tow vehicles

[smoothie]

Hey guys just curious are you all towing with huge SUV and Trucks? My previous ski buddy towed his MC with a minivan. I was thinking of doing the same if I have to buy a tow vehicle too may have to wait a bit longer for the boat. Just curious what everyone else is doing.

thanksl

[04OUTBACK]

Tahoe with tow pkg...
What is your vehicle rated for?

[deerfield]

1999 Suburban w/ 7.4 liter engine, roof top cargo box, bought it used in 2001, has 120k miles today, runs great, excellent vehicle for road trips and towing, has tons of room for people and toys, mpg is low but it's paid for so I'm okay on the cash flow

[Pike]

2003 Ford F-250 4x4 Its only a 5.4 so its not the best vehicle to tow a 4k boat with but I can't really afford the diesel I want....I also added tow bags to the rear to help with the load....

[Buttafewcoe]

2003 Ford Sport Trac, 4.0l, limited slip diff, 2wd, trans cooler.
.
B

[kmcg]

I tow with a 2006 Toyota Sequoia. I previously used an 02 4 runner. Both are rated to tow over 6000lbs. I weighed the boat loaded the other day and it was 5500lbs. I am not sure a mini van would pull the boat well. Also the tongue weight of the trailer may be too much for a minivan.

[JesseC]

99 2 Door Tahoe 4x4 with towing package

Or if we are going a long distance we break out the super hauler.

2007 4 Door Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with twin turbo Diesel. I love to put it in 4 wheel low and let it idle the boat up the ramp. Talk about overkill!!! The only problem is that the truck makes the boat look tiny!

[BlunderDownUnder]

i had been towing with my jeep grand cherokee (sadly only a 6 cyl)

It got me to the lake, but I really didn't feel comfortable with it.. felt like i was gonna run it into the ground before its time.

I looked around and picked up a 1995 suburban -- 1500 bucks + $160 for a carpet kit.... she's a beaut. I pass traffic going up hill... and I have all that extra room for gear now.

Look around and find a cheap truck with a strong, well maintained motor.... Contrary to what some people think, you don' need an '08 Escalade to pull your boat. Odds are you won't see it in the parking lot from the middle of the lake anyway. : )

[shulaj]

a 2007 Saturn OUTLOOK loaded 4 wheel drive. Pulls my 07 LSV but VERY VERY close to not enough vehicle.

If I used my boat with a toe all the time, I would switch to 07 Tahoe

[cptmoomba]

Anything over 10 miles, 05 Toyota Tundra Limited with tow package.

Around the house and ramp, 07 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited 4dr.

[outback 4]

2005 Dodge Ram 4x4 regular cab w/ HEMI. I've got an '06 Outback and I can't even feel the boat behind this truck.

[Dave A]

'07 Toyota Tundra with the 5.7. Pulls the boat great, and I can put all the the other stuff we carry in the back. Had an '03 Expedition with the 4.6, it struggled up hills, the Tundra doens't struggle anywhere.

[hiqualityH2O]

05 EB Expedition. It handles the boat well, no problems with power and I actually avg. around 17mph towing which is amazing for a Ford!

However all said, I'll probably go with a Tahoe next time. I've heard a Tahoe hybrid is in the works, I thought I read 08' but not sure about that.

[gsi09907]

2003 Dodge RAM 1500 4.7 L V-8 with trans cooler and tow package and a super chips sport tuner

[BensonWdby]

I fried a tranny in my 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan (large V6 with tranny cooler and towing package) pulling my 1999 Mobius and it only runs about 3K. Replaced with a Durango 4x4 with small V8 - very poor choice. Not good on hills and terrible on gas with or without boat.

[Psmartell]

We tow our 06 LSV with our 07 Nissan Armada and use to tow with our 05 Nissan Armada. Very comfortable ride lots of room and plenty of power.Some times I wish we had a Diesel but the cost on front end and the hit you take on back end settled it for us

[Mikey]

05F150 with 5.4/tow pkg .Pulls nicely and if you watch your speed on open roads can still get 20mpg

[ATLOUTBACKV]

07 outback V..... tows horribly behind my 02' xterra... not enough power but the hell with it i live a mile from the ramp... actually it dosent do all that bad but i need a larger vehicle

[SEARK]

02 Chevy Z71/towing package. On long trips I don't pass up to many gas stations (mpg sucks). Lucky that I am only 2 miles from ramp.

[anabolicone]

2004 Chevy Tahoe pulls my 2007 LSV - pulls with plenty of power and like others say I can hardly tell the boats behind me.

