What's your tow rig?

[Simon]

Hummer H3....16 mpg around town, 22 on the freeway, so far, small trips at 15 mph towing. Off road 30 mph at 10 mph! Cool factor unmeasurable. My wife has a new found affinity with the Governator!

I am happy to hear that good folk drive the h3 and not just drug dealers

S

[Win]

PGE I sent you a private message. Check the message area at top of page.

Win

[thkvb]

I tow my 26x with a Honda ridgeline. Great towing vehicle for that size of a boat.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

As far as I'm concerned everybody looks at the wrong thing when picking a tow vehicle. It's all horsepower, V-6, V-8, gas, desiel, propane. As has been proven time and time again, you can tow a big load with a small motor. X's have been towed with honda civics and subaru's.

Power is NOT the issue. Any size motor used correctly with a properly geared transmission can tow a Mac.

The REAL question is can it stop a Mac. Even at a modest 50 mph on the interstate, what will happen when you dive deeply into the brakes? What happens when you do this and your rusty trailer brakes fail to help? What happens when your vehicle brakes have been ignored and have become marginal?

Under these conditions any small car or truck or even any mid-sized truck / SUV is going to be in serious jepordy.

Questions to ask.

Is the hitch on the vehicle rated at 3500 lbs? This is too small. Every Mac even meagerly equiped weighs more than this. This rating has nothing to do with power. It has everything to do with the capacity of the vehicles brakes and suspension.

Does the loaded boat and trailer outweigh the tow vehicle? Guess which will win when push comes to shove.

What is the vehicles rated total capacity? Don't forget to subtract the weight of all passengers and luggage before you decide that the capacity is big enough to tow the load.

Years ago Chip and I had quite a discussion regarding the suitability of towing his X with an Explorer (mid sized SUV). We finally agreed to differ. Asked now he will most likely tell you nothing less than his Expedition (Full size SUV) should be used.

I strongly feel you need a full size (heavy) vehicle with a 5000 lb hitch to tow these boats safely.

I've always used a Suburban.

Our first one, a old 3/4 ton did a perfect job. Big brakes, big transmission, and big (454) engine. It was 2 wd with all the trailering extra's Chevy made. Rated at 12,000 GVW it would carry and haul everything.

Our current one, a 1/2 ton with a 350 also does well. But there are clear differences. It's suspension DOES get pushed around at times. You can feel the load more often than with the old one. Late model full size SUV's have been given much softer suspension so we don't feel the bumps in our cushy leather seats. This affects their towing capabilities.

Even so, never with either have I ever had a white knuckle experience that many with lesser vehicles have had.

It was recently brake job time for the Suburban. The front disc were down to near metal. As we discovered when the rear drums were pulled, the rear seals were blown and the drums were covered in oil. The braking capacity of the vehicle was severely degraded, yet it still handled the boat without any trouble on the last few trips of the year. (Yes, I could tell my stopping distance was increased and something was amiss.)

Don't neglect your trailer brakes either. When I made the switch from drums to disc the summer before last my trailer system was clearly contributing next to nothing in the stopping department. And this was with diligent care and flushing after every trip.

Without extra capacity in the tow vehicle to make up for the bad trailer brakes I could have been in trouble. Like wise, this past summer my new discs on the trailer most likely made up for the poor vehicle brakes.

Next summer should be a piece of cake with all 3 sets of brakes in peak form.

[Frank C]

thkvb -
Welcome aboard, first-timer. Your Ridgeline might be a terrific tow vehicle ... been seeing them in TV commercials lately. Now, everyone should note that you've resurrected a year-old thread.

No worries, Mate. But, possible Homework needed ...

[Craig LaForce]

thkvb.

Is your moniker from that noise that Bill the cat used to make in the comics?
Its been a while, so I don't remember the exact spelling.

[Night Sailor]

I tow my X and other trailerables with a '97 Ford Expedition XLT, 4x4, with 5.4L Triton, 3.73 limited slip axle, four corner air suspension, class 4 factory tow package, 17" wheels and Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo all terrain tires. Absolutely no trouble towing on dirt or beach sand, in snow or up steep, slippery boat ramps even with full ballast.

