What's your tow vehicle?
 

Looking at buying a new boat this year. We have a Toyota Sequoia (4.7L V8). It got me thinking about how well it would tow a boat weighing approx 4000 lbs.

Just curious what your tow vehicle is along with your boat weight.

I'm hoping my SUV will be good enough, but I could be wrong.

Thanks!

7.3L powerstroke and now I'm spoiled and refuse to tow with a gasser. Boat is a 2005 Supra 21v.

Where are you towing? Long distances? Mountain terrain?

I just spent the last 6 years towing my 06 Malibu Vride with a 2001 Tundra with the same 4.7l engine. It worked fine and I tow an hour each way to any lake I use. You will be fine unless you are going to be towing up steep mountains or something like that. I now have a new F-150 which tows great but the Tundra never let me down.

I tow with a V8 Touareg and can't even feel it behind me except if I am in the mountains. Can't tow as much as a truck but it has a 7k tow rating. Not too shabby IMO.

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Used to tow with a '96 Powerstroke. We now use a Duramax. It does a pretty good job towing the boat.

Squid'sWake Limited's 2006 Suburban
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...56690495_n.jpg

Does the horse standing on the hood help keep the nose of the Suburban down?

I'm not exactly sure of the weights, but I have an 07 Sierra 5.3 towing an 08 Malibu LSV. I think I'm pushing the max rated towing rates when you add on toys and fuel. It does the job. Its not winning any races going up hill but it does the job.

I just went from a 7.3 liter Ford diesel to a 2012 Cummins turbo. They are both nice, don't get me wrong, but you just can't beat the power of the new Cummins in my opinion. What I have found is that when it comes to towing, torque is king. Most gassers have around 400 ft. lbs. of torque. My 7.3 diesel had 550. My new Cummins has 800! It pulls my Enzo like it's a jet ski.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...e/IMG_8521.jpg

2009 F-150 Texas Crew Supercrew! I love the truck, it's been great to us!

Love my truck....
 

Best truck I have EVER owned......!

I live near Sacramento with a ton of lakes close by. Most of the time we will only be driving about 30 min on mostly flat terrain. On occasion we make a longer trip up North, about 150 miles to Shasta/Trinity (still relatively flat). There may be the rare occasion that we head up to Tahoe and that's all mountains.

I've had 2 Ford 5.4l (2000 expedition, 2005 f150). Wasn't happy with either of them. I had a 2005 Ford v10 and it was great. Now using a 5.7L hemi in a 1500 crew and it seems fine. Haven't gone over the pass yet, though, so can't say for sure yet.

I am towing with a 2012 F150 4x4 Ecoboost, tow a 2011 X2. Tows great.

Dont have anything but praise for my 2 workhorses:

05 Ford F150 5.4L. Fine on flat roads but driving to our summer house I wish I had a diesel as I am driving through steep coastal mountains here in BC. On the one long large hill I start at about 110km/hr and by the top I am lucky if I am doing 45km/hr and the truck is at about 4300rpm screamin!

PS. Don't worry. I don't drive on the highway with boards in the racks. The boat launch is less then a mile from our house and this was after a day of riding.

Bigger is always better but you should be fine. Make sure the trailer comes equipped with brakes.

'07 Cadillac Escalade EXT! LOVE IT

Had on '07 Avalanche LTZ and loved it so I just got a nicer version when it hit 100K miles.

The Caddy tows much better though because of the 6.2L and the standard all-wheel drive is much better on slippery ramps.

I am towing a Tige Z1 (little less than 5,000) with an 11 F150 Ecoboost. I towed it cross country through the mountains of Tennessee, Virginia and Pennsylvania also loaded with camping gear and worked flawlessly. No reason for me to pay extra for Diesel.

Driving a 2011 F150 Platinum with the Ecoboost. Its a nice truck and rides great, but i am extremely disappointed with the mileage. When i pull my boat, a 99 mastercraft 205DD, on a nice flat road i get around 10-11 mpg. It pulls the boat like its not even there, but that mileage is pretty bad. Other people say how great the ecoboosts are but i suspect i may have got a dud. And before the other ford guys jump on me saying that something cant be right, i've had it to the dealer repeatedly and they will not help me out. I should have bought a diesel. Never weighed my boat but i'd guess with the trailer it should be close to 4000 lbs.