[Nimrod]

2003 F-350 6.0 diesel. Don't even know my 2006 Outback V is back there
:P

[csumerall]

used to tow my outback with a 98 silverado that was lifted , got about 9 mpg, then I grenaded tow trannies decided to upgrade to a F350 7.3 powerstroke diesel, now i get close to 20 mpg with the boat behind me(fuels cheaper too)and cant even tell its behind me, I actually just towed my buddys new x star and same thing didnt even know it was there

[Sled491]

Dodge 2500 Cummings Diesel, long box crew cab. 4 inch exhaust 34" tires and nothing keeps me from the lake. @ 75 mph on the freeway about 17 mpg. Very comfy for family of 5 and gear. I'll never go back to a gas engine in my trucks 8)

[NC05LSV]

05 F-150 5.4l 4x4. I love those dodge diesels especially the black ones that would match my boat perfectly. I just wish you didnt have to cut off your right arm to pay for them these days.

[dtlaine]

2007 Honda Ridgeline. I live on a lake, so I don't tow all that often. The truck pulls it very well, and the brakes are more than ample.

[moombadaze]

2006 dodge 1500 quad cab 4x4 and yes its got a hemi
level kit install and just put on 35" toyo open country mt's
room for 5 and a huge "trunk"

tows the 03 lsv with no problem

stacy

[deerfield]

For those who want the score, here's a break down of Moomba tow vehicles by brand:

Ford - 9
Chevy - 6 :lol:
Dodge - 6
Toyota - 3
Jeep - 2
Nissan - 2
Honda - 1
Saturn - 1

smoothie - don't think I saw any minivans in there. - deerfield

[Zihuatanejo]

I pull my outback with an 05 chevy silverado. It has the small V8 without the tow package and it sucks. The truck is always shifting, and yes I hit the little trailer button. It can not keep it's speed consistant, the top gear is to big to pull the boat so when I stop acceleraring and start to just cruise it shifts to high gear and it can't pull it, so it down shifts and accelerates and does this the whole trip. If I stay around 50 miles an hour it's ok but sometimes I have 200 miles to drive. In that case I call up my brother and barrow the f-350 turbo deisel and it easy riding. Get deisel if you can I will next time.

[tarkus70]

I tow with an 01 Expedition with a 5.4ltr. I don't even know the boat is there.

[edwindenijs]

A MERCEDES BENZ G type :lo
the ulimate tow vehicle

[superman]

I tow my 2002 LSV with a 99 GMC Denali. 100k .Tows great. Hard to beat the 350. And its paid for. I am going to try to wait until the boat is paid for before i get another tow truck. Got along time seems like. :roll:

I just sold a 2002 Ford 5.4 SuperCrew 4x4. It was lifted with 33in tires, it didnt tow good at all with the larger tires.
________
wiki vaporizer (http://vaporizerwiki.com)

[csumerall]

that was probably more the motor not being even large enough for a 3/4 ton in the first place.

[JoeTechie]

With my Mercedes ML-500 the new tally is:

Ford - 10
Chevy/GMC - 8
Dodge - 6
Toyota - 3
Mercedes - 2
Jeep - 2
Nissan - 2
Honda - 1
Saturn - 1

-J

[BlunderDownUnder]

Yuppy...

[freyse]

2005 Outback with single axle trailer , pulling with 2002 Toyota Tacoma no problems here with pulling or passing V6

[Supra_Launch21V]

2007 Chevy Z71 Suburban with the Supra Launch 21V.

Not quite enough HP to make me feel good on the trips out of state.
It labors alot. However, the Sub is a GREAT vehicle!

The best towing option out there is the DVD player for the kids. Wow it really shuts them up on the long rides out of town!!! HA HA

[Bleebik]

I have a 2007 Mobius LSV on a single axle and I have no problem pulling it with a 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 HD 4x4 with the 6.0 liter engine. Same truck I use to pull the 28.5 foot 5th wheel until I bought a cabin on a lake.

Bleebik

[deerfield]

New tally:

Chevy/GMC - 10 :lol:
Ford - 10
Dodge - 6
Toyota - 4
Mercedes - 2
Jeep - 2
Nissan - 2
Honda - 1
Saturn - 1

[Buttafewcoe]

Doesn't Dodge and Jeep qualify as the same?
.
I mean, heck, if yer gonna lump Jimmys and Chevys together, y knot?
.
:P
.
B

[Buttafewcoe]

Cowboy boots with spurs....now that's hot!
.
:P
.
B

[edwindenijs]

come on japanese car above the mercedes.... this cant be thru.. the ml is built in the states so buy the car and get the mbenz to to top!!!!!!


BTW Joe is it the latest model? great car!