[albion]

I tow with a full size Dodge van (not a Mini van, not a Mickey van).
I bought my first new Dodge van in '73, in my second (or was it my third?) senior year in college. It cost $3,000. I drove it for 12 years.
I bought my second new Dodge van in '85. Same vehicle, same engine (318), thinner sheet metal. It cost $12,000. I drove it for 12 years.
I bought my third new Dodge van in '97. Same vehicle, larger engine (360). It cost $18,000. I plan on keeping it for 12 years.
It makes a great base camp. It's a great tow vehicle.

You tell em Bill. Go Mopar. Now I am going to save Bill about $10000-11000 for a new Durango.

[albion]

Well, most of you know that I am a BIG fan of diesel power plants. My '86 Ford Diesel F-250 is just being too much of a hassle to keep alive. I have 3 Fords, and I am now going G.M.! The Ford transmissions can break the piggy bank, I am lucky to get 50-60 K out of them, and they are very unreliable!

I went out and got me a brand spankin' new '05, Chev 2500HD 6.6 Duramax with an Allison 5 speed auto tranny, Extended cab, 8' bed, 4X4 with most of the bells and whistles. All I can say is.....Sweeeeeet! Push that 4 WD button on the steepest launch ramp and know you got a good grab! The mirrors extend with a push of a button, Radio with CD and Cassete, but didn't want the XM option, can't see the expense for that. 2 weeks and 2K miles and it is sure quiet and smooth for a 4X4! Independant front suspension with electric lockers for the rear. That's all four wheels grabbing folks! 4 wheel disks stop ya in a hurry too! Speedo says 120, she has a govenor to keep her at 97 max though!

16 MPG, and 23+ when she breaks in. 500 HP and 1100 lbs of torque with a chip. Unbelievable off the line speed and power. Now I gotsta add a Greasel kit and run this puppy for free too!

So, what do you tow your Mac with out there?

Did you hear about the guy with the Dodge Ram with a CUMMINGS diesel. He used it to tow camping trailers and fifth wheel trailers around the USA. He had 1,000,000 miles on it and I believe it was only about five years old when it passed the 1,000,000 mile mark.

[albion]

Lots of hate in the liberal community. A few others:

http://www.ihatesuvs.com
http://www.choof.org/news/suv.html
http://www.fuh2.com

A couple of vandalous ones:

http://www.changingtheclimate.com
http://www.idontcareaboutair.com

And, of course, this one:

http://www.whatwouldjesusdrive.org

Jesus was a carpenter, and he had parents and 12 friends. He'd drive a 1-ton diesel 15 passenger van with ladder/lumber racks on top. Haul tools and materials during the week and family and friends on Sunday.

--
Moe

You forgot something, Jesus didnt need to tow a MAC he could walk on water.

[Paul S]

Now, everyone should note that you've resurrected a year-old thread.

Thats ok...it is better than starting a new thread on an old, beat to death, topic.

It is a good topic that everyone will have their own take on.



Paul

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

WWJD
What Would JimmyBuffet Drink

[PeteC]

Everyone should read Duane's response closely.

I may repeat some things I said in the previous tow vehicle discussion (I just turned 50 and I don't remember so good anymore).

Why do many of us where pfd's all the time, or seat belts? Because when something does go wrong we are better protected.

Why is it better to have a larger than needed tow vehicle? Because when something goes wrong we have extra "margin" to save us. Like when the brakes are less than optimum. Or when someone pulls out in front of us. Or a semi goes flying by at 80 mph and the wake whips the boat/trailer around and wags the tow vehicle.

The Mac is a big "trailer" and when all the weights are accounted for many marginal vehicles are overloaded.

Sure it costs more to have a big Suburban or full size van or pickup. And they are less fun to drive than a smaller vehicle. But that "expense" is worth the extra safety factor in my opinion.

Be safe.

[albion]

WWJD
What Would JimmyBuffet Drink

Would he drink a BILL BEERS BILL?

[delevi]

BMW X5 4.6. Of course, it's my only car. If I had an exclusive tow vehicle, I would use something else, but at 350 HP, super wide 315-20" wheels and a high-performance suspension, & full-time all-wheel-drive, it tows like a dream. I had many people approach me at the launch ramp asking... "you're gonna use a beamer to haul that boat out?" Not sure why, because the car is rated to tow nearly 8000 lbs. As for gas milage, forget about it! average 14 mpg freeway & city w/o towing. I guess I make up for it while sailing and not using any gas

This car upsets many of my liberal friends who drive hybrids, but I do live in San Francisco so I"m used to it.