Towing weight question

[helmut]

I am looking at an 04 22 V. However, my tow vehicle capacity is 3500lbs. I am only going to be driving a half a mile to the lake to a very mild ramp. Do you guys think this will be a problem? Can't buy a boat and tow vehicle its one or the other. Was curious if the tongue weight is the bigger issue or how that works. Thanks

Mark

[dogbert]

What vehicle do you have? 3500 lbs seems a bit wimpy when your boat and trailer are over 5000 lbs.

[G-MONEY]

The MC dealer we did a demo with used a old S-10 (I think... It was small pickup I can't remember I was more focused on the boat at the time) to bring the 06 x-30 to the lake and launch.

[Domsz06]

Don't take this the wrong way, but you can tow with what ever you want, just remember that if you tow with something not designed you are going to have issues. I have seen so many 2 wheel drive trucks little light duty and half tons towing 30+ ft boats. They have to sink so much of the truck to get the boat out, and then it's a night mare pulling it out. I would think a lot of members here could give you better advice if you were to tell us what exactly your using, give us the full details of your tow truck/car/suv.

[mneal]

Bad idea, if you exceed the towing cap. and something bad happens be prepared to be uninsured. Insurance companies have discovered this common loophole and if you are hosed if something bad happens. I know a guy towing a boat had a person run a red light in front of him, he t-boned them and the icing was guy who ran the light was over legal limit for alcohol. The guy towing boat did not have state required trailer brakes (26ft center console) and was therefore both insurance companies bailed. So he had a wrecked truck and then the drunk driver sued him. Nice eh.

[scoot18]

I agree with the rest of the guys. 3500 lb towing capacity is not much, keep in mind that is a MAXIMUM CAPACITY. Going a half mile is no big deal, but what vehicle will be in control, the tow vehicle or the boat being towed.
The weight would almost be doubled what that vehicles max rating is. I am nowhere near my max capacity and I am not sure that I would want to tow much more that the 5500 or so I am towing with my 22.

Also think about pulling the boat out of the water. Is whatever you are considering using even brauny enough to get it out! You wouldn't want to end up being the topic of discussion at the boat ramp for the next few months, "if you know what I mean!" (hey man did you see that guy that sunk his car at the ramp.........)

[helmut]

Growing up we always towed with little toyota's etc and my previous boarding buddy towed his MC with his minivan. I assumed if the trailer had breaks doing the same with a new toyota seinna would not be a huge deal. From the sounds of its not good. Our MC dealer uses and old tractor to put all his boats in and out. Thanks for your help guys. Sucks because I found a sweet 04 that is all white and beautiful back when the graphics were small. I love how clean it is.

[ragboy]

Growing up we always towed with little toyota's etc and my previous boarding buddy towed his MC with his minivan. I assumed if the trailer had breaks doing the same with a new toyota seinna would not be a huge deal. From the sounds of its not good. Our MC dealer uses and old tractor to put all his boats in and out. Thanks for your help guys. Sucks because I found a sweet 04 that is all white and beautiful back when the graphics were small. I love how clean it is.

As far as the brakes go, unless you have fully electronic brakes and a good brake controller, surge brakes depend a lot on the vehicle. I have a 24Ve and I tow it on occasion with my GMC Sierra 1500 4wd, and mostly with my tow beast, Yukon XL 2500 4wd. The brakes on the Yukon our enormous, and you can feel a HUGE difference in how the rig stops with the yukon vs the Sierra. With the sierra I have to step on it hard, with the yukon, I just break normally. Same trailer.

[dogbert]

Growing up we always towed with little toyota's etc and my previous boarding buddy towed his MC with his minivan. I assumed if the trailer had breaks doing the same with a new toyota seinna would not be a huge deal. From the sounds of its not good. Our MC dealer uses and old tractor to put all his boats in and out. Thanks for your help guys. Sucks because I found a sweet 04 that is all white and beautiful back when the graphics were small. I love how clean it is.

Towing is one thing. I used to tow my previous boat with my minivan, but then again, my previous boat didn't weigh 3800 lbs (empty). Also, my minivan had a towing capacity of 5000 lbs. It wasn't ideal, but it got the job done. A 22Ve is a heavy boat. Even with my F-150 and it's 9800 lb towing capacity, I have trouble pulling out of certain ramps if I don't use 4WD.

[Timmy!]

Since you mentioned that it is a Toyota Sienna minivan I would have to tell you NO! We saw a Sienna trying to tow a 19' Bayliner (if I remember correctly) at the ramp last month and it just looked super unsafe! The bumper was almost at the ground when they loaded everyone in.

I know that you said getting a new tow vehicle wasn't an option, but what if you found a $500 or $1,000 full size pickup truck or something? That might be a lot safer and doable even if it's only a 1/2 mile. I wouldn't want to see you or your new boat damaged in any way! Good luck with everything!

[jleger98]

two things:

1. as soon as you have to stop with a smaller truck, you'll wish you had a bigger one. not just stopping but control as well.
2. you'll wreck the darn thing at the ramp....and you WILL be the topic of conversation on all the boards

I pull my 21' 2150 with a Durango 5.9. Towing capacity is 7500. I don't think I would want to tow too much more with it.

That said, if the 1/2 mile you are talking about is like city streets or something where you can go 30mph or something, I would worry less about #1. #2 is still an issue, even if its a relatively flat ramp. What if you ever want to go somewhere else?

So three suggestions.
1. Find a buddy with a big truck.
2. buy the boat, and then tell the wife that you need a bigger truck. Worked for me
3. buy the boat, and find a $500 POS to get you to the lake and back.

[T-Pokes]

DEEP THOUGHTS BY T-POKES We live in WY and have to climb canyons to get in and out of water. So We have a big truck to do the pulling, and couldn't think of having anything else to go up Parley's Canyon in Utah... but when we lived in Pensacola FL ... I remember being completely shocked at what I saw pulling boats I swear I once saw an OLD chevy Nova pulling either a big ol' cruiser or big ol fishing boat or something,... anyways it was huge!! But then I realized the highest point above sea level there in Pensacola was the bridge to Perdido Key-- SO I guess he was able to pull it off

[helmut]

Thanks guys needless to say I am very excited about this boat and I had never heard of Tige till last year stopped by our local dealer Forte's and was extremely impressed with his knowledge and the Tige. Hopefully I will get something figured out on the tow deal. I live in a small neighborhood in FL and we have a private ski lake so its just a short drive through two stop signs then our lake.

[G-MONEY]

You said you live 1/2 mile from the water. I there a place to leave the boat in the water?
If so you can have someone launch it for you leave the boat in the water for the summer and have someone pull it for you at the end of the summer.

[Jason B]

Dude, you buy that boat and your buddies will be lining up to tow it with thier vehicles
Maybe you could look at getting a slip on the lake or something that would be a bit cheaper than another vehicle. Most slips will let you pay monthly.