Need a new SUV to pull my 99 Air Nautique. What do you pull yours with?

[swc5150]

Agreed, my bride didn't like the thought of a Tahoe, until I brought one home. Now she loves it! Just finding things to say, as I'm 2 away from a 1,000 posts

[HS]

Anyone heard anything about the new Durango? Being a Ford guy, I'd hate to say I bought a Dodge...but I got a boat, so I can't complain.

I took a brief look (did not test drive) but the trim model and Hemi engine I wanted was just priced too high for the size of the vehicle; I think they had it on display with a "second sticker"...I didn't stay a second longer.

I also used Costco dealers network to set the price benchmark and went from there. Then used Autotrader to find the available model / color and dealers...did it all by email and went in one Saturday and did the deal.

[jchamlin]

Dump the 3 rows requirement. Do you seriously use it now? I have a 2005 Explorer with the V8 and a 2000 Air...essentially the same setup as you. We have two boys but they can't really ride in the 3rd row because 1) they need a car seat, and 2) having a car seat back there would be a pain to get them in / out. The explorer is my wife's car too and she was adamant about having a 3rd row. Guess who's the only person to have ever ridden back there (twice)...me.

I don't think you're ever going to be completely happy with a smaller size SUV/Crossover while towing the boat for long distances. However, most modern V6 engines produce about the same power as the 4.7 in the Explorer and you're only going 25 miles.

I've towed mine with a 2005'ish Pathfinder with 4 other guys in the car and it did fine. Can you rent an explorer and hook it up to the boat to see how it does?

[gride]

Last land cruiser I was in was my moms 2003. I had an is300 at the time. Honestly, the cruiser drove the same just on a larger scale. It was easier to drive than my Yukon is now. They can mud and tow with the best of them.

[HS]

LCs do ride like butter. They last forever, too. Our had 120k and was almost 12 years old. AWD and great in any weather.

[Miljack]

For your '99 Air and 25 miles, just about anything will do the trick. We had an '05 Honda Pilot, and it towed our '99 Pro Air Python no problem, I wouldn't want to tow x-country with it, but it was fine. One thing I would do is add some air bags as the Pilots are kinda softly sprung and that would make it better. Just make sure the trailer brakes are working!

New Durango, we got my wife a '12 with a V8, and this vehicle is Awesome! Tow package is HD, includes oil coolers, hitch, self leveling rear suspension, harness, and a tow mode for the tranny. This vehicle is SOOO much quieter and more solid than the '12 Pilot. It's a long wheelbase (120") and it's heavy, 5100# or so, a couple of features which contribute to a stable tow platform. Wife is averaging 16mpg with the V8, we haven't road tripped it yet, but from the Dodge forums, guys are experiencing better highway MPG w/V8's compared to the V6 because of the cylinder cut out on the V8's.

YMMV!

[nautique_stealth]

Miljack- Good to know about the Durango! I've done some reading on the Durango Hemi - do you experience the 'missing' sounds when the cylinders cut in and out on the highway? Do you know if all of the Durango that have stock tow package come with the options you listed? We haven't done any test driving of anything yet, as we're still at least a month out - but I'm sure we'll like the Durango. We just didn't want to spend that much on a SUV...

Just curious... Were you looking for brand new, or did you look at both used and new, and there wasn't much price difference, so you went with new?

[Miljack]

When the V8 Hemi goes into "eco" mode, you can't hear or feel it, it's seemless to me. I haven't driven it all that much, but I haven't been able to tell when it switches back and forth.
Tow package is slightly different between the v6 and v8, but yes, they both feature the auto leveling rear suspension which is a handy feature for towing. Since you're in IL, you may want to consider the 4wd versions, and the one difference between the v6 and v8 is the transfer case. The v8 has a two speed transfer, and the v6 is full time AWD, seems that the v8 version might provide a little more versatility if you ever have to launch on an iffy ramp.
We were considering both new and used, and if we were to buy used, we were going to make it an '11, and honestly, we were able to negotiate a better deal new (and got her what she wanted) than what I was seeing used in '11's. Same for the Pilots, better value new (if you find the right Honda dealer) than used. For your usage as far as towing, either vehicle will do, but my opinion is the Durango is a more robust platform than the Pilot.

[msbowhunter]

My wife has a new explorer but I wouldnt want to pull my 210 with it. Shoot it kicks in /out overdrive at the sight of a hill. But I may be a little snobby when it comes to towing power. I prefer my 08 f350 powerstroke.

[DanielC]

"new explorer but I wouldnt want to pull my 210 with it. Shoot it kicks in /out overdrive at the sight of a hill."

This is a classic example of too high (numerically low) rear axle ratio. Most vehicles manufactured these days are trying to get as high as mileage as possible. One way to do that is to put in a high rear axle ratio, something close to 3 to 1, and that gives you very little towing power. A rear axle ratio closer to 4 to 1 will give you more towing power.

If you are going with a new vehicle, ask the salesman what rear axle ratios are available. Choose a lower one. This is about as important as engine size, if you are specifically buying a vehicle to tow with.

[Jeepcrashing]

I use a 2011 Grand Cherokee (4wd Hemi) to tow an 04 216TE. WORKS GREAT.....and I'll average about 14.5mpg (in tow mode) on the highway cruising at 65mph

I'd consider the Durango since third row seats are needed.

[ccs]

We use my wife's every day vehicle to pull our old boat (226) and will now use it to pull the new 230. She drives a 2010 GMC Yukon Denali -- it tows wonderfully and has no problems with the load. It is not the extended version - and she has no problems with it being nimble enough for day to day driving, very tight turning etc. - just doesnt feel like a big SUV as one might think.... My everyday vehicle is a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland with the V8 Hemi -- while I see and read what its rated to tow, I personally would not try and pull my 230 with it - - maybe it would do just fine, but to me, everyday driving, it just doesnt "feel" like the JGC could adequately pull a loaded 230 to my liking.

[1StopJeff]

I towed my '91 Nautique Excel over 100 mile with our '08 GMC Acadia AWD. Towed great. The wife loves her Acadia.

[nautique_stealth]

This for the input guys. My wife and I have been looking at the '11 Durango's (v8). Very nice. Still want to test drive a Yukon..

Off subject question. I had a Nautique dealer winterize my boat, do I need to have them unwinterize it? Going to pick it up tomorrow...

[gride]

Typically no you Should not have to do anything. Just make sure the impeller is installed and that all the fluids are where they should be. Just ask them what they did when they winterized it. Dot forget the drain plug either.