towing with a V6

[schreib]

I have two SUV's: an Isuzu Rodeo and a Cadillac SRX, both V6 driven. neither was originally equipped for heavy duty towing, but I think they both may be rated to pull up to about 3500#. Need to check that. Anyway, besides just PULLING a boat on roads and up hills, I am concerned how they would perform simply pulling, say, 2000# (boat and trailer) up a steep, wet, slippery boat ramp. . . Should I be concerned much or should they both be able to handle such a task? Other things I should consider for simply towing to protect the vehicles from overheating, excessive wear and tear?

More questions:
I am looking for a boat I can use for both river fishing(Miss. and St. Croix) and lakes. There are mostly smaller lakes around the twin cities, but want to be able to hit Mille Lacs and once in a great while possibly hit Lake Michigan for lake trout or salmon. So, the possibility is I might want to hit the sloughs, backwaters, and weedy bays in Miss River while want to have the ability to hit places apt to see big water, waves. . .

I am considering a center console boat as opposed to a deck type bass boat. or a deep V as opposed to a flat bottom river boat.

1) what kind of minimum draft should I consider?
2)what length, minimum, should I be looking for?
3)am I on the right track, generally?
4) suggestions?


thanks! Brian

 

[drrpm]

Re: towing with a V6

The power of a V6 should be adequate. My Toyota Tacoma has a 4.0l V6 and
easily pulls my 20 ft bowrider probably which is 4,000 pounds or so with the trailer. Its rated to pull 6,500 lb and has the towing package. I believe it would handle the max alright. If you don't have a transmission cooler and are planning on towing 3,500 lb you'll want to add one.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: towing with a V6

If the boat you choose is in the 2000# range either vehicle will work. Keep in mind the weight of the boat is just a starting point. The weight of the trailer and everything you put in the boat including the motor, gas, gear, adult beverages all adds up quickly. Slippery ramps or steepness of ramps don't require any different power requirements than on the highway. They do require traction. I assume the Rodeo is 4WD or AWD and I don't know about the Caddy. If traction is an issue, looking at tires with a more aggressive tread pattern helps tremendously. You will also appreciate that in the winter. As for over the highway towing, power will not be an issue. I live in southern Minnesota and travel all over the midwest so I'm very familiar with the roads you need to travel. We are flatter than a pancake up here so with that light load, hook up and go. If you notice the tranny shifting frequently should not tow in overdrive.

 

[schreib]

Re: towing with a V6

The rodeo does have 4WD and the SRX has AWD. The whole rig I am considering should come in under 2000 # total . . . so it looks like I should be fine guys. Thanks for the input!

 

[timfives]

Re: towing with a V6

The rodeo does have 4WD and the SRX has AWD. The whole rig I am considering should come in under 2000 # total . . . so it looks like I should be fine guys. Thanks for the input!

The one thing that you may want to consider is adding a transmission cooler to your tow vehicle. Easy to install and will keep that transmission cool while towing, and increase the longevity of you vehicle.

T

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: towing with a V6

Like others, I don't see a problem with the towing. Just check the tow rating and be sure your tires are not too worn down.

For your other questions, it'd be best to ask in a different thread under one of the other topics. But my .02 worth: there is no single do it all boats. Everything has a trade off. If only one boat is in your budget, then I'd get a boat that would be useful for the type of water you fish the most.

 

[superbenk]

Re: towing with a V6

The power of a V6 should be adequate. My Toyota Tacoma has a 4.0l V6 and
easily pulls my 20 ft bowrider probably which is 4,000 pounds or so with the trailer. Its rated to pull 6,500 lb and has the towing package. I believe it would handle the max alright. If you don't have a transmission cooler and are planning on towing 3,500 lb you'll want to add one.

Pretty sure the Tacoma's gearing & frame are better suited to towing than either of the OP's vehicles. I know there's a pretty big difference between my 4x4 Frontier with a V6 versus some random minivan with a similar sized V6.