Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

[mccollum74]

I'm looking at towing with my 05 Sienna. It has the towing package and will tow up to 3500#. We are looking for an 18' bowrider. We will be using the weight distribution hitch also. I was wanting to look for something with the 3.0 inboard, but should I look for something with an outboard instead because of the weight?

 

[JB]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

I had a '95 Ford Windstar with tow package, etc. Rated for 3500#.

Towed a Boston Whaler Montauk 17. . .boat, trailer, etc not more than 2000# ready to launch.

I will never trust a FWD tow vehicle again, no matter what the "numbers" are.

I understand that the Sienna can be had with AWD. Being a Toyota, it is also bulletproof. If yours is AWD I say you are in fine shape. If it is FWD, get a real tow vehicle.

Don't use a WD hitch. It would twist your Sienna into a pretzel.

 

[Kaplooi]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

I won't say 'don't do it' without knowing the specifics of your towing situation, but you're going to be very close to if not over your "real" towing capacity. You have to subtract your vehicle's payload from your tow rating. Towing capacity is based on your vehicle's gross combined weight rating, so any weight in the tow vehicle counts against your tow rating. Many people 'forget' this fact when they reference the listed towing capacity in their user manual, so if your over the rating after factoring that in, don't tow with your minivan. I tow a 19ft bowrider (~3000 lbs total) with a mid size SUV rated for 5000lbs and I've been considering upgrading to a midsize pickup with an additional 1300lbs of capacity. I definitely wouldn't want to pull it with anything less than what I have now when I haul up to lakes in the mountains. If you're towing over relatively flat land for relatively short distances you'll probably be okay. Regardless you should fit brakes of some kind if your trailer doesn't come with them. Also pray for dry launch ramps if you have only FWD. You'll always be able launch, but may not be able to retrieve if it's too slick.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

We will be using the weight distribution hitch also. I

Boats and WD hitches don't go well together... WD hitches and unibody vehicles go even worse together!

Doublecheck your manual to make sure WD hitches are specifically allowed. With a unibody vehicle, the hitch doesn't bolt to a nice thick frame, instead it bolts to relatively thin sheetmetal. A WD hitch puts an incredible amount of twisting force on the mounts, and will most likely bend up a unibody.

Also, with FWD you are at the mercy of the ramp... Get one that is too wet/steep/slippery and you won't be able to load the boat without a tow rope at the front.

 

[jkust]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

Don't forget that 3500lbs includes passenger weight and gear weight in the van too. I towed my 4000lb, 18 footer/trailer with my 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette rated at 3500lbs as well. Your Toyota compared to my ancient minivan is light years ahead. I'll say towing that load wasn't appropriate and I can go into all of the issues you will have towing with this type of vehicle. The fact is you will have issues. What I will say though is that you can get an inexpensive 18 footer that could weigh a thousand pounds or less than my sig boat. If that is the case you may mitigate some of the safety concerns but you will possibly have similare fwd issues where slippery ramps are concerned. Now all that said, what I learned after only a single season of towing is that to be a true trailer boat owner, you will need and want a body on frame suv. I made the switch from the minivan to a body on frame, midsized, v8, 4wd suv made for towing after living through the reality of using a minivan to tow. The difference in capability is is like riding a horse to work in traffic down the highway versus a modern luxury car. When everything goes your way, a minivan will suffice, when things don't go your way such as when you need to do an emergency maneuver, or when you can't get the boat out of the ramp, you will second guess your tow vehicle choice not to mention the constant stress of never knowing when things won't go your way. My last though is that although I mention a v8 above in my tow vehicle, what I learned is that even with my 180hp, tired out, old minivan engine, there was never a ramp steep enough to even challenge the minivan pulling out 4000lbs out of the water. Only the smallest amount of gas pedal was all that was ever needed. The v8 therefore is great for taking off in traffic but suprisingly it takes very little power to get the boat out of the water. Losing your grip coming up a busy/slipper ramp however is another story.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

Don't forget that 3500lbs includes passenger weight and gear weight in the van too.

no, it doesn't.. Tow rating is just that, towing..

combined gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the number you are thinking, which is the total weight of the whole package going down the road. Searching around indicates this MIGHT be around 9000#, but its hard to find a definitive CGVWR for any vehicle that might not be used as a commercial tow rig.

Additionally, there is the just the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), which is the vehicle, all the stuff inside it, and the tongue weight.

Given a minivan's job is moving people around, it most likely has a fairly respectable GVWR, and in turn, CGVWR. Unless you are trying to pack a bunch of fat buddies and their coolers inside the van, the tow rating itself will probably be the first limit that is hit.