1998 Dodge Ram 2500 12v cummins 4x4 with a 5 speed manual. But my parents use to tow are Super Air waited with there sequoia with no problem

We tow with an X5-M, it would probably rip the ball off the hitch if we stepped on it. (It's 555hp) We recently sold our 2007 Denali (short body)which towed awesome as well. The X5 actually has a 115.5 wheelbase and the Denali had 116, so it tows our Malibu 23LSV really well. It's also great in case we want to tow around the Nurburgring:)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U...0/x5%25203.jpg

I have a 2011 ram 2500 with just over 500hp and 1240tq. Can't even feel the boat behind it!
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/3933a2a6.jpg
Has a little suspension work too!

09 GMC Sierra. Tows my Tige RZ2 and my bro's 23 TWB just fine and gets 10mpg doing it and that is at over 5k ft of elevation.

Thats sounds about right. I average between 9-10 when I go accross the Cascades with mine. The reason your dealer won't do anything is because there isn't anything wrong.

I have a 07 SCREW with 38,000 miles. I've got the 5.4 and an Evolution programmer. I pulled my boat over a 8,500 ft pass last weekend and I was loaded with camping gear, it made it up with out much problem. One day I'll have an Ecoboost or diesel but it tows my Sunsetter fine for short trips (15 miles) to my local lake.

Crappy pic, but you get the idea.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...tyxj1/-1-1.jpg

Yeah, that makes no sense.
My work truck is a '11 F150 5.0 that supposedly gives up a little power and mileage to the Ecoboost and I tow a 5-14k trailer regualrly with it and get around 13mpg avg. Sea level, 2wd, typically not very high profile loads. Empty mileage is 18.5 commuting, mostly highway. I wouldn't hesitate to tow any wakeboat at lower altitudes with the 5.0. It kicks @ss at sea level! ( I can't tow the boat with it, company truck)
Personal tow rig is an 07 Ram Mega 5.9 diesel/6speed. With about 450hp and 900ft lbs on tap, it don't even know the boat's back there.

I tow with a 2004 f150. my boat is an 05 moomba outback weight just shy of 4 k with trailer. I get about 10-11 towing and if I hit mountains its more like 8 but she also has about 130k on her. still pulls without out a problem

2005 Chevy Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel - Pulls the MB like it is not there.

I have a 2011 Ford 150 Ecoboost. I get 17mpg on the highway and around 14mpg in the city. Towing I get about 10mpg. It's a great truck but if you get it because of mpg you will be let down. BTW I love the truck.

06 QX56. Pulls great, drinks fuel like a drunken sailor with the MB in tow. I get about 9 on the road with the boat.

http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/z...y/83484ecf.jpg

Another diesel...2007 Dodge Megacab 5.9L. I too will not go back to gas tow vehicle.

2007 5.9
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/...4440807f-1.jpg

I tow with a 03' dodge ram hemi, and it tows is just fine, Perfect for a 21 foot boat. However, I've also towed with a 02' f350 7.3 and a 11' ram cummins 6.7 and a 04' f350 6.0 dually and you just can't even compare gas vs diesel. The hemi pulls it, but the diesels don't even know the boat is back there.

The first hemi is mine, the diesels are family members. I got a blow out on the trailer once with the dually, and didn't even feel or notice anything untill i saw in the mirror the boat bouncing up and down
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...7/IMG_5516.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...617/imagee.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...7/IMG_0058.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...24937129_n.jpg

Another diesel here as well 11.5 3500 Laramie

I have a 2011 F150 SCREW XLT EcoBoost and a 2006 xstar, boat weighs 4250 plus trailer, just towed it from Escondido CA to AZ with Zero issues and averaged 12mpg.

2005 f-150 with 2004 x-2 tows good at about 9.5 mpg, and steep inclines are less than desirable (keep your foot to the floor).

07 Navigator 5.4 L--tows fine--take it over the mountains every year no problem.

2011 Ecoboost Crew, tows great and gets advertised mileage. 17-18 around the house and 20-21 on the highway, around 13-14 tugging the boat.

2008 VW Touareg 2 V8, fully loaded with air suspension and locking differentials - almost got stuck in a muddy/clay launch I wasn't familiar with last year...turned a few knobs, hit the lock button, heard a little 'clink' and she crawled right out!

