Towing Rig...HELP!!!

[1Wake2Wake3]

I've been driving myself crazy trying to figure out what to buy to tow my new toy. Whatever I buy, it will be used as my daily driver, kept in the city. Needless to say, I won't be buying a truck, I was thinking about a mid-sized SUV. Here's my question. I'm thinking about an '04 BMW X5. It's the 4.4 v8, rated at 6,000 lbs. towing. or an '05 4Runner, the v6, which is rated at 5,000 towing. I'm trying to tow an '01 Super Air on a dual-axel Ram-Lin trailer. How close to the ratings on those vehicles am I coming with the boat on the trailer? Should I bite the bullet and get something bigger? or do I have nothing to worry about with either? Thanks for any help!

[bkhallpass]

RE: Towing Rig...HELP!!!

3190 lbs boat
1500 lbs trailer
250 lbs Gasoline
------------------
4940 lbs before tower speakers, bimini, gear, etc. Yes, you are getting close to towing capacity, and with vehicles that have a fairly short wheel base.

How far, what terrain, what conditions, and how often you tow will be a big part of the decision. Personally, I would opt for a vehicle with a higher tow rating.

BKH

[MikeC]

RE: Towing Rig...HELP!!!

I second what BKH says. When you get close to the published tow ratings of a vehicle, you're starting to push it to it's performance limit (transmission, supension and engine) and like a sports car just because it will go 180 mph, you wouldn't want to take it there all the time.

If you don't want a truck or an SUV on a truck frame (Expedition, Sequoia, Tahoe, etc.) you might look at the Volkswagon Toureg V8, it has a 7700 lb towing limit and it's a little more stylish than the other SUVs.

Just a side note, I have a full sized truck and an Acura MDX, the Acura has a tow rating of 4500lbs which my boat falls just inside of. I have only hooked my boat to the Acura one time and that was just to move it around the house. Even though it was below the max tow rating and tongue weight, with the boat hooked up the rear end of the Acura squatted down so much I was afraid I was going to drag the frame going across the curb - there was no way I would have taken that combination out on the road. Remember just because the manufacturer says it will do something, it doesn't say it will do it well.

[MarkSkelton]

RE: Towing Rig...HELP!!!

True words. There is nothing worse than having your boat push you down the highway and stress you out when you go over every bump and bridge. You will be alot happier if you get a vehicle that is MADE to tow a load versus one that CAN tow a load. Like MikeC said, a Sequoia or a Tahoe (properly equipped) will get the job done because the have the frame, weight and drivetrain to do it.

[1Wake2Wake3]

RE: Towing Rig...HELP!!!

Thanks guys. I hate the thought of buying something like a Tahoe or a Sequoia, but it's becoming clear what my move should be. Maybe I'll just buy a beater car to run around in and keep the tow rig with the boat. I'm not completely sold that the x5 wouldn't be able to haul it, but I'm worried about the sag from the weight on the tounge.

[SkiBlue]

I agree with what the others have said, get something that is made for towing. Now that being said we pull our 88 2001 with an 2004 Toyota Tundra V8. It's not as big as some of the other rigs out there, but is pulls the boat with plenty of ease. A Sequoia would be comparable to the Tundra if you really want an SUV.
I would look at 05-06 Tundra's and Sequoia's as they have more power and better tranny. Mileage on the Tundra is between 15-20 in the city so depending on how far you're driving it might be the ticket for you.
Good luck in your search! :grin:

[jchamlin]

RE: Towing Rig...HELP!!!

I have an 05 Eddie Bauer Explorer with the 4.6L V8. I tow a 2000 Air Nautique single axle trailer and the explorer does a very nice job. I had a 96 explorer and it squat so badly I was embarrassed to drive it. You can barely notice any sag on the new one and it's MUCH more comfortable on the highway. I believe the tow ratings are around 7000 lbs. Also, I'm getting around 12-14 MPG towing the boat...which is about the same with city driving. The 06 and up are supposed to get a little better gas mileage. Since you have a tandem axle trailer, that should help out with any squatting issue. If you buy from a dealership, see if they'll let you drive it home and hook up. Some places like Carmax won't let you, but most other dealers will.

I'd be careful about the ratings too...be sure to read the fine print. Some will say xxxx lbs properly equipped...which means with a load balancing hitch.

The BMW is stylish but I would not tow a boat (long term) with one. What about the V8 4Runner? I think that gets better mileage than most mid-size SUV's with a V8 (including mine).

[DanielC]

RE: Towing Rig...HELP!!!

