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I find myself looking for a new vehicle and all of the sudden realized that I need to take towing capacity into consideration. I have an 18' Dauntless with a 135 Merc Optimax on a tandem axel Vanguard trailer. What is the minimum towing capacity I should consider?

Thanks, in advance, for your help!

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I would look for something with a capability up to 4500lbs?

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I took my trailer and boat, full gas tank, gear etc and went to a interstate truckstop. For $8.00 I had it weighed. I now know exactly what the weight is and what I need to tow it.

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I agree with Jeff and Wrangler. In terms of candidates, there are many questions you need to answer.

New vs Used
Domestic or Foreign
2 wd, awd or 4 wheel drive
Cross-over or SUV
6 cyl or 8
How frequently will you tow?
What terrain (Mountains?)

There are are only a few new model cross overs that can tow this much while many SUV's.
If I was looking, I would look at the new Saturn Outlook with awd(4,500 lbs) or Toyota 4 Runner with on-demand 4 wheel drive (5,000 lbs).

I realize this is more than you asked for. Hope it helps.

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The boat is 2000 pounds, and the engine under 500, you should be able to tow that with a V6, 3500 lbs. The best option is to get the boat and trailer weighed so you know the true weight of your rig.

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When it comes to towing I am a fan over being overprepared vs. underprepared.

You may be able to get by with a 6 cylinder, but if there's any chance of getting some gear on the trailer, passengers, a bigger boat, etc. go bigger. There are some eight cylinder engines aren't too bad on gas.

Also, most 8 cylinder vehicles are better preped to tow. I tow with an '04 Tundra and love it. I tow my whaler, packed for a week of camping, 2 other people, and I only loose 1-2 mpg. I towed my beast from Rochester NY to burlington VT and it only cost additional $25 to get the boat there!

A six shot will have to work harder all the time. Depending on terrain and use you may find a 6 to be limited in its applications.

Just my thoughts,

Joshua

Here's my ride during this sugaring season.... mmm maple syrup :)
[IMG]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2358717184_e9baffc126.jpg[/IMG]

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As mentioned, it depend's on the terrain of towing, if it's a large distance over mts. you're going to need a V8, if it's flatter terrain a mini van has a very large towing capacity for a 6 cylinder ( a "cool factor" of zero though), and lot's of room. I tow my 15 footer with a tiny 3.1 V6 in a war torn '96 Pontiac Grand Am. I only tow a few miles a year to splash in, and splash out for the season to the ramp, then the boat is "Docked". Keep in mind that "ANY" vehicle can tow a boat of pretty much any size on a flat surface, it's pulling the boat back up the ramp where the "GRUNT" H.P. is needed.
mw

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If a SUV is what you're looking for, I would seriously consider a 4Runner. I currently tow my Outrage 18 (150hp Yamaha) with a 4Runner V8 Sport. I towed the boat 15 hours from New Jersey to New Brunswick Canada and barely felt that it was behind the vehicle.

Mike

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To answer the question ask, the minimum towing capacity, is the weight of your boat loaded to it's max. Full tank of gas, all the water toys or fishing gear or coolers full of ice you could ever load up for a day on the water. Get the boat loaded and go weigh the rig, subtract the weight of the tow vehicle and there you go, that is what you need to plan to tow at a minimum. If the vehicle can tow more, then you have a margin of error and safety, if it tows less, you won't be able to get going, or worse stop.

You also have to consider, how much you tow and where. If you tow every time you use the boat, the getting a single vehicle that can tow is is fine. If you drive 200 miles a day to work, then maybe getting a car that will be good on gas and a second used truck to tow the boat is an option. I tow the 18 Outrage with a Highlander Hybrid, 3500 pound tow capacity and 27-30 MPG for daily driving. I tow an average of 300 miles per year, mostly flat or slight hills.

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Kamie,

That's interesting. I almost bought the Highlander Hybrid a few months ago.

I have an old 1998 Nissan Pathfinder that has a V6 that I think is a 3.1L engine. It tows my 18 alright but not great on hills at all. but given the fact the thing has almost 140k miles I think it has served me well...

I just bought a Rav 4 that has a 3.5L V6 and I am debating putting a hitch on it. I think since the vehicle is lighter and the engine is bigger that I will be better off.

Any thoughts are welcome.

H

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I agree with the better to be overpowered than underpowered theory. I tow with a 4WD Suburban. The 4WD is nice to have on slippery ramps. Remember braking is important too....especially when driver next to you on the cellphone decides to cut in front of you to make their turn.

I would rather not talk about gas mileage when the 25' is in tow.

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I don't want to question acceleration, hills, traffic, or stopping. Basically I don't want to feel anything behind me. To further support the no-compromise decision, the vehicle is often carrying my wife and children while towing.

So for me, my Suburban is perfect for my Montauk.

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You seem to have all sorts of great suggestions here, so one more can't hurt. I agree having more than enough is much better than just enough or worse. 4wd is also a great bonus for ramps or even pulling out of you yard (soft storage area). My biggest belief is braking is most important. I want to know that if I need to stand on my brakes, my entire package will stop reasonably considering load.

I tow my 16' whaler with a Jeep Cherokee Sport staight 6, 4wd, 5spd with a towing capacity of 5000lbs. She has more than enough nut to tow my boat, and I've never found a lack of power.

End of season I was trying to get the boat all ready for winter and naturally was rushing to get the boat to the mechanic for winterization. I was in stop and go traffic between lights and found myself accelerating equally with all the other cars around me that were not towing. I got going a bit too fast 35mph, and suddenly had to stop short... All four tires locked up and I was at the mercy of skid with a new shiny SUV getting closer and closer. I could see the man looking in his rear view as I slid closer. In the fraction of time my skid took place I had already accepted I was going to hit the SUV, and the hassel this was going to be.

Luck was on my side and I stopped literally inches from the stopped SUV that could not move out of my way. And when I say inches I don't mean 5 or 6, it was more like 2 or 3. Dont know how I avoided that, and I will never let myself get in that situation. I'd love to add trailer brakes but only trailer twice a year, once to splash and once to pull out.

Although my near crash was my fault there are situations all the time that even the best driver cannot avoid... find a vehicle that can do all your towing, but also above all stop you and your boat!

Good luck.

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I towed our Outrage 22 with both a V6 4Runner ('04) and a V8 Mercury Mountaineer ('03) last summer and actually preferred the 4Runner. Was amazed at how well the V6 pulled and it wasn't nearly as bad on gas as the V8...

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Thanks for all of the great suggestions and information. I figured I needed in the 4,000 - 4,500 range but wanted to see what others thought. Expedition EL it is!

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Just in case you're curious, my Cummins pulls my 13 adequately.B)
Mike

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I could use my Mustang to tow (800+H.P.) but, a hitch on it would look so "tacky".
mw