Topic: Do we really need trucks to tow things?

[johngenx]

Interesting.  I know the dually Chev HD pickup is rated for about 21,000lbs or so, and I doubt the truck comes close to weighing that.  My cousin owned a race team, and they had a 600ci engined dually that could tow 26,000lbs safely.  That truck was modded past the engine with super-beefy brakes, and of course, good trailer brakes are mandatory.

[wing]

A fifth wheel is different I think because more weight is on the truck chassis itself.  When it is a standard hitch it should be close in max weight.  The F150's can tow like 11,000 lbs but I'm not sure if that is on a regular hitch.  My hitch is rated for 10,000lbs no way the truck weights that much even with the tongue weight.

[airbalancer]

I had my truck on a scale, it was almost 3000 kg

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The Buick Roadmaster, Lincoln Towncar, Ford Crown Vic and Mercury Marquis used to be rated to tow 5000lbs. The Roadmaster was discontinued. The Fords were downgraded to 2000lbs at a time when their hp went up and they switched to much stronger hydroformed frames. It didn't make sense.

[ktm525]

Is this a 1500lb boat and trailer or a 1500lb boat + trailer?. A boat trailer could easily be another 750lbs so now we are at 2250lbs.

Towing safely is a combo of:

Towing vehicle:

wheelbase (longer is better)
weight: (more is better)
stability program that recognizes when a trailer is hooked up is a bonus.
good trailer brake controller

Trailer:
tongue length/weight
weight balance
brakes

[Trainman]

1500lbs?  We have friends with a Forester that routinely haul a 1300lb small camper without any difficulty.  It has trailer brakes and they added an extra trans cooler, and their AT-trans temp light has not come on once, even hauling the camper over high mountain passes.

My 2009 Forester with the automatic is rated at 1,000 lbs without trailer brakes, and 2,400 with.  There is a pretty good section in my owners manual on setting up the Forester and trailer for successful towing, despite all the legal warnings at the start.  So I would think any decent SUV/CUV could handle it.

One thing the OP has not mentioned is if the TDI would be under warranty, if so then you would not want to exceed the VW rating as that would be an easy out for VW on any warranty claims.  And as noted by others, as the TDI is fwd, the biggest issue may actually be pulling the boat up a wet ramp  

[wing]

I had my truck on a scale, it was almost 3000 kg

Yeah mine is close to that as well but that's 6500lbs about not 10,000!

[Fobroader]

I tow a 7000Lb travel trailer with my 3/4 GMC, beyond the loss of accelaration I barely feel the thing behind me. I have a great weight distribution hitch, anti-sway and a really good brake controller. My truck is way overkill for the trailer but Ive always been taught that 50-60% of a vehicles towing capacity is the safest way and to make sure you dont kill the tow vehicle. For a 1500 Lb load, I wouldnt tow it with anything that has a towing capacity of about 2500-3000Lbs, especially if youre going to tow through the mountains. Also, trying to get a boat out of the water on a wet or gravel ramp with a front wheel drive would be sketchy at the best of times.

[rrocket]

Look at the Euro ratings and go from there IMO.  I am sure the safety nazi's are against us here.

Exactly right!  I heard this right from a project manager's mouth.  I asked why the ratings were different and he said "Liability".

[SapphireSeo]

Maybe ...just maybe.....do realistic "wot do I need".......a wee boat....no problemo......a Bigger boat 3,000lbs...we May have a problem HOUSTON if yer ferrying it back and forth every weekend from May24 till Labour Day..and beyond.....so a larger towing capacity is good.....If ya have a Mega Boatty floaty thingy...5,000lbs plus....DOCK THE THING   and pay for /or rent a Hemi TRUCK twice a year.... too simple for ya...then ya shouldn't "operate" a bath duck..........

Thanks safristi. Another Stroke of genius. (With so many strokes, you must be using up your sick days) That's a good point. I didn't think the boat would be used often enough to justify a truck, but it does! A Rental truck. This could work as long as I can make the case that not owning a truck doesn't take inches off one's penis.

[rrocket]

Maybe ...just maybe.....do realistic "wot do I need".......a wee boat....no problemo......a Bigger boat 3,000lbs...we May have a problem HOUSTON if yer ferrying it back and forth every weekend from May24 till Labour Day..and beyond.....so a larger towing capacity is good.....If ya have a Mega Boatty floaty thingy...5,000lbs plus....DOCK THE THING   and pay for /or rent a Hemi TRUCK twice a year.... too simple for ya...then ya shouldn't "operate" a bath duck..........

Thanks safristi. Another Stroke of genius. (With so many strokes, you must be using up your sick days) That's a good point. I didn't think the boat would be used often enough to justify a truck, but it does! A Rental truck. This could work as long as I can make the case that not owning a truck doesn't take inches off one's penis.

What about a dock/marina/boat slip.  Cheaper over the long haul??

[HeliDriver]

You might want to check into the truck rental idea a little more closely. From what I understand, most rental agreements prohibit using the truck for towing.

[rrocket]

You might want to check into the truck rental idea a little more closely. From what I understand, most rental agreements prohibit using the truck for towing.

Hmmm...you sure about that?  I rented a Uhaul with a tow dolly once.


But yea...I could see that being an issue.

[HeliDriver]

U-haul is definitely an exception. But even then, I believe you are only allowed to use the U-haul truck to pull a U-haul trailer (or dolly).

[tortoise]

What about a dock/marina/boat slip.  Cheaper over the long haul??

Cheaper t han buying a new vehicle, but not cheaper than pulling it out of the water every time you use it.

[Mike]

You might want to check into the truck rental idea a little more closely. From what I understand, most rental agreements prohibit using the truck for towing.

You are correct.  Most rental companies will specify to get SUV's and pickups without towing packages.  If there is no way around it, they usually include in the contract that towing is prohibited.  I worked at two rental car companies during university and they both enforced this.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

You might want to check into the truck rental idea a little more closely. From what I understand, most rental agreements prohibit using the truck for towing.

You are correct.  Most rental companies will specify to get SUV's and pickups without towing packages.  If there is no way around it, they usually include in the contract that towing is prohibited.  I worked at two rental car companies during university and they both enforced this.

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