[canuckskier]

2005 Ford F-350 Turbo Diesel

Tow 7000 kms (4400miles) every summer.

Used to do it with a 2004 Chev 1500.

[Sled491]

My buddy had a ML I want to say 430 or 480. Great power, but man that thing rode like a lumber wagon. Pulled his Natique no problem.

[pjtatro]

00 Chevy Suburban 5.3, towing 05 XLV. Tows better when you remember to empty the sacks!!!!!!


Pete

[deerfield]

Updated tally (I think):

Checy/GMC - 11 :lol:
Ford - 11
Dodge/Jeep - 8
Toyota - 4
Mercedes - 2
Nissan - 2
Honda - 1
Saturn - 1

[Ian Brantford]

1998 Toyota 4Runner with 3.4L V6 --- towing a 2005 XLV! It's much better than I expected, i.e. adequate for 1-hour tows around town a few times per season. I thought that I'd have a good excuse to upgrade to a new V8 4Runner, but the old one just keeps working too well. Dang.

[Chefwong]

03 Dodge Durango 4.7L for 07 XLV up the numbers for dodge

[deerfield]

Chef - U got it:

Chevy/GMC - 11 :D
Ford - 11
Dodge/Jeep - 9
Toyota - 5
Mercedes - 2
Nissan - 2
Honda - 1
Saturn - 1

[Bulldgz]

:arrow: 06 Honda Ridgeline 4x4

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/Bulldgz/MOOMBA%20TRIBAL%20DECALS/2003MoombaMobiusExtOriginal10.jpg

[wakevet]

i had been towing with my jeep grand cherokee (sadly only a 6 cyl)

It got me to the lake, but I really didn't feel comfortable with it.. felt like i was gonna run it into the ground before its time.

I looked around and picked up a 1995 suburban -- 1500 bucks + $160 for a carpet kit.... she's a beaut. I pass traffic going up hill... and I have all that extra room for gear now.

Look around and find a cheap truck with a strong, well maintained motor.... Contrary to what some people think, you don' need an '08 Escalade to pull your boat. Odds are you won't see it in the parking lot from the middle of the lake anyway. : )

nice!! i'll bet the gas mileage in the 'burban' is really good!!
I tow with my 05 F-150 FX4. does the job quite well. i'm not interested in speed, just getting there in one piece. if i could afford an 08 Escalade i'd tow with that, of course after adding 22" chrome rims so that i could see it shining in the parking lot from the middle of the lake!! :D

[lowdrag]

Ok, I'll have to chime in only because someone is keeping tabs. 2004 F250, crew cab, short bed, diesel. It's entirely too much truck for what I need but it was my dads last work truck and he gets a new one every 2 or 3 years so I couldn't pass up the deal. That being said, a lot of people bag on the earlier (03 and 04) 6.0 powerstrokes. This one was either built late in 04 when some of the problems were suposedly resolved or a lot of people didn't know anything about maintaining diesels. I've got 105K miles on it right now and it's never had the slightest thing wrong with it. That's after it spent its first 100,000 miles with the bed always loaded with about half a ton or more of tools and an off road diesel fuel tank that was usually loaded with about 100-150 gallons of fuel. When it wasn't pulling a flat bed with construction equipment behind it, it was idling all day in the summer so my dad's dog could stay cool in the ac while he worked. I can hardly think of a rougher service life for a truck.

[teamctl]

Alright, so I'm a little late on this one...

I pull with a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 2 wheel drive with the Hemi.

It pulls my 07 Outback V up long ramps with steep grades from the river with no problems whatsoever.

[Madtown Mobius]

'94 GMC 1500 with 160k+ miles on her.

I've taken this truck everywhere on and off road, hunting out west, plenty of trips to Canada. I can't complain one bit about this truck. I've never had a problem except for routine maintance. First trip with the new boat was from the dealer in Michigan back to Wisconsin. She may be tired but she's always been dependable :D

[Buttafewcoe]

...........she may be tired but she's always been dependable :D
.
that's what I say about my 'ol lady
.
:P
.
B

[AaronWhitt82]

2005 Toyota 4Runner Limited with all the options, BUT the V8 that I wish it would have....
Other than that she pulls like a champ!

[deerfield]

Tow vehicle update:

Ford - 13
Chevy/GMC - 12
Dodge/Jeep - 10
Toyota - 6
Mercedes - 2
Nissan - 2
Honda - 2
Saturn - 1

C'mon you Chevy/GM owners.....I ain't doin' this to come in second. :cry:

[MOBIU5]

07 chevy avalanche

[Chefwong]

Tow vehicle update:

Ford - 13
Chevy/GMC - 12
Dodge/Jeep - 10
Toyota - 6
Mercedes - 2
Nissan - 2
Honda - 2
Saturn - 1

C'mon you Chevy/GM owners.....I ain't doin' this to come in second. :cry:


Your tied! Saturn is a GM

[Waynes345]

I pull my '99 Outback with an '02 Buick Rendezvous (and try to avoid hills!).

