Amazed by how many mid-sized SUVs tow big boats

Every time I am at the Minnetonka launches, I am continually shocked at how many of the big wakeboard boats are being towed by Grand Cherokees and other Audi, Mercedes, etc SUVs. I know Grand Cherokees have top of class towing of something like 7000 lbs, but it’s still shocking to see a massive, heavy 24 foot fiberglass wakeboard boat being towed by something with such a small wheel base. These are small SUVs. I do envy their maneuverability compared to a full-sized pickup, but I’m not sure how I’d feel towing for long distances.

How far do you think these boats are going?

My guess is less than a few miles.

I have worked out that way for years, coming from the east, CR 7, 5, 15, even 394 you don’t see too many traveling. Include those roads N/S 101 or 19 same story. MOST those boats are very local imo.

I saw a guy towing a 14 foot Alumacraft F7 with a 350 Honda motorcycle. That was on Tonka too, come to think about it. I came to the same conclusion, he must have been close to the access.

S.R.

I see this a lot too queenswake. I don’t think a lot of them actually check to see what the actual towing capacity is of their Lexus SUV. They should, but they don’t. They operate their boats in the same manner, which I’ve also seen (too) many times out there.

Last Summer I saw an ice cream truck launching a cabin cruiser on White Bear……wonder what kind of hauling package that had on it…..Not sure it mattered as the owner made darn sure everyone knew that he had no clue what he was doing…..

I say: whatever floats your boat! (ha ha ha ha!)

Last week at the chisago launch there was a Volvo wagon with a big pontoon trailer sitting in the parking lot. Never seen the size of the pontoon but the trailer was large. I thought to my self what f.

I used to pull my Lund with a BMW X5….that was rated for 5000 # and that boat was maybe 3000 fully loaded. It handled it fine but I wouldnt have gone any larger.

I saw a guy on 62 pulling a huge wakesetter with a Porsche Cayenne. No way that was safe. Short or long hauls, those suvs cannot stop pulling that much weight.

Trailer brakes should stop them. Pontoons are actually pretty lite for the size, I think the worst part is, what can they actually see in those little mirrors?

Up by Long Prairie, MN you will see all kinds of boats pulled by horse and buggy. Granted they are small motorless fishing boats. Still cool to see.
DT

What do you think of the Chevy Colorado for towing? just wonder if anyone tows with one. thks DK

Full framed SUVs are fully capable or towing. My Trailblazer, a 6 cylinder has 290+ HP. Rated to tow 6500 lbs. Most of the newer domestic SUVs are of unibody construction, have much less HP and will not do it. Remember though, towing and braking are different things.

Seen a jeep pulling a cabin cruiser coming out of white fish lol.

I think people are brain washed into thinking they need something massive to pull a boat. We grow up pulling 16-17′ boats with cars…as did most Americans. Granted they probably weren’t as heavy or we didn’t traveled as far but you don’t need a truck to pull a boat.

Heck, if my Tundra can pull the *SPACE SHUTTLE…a SUV can pull a 24′ boat.

*https://jalopnik.com/how-a-5-600-pound-toyota-towed-a-292-000-pound-space-sh-5951454

ClownColor wrote:

I think people are brain washed into thinking they need something massive to pull a boat. We grow up pulling 16-17′ boats with cars…as did most Americans. Granted they probably weren’t as heavy or we didn’t traveled as far but you don’t need a truck to pull a boat.

Heck, if my Tundra can pull the *SPACE SHUTTLE…a SUV can pull a 24′ boat.

*https://jalopnik.com/how-a-5-600-pound-toyota-towed-a-292-000-pound-space-sh-5951454

I think the point is to use the right tool for the job. If you’re boats weight exceeds the limit for your vehicle it’s unsafe for you and others on the road.

A lot of the newer SUV’s can handle 5-6k but many of the new wake boats weigh substantially more than that. As an example, a Malibu 24’ MXZ weighs 4800# dry. Loaded with fuel and other stuff that’s well over 6000#.

I don’t think a lot of people understand dry versus wet weight which makes for a potentially dangerous situation on the road.

ClownColor wrote:

I think people are brain washed into thinking they need something massive to pull a boat.

Exactly. The crew cab half-ton pickup has become the new minivan because of this brainwashing people into thinking HP is the only thing that matters.

I have a GMC Acadia and it pulled a 22-foot Wellcraft cuddy with a 5.7 Mercruiser really well. More importantly, it handled and braked very well while doing it!

Much more important than power is the setup of the boat and trailer. A properly sized trailer with the correct weight distribution and proper brakes allows the towing vehicle much more in terms of a margin for both comfort and safety.

I’m not sure that a lot of those wakboard boats are actually that heavy. Isn’t a lot of space taken up by what on the trailer is just empty ballast tanks?

Grouse

I would never consider pulling a 22′ glass cuddy boat with an Acadia.

Please tell me you weren’t on the freeway Grouse.

A lot of the newer SUV’s can handle 5-6k but many of the new wake boats weigh substantially more than that. As an example, a Malibu 24’ MXZ weighs 4800# dry. Loaded with fuel and other stuff that’s well over 6000#.

I don’t think a lot of people understand dry versus wet weight which makes for a potentially dangerous situation on the road.
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I would also agree that going over can be dangerous. Not arguing safety at all….but I think people over estimate as well. People don’t realize how much some of these vehicles can tow..if your boats dry weight is 4800#, I highly doubt anyone is putting 1200# of accessories in their boat. fuel will add about $480 lbs and that’s on a massive 80 gallon tank! Larger boats will have electric brakes as well. Like mentioned above, a V6 can be capable of towing 6500#’s…could probably tow a Malibu 24’ MXZ AND a ATV behind that!

ClownColor wrote:

Like mentioned above, a V6 can be capable of towing 6500#’s…could probably tow a Malibu 24’ MXZ AND a ATV behind that!

My V6 truck is rated for 10,700lbs

Catmando, I have a newer Colorado that I tow my 185 Alumacraft with. I have surge brakes, but get 15 mpg towing.

Exactly. The crew cab half-ton pickup has become the new minivan because of this brainwashing people into thinking HP is the only thing that matters.

The crew cab half tons are the new mini van because they quit making useful boxes. I dont think many are brainwashed into hp. More are worried about mpg. My ram will tow a bigger boat fine, but my powerstroke will do it much easily and more comfortably all while getting better mpgs.
When people load the trucks to the max because they can doesn’t make it safe by any means. Lots of riddles in a equation like that.

Pat McSharry wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bob clowncolor wrote:</div>
Like mentioned above, a V6 can be capable of towing 6500#’s…could probably tow a Malibu 24’ MXZ AND a ATV behind that!

My V6 truck is rated for 10,700lbs

Total package?
Toyota I assume. Some one would have to be higher then a kite to tow that much with a toyota half ton v6. And yes I know your not saying you do.

I. have a Grand Cherokee with 5.7 hemi and pull glass 18.5 with 150 absolutely no problems. pulls almost as good as my crew cab did. however big difference in cargo space.

I have a 19.5 glass boat that i pull with a 4.7 grand cherokee, pulls just fine. Not sure what the issue is here, I’m assuming that most of us on this site think about what we’re doing sufficiently and recognize any risks associated with pulling a load and the vehicle pulling it. If you come up on someone that is pulling in what you think is a dangerous manner, then slow down and give them space or go around and avoid them. Just remember, it might be that persons first time towing and they could be super anxious and nervous without someone breathing down their neck.

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Pat McSharry wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bob clowncolor wrote:</div>
Like mentioned above, a V6 can be capable of towing 6500#’s…could probably tow a Malibu 24’ MXZ AND a ATV behind that!

My V6 truck is rated for 10,700lbs

Total package?
Toyota I assume. Some one would have to be higher then a kite to tow that much with a toyota half ton v6. And yes I know your not saying you do.

No it’s a Ford F-150 Supercrew with a 6.5′ box with the max tow package and transmission cooler. I don’t think I have towed anything over 6 thousand pounds or so, but I wouldn’t hesitate to tow 7-8K pounds with it.

Grouse, you tow a 7000 lb rated bobcat trailer with that too, sorry but you overload that truck. The Acadia is rated for 4000lbs. I hate to say it but if you had to stop quick I sure as hell don’t want to be in front of you.

Oh and as far as the tundra pulling the space shuttle, COME ON MAN!!!

I lean the other way than you 2 guys. I am not about getting it moving I want it to stop when I want it to stop. Tail wagging the dog is just putting way to much at risk and unfortunately is way too common.

I see a lot more sketchy camper rigs than I do boats going down the road. It is pretty tough in real world conditions to tow near max trailer weight without exceeding max tongue weight, rear axle weight, or gross vehicle weight.

sticker wrote:

Oh and as far as the tundra pulling the space shuttle, COME ON MAN!!!

Yes, that was a joke…i no longer have a space shuttle to tow around.

Braking was mentioned and that’s what is really important. Your tow vehicle should be able to stop your boat easily. Any boat over 20 feet should have trailer brakes. I do a lot of heavy towing with pickups for work. Sure, a 1500 with an extra leaf will keep it from squatting but that truck weighs only 6,000 pounds and doesn’t have stopping power like a truck that weighs 12,000 pounds. If you’re buying a vehicle and you’re going to be towing a heavy boat/bobcat regularly, a 1500 might be capable of pulling it, but not safely.

Your GMC Acadia isn’t designed for towing. They’re built for comfort and gas mileage. They’re not a vehicle that tows well… Transmission is not made to tow with unless you’re going to pull a trailer with grass clippings once a week.