Hello all,
What type of vehicle is everyone hauling with?
Thanks,
Susan in NH
6 cyl awd Up in NH everybody drives Subaru, but most are 4 cly, and with the hills mas power is needed.
Turbocharged 4 cylinder 2.0 liter Kia Sportage AWD. Yes, it is only a 4 cylinder, but with 260 hp and 270 foot lbs of torque and rated for 2500 lbs towing plus the AWD, I believe she's ok for the Sun Cat even though I'm probably close to 2500 lbs including the boat and trailer.
Used my 4.0 liter Jeep Wrangler, and never had need of 4X4 for launch or retrieval. Towed nicely at highway speed. Wrangler wouldn't be my first recommendation for towing in general, but most any six cylinder should do the job. SunCat is small and light enough to tow with most any vehicle, it doesn't need to be a truck. Probably the most critical aspect would be to ensure proper tongue weight. Although the official version is to have 1/10th of the trailer weight on the tongue, I've most often towed with less if my tow vehicle doesn't have the suspension designed for such a load. I towed my first boat - a ComPac 16 with a compact FWD 4 cylinder with no problem, and the newer engines are even much better. Whatever your current vehicle is, it's likely adequate for the job, especially if you don't plan to do a majority of long distance towing. Always check your tire pressure on the trailer and tow vehicle before hitting the open road.
Hope you find your place in the Sun (Cat) soon.
This is all good to hear. I was afraid that I would need an 8 cylinder engine.
Thank you
Prior to buying my Kia three years ago, I was driving a 2008 second generation Scion xB. 2.4 liter 4 cylinder in a vehicle with a zero tow rating. There must really be higher power protection for idiots and drunks because I not only used that vehicle to tow my Sun Cat from Cape Cod home to South Carolina, I also launched and retrieved Catawampus at our sail club for two years. I also made a trip to a lake in the hilly, semi-mountainous upstate of South Carolina and successfully launched and retrieved there. The moral of my story: If you can pretend to be as much of a drunken idiot as I am, you may be ok using your Toyota for the short term, then again, not many have achieved success following my examples or advice. Perhaps it would be best to ignore this post.
Catawampus,
thanks for the words of wisdom.....I think I will continue my search for a larger vehicle.....
The new Ford Escape (2013 -pr), 2.0, towing package is rated to 3500 lbs.
Sunapee,
Thanks for being so kind as to associate "wisdom" with my words.
I applaud your wise decision to search for a larger vehicle!
Besides, I would need that larger vehicle if I ever decided to move up to the Horizon Cat.
Ya never know!
2013 RAM 2500 6.7 Cummins turbo-Diesel.
900 ft lbs of torque.
What boat?
Ron
Hi Ron,
Right now I am planning on a SunCat but the Horizon looks real nice as well.
Susan
Hi Susan,
FWIW, I have an Eclipse with a Diesel engine (heavier than outboard) and I easily tow with both our vehicles; Toyota Tacoma 6 cyl and keep Grand Cherokee, also 6 cyl. You should have no problem with the sun at and a 6 and moving to the Horizon Cat someday should be fine as well.
-Ted
I recently sold my Sun Cat that I towed with a 6 cylinder Ford Edge. That SUV was rated at 3500# and handled the Sun Cat with ease. I replaced the Sun Cat with a Menger 19 with a Yanmar diesel. I replaced the Edge with a 6cylinder Nissan Frontier. I picked the boat up in N.J. and towed it back to Florida about a 1200 miles. The Nissan is rated at 6300# and it easily handled the boat. I weighed the boat/trailer. The total towing weight was 3875#.
The point is some vehicles are built for towing. The engine size is only part of the formula that makes a good towing vehicle. Suspension, frame and transmissions play an important roll as well. There are guides available that give the towing capacity for any vehicle you may be looking for. Make sure you check them out and that they have the required equipment to give them the towing capacity you need. For instance a standard 6 cylinder Edge is only rated for 2500# but the same SUV/same engine with a tow package is rated for 3500#.
Anyhow getting a tow vehicle is easy finding a good Sun Cat not so easy.
Tom L.