I have an extended length Ford Aerostar, 4.0 L engine, 3.73 rear axle ratio. I believe It is reccommended that I can tow a trailer weighing up to 4,400 pounds. That is a gross oversimplification.
See your tow vehicles owner's manual. It probably has about ten pages on towing information.
Back to my van. I have a 1997 Ski, on a single axle Ryan trailer. with disc brakes. Those of you outside of the Pacific northwest will not recognize the trailer brand. It is a very easy towing trailer.
My van has close to 157,000 miles on it. I had to get a head gasket replaced on it at around 121,000 miles, no other major problems.
You will need to service your brakes more often. You will need to change your transmission fluid more often.
I have towed from Portland, or to Lake Shasta several times. I have towed to central Oregon many times, over passes about 4500 or 5000 feet. I Average about 170 hours of use on my boat a year, most of it in 9 mile round trips. I made about 75 trips with my boat last year, from my house to the river, and back to my house.
My house is about 525 feet above sea level, the launch is about 65 feet above.
I have also worked for a local boat dealer for a year ana half, and have towed boats when I was working there. I have towed the "classic" Super Air, and many other smaller boats.
Do you need a dual wheel, crew cab truck to tow your boat?
It will tow very nicely, but with the price of fuel, is that what you need?
How often do you tow? How far? What terrain?
I would consider the Toyota more reliable than the BMW. My opinion. Not as "classy" but more reliable.

[Roddyj]

RE: Towing Rig...HELP!!!

2006 v8 4 rnr 2x4 is what i tow with...same setup as you (01 super and used to have a dual axle, but now a single)....tows awesome. get around 12-14 towing and 18 in the city. 21 hwy....it might lower 1 inch with the single, no noticable sagging with the dual i used to have. and with the Auto LSD, i NEVER worry about slipping on the ramps either.

i believe the towing capacity for the v8 4rnr is 7200 or 7800....one or the other....didnt feel like google'ing it. i think if you opted for a sport, then the suspension would be a little stiffer also. not sure about that, as i have the standard sr5.

[bkhallpass]

RE: Towing Rig...HELP!!!

All good data, but remember the Ski Nautique and Sport Nautique are 200 to 700 lbs lighter than the super. The single axle trailer is 300-500 lbs lighter. The ski and sport have smaller gas tanks, and a lower profile
on the trailer.

I would note that the engines on the direct drive boats are centered over the trailer wheels, not so on the VDrive. However, if the tongue weight is proper, there should not be much difference in towing from that standpoint. The engine in back on the v-drive may make it more susceptible to fishtailing, but I have no data to support that theory.

Perhaps you might consider two vehicles. In the papers, people are practically giving away larger SUVs and pickups. You could then buy a car which gets even better mileage as a daily driver. For years, I towed the boat around with a 68 Ford pickup, and drove an Accord as my daily driver.

I have a 2000 Yukon XL. It gets and honest 16-18 mpg daily driving. The Tahoes do about 1 mpg better.
That's about the same mileage as most of the mid-size SUVs, and it is a much better towing vehicle. The book value on the Yukon XL is now unde 10K. I also have a 2004 Silverado 2500. It has a better towing capacity than the Yukon XL, but it is a much rougher ride, and I prefer to tow with the Yukon XL. The Silverado also has the 6 liter engine and so it only get 13-14 mpg daily driving.

[bkhallpass]

RE: Towing Rig...HELP!!!

One other thought. My neighbor just bought a Ford F350 Van, Diesel. That thing is comfortable to drive, gets a consistent 20 mpg, and carries tons of stuff. He found the Van for 6K. BKH

[LakeaustinSN]

What kind of brakes does your trailer have? I recently acquired a trailer with dual axle disk brakes (vs surge before) and I feel confident towing my '01 Sport in the right conditions with either our Tahoe or V6 Explorer (towing cap of 5300lbs). Both stop great due to the trailer, but the explorer obviously chugs more on hills. If your towing a short distance, at low speeds & on relatively flat areas, I think you would be fine with a mid-size SUV.

One other thing is how steep your ramp is. One of the ramps we use is quite steep once it reaches the water and when backing down with the Explorer the front wheels get "light," due to the weight of the boat pulling down on the hitch. The front wheels will lock up briefly when the ramp is very wet, which makes steering impossible. It took one experience like that and since then I ALWAYS use the Tahoe when going to that ramp. All that being said, I use the Tahoe most of the time to tow b/c I like the extra capacities it offers.

[wakeskier]

How about a Jeep Grand Cherokee w/V8 -I believe the towing capacity is 6500lbs.

I just towed an '03 SANTE from North Carolina to Massachusetts on a tandem axle trailer, with a 2000 GC and it towed beautifully.
At 55mph on flat roads I was getting over 16mpg, but once I got on the highway, 70mph with hills, it dropped down to 13mpg. I ended up averaging 13.3mpg for the whole trip back.

I even cut through the mountains of Virginia on 501 to get to I-81 and it took it in stride.

It's a pretty decent compromise for a city/commuter/tow vehicle...

[Justin1933]

Check out the new Kia Borrengo. It is coming out next month, and is getting 22mpg hwy. You can get it fully loaded for around $32K, 100,000 warranty, 7000 lbs Towing Capacity, etc.. My Tahoe's lease is up in January, and we are most likely going to get the Kia (unless Chevy gives me a smoking deal on the Tahoe).

http://www.kia-world.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=192

Justin

[BSBell]

A jeep with a v-8 sucks gas, get anything but a vehicle with a dodge motor in it, they suck the gas.

My brothers v8 grand cherokee got 13mpg in the city at best (not towing)