[Jon]

I use a 2006 GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab and a 2007 GMC Yukon. Both with the 5.3L.

[03outbackVT]

Finally chiming in here. 04 4Runner with a V6. It has been a great season, upgraded the boat and the truck!

http://www.mypicshare.com/thumbs/20071009/1bzzyw49.jpg (http://www.mypicshare.com/1bzzyw49pic.html)

[KidFlippy]

2006 Chevy Silverado 1500 Extended Cab Z71 with the 5.3L

[Yellowmobius]

2004 Chev Silverado pulling my 2004 Mobius LSV (hope to turn it into a 2008 Mobius LSV)

[scolburn]

2006 Chevy Suburban... Pulls great with a full load of kids, dog and camping gear. No problem on long grades either.

[wakeboard dad]

Am I the only Hummer representative here. I don't go far but my '07 H3 does just fine.

[TobesDubai]

Land Cruiser...cant beat it 8)

[JoeTechie]

H2 and H3 are NOT HUMMERS! They are bad GMC Truck bodies with boxy exteriors made to look LIKE hummers. The HumVe is a HUGE amazing vehicle, that can tow a tank if it needs too. Get an escalade - at least they are cooler inside, and have less bad plastic to crack.

-J

[zegm]

Chevy Silverado 1500 extended cab now and before that a Avalanche and before that a Chevy Silerado 1500HD crew cab. Never any problems!

[gdubb]

I am pulling with an 07 Dodge Nitro v6. It is little small but it is hard to complain about the price of gas. The nitro is my company car and I do not have a bill.

[cgriebs]

I pull my outback with an 05 chevy silverado. It has the small V8 without the tow package and it sucks. The truck is always shifting, and yes I hit the little trailer button. It can not keep it's speed consistant, the top gear is to big to pull the boat so when I stop acceleraring and start to just cruise it shifts to high gear and it can't pull it, so it down shifts and accelerates and does this the whole trip. If I stay around 50 miles an hour it's ok but sometimes I have 200 miles to drive. In that case I call up my brother and barrow the f-350 turbo deisel and it easy riding. Get deisel if you can I will next time.


Constant shifting will cook that trans in no time. I'd just leave it in "3" and let it rev a little more. The more that thing shifts, the more heat is generated. I towed my LS from Rochester to LI with my '00 Silverado 5.3/3.73 ratio, and just left it in 3rd gear and stepped on it. No issues with the hills. I was pretty impressed. Granted I wasn't doin' 80, but 70 certainly was doable, with plenty of acceleration for the uphills. I did a mileage check when I got home, and after 380 miles, I averaged 14 mpg. Not bad.

[cgriebs]

H2 and H3 are NOT HUMMERS! They are bad GMC Truck bodies with boxy exteriors made to look LIKE hummers. The HumVe is a HUGE amazing vehicle, that can tow a tank if it needs too. Get an escalade - at least they are cooler inside, and have less bad plastic to crack.

-J

H1's aren't bad, but if you speak to someone who works on them everyday, I think they'd tell you otherwise. A buddy of mine who's a GM A Tech wrenches on those things professionally. Whenever I'm in the shop I seem to see them arriving on flatbeds missing rear wheels/drive assy's that have broken and thrown tires down the highway! Downright scary! They're pretty poplular here on LI, but they are big-time parts eaters. My buddy earns a killer living keeping them alive. LOL.

[1LOKMOOMBA]

I towed with 2001 Ford Escape, 1200 miles. Good thing for surge brakes.

[moomba07]

2008 F-250 Powerstroke 4x4, cant even tell my boat is back there but it sure likes to drink diesel.

[deerfield]

moomba07 - I prefer a big block Suburban for my tow vehicle, but -- i gotta tell you that's a really sharp lookin' Ford. Like the black and chrome. - Deerfield

[04OUTBACK]

Moomba07,
That truck is TIGHT and Clean!

[Ian Brantford]

If deerfield is still keeping count:

-1 Toyota 4Runner.

+1 Honda Ridgeline.

I upgraded. :-) I haven't used the Ridgeline to tow anything yet. At the rate that I drive, it will still be barely broken in by summer.

