Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

[Custom]

I want ask you if i can live with FWD minivan for pulling out of water 2800# (boat and trailer)<br />I have chack GCWR and everything is fine for highway towing but i wondering about wet ramps<br />thanks

 

[Custom]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

ooops... sorry i missed the WATERBILL post

 

[CCrew]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

I've had to use mine one out of 4 trips. Fine on pavement, not so on regular gravel/ground

 

[roscoe]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

What kind of minivan is it?<br />Does it have the factory "tow package"?

 

[Custom]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

sienna 2004 FWD with tow pack. 35000# and GCWR 8700#

 

[louc]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

I think a lot depends on the ramps you use. I know someone who tows a 18~19 foot Sea Ray bowrider with a Honda Oddessy van and seems to have no problem pulling it out, but that is at high tide. At low tide you have to back in further, and the part of the concrete ramp that is underwater at high tide is very slippery that from the slime on it. Check out what is going on where you will be launching, see if anyone has such a set up and ask (or watch) them. If it is a good ramp, and you can retrieve at high tide, it may work, esp if you use tires with good wet traction.

 

[DJ]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

Custom,<br /><br />There are two real issues.<br /><br />1. People tend to grossly undedrestimate their towed loads. Is #2800 an educated guess or an actual "ready to go" weight from a reputable scale?<br /><br />2. Backing down a ramp tends to unload the front wheels of any vehicle. In your case, your front wheels are your only source of propulsion. I think you see where I'm going with this.<br /><br />Do you need 4X4-no. However, rear drive is better suited.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

Mount a ball on the front end, when getting to the ramp unhitch, and mount the trailer to the front of the vehicle. This is what I did in olden days, before we had decent ramps.

 

[DJ]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

lakeman,<br /><br />Be careful about that idea. Mounting something on the front of most new vehicles today is a no-no. You may disable or enable the airbag circuits inadvertantly.<br /><br />I would hate to have some poor shlub have his air bag go off while guiding his trailer down the ramp. <br /><br />read; car in drink and loaded shorts.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

djohns...you're right !! I have seen a lot of funny stuff at the ramps, and as I've said many times on this board I think watching people launch and load boats at ramps is the best entertainment that money can't buy. If I saw someone front lauching a boat and lose control due to an air bag activation, I would fall off the pier laughing, but that would be good because I'd already be wet and closer to them so I could help extract them from the vehichle before they drowned. A 4X4 takes a lot of risk out of ramp launching and loading. Is it required on most ramps...NO, but make sure you're familiar with the conditions at the time of lauch and what they might be like when pulling the craft out.<br /> <br /><br />Re second point also made by djohns, estimating tow weight is difficult at best. An 18 foot boat and trailer might have dry weight of 3500#, but fill it with fuel, coast guard required gear, plus the cooler, water skis, tow toys and the other stuff that wouldn't fit in the car and you're immediately over 4000#...easy. Be conservative, especially if you're traveling over ten miles or in excess of 40 MPH.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

And if you're close to the tow capacity limit, a 4wd with reduction gearbox ('low range') makes a lotta difference. Multiplies the torque and takes the stress of the clutch (espcially if manual).

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Do i really need 4X4 for towing 2800#

I think it all depends on the ramp. Some ramps are steep and some are fairly flat. The minivan should be fine on flat ramps, but I have launched at some ramps that are so steep that my 4x4 was spinning wheels pulling out.