 

[mccollum74]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

I appreciate the comments. We live in Houston so the towing would be all flat ground. And the boat launches that we use are great. They are too rough to walk on with bare feet. So slipping the tires wouldn't really be an issue. Also they aren't steep. However, my concern would be handling and traffic since Houston is not known for the safest roads. Is it true that boats with outboard motors are lighter than boats with inboards?

 

[mccollum74]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

Also does a dual axle trailer ride better down the raod than a single axle trailer?

 

[cribber]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

I tow a Glastron GT-185 with a 2004 Pacifica rated at 3500# effortlessly!!! My setup weighs around 3300 pounds with fuel and gear and being I live in Central Florida it's not all flat. Not to mention having FWD means my drive tires are always on the dry section of the ramp here. I've never had an issue even on steep ramps... low and slow is the way to retrieve. I've seen rear wheel drive trucks spin their tires where I put in where my FWD just eased up the ramp.

 

[Cincyrunner]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

Also does a dual axle trailer ride better down the raod than a single axle trailer?

Typically yes, but it's also going to add about 400 more lbs in weight than a single axle. When you're already nearing your max towing capacity with the mini van, why add to it?

 

[Cincyrunner]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

I tow a Glastron GT-185 with a 2004 Pacifica rated at 3500# effortlessly!!! My setup weighs around 3300 pounds with fuel and gear and being I live in Central Florida it's not all flat. Not to mention having FWD means my drive tires are always on the dry section of the ramp here. I've never had an issue even on steep ramps... low and slow is the way to retrieve. I've seen rear wheel drive trucks spin their tires where I put in where my FWD just eased up the ramp.

Not sure you're thinking this through right. If you have 3300 lbs hitched to the rear of the vehicle, it's going to put all your weight in back and unload your front. Only having FWD, if you unload the front too much, your drive wheels will spin. Granted we're only talking a few hundred lbs of tongue weight to the rear, but with a short wheel base like the Pacifica, it could be an issue.

 

[drrpm]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

A minivan is a good people mover but not so good as a tow vehicle. I can't say for sure about the Sienna, but my Honda Odyssey's manual states specifically that passenger and cargo weight must be subtracted from the tow weight. You should check the Sienna's manual to see what it says. Overall you'll probably be happier if you pick a boat you want and then get an appropriate tow vehicle rather than letting your tow vehicle dictate your choice of boats.

 

[jkust]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

Not sure you're thinking this through right. If you have 3300 lbs hitched to the rear of the vehicle, it's going to put all your weight in back and unload your front. Only having FWD, if you unload the front too much, your drive wheels will spin. Granted we're only talking a few hundred lbs of tongue weight to the rear, but with a short wheel base like the Pacifica, it could be an issue.

That is exactly what happened with my minivan towing experience but only at the really busy ramps where the concrete was slippery. I'd have to shut the traction control off because that just applies the brakes in the early version I had and youd smoke the tires up the ramp hoping to get to the top. I then put on better tires and had less of that issue however. The other thing that masks that a minivan isn't a good tow vehicle then is that they are so long, as long as a suburban, that on the highway you don't get any sort of side to side motion with the trailer. In addition my Oldsmobile has the automatic air suspension that levels the rear end so there no sagging. All these things made it seem like it was an acceptable vehicle. It only takes one emergency maneuver that the van can't handle to make you see the light. Go look at the frame of a real suv and the "frame" of a minivan. The difference is simply amazing. Big, strong, solid steel frame versus something just a little bit thicker than sheet metal. Now take into account the wear and tear on the drive train of the minivan including the transmission. Especially if you are driving to any in-town lakes where you are in traffic and stop and go and stop signs. That is where it really became evident that the van wasn't going to cut it as it struggled to keep itself cool. Also, the tow ratings on my vehicles say to subtract the weight of the passengers and cargo as well.
Literally the first time I replaced the minivan with the suv and towed up to the lake, I had the absolute worst case, emergency at highway speeds maneuver to perform and I will say had I had the van, I and my family wouldn't be here right now. Your van will tow your load and likely a load much, much larger but you eat away at the small safety margin that exists.

 

[cribber]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

Cincyrunner I've towed my boat all over Florida with the Pacifica for the last three years and have never spun the tires once on either wet or dry ramps.

 

[jkust]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

Cincyrunner I've towed my boat all over Florida with the Pacifica for the last three years and have never spun the tires once on either wet or dry ramps.

