Smallest tow vehicle?

[keehr22]

I just use my Chevy Trailblazer. Pulls my 5th wheel too!

HHR.jpg

That Blazer must have been super custom like this 1 ton HHR!

[Razzman]

My neighbor, who's not the sharpest pencil in the cup, had a very short boating span. He towed and launched an extremely heavy I/O with a station wagon, the old school type. Steep ramp, drum brakes, 2wd and water ... well when he backed up it just kept going. Very steep drop at the lake and the wagon, boat and trailer went under completely. Needless to say the wife was done with boating.

[sandm]

rather than paying, why not find someone with a tow rated vehicle and offer them an afternoon on the lake in exchange for a tow to/from?
you get a day on the water, a tow and they get a day on the water.

seems like a win all the way around

I'd personally tow anyone's boat to the lake for a reciprocal tow on the boat..

[bergermaister]

Git er done...

My brother tows a 21ft Alumaweld with a Honda Pilot from time to time. His fuel tank is in the nose so his tongue weight is heavy. Wonder how that ride compares to your Pontiac.

I suppose worst case scenario - give it a try with the Pontiac (assuming you don't have to put any $$ into it to setup for towing). If it goes bad - don't do it again! Maybe have someone in the boat, ready to fire up and put in gear to keep your whole package from sliding into the drink if it starts to go REALLY bad!

[skiyaker]

my neighbor towed his supra launch 24ssv a few times with a toyota minivan- it didn't look very safe but he made it to the lake and back. I think he put airbags in his shocks or something. When he would stop the trailer would start hopping up and down and it looked like the boat was going to come through the rear window.

[Ian Brantford]

Yea I'm thinking we need to buy a sub 5k beater truck to just keep at the lake.

How often is your "periodically work on the boat" usage going to be? If it's possible to rent a 4WD full-sized pick-up truck for towing in your area, you could do that many times before racking up the same costs as owning and operating another vehicle.

[BensonWdby]

IMO - The smallest rating for any inboard would be 4500lb. Plus you ned to make sure you have the towing packages with transmission cooler and proper suspension. You have to be able to stop in emergency - not just stop signs - to avoid killing a pedestrian?? I pulled my 99 Mobius DD for one season with my 1990 V6 Grand Caravan - and put 2000 into tranny. It was rated for 3500. Of course the GC was known for tranny issues, but still, from my days as a reliability engineer, you never run anything at 100% rated capacity. I am also looking at replacing my Durango - with V8 it is still only rated 4500. It pulls the boat OK until you get to a hill. Good in/out at the launch - in 4WD. Horrible gas mileage in all cases.

[Shooter]

I have pulled my 07 LSV behind my '02 4Runner 4X4 with no problems. It actually handled it quite well. Brought home an '11 Ram megacab with the HO 6.7 a few months ago....800 ft/lbs, engine brake, tow/haul on and it doesn't even know it has a boat behind it, taking off, running down the highway, or stopping.

[rdlangston13]

I've launched and retrieved my 08 LSV with a ford ranger edge 2wd 3.0. Launched and received fine, even scooted around town fine. Problem was when I tried to exceed 50 mph

[usaski1]

Thinking about getting a Toyota FJ. other than the wheelbase, any bad news with that? its got 236hp v6.
Anyone tow with an FJ? Would be towing an Outback, single axle.