Towing a 2016 G23 with an Infiniti QX56/QX80, tow rating at 8,500 lbs, am I good?

[SierraWave]

I tow a G23 with a full size Denali HD duramax. It has made me a believer that it takes a big heavy truck to tow a G. Suckers is heavy! As a matter of fact I am getting a new hitch and ball due to the fact that I noticed it is rated at 5k. Need the big stuff for that boat

[Xstreamws]

I have a 2016 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 4X4 Duramax 2500 HD and have pulled a 2015 22 VLX and that did not weigh as much as a G23 for sure but not far off in weight.

One topic that has a very large impact on how your tow vehicle reacts to routine stopping let alone an emergency is how tongue weight affects your vehicle ability to deal with the load being towed.

I purchased a hitch from www.weigh-safe.com that makes it easy to see if you have correct tongue weight.

I we sold our 2015 22 VLX a week ago and just ordered a 2017 G23 and ready to tow that massive boat.


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[sarasetp]

I have talked to several people, including the manufacturer. I have no qualms about towing with my rig. I was given complete confidence that my rig with a 2016 G23 is good to go. But to add an additional element of piece of mind, Xstreamws really helped me consider the weigh-safe hitch. I will get that for my rig. It will help me understand that right height to tow the G23. I was told that the max with my trilple axle should be about 600lbs.

[Bevostein]

Sarasetp- maybe I'm not understanding your post when you say 6000....a G23 weighs 5900 dry weight. By the time you put fuel and gear your at best 6500lbs just for the boat. The triple axel trailer I'm guessing is another 2000-2500lbs. All in you're probably around 8500 at the lightest and realistically you're probably 9000 - 9500 depending on gear.

I tow my G25 with a 2009 F150 4wd. I use an Equalizer WDH. No way I would tow without it. It makes a huge difference and keeps me legal. I am right at the limit. I only tow once or twice a year and don't enjoy it at all given how big the boat is and I'm usually towing in Dallas traffic.


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[8urchvy]

This YouTube video shows how that Infiniti does. I'd say it depends on how far you plan on towing. And I'd get a WDH for sure.

https://youtu.be/BY8gfx1Vp84

[sarasetp]

8urchvy Thanks for the video. I love those guys and have watched that video when I bought the truck, but not since getting the G23. I disagree with Bevostein . Please re-read my original post. I specifically estimated the weight and it is far less than your estimation of weight. And my weight estimation comes directly from the manufacturer. And based on my conversations with them, I feel that I am good to go without a WDH. My truck is a 3/4 ton SUV, so it will haul the G23 with no issue. Plus given 6 disc brakes, I believe I am good. I will look into getting the weigh-safe hitch though.

[FunkyBunch]

My QX56 tows my G21 with wdh just fine. The breaks are better than many of 3/4 tons I have had before. That being said I choose the G21 partly because there is a savings in weight at 1000 lbs or more. I have seen locally a 80 towing a 23 and it seemed a little tongue heavy.


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[TexasA&M]

A couple of things -

First, is the dry weight that you got from Nautique with or without the factory installed options? Either way, I'd load the boat up like I was going to the lake and take it to the scales. I've got a feeling it's going to weigh more than you think it will (gear adds up fast, and unless you plan on fueling up on the water every time, you'll likely have a full tank of gas, plus coolers with ice/drinks, food, vests, etc, etc, etc).

Second, this statement -

[USER="18959"] My truck is a 3/4 ton SUV

is false, no matter how much you talk yourself into it. Is your vehicle more capable than a 1/2 ton SUV from 2005? Absolutely! Is it as capable as a 1/2 pickup from 2015? No, and it's not even close to today's 3/4 tons. You can option out most half tons to tow north of 10k lbs these days, and true 3/4 and 1 ton trucks can easily handle 15k lbs and up.

If it were me, I'd probably tow it as is depending on how far you're going. I'd look into beefing up the rear suspension though (unless you've got air leveling suspension already) and would definitely run a WDH since your tonque weight could/should be nearly 1,000lbs.

[Bevostein]

WDH are pretty standard requirements by the auto manufacturers for anything over 5000. By factoring in a WDH it allows them to up their towing capacity claims. I think what it comes down to is there are differences between what your vehicle will do, what it will safely do and what is legal and therefore insurable. Those are 3 different things.

Can your or my vehicle tow at or above the towing capacity or not use a WDH - Absolutely.
Can your or my vehicle tow safely at or above the towing capacity or not use a WDH - Possibly...short trips, no traffic areas, good road conditions, etc
Can your or my vehicle tow legally at or above the towing capacity or not use a WDH - Nope

Some of the advice you are getting her is about being legal which is a tougher standard than what your vehicle is capable of. My normal towing scenario is a two or three hour trip to the dealer through heavy traffic and on the interstate. I for one don't want to get in an accident and expose myself to liability by not having a WDH when my vehicle manufacturer's towing claims and recommendations are premised on the use of a WDH.

Your towing scenario may be different so do as you like but the quote below is taken from page 5 of the 2016 Infiniti towing guide.

https://owners.infinitiusa.com/conte...wing-guide.pdf

Weight-Distributing Hitch System –

This type of system uses a “load-leveling” or “equalizing” hitch. The weight-distributing feature helps shift the trailer tongue weight to all the axles of the tow vehicle and the trailer axles. Weight –distributing hitches should be used in many towing conditions. In general, a weight-distributing hitch system is recommended and should be used if you plan to tow trailers with a maximum weight over 5,000 lbs.

[xxrb2010]

FYI, last time I asked one of the trailer manufacturer for G boats located in Florida about WDH on their away tongue trailer they said: "not recommended". Boat trailer are not like classical trailers with a lot of tongue weight according to them.

The trailer manufacturer recommended a 250 or 2500 truck but no WDH.

[Jeb1974]

The tongues on the boatmate trailers are also too long for the 30" WDH bars. I couldn't find any longer ones anywhere.

[Bevostein]

I have a Boatmate trailer without a swing away tongue. An Equalizer WDH hitch can fit on it.

[nyryan2001]

Sara step-

take a moment, breathe and think.

you are talking to G23 owners. Not salesmen, not a vendor.

a triple axel G23 in tow is 7800-8200lbs. At the very lightest! Mine is
near 9k.

Your trailer is 1500-1700lbs.

[sarasetp]

Let me get something clear then...Pretty much every G23 boat owner who tows the boat greater than a couple of hours has a tow vehicle equivalent to an Ford F250 or greater and use a weight distributing tongue with their trailer?

Additionally, if I am not mistaken, most G23 Boatmate trailers have a swing away tongue. I have not seen anyone definitively post what WDH they use with their Boatmate trailer that has a swing away tongue.

[Austintx]

Hey just FYI I towed my 2015 G25 with a 2012 Infiniti QX56 when I first got my boat. I even purchased the Infiniti weight distributing hitch and sway control thing. A couple observations:


-It did not feel safe to drive other than short distances and less than highway speeds. Brakes were not near strong enough, especially in an emergency situation.


-Infiniti WDH was ungodly heavy and huge pain in *** to hook up each time I towed boat. I'm strong guy but this thing was ridiculous heavy


-My Infiniti ended up developing some transmission problems that I suspect might of been from sheer weight of towing.


-I eventually upgraded to a Ram 2500 Cummings diesel and feel very happy and safe now. Tows with ease.


Best of luck



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