Car suggestions for towing boats

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Car suggestions for towing boats

GSManiac

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#280133 28-Nov-2020 13:33

Looking for suggestions as what I could buy for a new car that will need to be used to tow a boat a few times a year. Looking to spend no more 50k.

Currently using a 2008 Mitsubishi 380 which is a 3.8ltr V6. Getting a bit long on the tooth.
Looking for petrol powered, not diesel.

Thanks.

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#2612242 28-Nov-2020 13:47

What size and weight is the boat and trailer?

GSManiac

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#2612243 28-Nov-2020 13:53

Pretty much exactly the same as this.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/trade-me-motors/boats-marine/motorboats/auction-2874519089.htm

Jase2985

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#2612247 28-Nov-2020 14:00

so about 1100kg's including the trailer with out any of your extras in it.

Dingbatt

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#2612256 28-Nov-2020 14:46

If it really is only a few times a year have you considered getting a general use vehicle for the majority of your driving and renting a tow vehicle?

Edit: That’s what I do.

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Batman

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#2612407 28-Nov-2020 17:25

Such a difficult question to help with.

Does he want a sedan, a wagon, an SUV, a 4WD, a fast car, a slow car, a new car, an old (but newer than 2010) car ...

Why don't I recommend a Toyota Prado (yes they come in both petrol and diesel)

Scott3

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#2612449 28-Nov-2020 19:21

The weight of the boat is a critical parameter. I think the above posters estimate of 1100kg empty is pritty reasonable. Perhaps 1250kg fueled and loaded.

Would recommend loading it up in typical towing configuration and taking it over a weigh bridge. (Transfer station). Get the nose down force too (get weighbrige reading for the boat hitched from the car, the hitched up (car wheels off bridge).

1250kg isn't too onerous for towing. Had a 2006 Corolla hatch that had a 1300kg rating.

As such you can are best to get a vehicle that will be good for your daily duty, that can also tow.

Without knowing anything about your needs, I would say consider the rav4 hybrid. Good all rounder. Ok power at 160kW. 1500kg tow rating. Reasoniable passenger and cargo space, great fuel economy, AWD, and the mid spec GLX is in your budget brand new.

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#2612456 28-Nov-2020 19:49

By new, do you mean brand new from a manufacturer/dealer or new to you (traded model)?

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Handle9

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#2612473 28-Nov-2020 20:58

Scott3: The weight of the boat is a critical parameter. I think the above posters estimate of 1100kg empty is pritty reasonable. Perhaps 1250kg fueled and loaded.

Would recommend loading it up in typical towing configuration and taking it over a weigh bridge. (Transfer station). Get the nose down force too (get weighbrige reading for the boat hitched from the car, the hitched up (car wheels off bridge).

1250kg isn't too onerous for towing. Had a 2006 Corolla hatch that had a 1300kg rating.

As such you can are best to get a vehicle that will be good for your daily duty, that can also tow.

Without knowing anything about your needs, I would say consider the rav4 hybrid. Good all rounder. Ok power at 160kW. 1500kg tow rating. Reasoniable passenger and cargo space, great fuel economy, AWD, and the mid spec GLX is in your budget brand new.

RAV4 would be ok for towing unladen but in the real world you're going to hit your gross combined max really quickly. The hybrid will be worse due to extra 100kg from the hybrid system. If you put 350kg of people and 50kg of gear in the car/boat you're likely down to 1000kg-1100kg left to actually tow.

Jase2985

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#2612491 28-Nov-2020 22:05

Handle9: RAV4 would be ok for towing unladen but in the real world you're going to hit your gross combined max really quickly. The hybrid will be worse due to extra 100kg from the hybrid system. If you put 350kg of people and 50kg of gear in the car/boat you're likely down to 1000kg-1100kg left to actually tow.

how do you get to that figure? isnt the gross combined weight limit 6000kg?

NZTA say "On a full license the combined weight of your vehicle, the trailer and its load must not exceed 6000kg."

The rav4 will tow 1500kg braked (GX/GXL) (awd) Hybrid Gross vehicle weight 2230kg Kerb weight (vehicle weight 1700kg) and that's well below the 6000kg limit.

Scott3

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#2612499 28-Nov-2020 22:53

Handle9:
RAV4 would be ok for towing unladen but in the real world you're going to hit your gross combined max really quickly. The hybrid will be worse due to extra 100kg from the hybrid system. If you put 350kg of people and 50kg of gear in the car/boat you're likely down to 1000kg-1100kg left to actually tow.

What is the basis for the above? Neither Toyota NZ or Aussie list a GCM on their spec sheets. Anybody got one and willing to check the manual or plaques on the body?

The numbers you posted don't really work. If a vehicle loaded with 400kg, and with a tow rating of 1500kg could only tow 1000kg when loaded, it would need to have -100kg of load to utilize the full tow rating. Clearly deceptive advertising.

