Can you tow a sailboat with a Toyota Camry

[Count Monaco]

I have a 2000 Toyota Camry and I recently bought a Tanzer 22 sailboat. http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/45289 It's 2900 lbs.
Now I need to transport it 65 miles to my marina, but I don't have have a truck and the Camry is rated for 2000 lbs. Is Camry a lost cause?

Which do you think would be better, this 98 Expedition?
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/4630269720.html


Or this 96 Dakota?
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/4595446067.html

 

[ihearth2o]

Normally I would ask for relevant weights and ratings but there are truck-based tow vehicles I would not tow a 22' rig with. You would be very unstable with a short unibody frame on your camry or for any sedan. Please don't.

Might want to look into renting from Uhaul or something.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you can pull a Snark or sunfish with your camry.

you are forgetting the all important weight of the gear, fuel, and trailer.

that boat on a trailer with a bit of gear on it will weigh in about 4500#.

Rent a truck

 

[Maclin]

Regarding the alternate vehicle choices, if you mean that exact '88 Dakota, it has no title and the engine is siezed so it won't even pull itself, just sayin'

 

[ihearth2o]

+1 and I think you might have to raise your budget up over $650 to get a decent tow vehicle. An expedition would work but unless you like to wrench and put some time and money into it, going with the cheapest one you find might bite you.

 

[Count Monaco]

Regarding the alternate vehicle choices, if you mean that exact '88 Dakota, it has no title and the engine is siezed so it won't even pull itself, just sayin'

I posted the wrong Dakota. Updated!

 

[Maclin]

Ok, that was interesting though

Either one would probably do what you need to do. I would be worried about tires and brakes on either one. Also the stick shift is a trickier launch/retrieve if it will be used for that.

 

[Count Monaco]

Ok, that was interesting though

Either one would probably do what you need to do. I would be worried about tires and brakes on either one. Also the stick shift is a trickier launch/retrieve if it will be used for that.

should be ok, right? considering that I'm only going to use it to pull a sailboat once a month or 2... or 3,4,5
Stick... it's the only way to drive.
Manual... Because driving is not really driving if it isn't a stick.
Real Women Prefer Stick... It's what's for dinner.

 

[Count Monaco]

Dakota gone... seller didn't take it down.

 

[Scott Danforth]

with the 5-speed, it has a V6. towing capacity for the Dakota is 4300#. that is less than the boat, trailer and gear will weigh.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Honestly I think you need to be looking for a full size truck... If you don't plan to drive it more than once every month or 3 then gas mileage isn't an issue so why not have a little MORE than the bare minimum.... ALSO for pulling a boat up a ramp you can't beat an auto.... My jeep, car, and truck are all manuals but pulling a boat isn't the primary use of any of them..... Once in a while you may want to loan your truck to a friend and getting it back with a smoked clutch is never pleasant.

 

[Maclin]

My first 4 cars were 4speeds, left leg bigger than right leg, all that. Not much fun pulling up a slick ramp, but not really what you are asking about. I had misunderstood the load you will have, and I guess also your purpose. It seemed to me you just wanted something to haul it 65 miles one time, then dump the tow rig.

 

[bruceb58]

Typically, most vehicles tow rating with a stick are much less than an automatic.

 

[Bob_VT]

Typically, most vehicles tow rating with a stick are much less than an automatic.

Very true. The torque converter multiplies the torque. I know Nissan trucks were like that years ago and if you wanted to tow more the auto gave a higher capacity.

 

[snowbrd84]

If you are looking for a cheap tow vehicle, look at the Jeep Grand Cherokee from around '94 with the 5.2 liter v8. They are dirt cheap these days, you could find one for under 2k easily.

 

[Saline Marina]

What Bob_VT said. Cute GIFs aside, a torque converter is a torque multipler (like 2:1) at low RPMS and more like a fluid coupling (1:1) at higher RPMs. Its like a free extra gear for launching a heavy load that is self-managing and never needs shifting. I would not ever tow anything serious with a stick shift unless its a semi truck with 1200 ft-lbs of torque off idle. Also the rollback on a launch ramp invites wheelspin that can put you in the drink. I thought my grandfather was going to sink his 5 speed Jeep towing a small v-hull up out of the reservoir when I was with him once.

A camry is completely unsafe for this kind of load. It does not have the chassis or brakes to handle this. As others have said, a full-sized vehicle would be your best bet. If you rent it needs a receiver hitch...a ball bolted into the bumper isn't appropriate structure.

I would try to find a friend and offer to pay him or her to do the job for you. You might even be able to negotiate with the seller at the time of sale. I did this once with a tractor purchase, the seller delivered it to my house as part of the deal we struck, my own truck and trailer was parked in another state during a moving process at the time.

 

[smokeonthewater]

He said he plans to use the tow rig repeatedly... just not frequently... renting and borrowing don't fit his needs.

 

[drrpm]

Its easier to launch and retrieve with an automatic but my current truck (Tacoma V6) has a manual and its not a problem. The tow rating is the same as the automatic version.

 

[phillyg]

I would think any light truck you can find with an automatic should do you, or find a friend to go sailing with you that has a good tow vehicle..

 

[Count Monaco]

Typically, most vehicles tow rating with a stick are much less than an automatic.

... I dunno. I'm warming up to the idea of an automatic Jeep.