Tow Vehicles?

Bryon Thomas · Jun 24, 2004

Tow

We towed our 222 with an 89 Caravan 3.0 V6 and a 91 Explorer 4.0 V6. It wasn't bad with the Caravan but you could forget it was back there with the Explorer.Bryon

George H260 · Jun 24, 2004

Tow Vehicle

My $.02.My choice is always to properly size the tow vehicle. No rocket science needed. If the manufacturer says the vehicle will tow 3500 lbs, don't try to tow 4000. If the load requires 300 hp, get a 300 hp vehicle! No need to buy more vehicle than necessary tho. The Manufacturer of the tow vehicle is the best source for this info. Undersizing the vehicle is false economy. Always make sure you get transmission and oil cooler with tow package.Think of it this way. A new transmission could be as much as $3000 -- the usual result when you have too much load and too little vehicle. Too much math for me this early in the day, but I intuitively know that I'd have to drive a lot of miles with a V-6 savings in gas to equal $3000. You save even more with a V-4 but that just means you'll burn up your transmission sooner.Bottom Line: if it takes a V-8 to properly tow the vehicle suck it up and pay the price. A Used late model V-8 is better and cheaper than a new V-6 any day. You'll be glad you properly sized your vehicle when pulling that load up Pikes Peak.

snailsail · Jun 24, 2004

M26S Pulled with V6

We have pulled our M26S with a variety of V6 tow vehicles: Ford Aerostar 135HP, Dodge Dakota V6 175 HP, Ford Exporer V6 210HP, and recently, a Dodge Dakota V8 235 HP. The Aerostar was a little light, but all the other V6's were more than adequate. In addition to HP, rear end ratio plays a big factor in towing capacity. A higher ratio usually increases the towing capacity.The recent Dakota V8 acquisition was in anticipation of a heavier load to pull (still not realized)! Hope this helps.Steve

p323ms · Jun 24, 2004

How much do you tow

I towed for about 12 years. First a daysailer with a little Toyota then a Helsen 22 with a Aerostar V6 and thena Mac 26 with a Chevey S10 with a V6. Finally I used a 4 cylinder Tacoma 4X4. I towed the Mac on several road trips behind the S10 and it did well. Stopping was the problem and I installed new surge brakes. Towing from East Tennessee down to Panama City Florida there were just a few big hills that slowed us down. The problem was pulling the boat out of the water. A lot of tire spinning. When I bought the Toyota Tacoma I was woried about towing . But the 4 cylinder has gobbs of torque. For towing it was much better than the V6. And with 4x4 I just put it into 4 wheel low and it would idle up the ramp. In summary. If you are towing a lot a larger vehicle might be best but for a once a year trip you don't need a designated tow vehicle. Torque is far more important in towing than horsepower. A large 6 or 4 will have more torque than a small V-8. On all my tow vehicles with an automatic I installed a transmission cooler. My neighbor towed a camping trailer a lot. He swore that a diesel was the only way to go. Diesels are known for their high torque and relatively low horsepower.

Drew13440 · Jun 24, 2004

Piggyback Question...

I've got a new 2300 lb. boat w/500 pound trailer= 2800 lb. tow weight per boat manufacturer. Is a 4 cylinder Toyota Tacoma 4x2, rated for 3500 lbs. gonna pull my boat? It does have pretty mean torque for a small pickup...any advice? Tks. Drew

p323ms · Jun 25, 2004

I've only Towed the Mac 26

My Tacoma has the 2.7L 4 cylinder 4X4. I towed the Mac about 400 miles on the interstate at 65-75 with no problems. The Mac only weighed about 1700#s empty. The trailer probably another 500#s. I was towing in the mountains from East Tennessee to Birmingham Alabama. I never tried to pull the Mac up a ramp in two wheel drive. It has a five speed transmission. I kept the truck in fourth gear most of the time as fifth gear is more like a overdrive. If I was towing a lot the Tacoma wouldn't be my vehicle of choice. But for the yearly haulout and putin and a yearly trip it did well. I wanted a light truck with good gas milage and high ground clearance to use for "stump jumping" and hunting. Towing the boat was not intended as it's primary use. My poor Tacoma has been from 250' below sea level in Death Valley to 15000' above sea level on Pike's peak. I've even photographed alligators from the cab while driving through a swamp.

Bryon Thomas · Jun 25, 2004

Drew

The only concern I would have would not be towing but stopping. Does your trailer have surge brakes? Another concern would be pulling up the ramp with rear wheel drive. Bryon