder how much can be towed with the new VW TDI and DSG (automatic) transmission, if anybody knows of someone doing it successfully, please let me know.
There are no hard facts I can find on my search...
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Originally Posted by 28173
I do wonder how much can be towed with the new VW TDI and DSG (automatic) transmission, if anybody knows of someone doing it successfully, please let me know.
There are no hard facts I can find on my search...
TDI info here.
TDIclub.com
(I doubt if there are hard facts ... i.e. Manf commitment . VW is very cautious in USA and Canada to avoid liability claims and class action. Thus other countries get lots more free 'recall' fixes and such (100% Biodiesel warrantee in Europe, (USA is 5% max).
Towing with CRV... empty weight of any substantial trailer will be 500#+. Add passengers, fuel, cargo in vehicle and not much trailer cargo available.
Towing with trailer brakes is vital if more than 1/3 weight of towing vehicle.
As a 40+ yr Commercial driver, I have helped pick up a lot of 'spilled' loads from inexperienced drivers 'flipping out'
Don't do it... How much MUST go? Ship it. Fuel for the Penske is gonna be plenty. Add the truck cost and shipping might be less expensive.
It's cheap to hire a tractor trailer for a small move; look around on the internet, there are independent haulers that will rent out unused space in a tractor for your move; I moved a 2 bd apartment sized amount of stuff from Rochester NY to Portland OR for $1800 a few years back; went off without a hitch but you need to load and unload (locals are available for another search on line for the unloading part, or make friends ahead of time ) Your move is shorter and sounds like less stuff and will accordingly be less expensive, maybe 1K? Figure a few days of living in a hotel until your stuff comes or pack enough in the car to camp out in your new place.
PODS or firms like it are also a good choice; the cost is mileage plus poundage or cubic feet. Get rid of as many books as possible before the move, there's most of your weight right there.
The V6 in the Rav4 was pretty potent and capable of towing. The anemic 4 banger in the CRV isnt.
My wife's RAV V6 includes a tow package installed as an option, transmission cooler, upgraded radiator, fan coupling, and not sure what else. Capable of towing 3,500 pounds. Yeah the V6 in the RAV is strong, almost overpowered for it's size and purpose.
4 cylinder in a CRV? I doubt it. OP - at the very least put in a tranny cooler.
I love the CRV and we've had several in our family over the years. They are reliable and pretty tough little trucks for going through snow, dirt, etc, but I would not tow with one. Maybe a small boat or something, but not from CA to TX. They are underpowered when it comes to mountain grades and you will face TONS of mountain grades on your trip. I think it would be unsafe.
Have any of you used PODS before? What is the price range? When I moved to California from Texas, the total cost of the truck was about $1,000 including gas. I'm willing to do it again.
Yeah I think it would probably be a bad idea to try and tow furniture. I was keeping my fingers crossed that the CR-V could tow some weight though. No luck.. I would definitely sell off a bunch of this stuff, but we just got it (and I love my new grill...).
I've towed my motorcycle in an open trailer with my CRV many times. My CRV towed it easily but mine is a 5speed manual, the automatic might have to work a little harder. As long as the combined weight is not over the 1500lb limit you should be ok.
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) Your move is shorter and sounds like less stuff and will accordingly be less expensive, maybe 1K? Figure a few days of living in a hotel until your stuff comes or pack enough in the car to camp out in your new place. 
