Previously I had a front engine/rear-wheel drive vehicle pulling a boat rig that weighed more than the vehicle, which is not good. On steep slick ramps, sometimes the tires would spin when pulling the rig out. But even worse, occasionally the boat would actually pull the vehicle down the ramp a ways with brakes locked down. That was scarry, and could have gotten ugly.
So I am getting a smaller rig, 1900# boat / 150 HP, and plan to pull it with something like a Highlander, with 5000# towing capacity. It will have front-engine/front wheel drive, which means better traction. And the vehicle will weigh more than the rig.
So how important would it be to have four-wheel drive?
Thanks,
OM
What the heck were you pulling before and what were you pulling it with? I would be more concerned with controlling the load at highway speed. If you had that problem before, how did you ever stop that freight train at the stop sign?
What the heck were you pulling before and what were you pulling it with? I would be more concerned with controlling the load at highway speed. If you had that problem before, how did you ever stop that freight train at the stop sign?
I had an Explorer pulling a 24’ McKee with twin Yamaha 150’s. Actually it ws very stable to pull at highway speeds, and the trailer brakes made stopping no problem. But the intertia trailer brakes did not work on a ramp.
OM
Front drive does not give better traction on a boat ramp unless by virtue of being further away than the water have a better surface to grip. tongue weight will put give more traction at the rear wheels and lift the front end decreasing traction.
Is the total boat weight 1900 pounds or is that just the hull weight? If just the hull, then fully loaded with the trailer you will be over 3000#. Make sure the trailer has brakes and they work if you are pulling with anything other that a full sized truck. Going is not the issue, it is the stopping that is problematic using a smaller tow vehicle.
You definitely had waaay too much boat for an Explorer to handle. I wouldn’t want a front wheel drive vehicle to pull anything other than a jonboat or a small skiff. Like hairball said, the majority of the weight is going to be on the rear axle and the suspension under one of those new front wheel drive suv’s aren’t made for towing.
I have a truck, but sometimes I haul my 19’ boat with my wife’s 4-runner. It has a V-8, but it’s a two wheel drive with the option of locking the rear differential. It has never spun the wheels even at dead low when the rear wheels are in the slime at the bottom of the ramp. If you haven’t bought the Highlander yet you might want to look at the 4-runner? Some ramp are steeper than others as well, maybe a different ramp?
I’ve driven a Chevy Traverse w/ a utility trailer (2,500 lbs). It handled fine. I wouldn’t trust that with a 24’ boat w/ twin OBs. But I wouldn’t have any doubts about towing a single OB, 20’ boat with the Traverse.
The Highlander has a 5000# towing capacity and I have to believe they have the suspension, brakes, etc. and certainly enough power, to pull that. The point about the front-wheel drive, is the weight of the engine and transmission is pretty much over the drive-wheels, which is the opposite of a front-engine/rear-wheel drive.
The 4WD would be better and I might go that route, but I still am not sure its necessary. I figure the boat rig will go about 3500# wet, or 70% of the tow rating.
The ramp problem stems from steep and slick ramps, and when the concrete is slick and wet, and has plough mud on it…that is not good. I’ve seen that some at Edisto Marina.
‘Have pulled numerous 15’-21’ hulls with front and rear wheel drive and have never failed to get up a ramp. Weight over the drive wheels is the ticket (given decent tires).
That, and starting as smoothly and gently as possible. Automatic transmissions make this easy. Manuals are a little trickier… possibly producing a little clutch stink. The coefficient of static friction is significantly higher that the coefficient of dynamic friction. So, if you can keep the tire(s) from spinning, you’re in much better shape.
Explorer from Ford Web page Tows trailers up to 7,115 lbs. when
properly equipped (4.6L V8/4x4. I have Triton 2486, I could tow it to the ramp, launch and recover. Could not get up the ramp at low tide or go above 45 mph on road. Had to go to F250 to handle road trips.