Toyota NZ does list for the GLX Rav4 hybrid a GVM of 2230kg, and a Kerb weight 1700-1730kg.

The prior version of the Rav4 in this review had a tare of 1630kg, GVM of 2130kg, and GCM of 3630kg. i.e. Can still tow the entire 1500kg tow rating with a load in the tow vehicle.

https://camper.hemax.com/Reviews/1563/Toyota_RAV4_Cruiser_Tow_Test

I think there is a good bet that GVM + Tow rating = GCM. But OP is not maxing out the tow rating anyway. And we aren't required to strictly follow vehicle tow and weight ratings by law as is the case in much of Aussie / Europe.

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#2612502 28-Nov-2020 23:01

frankly i'm surprised the fwd 380 is able to retrieve that boat up a slippery boat ramp.

Scott3

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#2612504 28-Nov-2020 23:05

Jase2985:

how do you get to that figure? isnt the gross combined weight limit 6000kg?

NZTA say "On a full license the combined weight of your vehicle, the trailer and its load must not exceed 6000kg."

The rav4 will tow 1500kg braked (GX/GXL) (awd) Hybrid Gross vehicle weight 2230kg Kerb weight (vehicle weight 1700kg) and that's well below the 6000kg limit.

The 6000kg you are quoting is the upper limit that can be driven with a class 1 full licence.

The poster will be talking about the manufacturer specified GCM. This can vary widely, but for the common Thai built utes, is often also 6000kg. An example of a vehicle with a lower GCM is the Hilux workmate double cab. GVW of 2780kg, GCM of 5250kg. i.e. need to eat into the payload by 30kg if you want to tow the max 2500kg that vehicle is rated for.

With regards to the Rav4, given that Toyota is advertising Tare, GVM, and to rating, but not GCM I think it is a good bet that it is rated to tow 1500kg while at GVM.

Scott3

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#2612506 28-Nov-2020 23:27

Batman:

frankly i'm surprised the fwd 380 is able to retrieve that boat up a slippery boat ramp.

For some reason the slime that seems common on NZ boat ramps doesn't seem to effect cars too much. Have had no issue pulling boats out of ramps so slippery that I needed to hold onto the car to avoid falling over when walking between the drivers door and the trailer.

Handle9

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#2612510 29-Nov-2020 02:47

Scott3:

Handle9:
RAV4 would be ok for towing unladen but in the real world you're going to hit your gross combined max really quickly. The hybrid will be worse due to extra 100kg from the hybrid system. If you put 350kg of people and 50kg of gear in the car/boat you're likely down to 1000kg-1100kg left to actually tow.

What is the basis for the above? Neither Toyota NZ or Aussie list a GCM on their spec sheets. Anybody got one and willing to check the manual or plaques on the body?

The numbers you posted don't really work. If a vehicle loaded with 400kg, and with a tow rating of 1500kg could only tow 1000kg when loaded, it would need to have -100kg of load to utilize the full tow rating. Clearly deceptive advertising.

Toyota NZ does list for the GLX Rav4 hybrid a GVM of 2230kg, and a Kerb weight 1700-1730kg.

The prior version of the Rav4 in this review had a tare of 1630kg, GVM of 2130kg, and GCM of 3630kg. i.e. Can still tow the entire 1500kg tow rating with a load in the tow vehicle.

https://camper.hemax.com/Reviews/1563/Toyota_RAV4_Cruiser_Tow_Test

I think there is a good bet that GVM + Tow rating = GCM. But OP is not maxing out the tow rating anyway. And we aren't required to strictly follow vehicle tow and weight ratings by law as is the case in much of Aussie / Europe.

A punt based on the likely loads. If you are towing a boat occasionally you are possibly going on holiday with the car and boat full of crap.

Towing is really badly understood and if you are over GCM and have an accident your insurance company is likely going to be interested. The manufacturer will definitely like a chat if you break something on the drive train over GCM.

It's hardly false advertising as you can definitely tow 1500kg with a RAV4, the question is whether you can tow 1500kg in the likely use case.

Handle9

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#2612511 29-Nov-2020 02:50

Jase2985:

Handle9: RAV4 would be ok for towing unladen but in the real world you're going to hit your gross combined max really quickly. The hybrid will be worse due to extra 100kg from the hybrid system. If you put 350kg of people and 50kg of gear in the car/boat you're likely down to 1000kg-1100kg left to actually tow.

how do you get to that figure? isnt the gross combined weight limit 6000kg?

NZTA say "On a full license the combined weight of your vehicle, the trailer and its load must not exceed 6000kg."

The rav4 will tow 1500kg braked (GX/GXL) (awd) Hybrid Gross vehicle weight 2230kg Kerb weight (vehicle weight 1700kg) and that's well below the 6000kg limit.

Take a look at this if you want to understand it better.

It's John Cadogan so take it as you will and it has his usual nonsense.

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