Tow Vehicle for a SunCat

[Sunapee Sailing]

Hello all,
What type of vehicle is everyone hauling with?

Thanks,
Susan in NH

[jdklaser]

6 cyl  awd   Up in NH everybody drives Subaru, but most are 4 cly, and with the hills  mas power is needed.

[Catawampus]

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.

[Potcake boy]

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.

[Sunapee Sailing]

This is all good to hear. I was afraid that I would need an 8 cylinder engine.
Thank you

[Catawampus]

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.

[Sunapee Sailing]

Catawampus,
thanks for the words of wisdom.....I think I will continue my search for a larger vehicle.....

[Gerry]

The new Ford Escape (2013 -pr), 2.0, towing package is rated to 3500 lbs.

[Catawampus]

Sunapee,
Thanks for being so kind as to associate "wisdom" with my words.
I applaud your wise decision to search for a larger vehicle!

[Sunapee Sailing]

Besides, I would need that larger vehicle if I ever decided to move up to the Horizon Cat.
Ya never know!

[hoddinr]

2013 RAM 2500 6.7 Cummins turbo-Diesel.
900 ft lbs of torque.

What boat?

Ron

[Sunapee Sailing]

Hi Ron,
Right now I am planning on a SunCat but the Horizon looks real nice as well.
Susan

[TedStrat]

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

[Tom L.]

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.

[Sunapee Sailing]

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.