Great minds think alike, Tom L. The Frontier is probably my number on choice. Small-ish pickup with plenty of power and room for the grandsons.
My other choice is the 6cyl 4runner. I do like Toyota.
But it will come down to price.
So, who knows I might wind up with a 2005 F -250 90K miles but hey...the price is right.
Another vehicle to keep an eye on is the Ford Ranger 6 cyl. 4x4
I find that the Ford Rangers are so expensive though.
A great little truck though.
My towbeast's a '99 Dodge Durango 4WD with the Magnum 5.9 V8--the venerable old Chrysler LA 360 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_LA_engine#360_V8) that Mopar's been turning out since the mid-'60s. You can get these old Mark I beasts (1996-2003?) all day long for under $2,000. Mine was $1,500. Lousy gas mileage (maybe 12 mpg at best), but she'll tug a tree stump out by its roots and then down the road and through the drive-thru window if you suddenly then fancy a Filet-O-Fish. I imagine she might tug a little parade of suncats behind her like they're not even there. Unlike later Durangos, the Mark I series was built on a truck frame, so she tracks rugged and true...very "trucklike". There's seating for seven, with flip-down seats, so there's oodles of room for all my random nautical crap--Mine's basically a rolling workshop and tool and supplies shed. Other folks in the boat lot have long since clued into the fact that I'm like a rolling chandlery. Toss one of those little fussbucket Harbor Freight 2-stroker generators (http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gas-engine-generators/900-peak700-running-watts-2-hp-63cc-2-cycle-gas-generator-epacarb-63025.html) that often go on sale for just $88 into the rear passenger side footwell, and you've always got power for hand tools, buffers, battery charging and whatnot. Lob a big office cooler sized water bottle with a handle in its side into the other rear footwell, and you've always got some handy water on the spot.
Mind you, as well as the little Com-Pac 16, I've also got to tug a 26 foot Macgregor 26X and the occasional car trailer around. With your little Suncat, you'll be able to handily get away with quite a bit less oomph than a V8 Durango provides. If you do look at Durangos, pay special attention to the transmission. Any slippage or less than absolutely perfect shifting, or if the tranny fluid smells "burnt": look elsewhere. Run, Forrest, RUN! Sloppy ball joints are another very common issue with the breed, but easily and very cheaply remedied, and shouldn't necessarily be a deal killer...just a dramatic negotiation point as you wobble the wheel around wildly with mutterings of "Man, I wonder if this heap would even make it to my driveway." Some Durangos reportedly had problems with the engines "sludging up", though these seemed mostly to be the ones with the newer little 4.7 engines, and one can't help wondering if poor oil change maintenance may not often have been the culprit. By now, looking at older Mark I type Durangos or Dakota pickups, anything 15 to 20 years old like that which ever had sludge issues to begin with, most likely wouldn't still be on the road anyhow. Still, a couple-few oil-and-filter changes with maybe a half quart to a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil (https://www.walmart.com/ip/16889008?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227016736704&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40840068272&wl4=pla-78653781032&wl5=9061286&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla_multichannel&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=16889008&wl13=&veh=sem) instead of engine oil when you first get her and then maybe once or twice at 1,000 miles or so with a fresh filter each time, and with the maybe 6 to 8 ounces of the Marvel in the gas tank with each fillup (4 oz. per 10 gallons), and her innards will all clean up nicely and above all gently (i.e., without causing a sludge stroke in her oilways, as more aggressive measures such as kerosene-based engine cleaners are likelier to elicit).
Older Ford Expeditions, Chevy Suburbans and nice old "conversion vans" with "If this van's a-rockin', don't bother knockin'" bumper stickers also make for good tow vehicles for the necessarily budget-minded. Whatever you fancy, you would do well to get one with a factory tow package, which has the extra or bigger tranny fluid cooler...especially if you're hoping to hit distant boat ramps with mountains in the way.
