Honda Civic for Towing?

[98Shabah]

Re: Honda Civic for Towing?

I'm just going to add this for the sake of perspective. I have a 2004 Yamaha Bruin 350cc utility ATV, it's 2wd and weighs about 500lbs.. it's towing capacity is 1,050lbs and 150lbs of tongue weight.

 

[sasto]

Re: Honda Civic for Towing?

Probably easier to tow the Civic with the boat........I' just sayin'.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Honda Civic for Towing?

Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWE5e_H47MI&feature=related

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Honda Civic for Towing?

I have a similar size Alumaweld boat 15ft 7in. with a 60hp Yahama motor. I have weighed it on a platform scale at a truck stop. 2460# total weight with the gas tank full and misc equipment. The tongue weight alone was 320#. Your boat, motor, trailer, and equipment may weigh nearly as much as the car. No way in the world would I tow my boat with a little car.

2460 for a 15 foot boat? I'd be just a LITTLE suspicious of that scale! I'd be willing to bet money your trailer only has a single 2000# axle below it... Truck stop scales aren't always accurate if you are talking extremely 'light' weights, at least in comparison for what they are certified for. (all load cells have a minimum value that they can be certified for, below they they will still register but won't be linear)

The rated weight for a 2010 15'7" alumaweld is roughly 800 pounds, so add 250 pounds for a 60hp engine and you are just over 1000# pounds. Trailer is probably another 200 or so. (max capacity is 900 pounds, so the max the boat could weigh on the trailer is 1700 pounds, and that doesn't leave room for even a single person in the boat)

but... as far as weighing as much as the car, that's a problem?

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Honda Civic for Towing?

Probably easier to tow the Civic with the boat........I' just sayin'.

+1. Good one!

 

[starcraftkid]

Re: Honda Civic for Towing?

Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWE5e_H47MI&feature=related

That car in the vid wasn't pulling a small boat and I doubt if the OP is towing up any big hills like that.

When I lived on the water, I'd use a Craftsman garden tractor to put the boat in the lake, it did fine just as long as I put some weight on the tongue of the trailer. Again, we're not talking about a cabin cruiser here, we're talking about an aluminum boat which in most cases could be launched by hand.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Honda Civic for Towing?

This whole post reminds me of someone I saw on the highway a while back, who clearly didn't follow the manufacturers recommended tow rating.

I saw a early 2000's Ford Taurus wagon towing what must have been at least a 22Ft long center console, equipped W/ at least a 150hp outboard (couldn't get a good look at it all, as were were on opposite sides of the highway)

Tell me that car wasn't over loaded! She was down on the bump stops in the rear end. Some old fogey was behind the wheel.

When he hooked the boat to the hitch of his car, he was probably thinking of the days when big block, full framed, tow a double wide, station wagons usta exist.

 

[109jb]

Re: Honda Civic for Towing?

VERY new to boating and towing. I recently bought a 16' Duo Aluminum Fishing Boat with a Johnson 50 HP motor, along with the associated trailer.

Now, the problem. My only vehicle is a 2003 Honda Civic. So far, I've heard a 50/50 split on whether or not I should install a tow hitch and tow the boat myself (lest I be at the mercy of a tow-hitch-having friend). My car's owner's manual explicitly says it should NOT have a tow hitch installed, yet, I see they are available, and have seen them on the road.

I'm not so worried about the excessive wear and tear on the transmission or engine, as I live less than a mile from the boat launch, and would not exceed 25 mph. I've been told my main problem would be retrieving the boat from the launch ramp....that perhaps my car (1.7 liter, 115 hp) wouldn't be able to pull the trailer, boat, and motor up the 10 degree incline (just measured tonight) of the ramp.

Other's I have talked to have said that I shouldn't have a problem, that the boat is light enough, that they've used minivans to do the same thing, and that the ramp is quite shallow and shouldn't present a problem.

My question, therefore is, should I go ahead and have a hitch installed, and attempt to launch/retrieve the boat myself?

Any suggestions or insights would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

Pretty much answers the question.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Honda Civic for Towing?

End of thread.

My apologies to the original poster.:redface: