Towing 18.5' Boat with SUV

Hello –

I just purchased a new Alumacraft Edge 185 with a 150 HP Suzuki – no kicker motor. We currently have a Suburban which pulls it just fine but looking at a new work vehicle and won’t be able to get a truck so I am looking for a SUV that can tow the new boat. I am guessing the boat, motor, trailer weigh about 3,500 pounds??? Looking for advice from anyone who tows that big of boat with an SUV or tried to tow with bad results. I have been thinking about a Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango – something along those line of vehicles. Thanks – Chad

My guess is your boat fully loaded and wet is maybe even a bit less than that. Any of those SUV’s, even with a V6, should be rated to tow that or maybe even more. I pull a 17.5′ Lund with an SUV with a V6 rated at 5000 and it pulls no problem. A little more power would always be nice so if you can get a V8 you’d be in great shape.

I pull a similar weight rig with the v6 durango and haven’t had any issues at all.

Been pulling a 1875 Lund Pro Guid3 90 Merc. 3000 loaded with a 2014 Dodge Durango V6. Plenty of power and getting 17 to 20 mpg. Also pulled a pontoon and a 1800 Lund walk tru with a 150 Yamaha, 3500 lbs. loaded.

I pull a Wellcraft 21 footer that’s over 4000 on a dual axle trailer with a 2015 GMC Acadia with the 6 cylinder DFI. It pulls just fine. I certainly know it’s back there and fuel economy is 12-13 MPG, but other than that it’s great.

Maximum towing weight with the towing package I have is 5000. I’ve pulled a Bobcat that I’m sure was every ounce of 5000 and a few pounds more with no issues either, but it work’s ‘er hard on a long steep uphill.

I looked at a lot of different brand SUVs when I was last shopping and it seems to me that there is a lot of variation in what’s included with the towing package. But regardless you need the towing package because today’s vehicles aren’t built so you can just bolt on a hitch and get maximum capacity, there’s more involved.

Grouse

I’d be more concerned about the SUV’s braking ability rather than the towing ability. The SUVs you listed will have no problem towing your rig… Stopping on the other hand is the big question.

Like FG said the towing package is the main thing. I had 2011 Traverse with the towing package the capacity was 5200 lbs. Regular Traverse and add a hitch to it and tow rating was 2400 lbs.

Boat trailer should have breaks, stopping shouldn’t be an issue.

The bumper on my 2-door Explorer Sport with a V6 is rated for 3500 pounds. My boat’s only 15′ so I’m not required to have trailer brakes and I have no issues with my setup. Total weight of boat on trailer is probably about 2000-2500.

On a windy day, you’ll definitely feel that boat behind a mid-sized SUV. However, if you take it easy and know what you are doing towing shouldn’t be an issue.

Congrats on the new boat.

I’ve been towing my Bayliner 175 with my 2015 Ford Explorer for 1 season. I has the tow package installed. It has no trouble at all with the load. As a glass boat, it likely weights around 3,000- 3,500 pounds with trailer and gear. The truck is rated for 5,000 pounds. I’ve been very happy with the truck.

Dusty Gesinger wrote:

Boat trailer should have breaks, stopping shouldn’t be an issue.

Should.

In an ideal world, most boat trailers would have them, but I have seen plenty that should have them and don’t. Heck, I have a friend that has a 21′ Mastercraft on a dual axle trailer that has no brakes!

Like was mentioned towing is the easy part. Heck my golf cart has enough power to pull to pull my Skeeter. Stopping is what you have to worry about. You also didn’t mention where you were towing to. I would be less concerned pulling the boat 10 miles a couple times a week then I would be pulling it to Canada a couple times a year.

Common sense isn’t a swear word, use it and you will be fine.

You can look it up yourself, but I believe the folks in St. Paul say you must have brakes over 3k.
I have a very similar rig (3.5k) and you will have plenty of power with all, but make sure you can hook up the brakes on the new vehicle or work let’s you. It doesn’t seem to be as big of deal at highway speeds, but going through stop lights/traffic you will feel a serious push in the last few feet of stopping.

I pulled my friends father in laws 23 foot starcraft with a ford explorer. It is a big difference when there’s lots of wind but it towed it fine.

You guys make me feel stupid for wanting to put air bags in my half ton pickup to pull my 8×16 aluminum frame fish house with four wheeler in the box. This is actually one of my biggest driving pet peeves. It drives me crazy seeing people’s bumpers dragging, no weight on steering axles, and you know they need a 1/2 mile to stop the rig going do down the highway. But then again I am useing this angle with the wife so my next pickup is a 3/4 ton deisel.

I pull an 18.5 Lund with 150 with Jeep Grand Cherokee. V6 engine that gets 21 mpg mostly but when towing drops to 15-16 which is still fine for me. Seems to tow with enough power although labors a little more on hills. Overall works well but wouldn’t want to go with anything lighter than 5000 tow capacity. Yes, absolutely have to have brakes for stopping power… much more important than hp/torque ratings.

Dutchboy wrote:

Like was mentioned towing is the easy part. Heck my golf cart has enough power to pull to pull my Skeeter.

This is one of the best unintended back door brags I’ve ever seen….a Skeeter and a golf cart. Lucky guy.

in my experience the gas mileage savings with a V6 over a V8 are close to negligible. Usually in the range of 2-3 mph difference. If I were you I would just get a V8 SUV. An adequately powered tow vehicle will serve you better and longer than an underpowered stressed out tow vehicle. JMO

crappie55369 wrote:

in my experience the gas mileage savings with a V6 over a V8 are close to negligible. Usually in the range of 2-3 mph difference. If I were you I would just get a V8 SUV. An adequately powered tow vehicle will serve you better and longer than an underpowered stressed out tow vehicle. JMO

Right. My buddy goes from 19MPG unloaded with his v6 to about 7 towing a 2 place snowmobile trailer. I have a v8 and I get 21mpg unloaded and 14 MPG towing the same trailer.
As others have said, I wouldn’t be concerned about actually pulling the boat with a v6 its the stopping part. Loaded up that boat, motor and trailer is going to be close to 70% of towing capacity. I never like to be that high. These ratings are kind of suspect to begin with.