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

[Quinner]

Same on my Tahoe, all shiftable on the 4WD. Towed a Sport 200 quite a bit, feels fine but really chews up the fuel when running fast, pulling the 206 is a breeze and just recently pulled a neighbors 220, wasn't too bad but you felt the additional weight. Surprising the non XL is rated to tow more then the XL, IMO there is a noticeable difference between the 2 towing with the longer wheelbase XL feeling a bit more stable.

Personally would not hesitate to tow one of those ballast ships with a Tahoe/Yukon or an XL even if a little overweight, you adjust your driving to your vehicles capabilities, period!! A corvette is going to stop and corner much better then an XL, does that mean an XL is dangerous? Same would be true with a triple axle/brake trailer vs a double, triple will stop better doesn't mean the double is unsafe. My first couple Ski Nautique trailers did not even have brakes and I never felt "unsafe". Don't get me wrong, not suggesting people tow beyond the recommended capacity I just don't feel an extra 500-1000lbs is going to take a tow rig from "safe" to a "death trap".

[Bevostein]

Surprising the non XL is rated to tow more then the XL, IMO there is a noticeable difference between the 2 towing with the longer wheelbase XL feeling a bit more stable.

Personally would not hesitate to tow one of those ballast ships with a Tahoe/Yukon or an XL even if a little overweight, you adjust your driving to your vehicles capabilities, period!! A corvette is going to stop and corner much better then an XL, does that mean an XL is dangerous? Same would be true with a triple axle/brake trailer vs a double, triple will stop better doesn't mean the double is unsafe.

It all about weight. XL is less simply because of the additional weight. I'm not certain but I don't think the government rules even factor in wheelbase.

I agree...I too wouldn't hesitate to tow with a Yukon or an XL so long as I had good weight distribution with either bags or a weight distribution hitch. But that is a personal decision based on my confidence in my driving and knowing in what conditions I would or would not tow.

That why when folks ask "am I good" its such an open ended question. Beyond the black and white of what vehicles are spec'ed, the evaluation about whether your vehicle can tow something comes down to the driver's capabilities, what conditions they believe they can tow in and the risk they are willing to assume if outside the vehicle specs. Beyond the black and white specs, none of those other things are something any of us on this forum can answer for another.

[Neverenough]

I tow my '08 230 with a '14 Tundra and it's great! Zero issues.

But to the OP, yeah that's pushing it. These boats need a real truck.

Tundra is really a 3/4 ton truck. Toyota is the best built truck on the road. When they build a diesel it's gonn hurt the domestic market.

[xxrb2010]

Tundra is really a 3/4 ton truck. Toyota is the best built truck on the road. When they build a diesel it's gonn hurt the domestic market.

If what you say is true, they should be really dump at Toyota for not making it diesel. Who does not want to own the North America truck market? So, you are assuming Toyota leaders are dump or they do not want to make money in the NA market truck. If the second, the shareholder should fire the leaders.

Unless there is a chance that what you say might not be true .

[Quinner]

Jap car Kool-Aide, lol, best built my azz, more like the trans gender of pick-up cars, lmao

Diesel upgrade gets $$$ , look at the F series as an example, Diesel been available for a long time and I would bet they make up a modest % of the total sales.

[Neverenough]

Ok we are way off the OP but I'll bite! I'm in the auto industry and you ask any technician who builds the best built vehicle or which one they prefer to repair because of how they are put together and most will tell you Toyota. I might add it's built here in Texas not Mexico or Canada. Now for the diesel deal...... from what I have been told it's in the works and emissions were the reason for delay. I'm not bragging on them because I own one. I have two Fords in the driveway, just sold a Cadillac , my dodge trucks where the best pulling trucks I've ever owed and I miss my Jeep from a few years ago. Heck I've not owed a Toyota in 20 years! Hold on to your chin strap because this is gonna bend a lot of you I can tell already!!! I'd say Toyota is more in line with a Nautique than any other vehicle line. Their technology and build quality is better than the rest.

Quinner here in Texas Diesel trucks are a LARGE % of the trucks on the road. No clue on facts but they are everywhere.

Matter of time and Toyota will be in the US diesel truck market. Hide and watch. Let's discuss politics now!!!!

[nyryan2001]

Tundra is really a 3/4 ton truck. Toyota is the best built truck on the road. When they build a diesel it's gonn hurt the domestic market.

Its not a 3/4 ton. I have one.

Ford F150 3.5 Eco and GM 6.2 will solidly outperform the Tundra in every aspect except QAQC.

I hope Toyota puts the Hino 8.1L diesel in it. The 5.0L Cummings in the Nissan Titan is a weak. Ford 5.0 and GM 5.3 gassers out perform it! Weak.

The other option for the Tundra 5.7L is to OEM factory super charge! I'd love it!

[shag]

I looked at a loaded Tundra last year and wasn't impressed... Also, the floor in the rear was far from flat, and unable to be used for much, especially if you have big dog..

[xxrb2010]

I do not know how easy it is to repair a Toyota car or Truck and really do not care, I buy cars/trucks that do not go to a repair shop . What is clear as water is that Toyota used old and thoroughly tested parts over multiple year in most of their cars/trucks and thus their higher quality. This is a strategy for which they trade the brand new technology for old overly tested technology. There is no right or wrong about it, customers choose which one they like with their wallets or I should say their credit . Now, this strategy, while it works for cars, does not work for trucks if you look at their truck market share. I tested drive a tundra 5.7 a few months back and it looks like a 10 years old truck that missed the new developments done at Ford, GM and others. It was not agile, make a lot of noise, dashboard very dated in the design/plastic part. I am sure you have less chance that something goes wrong in a Tundra as I said, the part have been tested for almost 10 years.