Happy Hunting!...And here's a shot of my low-budget tow beast next to the Mac26X (Sorry about the image size):
(http://bukmop.com/Macpix/IMG_20151205_140001.jpg)
think gear ratios. for a rear drive dont go any higher than a 3.42 . i think the 3.73 ratio positrack is best. that is what i have in my siverado. even though it just has a 4.3 6cl and just 200 hp it easily tows my catalina 18 at about 2500 lbs and with an 8 foot bed carries everything i might possibly need
"2013 RAM 2500 6.7 Cummins turbo-Diesel.
900 ft lbs of torque.
What boat?"
That was supposed to be a joke. As in... I didn't know the SunCat was back there!
Actually I also use the RAM for towing a 5th wheel, for which it's actually more appropriate.
'98 Grand Cherokee 4X4 with straight six (tractor engine). Original owner with 235K miles and counting.
The Grand Cherokee was an extremely popular SUV in the 90's and there are still a lot out there in the used market.
We pull our Suncat with a 2011 Toyota Highlander, 6 cyl engine. Tows very comfortably although admittedly I have not done any long trips.
DanM:
I was wondering if a Highlander would do the job.
Thanks for the info.
my Toyota Tacoma pulls my Compac 23 with no issues.
Check the rated towing weight of the vehicles. If the total package is under the weight of the LOADED boat and trailer you are good
A 4 door, 6 cylinder Tacoma is my first choice.
However my pocket book says "No way".
Get a used one, there is a ton of them on the market.
That being said, Toyota run forever but they are expensive as hell to maintain. I wouldn't do the Tacoma again, I would do a F-150.
Why not a Ford F-150? Great truck, good pulling power, plenty of them around.
Hi HeaveToo,
I like the F-150.
Years ago, I bought a 4 door with 199,000. miles on it for $3,500.
Great truck until old man rust took it away from me. I would have no problem buying another.
My thinking on this is don't get the least vehicle that will do the job. A smaller tow vehicle will strain harder and can actually get worse mileage than a larger more powerful truck/SUV doing the same job.
"I wish I had less power," said no one ever.
Ron
Good idea, Ron
"Go bigger or go home".
I like the looks of the Ford Sport Trac. Half truck/ half SUV. Can tow about 5K lbs.
That should do it. (Even if I move up to a Horizon Cat someday).
Susan
Susan,
Be Careful. The Ford SportTrac has a bad reputation of instability and rollovers. Due to short wheelbase and high center of gravity.
The longer the wheelbase the better a tow vehicle. Rides over bumps without transmitting it to the passengers and spreads out the load better.
Ron
The Sport Trac has a longer wheelbase than a 4door explorer. I have 220K on my 2003 w/ no issues. I would recommend surge brakes as a minimum for towing loads over 2K # for any mid-size vehicle.
Jm2ยข TG
Surge brakes....I hadn't thought of that.
Thanks
I used my Explorer to tow my Suncat, just with bumper hitch. Many miles, great performance, no issues. Mountain roads, flat roads, country roads, great highways, all good. Loved the 4 wheel drive at the ramps that have sand was up. Easy peasy.
I am sure there are many tow vehicles you can get. Just last year, I got my 3d Explorer (first , I sold with only 202,000 miles, thinking it was near its life end; second, made it to only 275,000). It is a 2004, 90,000 miles, very tight, runs great, has a receiver hitch. Anyway, I got it for about 5000 simoleons and am happy with it too.
Regardless of that, good luck with your selection process and getting a great boat to tow with it.
Thanks for the good news on high mileage with those Explorers.
There you go, almost anything will be good to tow your Sun Cat. From $2,000 to $50,000 vehicles. Older Suvs or new diesel pickup and everything in between.
Now go find that elusive Sun Cat. Towing is easy peasy.
Tom L.
Thanks Tom L
Looking is fun.
I'm looking forward to nice weather when sailing in the North East can begin.
Hi Sunappee, we tow our Suncat with a V-6 Kia Sedona mini van rated at 3500lbs and it is just right, hills or flat land it does fine. It is 2wd as well but the van is so long that even at steep ramps it is fine no need for 4wd, but we live in FL so no snow. I think 3500lbs and a V-6 is the right combo, boat, trailer, gear it ads up. I wanted a truck but first mate wanted a van, I reluctantly agreed and am very glad we went with the van.