When I picked up my V226 last year, I think I averaged 75-80 mph on the highway back home and almost forgot I was towing a few times...it's an amazing rig to tow with!

MPG's...definitely in the single digits but who cares when you're having fun ;)

We have the same tow rig! I drive it in manual mode with the boat and it helps a ton. Get around 10-12 MPG doing it that way. One thing about the Touareg is that it drinks gas like a truck.

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If i convert that to US mpg its close to 9 mpg at 62 MPH (100kph) pulling a 4000 pound load in what might be the flattest place on earth (southern Saskatchewan). Thats not averaged out over my trip, thats as good as it gets. My previous truck was a 09 GMC with a 6.2L v8, lift kit and 305/55/20 Mickey Thompsons. It did consistently better than my ecoboost whether empty or loaded. I didnt buy this truck expecting great mileage but considering how Ford markets it i was expecting it to atleast be as good or better than a lifted truck with a big ole V8. I drive alot, and i've owned alot of trucks and this one gets the award for the worst mileage.

Both boats weight the same.. Manuf. dry weight =3900lbs. figure with fuel, stereo, gear, ice chests, trailer, etc we are around 6000lbs tow weight.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...31081593_n.jpg

The F150 Ecoboost outperformed the 5.7 Tundra while making the exact same road trip. Both in power and fuel economy. Ecoboost was about 3mpg better while towing, and the power really was noticeable while climbing grade at elevation. The higher elevation we got the bigger the difference.

Force Induction is awesome at elevation :D

This is my tow vehical 99 GMC Seirra

old tow vehicle Suburban, New tow vehicle Expedition

http://img.tapatalk.com/a6937b93-9c0b-a066.jpg

2006 5.9 tows my 89 nautique 2001 no problems

What's the mpg when pulling in reverse? :D

Lol that "R" doesn't mean reverse it's for RACE!!!

My tow vehicle is a 2011 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab, 6.2L with Max Tow package. Does pretty well towing my new G23, which is right around 7000 pounds (5400 dry weight, plus gear, plus trailer). The truck is rated to tow 10800 pounds.

I am thinking about moving to a 3/4 diesel next year...you can feel the G23 behind the truck...the power and torque are definitely there (403hp/415torque), but you can just feel it when driving the interstates. As of now it's just a thought. I've only had the boat for a week, so will get more acquainted with it over the next two months.

Here is my 2010 Ford F150 5.4L pulling my 1996 Super Sport

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...t/IMG_0562.jpg

'06 Titan Crew Cab. 13mpg towing around 4,000lbs locally. 15mpg on semi-flat hwy trips. Great engine and a weak rear end...going to upgrade the differential soon but hey, its made it 80,000 hard miles so far. We only drive it to tow or run up mountain backroads for dirt biking and camping.

Here is mine

2007 Duramax
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/...601_132946.jpg

2010 Sequoia 2WD - love the backup camera and load leveling suspension...

There are a lot of incredible setups in this thread. I have a '09 F150. It does pretty well, but I have yet to tow long distance with her.

Family hauler and little homies tow rig. :p

Dude! You can't feel the boat because it ain't back there no more! Check out your pic again! :D

Yukon Denali.

I've got a 7.3 Powerstroke, like alot of guys above, i don't think i could go back to a gasser after driving a diesel.... they are too much fun.

EB guys-post some more details about your truck-4x or 2x? Use trailer tow option when towing? Gear ratio? Cab configuration? These things will affect mpg as well.

2012 Infiniti QX 56

http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/...n/2cdd3bdf.jpg

2011 Escalade

http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/...n/b71e9345.jpg

New boat - 2012 Tige RZ2

http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/...n/ce16cf22.jpg

We tow our 04 Malibu Xti with an 04 Chevy Tahoe 5.3 :)

Ha ha I thought something was wrong! I sold my boat last month and the new one won't be here until the first week of Aug. so if I can't post a pic with the boat why not show what else it can do!
Plus people do crazy things when they don't have a boat during the summer ;)

05 Dodge 2500 Cummins 5.9L, 4x4, 140K miles, all stock except for tinted windows and rhino liner. Tows this 2011 A22 (with 600 lbs lead and gear) averaging 16 mpg at 65 mph, 18mpg at 55-60 mph, on relatively flat roads with mild climbs of up to 4500 feet elevation. Love my truck.

