towing 185

Yeah i had an 01 taco with the 2.7L 4 cyl. I used it to tow my jet ski, but it wasn't big enough to tow the boat. So Tundra is it.
 
I think you will be fine towing it is the stopping I would worry about. I tow my 185 with an 03 Grand Cherokee V8 HO which does fine other than 13 mpgs. Last year some idiot cut infront of us to make a left hand turn on a four lane highway (2 lanes each direction, grass in middle). He panic stopped to make his turn and I jumped on the brakes as there was a car in the right lane. The Jeep's ABS immediately kicked and the trailer started to slide sideways as both wheels locked (I was sure we were pushing the car at this point). Somehow, we missed the car and the driver was flipping me off as he figured it was my fault he cut me off and then stopped.

I keep the Jeep very well serviced in regards to towing with yearly transmission flushes (it is a Chrysler), pads and rotors as needed, and yearly brake fluid changes. However in this situation the boat still gave us quite a push that I am sure my friends 2500 chevy diesel would not have had. Another thing to consider is if you have a transmission cooler? It gets over 100 here in the summer with 98% humiditiy and I really feel for the Jeep on those days pulling the boat, I believe my max tow rating is 6 or 8000 lbs.
 
Hi Dan,

I tow with the 02 HO. Are you going through rotors like I am. It seems like I can put about 15,000 miles on those pieces of **** before I have to get them turned or replaced.
 
Alpha,
We have three Grands in the family (all WJ's) and I have found that Mopar rotors work the best. I have a very good local dealership that sells parts to me at wholesale prices so they are actually cheaper than places like Autozone, Advance, etc. Another thing that warps rotors I have been told is improperly torqued lug nuts--most places just send them home with impact wrenches (I think they are supposed to be 90 ft. lbs). My current set has 30k on them and they are still well within spec. I guess we have been lucky with the Jeeps as they have for the most part been very trouble free except the blend door issue and door lock actuators at 75k miles. Email me with any other questions as I have the factory service manual and can look anything up you might need specs on robinsondp@charter.net.
 
You could always drive two cars. One with the boat and the other with people plus equipment!
 
Just a word of caution. I own the Outboard version of this boat (2005). The specs say it weighs 1850 pounds. I was towing with a 2005 Ford Escape with 3500lbs max towing capability so I wanted to be sure I was within the limits. I took it to a local truck stop and had everything weighed. The boat itself (with trailer and gas) came in at over 2600lbs. I figured with me, my wife, two young children and gear I was probably at the limit but I didn't have all that stuff with me. The whole rig came in under the Escape's GCVWR and I never had a problem with it except on steep hills. I have since upgraded to a Chevy Trailblazer EXT with the 5.3L V8 and its much better. My point is that whatever the specs say the weight is...it's probably way off and I wouldn't base my decision on the specs alone. If you are serious about buying it then maybe the dealer could tow it to a nearby truck stop that has scales. It'll be very disappointing if your truck can't handle it after you have already purchased it.
 
I spoke with the owner of a Chevy dealer here. Chevy is going to be putting BlueTec diesel engines in their half-ton pickups. They will be available in the Fall of 2009. They will get significantly better gas mileage than their gas/flexfuel counterparts and they will have a higher tow rating.
 
I have a 2001 f150 reg cab with the 4.2 liter 6cyl engine and pull my 185 sport. If you are familiar with the terrain around here, it is all hills, and it does just fine. We pull it every weekend usually, and it will run 80 mph. I tried to find the tow capacity of my truck, and what I found said 2000 lbs. I dont think that can be right though.
 
searay sport said:
I have a 2001 f150 reg cab with the 4.2 liter 6cyl engine and pull my 185 sport. If you are familiar with the terrain around here, it is all hills, and it does just fine. We pull it every weekend usually, and it will run 80 mph. I tried to find the tow capacity of my truck, and what I found said 2000 lbs. I dont think that can be right though.
Click to expand...


http://www.f150online.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43988

There is a good bit of info in there as to reasons why the manual trans version of yout truck (which I assume is what you have) has a much lower tow rating than the auto version.
 
I tow mine with a 2004 Chevy Silverado SS and get 16 m.p.g. I also have towed it with a 2005 Mitsubishi Montero 3.8 225hp and it feels dangerous compared to the truck, it also gets 10m.p.g.. Get a boat, tow it with a truck. Huge difference.
 
In case anyone is curious, we started this post and have been towing the 185 Sport 4.3L with the Mazda CX-9 since 2008 and it works really well. No trouble at all going up or down the steep driveway to get up to the levee road. The long wheel base makes towing very comfortable -- you have to remind yourself the boat is behind you.

The longest trip was 120 miles up-and-down moderate hills with no issues. Engine temp stayed constant and motor had plenty of power to keep speed on long grades (Altamont pass & Sunol grade for anyone that knows the San Fran Bay Area).

We believe the 3500 lbs limit on the CX-9 has more to do with being a unibody instead of a full frame and the 1 1/4" receiver for the hitch. The motor has plenty of power/torch to pull more. Our CX-9 is the Grand Touring model with the tow package (extra cooling).
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,153
Messages
1,427,324
Members
61,060
Latest member
Danileo
Back
Top