Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

[jfw432]

I want to start off by saying that my typical towing route is roughly 1/4 mile from the neighborhood ramp to my house. I have an inboard boat that weighs roughly 2800 lbs plus trailer. My trailer isn't tagged and doesn't have lights and I pull the boat out of the water once or twice a year. I might hit 10-15 mph while towing.

I would like to replace my V6 Chevy S10 with something that gets better fuel economy since I drive about 60 miles a day to and from work. Just seems silly to have something that gets crappy gas mileage and is capable of towing when I almost never tow anything. Seems even more silly to pay insurance on two vehicles when one sits in the driveway 360 days of the year. Plus the S10 is getting old and needs to be replaced in the next couple years anyway.

My biggest concern is will a smaller vehicle physically tow this without damaging the frame? I wouldn't be buying a Honda Civic or Hyundai Accent. I was thinking something like along the lines of a small SUV like a Ford Escape or maybe a VW wagon of some sort.

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I believe the Escape is a unibody so doesn't have a frame. It shows towing capacity of 3500lb with tow package, you say boat weighs roughly 2800lb plus trailer so I think you'd be very close to capacity.

 

[jfw432]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I would think that if the vehicle is rated to 3500lbs, it can safely tow 3500lbs at highway speeds for long distances over bumps and hills. The most strain this thing will ever see is getting moving on a slight grade with the boat and if I have to go 5mph in 1st gear for 2 minutes instead of 20 mph for 30 seconds to be safe, I'm fine with that.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

Just because we may give you permission to do this does not mean it is OK.

You bigger issue may be registration and lights. I think the vehicle will be fine, as long as you can get up the ramp.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

1/4 mile a couple of times a year should be O.K., providing your tow vehicle is physically capable of pulling your boat out of the water and up the ramp without burning a clutch or transmission. I've seen folks tow boats short distances with small garden tractors. Heck, for twice a year maybe you could just borrow a friends/neighbor's pick-up truck to haul your boat out?....offer him a free tank of gas for the use of his vehicle? Good Luck!

 

[gtochris]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I think an Escape is more then acceptable for this type of situation. An AWD V6 is your best variant, however for such rare occasions,
buy the car you want and make friends with someone with a capable vehicle!

 

[drrpm]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I think an Escape is more then acceptable for this type of situation. An AWD V6 is your best variant, however for such rare occasions,
buy the car you want and make friends with someone with a capable vehicle!

There's your answer.

 

[jfw432]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I do have friends close by with trucks and we do favors like this for each other all the time but I don't like being in desperate need with zero options either.

I've read stories of people towing ski boats with honda accords and mazda proteges as well which seems crazy but if they can do it, it sounds like I'd be capable in a bind with just about any vehicle. Front wheel drive might be tricky getting moving on a hill though but I could probably help that by sliding the boat backwards a few inches to cut back on tongue weight.

 

[QC]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

IMHO, ramp traction not withstanding, 1/4 mile, once or twice a year, you could do this with a Yugo.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

IMHO, ramp traction not withstanding, 1/4 mile, once or twice a year, you could do this with a Yugo.

Or a motorized dolly once you got it up the ramp.

I used to use a Toyota Corolla to move my old 21' boat into the back yard. It wouldn't pull it up a ramp which is your biggest issue.

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

IMHO, ramp traction not withstanding, 1/4 mile, once or twice a year, you could do this with a Yugo.

Yugo's made it to CA??

 

[QC]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

1.7% that attempted the journey made it.

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

That many? LOL

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

The issue isn't all about being able can PULL it, its also about being able can STOP it. Your stopping distance will be increased as well as the tendency to jackknife if you were to hit the brakes in a turn Be Careful !!!

 

[QC]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I have a lot of respect for all of you guys, but we're talking 10 - 15 MPH, 1/4 Mile. We're worried about stopping? Have some little kid on a bike ride out 50 yards in front and blow his little horn as a warning to all Unless this is a mountain community, and he's got a 10% downgrade somewhere, we could stop this thing with a well placed brick. Call me a risk taker, but a little redneck ingenuity is a good thing, and in this case I don't think we even need that.

Honestly no offense intended, and noobs should always take heed of all of the safety implications, but this sort of reminds me of hot coffee warnings . . .

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

And a couple of times a year at that.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

Nothing less than an F350 will do.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I agree with most here. You can pull a boat with just about anything. My concern is the lights and brakes. I know we all know most accidents happen close to home. Make it legal and pull it with what ever you want. Nuff said...

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

Nothing less than an F350 will do.

Or a Dodge diesiel 3500 dually

 

[bigdee]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I have a lot of respect for all of you guys, but we're talking 10 - 15 MPH, 1/4 Mile. We're worried about stopping? Have some little kid on a bike ride out 50 yards in front and blow his little horn as a warning to all Unless this is a mountain community, and he's got a 10% downgrade somewhere, we could stop this thing with a well placed brick. Call me a risk taker, but a little redneck ingenuity is a good thing, and in this case I don't think we even need that.

Honestly no offense intended, and noobs should always take heed of all of the safety implications, but this sort of reminds me of hot coffee warnings . . .

A++++++