I only see full size SUV or trucks... Anybody towing with something smaller??

Here you go

Sure are a lot of awesome vehicles and boats! Good stuff!

Low budget, old school 2 door with 173k. 7,000lb towing capacity and tugs my 08' VLX pretty well for an old rig.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...er/photo-5.jpg

Ok kids, so who won the "I have the biggest, baddest, can tow @ 100mph, rig competition"?

"Uh, uh, uh! I can't even feel the boat back there!"

"Uh, uh, uh! I spent $40k on a truck that can pull the boat up a pass @ 75mph, no problem!"
I guess $40k is a fair price to pay for arriving at the lake 5 min earlier....

Seriously kids, it's OK to feel the boat behind you.
It's ok to go below the speed limit when towing up a hill.

Jeff; Your Sequoia WILL tow your boat back and forth to the lake. It might not do 100mph down the hwy doing-it, but I gurantee it will get your boat back and forth to the lake.
You will probably feel the boat back there too, but that's OK. Not sure why all these guys are on here bragging about how they "can't even feel" their boat behind them...

FYI, I have a '92 Chevy 1500. Works just fine...

http://img.tapatalk.com/c6e4c816-98d7-b1d4.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/c6e4c816-99ea-1404.jpg

Yeah but i tow one of the fastest toys LOL :)

Pretty R1 bud!
I've got one of those too!! :)

Is that Graves exhaust on there?
I did the full system on mine. After a dyno-tune with a power-commander, it really helped smooth-out that mid-range dip that was so noticable on that generation.

I really like the sound of the new crossplane crank on the new ones, but I don't really like the styling on them.

Sorry to get off-topic, back to the "My truck is basically a Semi" thread.

08 Duramax with 05 VLX. Before this truck we had an 03 Sequoia that pulled the boat fine. We typically tow the boat 150 miles to the lake with the last 40 or so in the hills.

I remember the last time I sported a chub over other peoples stuff!
Nobody said anything about breaking any laws or speeding
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/a2326c3a.jpg
To the OP I'm sure your Toyota will tow just fine but the efficiency and safety increase as the gvw and torque go up.

I've towed an x-star 120 miles with a 4runner. We made it, but I wouldn't want to do it very often. If you're going around the corner, almost anything (with the right tow package applied) can do. Main thing is just to make sure you're setup right for the weight so you don't lose your bumper and drop your boat in the road.

Good friend has a sequoia and tows his Wakesetter all over. You'll be fine.

All that said, and being a good Texan, I drive a 7.3l 2001 F250 with 225k on it. Pure ranch truck, I vow to run it through the brush until there's not any paint left. AND yes it hauls azz with boat in tow. Back in its younger years I beat a stock mustang off the line with a 20' (though fairly light) bay boat in tow. Cue evil laugh.

I've had a nice new diesel before. I'm not "sporting a chub over other peoples stuff".
The truck was just plain stupid. Used WAY more gas than my 1500 does.
I got caught-up in the whole "you got to have a giant diesel to tow anything" craze too.
One day I pulled my head out of my ass, looked at how much my truck payment was, looked at how much MORE $ I was spending on gas than with the 1500, and said; "WTF am I doing?"

Sold the diesel, pulled the 1500 out of retirement and bought a nice sports car with the $ left-over. Smartest thing I ever did.

Again, if you're stupid rich (emphasis on the stupid) and think that the $40k+ you spent on a brand-new "I have a big penis, I swear!" truck is worth getting to the lake 5 min before I get there, then by all means, go for it. No need to come on this forum bragging about how you "can't even feel the boat back there" (is that a good thing?).

Personally, I'm all about getting more while spending less. Some people like to spend more to look cool.

I'm not trying to rag-on you personally (sorry you took-it that way). You have a lovely truck. It looks like you actually go-out and use it once in a while. Glad to see you enjoy it. I love 4-wheeling too.

Haha! Thanks Sydney. Well said!

I've got an 09 ML550 that tows an 08 SAN 220 TE. No pics of both vehicles together though. Will try to get some pics this weekend.

Glad to see someone else towing with a foreign vehicle lol