Options for towing 220 SD...

jranaudo

New Member
Jan 8, 2011
7
lake george,ny
Boat Info
sundeck 220
Engines
BravoII
First off this is very confusing. I find different weights for the 220. I downloaded the manual online for my 2005 220 and it says 4200lbs dry weight.

So what are my options to tow this thing other than a pickup which the wife does not want?

Our choices so far:
Ford Expedition
Chevy Tahoe/GMC Gukon OR the big ones suburban,XL

My wife likes the new 2011 explorer but I dont think it can tow it. It has a max tow rating of 5000lbs. Even if the boat weighed 4200 lbs I gotta add at least 1000 lbs for the trailer which kills this as an option.

or I can just get a cheap pickup and a third car for towing.

Any opinions?
 
First off this is very confusing. I find different weights for the 220. I downloaded the manual online for my 2005 220 and it says 4200lbs dry weight.

So what are my options to tow this thing other than a pickup which the wife does not want?

Our choices so far:
Ford Expedition
Chevy Tahoe/GMC Gukon OR the big ones suburban,XL

My wife likes the new 2011 explorer but I dont think it can tow it. It has a max tow rating of 5000lbs. Even if the boat weighed 4200 lbs I gotta add at least 1000 lbs for the trailer which kills this as an option.

or I can just get a cheap pickup and a third car for towing.

Any opinions?
I'm thinking the Toyota Sequoia can tow that. I tow my 210 Select (about the same weight) with an '00 Tundra and the newer Sequoia has a higher tow rating. (I'm upgrading this spring to an '11 Tundra)

WEIGHTS AND CAPACITIES
Curb weight (lb.)
5680


Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lb.)
7000


Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) (lb.)
16,960


Towing capacity [3] (lb.)
6900


Cargo volume [4] (cu. ft.) (behind front/second-row/third-row seats)
120.1/66.6/18.9


Fuel tank (gal.)
26.4
 
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Figure on a "wet" towing weight of a stock 220 Sundeck (it is a Sundeck, not a bowrider/Select correct?) to be about 6,200lbs.

Boat (off SR's site): 4370
Trailer: 1200
Gas: 300
(2) Batt's: 120
Various Gear: 200

In your "boat info" you noted you have a Bravo II... I think you mean Bravo III? In other words, a "dual prop"? That adds about another 75lbs over the stock Alpha drive. Check the ratings for the vehicles to be sure (pay attention to "rear axle ratio"), but I think your choices (that you mentioned) would be fine. Remember that a vehicles tow rating only includes you in the truck. Anything else should technically be subtracted from that rating.
 
Yes dual prop. So the Sequoia would be a tough one but the tahoe has up to 8250 with tow package.

Forget the explorer!
 
Anything less than a 2500 (3/4) ton rated vehicle and you should not tow the 220 Sundeck. A Tahoe or Expedition can tow it. Doubt it can stop it in a hurry even with surge brakes. I know, I tow a 220SD with a 2500 4x4 Crew Cab in safety and comfort. I have towed my 220SD with a Tahoe, not a nice feeling, felt the boat was pushing the Tahoe around.

Best regards
 
I bought a GMC Envoy Denali with 5.3 V8 to pull my 21 foot boat. We just completed trip of 4000KM to Mexico with it. Worked well had lots of power. Got 10MPG only bad thing. Drove it at 60. It would go 70+ but this was first time in many years I pulled a trailer. Had lots of power even going up steep hills. On steep hillsitwouldgo to 4,000RPM to stay at 60.
 
I have been towining my 220sd with a 2003 Expedition or a 1500 dodge ram in upstate ny with no problem.
 
There are a LOT of old pickups around here that can be bought for hardly anything. It's nice having a spare vehicle should you need to take one of the primaries out of service. Get an old one with 4X4 and it can be used in the winter months as well. Go liability only on the insurance and save some money! I guess it just depends on what makes sense for you! Having a 3rd vehicle is also a waste of money, but there are some advantages too.
 
I know someone that has been towing a 240SD with a Dodge Durango. Just because he can does not mean it is a safe practice. I have even seen pictures of a member towing his 270SD with a Chevy Tahoe 4x4 and he claims no issues too. I like a safety factor, 2000 lbs safety is a fair amount of safety. I tow many times a month 18 ft flat bed with steel on it to job sites. My work trailers rated capactiy is 10K, does not mean I load it to the max.

Another thing to consider is looking at your hitch rating too. You need a class 5 hitch under the bumper attached to the frame.

Best regards
 
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I am using a 2010 Toyota Sequoia Platinum to tow my 260 Sundeck on a disk brake equipped dual axle aluminum I-beam trailer weighing about 1300 pounds. For 2010, Toyota listed my towing capacity at 8800 lbs. Toyota is now using the new SAEJ2807 standards to rate their 2011 models - this year's model of my truck is now rated to tow 7000 pounds.

I have no issues with towing - I have plenty of stopping power, no trailer sway, and plenty of power to climb any hills.
 
Excursion baby! Whatever you choose - give yourself a bit of a safety margin as has been mentioned. Make sure the tow vehicle maintenance is up to date and has good brakes all of the way around. Make sure the boat trailer has good brakes and is balanced correctly to give you the correct tongue weight. Going with an older vehicle isn't a bad idea but you may have increased maintenance and repair costs. Having someone check out the truck before you buy may be a good idea if you aren't sure what to look for.
 
Anything less than a 2500 (3/4) ton rated vehicle and you should not tow the 220 Sundeck. A Tahoe or Expedition can tow it. Doubt it can stop it in a hurry even with surge brakes. I know, I tow a 220SD with a 2500 4x4 Crew Cab in safety and comfort. I have towed my 220SD with a Tahoe, not a nice feeling, felt the boat was pushing the Tahoe around.

Best regards

Bullox. My 2004 F150 is rated at 9800 lbs. 1/2 Ton.
 
hmmm...Nissan Armada...

I think a Tahoe would suffice. So my options now are:

Nissan Armada
Chevy Tahoe
Chevy Suburban
Toyota Sequoia
Ford Expedition

Decisions Decisions Decisions.
 
Thanks everyone for the input. I really want to make sure I am within a decent safety margins. I think my choices are reasonable for the 3-4 times a year I would be towing it. Time to shop and convince the wife. She will look funny though as she is a little petite 5ft woman driving a large SUV :)
 
One other investment I would suggest. :grin:

A pair of radio's is the best investment you could ever make for the ramp. Saves all the yelling. :smt021 My wife backs me in, drops off the trailer, she gets my assistance from the water with the radio. No you can not use your marine radio, get FRS Motorola pair that covers 1 mile radius, pretty cheap for a pair anywhere.

Best regards
 
We pull our 220 SD with a 2007 Trailblazer and never have an issue. Pulled it all the way to Florida from MI.
 
I know a 200 Sundeck is not as heavy, but I use a GMC Arcadia all wheel drive and tow all over Michigan without any problems.
 
2002 Dodge Durango with the 5.9L Magnum. Rated 7,500 lbs. No issues. Let's be frank here, those tow ratings are there for a reason. They don't mean that you can tow 80% of the amount. They mean that is the safe amount. There is already a safety factor built in. There is NO WAY that automobile manufacturers would oversell a tow capacity.
 

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