Way off topic.......

[xlwater01]

Aside from the safety factor we've discussed I'd be concerned about the long term effects on the tow vehicle. Towing right at the max capacity for extended periods is just asking for problems, likely the transmission. Just one more thing to consider.

[jharris]

Aside from the safety factor we've discussed I'd be concerned about the long term effects on the tow vehicle. Towing right at the max capacity for extended periods is just asking for problems, likely the transmission. Just one more thing to consider.

Sounds like a good reason to lease and stay with the Powertrain warranty window.



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[JV92]

I have been reading the posts about towing but could not find anything definitive about these specs.

I have an Infiniti QX56/QX80, tow rating at 8,500 lbs. The 2016 G23 weighs 5,900 lbs, my Boatmate triple axle trailer, from Boatmate's website, shows it weighs 1,800lbs, gas at 6lbs a gallon with half a tank would be 195lbs. That total equals 7,895lbs. Let's say I have another 300 in gear like boards, stereo, inner tubes, vests, etc., I should be good with 8,195lbs towing, right?

What I am going to say is purely my opinion and what I have found after being in a similar position when purchasing my 230 last year and looking to upgrade to a G23 this year for the Australian summer.

Firstly we have different laws and rules here for example no WDH laws/rules and you can't exceed 3500kg (7717.5 pounds) towing on a normal car licence. So cars a rated accordingly. But as I said we do not have WDH rules although the weight of a tandem axle boat trailer hardly justifies the use of one.

But that being said there are dozens of G series boats out and about from the same dealership as mine. With the most popular vehicle being Toyota Land Cruiser diesels to tow them with.

Firstly I find it so hard to comprehend that anybody would order anything over and above a 210 sized wake boat and not have electric hydraulic brakes on there trailers! In an emergency situation regardless of you tow rig stopping speed and power is going to be your best defence. Toyota landcruiser at 60 mph take 50 yards to stop. We tested this on a quiet farm road near where I live. We did the same speed with the boat on with electric brakes on my usual setting(high enough not to lock the wheels under hard braking) and pull up in 65 yards.
I have spent time at a weigh bridge weighing my 230 and also a g23. Both on tandem axle boat mate trailers with electric brakes.

To note when Nautique give there boat weights. That is the maximum weight the boat can be with all factory options and excludes fuel. For example a G23 with a 550 weighs more than with the new H6 engine.

From experience

My 230 with costal h6 no gear, full tank of fuel and heavily optioned weighs 2985 kg (6582 pounds) on the trailer
The g23 we weighed also had a h6 costal similar options and full of fuel. It's weight on the trailer was 3365 kgs (7420 pounds)

Here in Australia that leaves hardly anything for gear in a G similar to how you will be restricted by your legal limit. Additionally your option of a 3rd axle will add more to trailer weight.
Both being tandem trailers we weighed the ball weights while running level. The 230 gave us 275kg (606pounds) and the G23 320kg (705pounds)

I have done a GVM upgrade on my car in anticipation of purchasing a g23. But we regularly end up with 500 pounds plus of gear in the boat and the purchase of the g would mean most of our stuff apart from boards would end up in the car.
Over here we are not quiet as lucky to have the same lakes and lake house set ups as you guys. We have put 150 hours on the boat and around 18,000 kms on the trailer in 12 months of ownership. With an average boat weight of 7200 pounds. Over hilly narrow roads, highways, city and high traffic conditions all within 500 pounds of the tow capacity of the car and not once has the vehicle felt unsettled or un capable of towing the boat.

The large consensus of not being able to tow at the manufacturers limit on a vehicle in my option is crazy. You should be able to tow all day everyday at the manufacturers limit otherwise that's a false vehicle specification the manufacturers will have dialled back the limit to ensure the vehicle is reliable and able to be used as intended.

The QX80 is a Nissan patrol chassis which is the direct competitor with the Land Cruiser in Australia. The difference being you guys only get the petrol versions which would just mean poor fuel economy. I cant see the infinity or any similar size SUV having a problem with these boats as long as a trailer is fitted with electric brakes.



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[Jakehere]

JV92 : Thank you for posting REAL DATA on the weights and tongue weights of those two boats! Interesting that both of the tongue weights are less than 10% of total weight, which defies conventional trailer wisdom. Very interesting. This reminds me of what NautiqueJeff has recommended in the past: upgrade to electric brakes! Anyone who has upgraded their surge brakes to electric, can you please start a new thread depicting how it was done, and cost?

[JoeA]

JV92 : Thank you for posting REAL DATA on the weights and tongue weights of those two boats! Interesting that both of the tongue weights are less than 10% of total weight, which defies conventional trailer wisdom. Very interesting. This reminds me of what NautiqueJeff has recommended in the past: upgrade to electric brakes! Anyone who has upgraded their surge brakes to electric, can you please start a new thread depicting how it was done, and cost?

Yes, what he said.

[2001SAN]

Just thought I'd chime in.

In the UK the largest tow vehicles are rated at 3500kg max towing weight. These are much smaller trucks than those available in the US and are usually diesels. Think along the lines of Land Cruisers etc. There simply is no other choice. A guy at my marina tows a G23 with a Landrover Defender which would be considered the norm in the UK. A G is within that vehicles limit and hence deemed safe as far as we are concerned.

D.