what size trailer hitch should I have!

garyq

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 11, 2010
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168
Class 1 or 2 0r 3 for a boat 17' long with inboard and trailer .Boat motor and trailer weight is 2100 lbs and will a small car pull it if the trailer has surge brakes ............
 

garyq

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Oct 11, 2010
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Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

thanks INCOOP that was a very helpful website to read I will save,have you put your boat away yet...
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
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Sep 22, 2003
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28,771
Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

What small car are we talking about? To some, a Lincoln Town Car may be considered small if comparing it to a full size SUV. On the other hand, a Toyota Corolla would not be a good tow vehicle for anything more than a small utility trailer.
 

garyq

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Oct 11, 2010
Messages
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Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

200 3PT GT cruiser turbo auto
 

camaro_z28

Cadet
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Sep 15, 2010
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Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

The hitch rating isnt the main area for concern. The transmission and drivetrain in that car isnt the best, I wouldnt be tugging extra weight around. Thats just me. You can probably put a big hitch on anything, but its not recomended. A hitch for that car might as well be made for a bike rack. Generally if you want to tow, a small pickup or rear wheel drive suv is your minimum choice. Just me, I've towed alot and am a professional auto technician, i think your combo is doable, but your risking longevity of your car, as well as some safety because your vehicle is not made for towing but is up to you.
 
Joined
Oct 21, 2010
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Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

good luck with that haul id recamend a ford explorer v 6 as a minimum to pull that boat a 4 cyl pick up
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Mar 25, 2001
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45,907
Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

You need a vehicle rated to tow at least 3,000LB, better 5,000LB.

You will require a class 3 frame mounted hitch.

Good luck. :)
 

Kaplooi

Seaman
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Jun 2, 2009
Messages
64
Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

A PT cruiser is rated for 1000lbs and 100lbs tongue weight. Subtract from that rating the load in the vehicle (driver, passengers, cargo, etc). Not even counting any of that you're already over twice the rated capacity of your car. To put it in perspective I pull a roughly 3000lb trailer with electric brakes with a 5000lb rated mid size SUV and would not want to pull any more than 3500lbs at highway speeds. I made it my own personal rule not to pull more than two thirds of rated capacity if the vehicle's smaller than a full size pickup.
 

garyq

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 11, 2010
Messages
168
Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

I guess I will NEED a new ride for this trip...will look at amid size truck v6
 

Shrike

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Jul 17, 2009
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Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

Small car might be OK for a few very short trips a year.
Longer trips, No Way.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

Small car might be OK for a few very short trips a year.
Longer trips, No Way.

No!! Don't even leave the driveway with an illegal and deadly rig.
 

lncoop

Vice Admiral
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Apr 18, 2010
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Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

thanks INCOOP that was a very helpful website to read I will save,have you put your boat away yet...

Winters around here are not very brutal. We do usually get some winter precip in January or February, but if a guy wants to he can pretty well run his boat all year in Arkansas. We love to go look at fall foliage from the water, usually in late October-early November. Last February I took my brother and some boys from his youth group trout fishing on the party barge. It was COLD:eek:, but it was fun! That said, typically sometime in December I'll just ensure the motor is fully down and the cover is tight and I'll fog the cylinders. That's as close as I get to putting her away. Regarding your tow vehicle, if you don't want to give up the PT you could probably find a suitable second vehicle for towing without parting with too much cash. Just something to think about.
 

H20Rat

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5,204
Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

i'll be the absolute first guy to say you don't need a truck/suv to pull a boat. I put thousands of miles on my subaru CAR with a boat behind it. Due to large brakes and nice sticky pavement tires, its stopping distance with a boat is very close if not better to an old non-abs, drum brake equipped truck, unloaded. I'm also over 100k miles with zero broken items, and stock clutch.

but... pt cruisers. They are essentially based on the neon chassis. VERy, VERY weak, not well suited for towing anything without crumpling up the unibody.
 

Silver Eagle

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
Messages
852
Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

200 3PT GT cruiser turbo auto

A PT won't pull anything over 1,000 Lbs. Be careful.They don't make a trailer hitch bigger then one and a half inches. That's what I have on both of my PT's.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

I put thousands of miles on my subaru CAR with a boat behind it. Due to large brakes and nice sticky pavement tires, its stopping distance with a boat is very close if not better to an old non-abs, drum brake equipped truck, unloaded.

This ought to be good advice if you are towing a legal load with a correctly rated tow vehicle.

Please tell us exactly what model Subaru and its tow rating and what boat and the weight of the rig. Just want to be sure you aren't boasting about doing something unwise.

My Subaru Forester is rated for 2,000# and would do fine towing a rig of 1500# or so.
 

BF

Lieutenant
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Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

to the O.P.... I think you are being optimistic about the weight of your rig. I'd think a 17' I/O with trailer, gear & full of fuel would be closer to 3000# than 2000. My searay 3.0 I/O (which is a model 160, but is near 17') lists 2100 as the dry weight... boat alone, no gear fuel or trailer. I pulled my boat with a fwd mini van (montana) and it did OK on flat land, but it was able to pull it out at a decent ramp... No chance on a steep slippery one.
 

Biged007

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Messages
176
Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

Gary as the others are saying No way you will tear the guts out of that poor thing and when you get right down to it you would be approaching 3 times the "Legal" limit.
 

garyq

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 11, 2010
Messages
168
Re: what size trailer hitch should I have!

I was just looking for some info ! and I have come to the Idea that, the PT GT is not strong enough to pull 2100 lbs plus trailer so I found a cheap dodge caravan
v6 engine rated for a class 2 hitch and 3500 lbs towing this should be good now
 
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