Tow Vehicle Review

[AbunDiga909]

I mentioned this somewhere else but thought it would be more appropiete to post it offically here.

We all know to complete a good rig, we need a good tow vehicle. I know that there are people like my family who are buying an SUV to tow a Nautique, and getting the right one can be a hard decision. I think it would benifit us all if we had an offical Tow Vehicle Review, just like reviews for all the Nautiques we have online now. What do ya think???

[Luke]

We could cetainly look into something like that. We'd have to rely on a lot of user input though. I have pretty limited experience with a variety of tow vehicles. Perhaps our members could write reviews on their rig setup and we could post them.

[AbunDiga909]

We could cetainly look into something like that. We'd have to rely on a lot of user input though. I have pretty limited experience with a variety of tow vehicles. Perhaps our members could write reviews on their rig setup and we could post them.

Exactly what I was thinking...

[genevatexan]

Looks like a pretty old thread here, but thought I would brag on my 2002 Explorer 4 x 4 V8. It has a factory hitch, and towed my just-purchased 1998 Ski Nautique on a Dorsey trailer 560 miles at speeds between 50 and 70, with absolutely no problem. No change in engine temperature, mileage dropped by not by a lot, and plenty of power. I will say that I didn't use cruise control, and if it started shifting in an out of overdrive alot, I backed off to keep it in low gear. Great truck. :cheers:

[NautiqueJeff]

I tow with a Grand Cherokee with the 4.7 V-8 and it does pretty well. I've trailered all over the east coast with it, and it has been good so far. I keep overdrive off, as recommended by Jeep.

Does anyone here tow with the new VW Touareg? It has a 7700 pound towing capacity, and they look pretty cool (at least to me).

[thevogt]

2003 F150 SuperCrew 4x2. 5.4L V8 and limited slip. Have to look in my rear view mirror to remind myself it's back there. Love it!

Gary

[WakeboardKid]

We tow with a 1995 Chevy Silverado Z71 and it does great. Towing the boat is no problem and you can barely tell it's back there unless the gas tank is slam full of fuel and even then it has no problems. We love this truck and it will probably continue to tow the boat for a while because when I turn 16 in 5 months the truck belongs to me and I will make the lake my secondary home .

allen

(if you have any questions about the truck just ask or pm me)

[ag4ever]

I started towing my SANTE with a 1994 F150 extended cab with the 5.0 V8. It did just fine pulling the boat from Houston to Austin many times. We then upgraded to a F250 crew cab with the powerstroke engine, and now I don't even know the boat is back there. I can tow at 85 all day long and still get 13 MPG.

If i was buying a SUV, I would get the excursion with the PSD.

[jefe]

I tow with a Toyota 4Runner Sport with the V8 and I have to say that I am very impressed with the ride. I added Airlift Airbags to the back wheels and have had great success with them (Also had great success with them on my 98 Jeep GC V8). You can lift the rear to normal heigth (sp) or about 2-3 inches higher if need be.

I drove 1000 miles 2 weeks ago and never had to worry about lack of power, the V8 is the same as in the Tundra and Sequoia and provides plenty of power. One thing with a mid-sized SUV is that you have to be careful backing down the Boat Ramp if its steep and wet with lots of people in the boat. I had a few get in the front to put more weight on the back tires, but I have never had problems getting the boat out.

V8 has 235 HP with 320 Lbs of torque at 3500 RPM, constant 4WD. The Sport Edition has the upgraded Quad-Disc Brakes and provides ample braking with a Disc Brake Trailer.

OH, BTW I get between 11-13 MPG towing with Premium Fuel.

Of the two SUV's I have had, the Toyota 4Runner is the best so far. In a couple of years I wouldn't mind trying out the VW Toureg V10 TDI

[NautiqueJeff]

In a couple of years I wouldn't mind trying out the VW Toureg V10 TDI

Yeah, I'd love to get one of those. They're quite a bit more expensive than the V-8 though.

[efox]

I tow with a 99 Discovery 2. It tows the Nautique very well. I won't set any landspeed records with it, but there is no ramp that will stop it...fulltime 4wd with Traction control and torque like a deisel. I noticed no difference in fuel economy with towing, but then the gas mileage sucks anyway!!! (about 12-16mpg)

[surfsup]

I've towed w/ a 95 Chevy Silverado w/ the 5.7, a '00 GMC Sierra w/ the 4.8 and a '03 Chevy w/ the 5.3. I believe all three had the 3.73 differential. Pulling my '97 SNOB and '99 Pro Air were never a problem. However I do notice my '04 211 behind the current Chevy. I believe it's probably the additional 800 lbs and the the fact that the 211 is bunked higher on the trailer. A 2500 HD or F250 probably wouldn't be phased with the 211, but anthing smaller is definitely affected.....

[Gramps]

Boat 2003 Royal Blue SANTE

Tow vehicle 2002 All Black F250 4x4 7.3 Lariet Powerstroke Turbo Diesel with an extra spring in the back, factory lift with 33's.

Engine mods are Banks Stage III Power pack system and chip.
http://www.bankspower.com/app.cfm?appid=AF01

65mph at 1700 rpms 15 mpg towing

65mph NOT TOWING 18 mpg

Once you tow with a diesel you will never own a gas tow vehicle again.....

[lcap]

Tow up and over two mountain passes with the following:

03 Yukon XL 4X4 with 3:73 rear end
02 Chevrolet Silverado Quad Cab 1500 HD 4X4 with 4:10 rear end

Yukon does just as well as Silverado and gets 3 mpg better fuel efficiency. I'd never get another tow vehicle with a 4:10 unless I was towing a 12,000 lb 5th wheel.

[FatBoy]

I tow my SV-211 with a 2004 F-250 Super Duty crew cab 4X4 with the 6.0 Turbo Diesel(325 HP).

Going down highway 40 at 80 mph it turns 2200 rpm and you don't even know the boat is back there.