The tire spinning to me isn't the major concern but a minor one that even in the event of front wheel spinning, you will get out eventually. Plus good tires do a fairly decent job of mitigating the spin. Put some crappy or worn tires on and see what happens. Also, the Glastron is a farily light boat as well but you mentioned you may be in the market for something a little lighter with a 3.0. If and when you get out of the entry level for both engine size and brand up to something in the 19 - 20 foot range excluding the swim platform or in the premium/heavy boat category, a van just isn't going to cut it. At 3500 lbs tow capacity minus the passengers and gear if that is how your rating was determined you've hit your limit and then some even with a smallish bowrider. I dislike being at the outer limits expecially when my family is involved. Again I will say, I thought the minivan was a fine tow vehicle until I towed with my SUV and my paradigm shifted. My grandma always used to say she couldn't imagine anything sounding better than her clock radio either.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

Cincyrunner I've towed my boat all over Florida with the Pacifica for the last three years and have never spun the tires once on either wet or dry ramps.

You forgot to mention your Pacifica has traction control (at least all FWD Pacificas from 2005 on have it).

 

[fsds123]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

Seems there are a lot of misconceptions here. I also own and tow with a 2005 Toyota Sienna, and happen to also live in Houston. Here are the facts.

According to CAT scales my Sienna weighs 4300 lbs. It is fully loaded. Most weigh around 4100 lbs

According to Toyota:
GVWR= 5700 lbs
GCWR= 8800 lbs
Tow rating= 3500 lbs


The true payload is anywhere from 1400-1600 lbs (more than most 1/2 ton crew cab trucks) In most Sienna's you can pull the full 3500 lbs and still add 1200lbs of stuff (people, cargo, tongue weight) to the van.

The wheelbase is 120 inches, which is longer than a Ford Excursion

Our Sienna has over 108,000 miles on it now and has towed the entire time with zero problems. I tow a boat with it that weighs around 2000 lbs, and also a full size 27ft camper that weighs 4000lbs fully loaded. We do not use weight distribution with the boat- no need.

We do use weight distribution with the camper, as it has a 500lb tongue weight. The hitch is NOT bolted to sheetmetal...it is bolted to what can best be described as looking no different than a frame. (I know it technicallly is not, but the OP can look under his van and will see the same).

We have had no problems towing either the trailer nor the boat, and have NEVER had any problems getting our boat out of the water. If anything it is the people in rwd trucks that have the most problems at the ramps.

Here is a pic of our camper at Lake Somerville. Sorry, no pic of the boat

 

[fsds123]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

*&^%$#@

 

[dannyual767]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

fsds123, how many rpm is that van turning when you're driving down the highway and at what speed?

We pull our Stingray 200LX 4 1/2 miles each way to the boat ramp with my wife's 2003 Honda Odyssey. FWD tire slippage pulling the boat out of the water is almost non-existent. The van retrieves very well.

What it doesn't do well is comfortably pull the boat at highway speeds. The van has a notoriously weak 5-sp automatic that must be put in 3rd gear for towing. At interstate speeds, the engine would be turning approximately 5000rpm and certainly would not be looking at a long life!

We really want to be able to take our boat to some freshwater lakes that are 3-5 hrs away at highway speeds. We're probably going to get a full size SUV.

 

[jkust]

Re: Towing with a 2005 Toyota Sienna FWD with Towing Package

I tow a boat with it that weighs around 2000 lbs, and also a full size 27ft camper that weighs 4000lbs fully loaded.


We have had no problems towing either the trailer nor the boat, and have NEVER had any problems getting our boat out of the water. If anything it is the people in rwd trucks that have the most problems at the ramps.

Like I said getting out of the water at a lot of acesses is easy plus a 2000lb boat/trailer combo is ultra light. Just the outdrive and a 4.3 weighs close to half that don't recall the 3.0 outdrive weight.

We go to a good number of lakes where you simply aren't getting your boat without a truck and 4wd. Sometimes I hope even the SUV can do the job but it does. The correct vehicle opened up a whole host of new lakes I wouldn't have dared try with the minivan plus I can get in and out of the sometimes more convenient/hardly used accesses that are all sand. It is hard to comment on why a person would buy a 2wd truck and then put themselves in a situation where rwd isn't going to accomplish your intended purpose. I've seen some funny moments where full sized trucks can't retrieve 14 foot tin boats with 10hp engines at well used/slippery ramps

Having the more robust tow vehicle is all about the margins and outliers as is 4wd. You may never find yourself in peril without it but if you do it pays dividends. I won't evern start on the difference pulling my snowmobiles and trailer with the minivan versus the suv. That one is harder to argue for the van as again I have live it. My theory is that people tend to fight to the death to defend their decisions and at a certain point all you have is hindsight or the advice and experiences of others to regard or disregard. It's like my kids arguing that they don't need a bike helmet because they haven't been hit and they are sure they aren't going to fall or get hit by a car or that they don't know anybody who had been hit yet. Probably not going to get hit but if you happen to be the outlier that does, you will be glad you chose the more robust helmet over no helmet. I don't take the anecdotal evidence solely to make the decisions and that is why this forum is so valuable.