[jclay5]

Chef - U got it:

Chevy/GMC - 11 :D
Ford - 11
Dodge/Jeep - 9
Toyota - 5
Mercedes - 2
Nissan - 2
Honda - 1
Saturn - 1

I'm not sure if I've been counted in on this little tally we got goin on here, but if this make a difference for you deerfield I've got the tahoe so that should add another to the GM/Chevy.

[yager97]

2005 nissan frontier se 4x4, that makes 3 nissans....no problem pullin the GG even with a few pounds of lead in the nose

[tazz3069]

I afraid to post my tow vehicle. Sled might find out where I live and take it in the middle of the night. LOL!!!. Well maybe I just might take that chance. I have a 2007 Dodge 2500 Mega Cab.
https://forum.moomba.com/picture.php?albumid=23&pictureid=915

[moomba07]

Dodge 2500 Cummings Diesel, long box crew cab. 4 inch exhaust 34" tires and nothing keeps me from the lake. @ 75 mph on the freeway about 17 mpg. Very comfy for family of 5 and gear. I'll never go back to a gas engine in my trucks 8)

I like the last part of your sentence there haha now your talking

[moomba07]

I afraid to post my tow vehicle. Sled might find out where I live and take it in the middle of the night. LOL!!!. Well maybe I just might take that chance. I have a 2007 Dodge 2500 Mega Cab.
https://forum.moomba.com/picture.php?albumid=23&pictureid=915

You got anything done to the engine and tranny? sharp truck

[moomba07]

moomba07 - I prefer a big block Suburban for my tow vehicle, but -- i gotta tell you that's a really sharp lookin' Ford. Like the black and chrome. - Deerfield

Im glad to hear that cuz i almost put black wheels on it but i decided with the 22" chrome.

[tazz3069]

The only thing so far is the Banks Exhaust and the Edge with Juice. I still would like to put in a Banks CAI.

[moomba07]

Moomba07,
That truck is TIGHT and Clean!

Thanks Brad, That picture was taken the day I bought it and it had just got out of the detail shop, thats the cleanest its been haha.

[SEARK]

2008 F-250 Powerstroke 4x4, cant even tell my boat is back there but it sure likes to drink diesel.

I see you got the Arkansas farmer's package. :)

[deerfield]

What is an "Arkansas farmer's package?" I'm from the city. Never been on a farm or ventured into Arkansas.

[Razzman]

How'd i miss this this one?

'07 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 4X4 5.3L

[RepsolRoss]

http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu266/RepsolRoss/NewRig.jpg

2008 Honda Ridgeline pulls my 2008 XLV GG

[04OUTBACK]

I gotta ask.. how well that works out for you with the Honda and the XLV..
Braking? Launch Ramps? Hills?

[SEARK]

What is an "Arkansas farmer's package?" I'm from the city. Never been on a farm or ventured into Arkansas.


Well you know how the car companies put a package together on a vehicle, well in this case the farmer usually has the top of the line truck with everything on it. We jokingly call it the farm package.

[deerfield]

Seark - Got it! Thanks. - Deerfield

[Hoopskier]

Got myself an 05 Ford Sport Trac. My OB give the truck a good workout. Still do 70 on the highway, brakes OK. It kinda like a train, alittle while to get going.

[moomba07]

I see you got the Arkansas farmer's package. :)

Haha well if you want to call it that, ive got an 08 chevy duramax 4door 4x4 for my farm truck.. me,dad,granpa, and my uncle everyone of us got chevy's this year. That f-250 is my project truck haha i like to play with it, i think id have a hard time farming out of it plus duramax has got more pulling power on the torque rating.

[moombadaze]

Ridgeline with the xlv just doesnt look "right"

Love that boat

[Ian Brantford]

Ridgeline with the xlv just doesnt look "right"


Try it with a 1998 4Runner, like I did for 4 years. It tows fine, but when you get a good profile view like that, it looks quite lame indeed.

[mapleleaf]

arkansas farm package = cowboy cadillac???

[SEARK]

arkansas farm package = cowboy cadillac???

Pretty much the same thing.

[04OUTBACK]

Mapleleaf,
That's just down right funny right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Hammer]

Ford F250 turbo deisel 450 horse power 650 torque , i check to make sure the boat still back there pulling our 08 Mobius LSV.

[moomba07]

Ford F250 turbo deisel 450 horse power 650 torque , i check to make sure the boat still back there pulling our 08 Mobius LSV.

Glad to see another 250 in here man i thought i was the only one, what all you got in your truck? Mines an 08 Harley Davidson F-250, it progressed 596 hp on the dyno and 780 ft lbs torque...

[Mikey]

08 F150 stock but soon to run a chip.Hp probably about 310 woo hoo.