Will vehicle work?

[HarrisY]

I have a Toyota hybrid AWD. Tow capacity 3500#. Boat weight is 2500# (pontoon boat). Concerned about pulling it out of the water at the boat ramp. Any helpful thoughts on this?

 

[Horigan]

You will be over capacity when you add the trailer and the gear and fluids to the boat, plus you'll likely exceed the tongue weight limit also. Yes, you'll be able to pull it out of the water at the ramp, but it doesn't have the cooling system and power to tow any real distance.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, I disagree with Horigan. You have 1000# excess capacity, plus vehicles are underrated a bit. You will also never add 1000# in fluids and fuel to that 'toon.

I would worry about traction on the ramp. If the ramp is clean and dry, you should not have an issue. Sometimes high tide gives the cleanest ramp. A sand ramp may be a bit tricky. Use 4WD setting if you have it on your vehicle, to pull it out. AWD is fine for towing..

I do not know the cooling capacity of your vehicle. Usually they will have towing packages that address that issue.

 

[Scott Danforth]

boat is 2500#
trailer is 1000# to 1200#
fuel is 100# (assuming 12 gallon tank)
gear is #200 (assuming PFD's, anchor, rode, radio, batteries, etc.)

you are over capacity.

additionally, your toyota may have a stipulation that any trailer over 1500# must have brakes.

 

[briangcc]

Sienna? Cause that's the tow rating most mini-vans have - 3500lbs.

In any event as mentioned you're overloaded once you factor in all the other "stuff" as it weighs something. This includes the trailer.

IF you're dead set on the boat/trailer, you need a vehicle upgrade. The Highlander and 4Runner in the Toyota line have 5k towing and offer 3rd row seating (option on the 4Runners - I know, I had an SR5 Premium w/3rd row). Both offer factory hitches. There are other SUV class vehicles that have 3rd row w/5k or better towing - the Durango in my signature is 6200 with the factory tow package.

 

[HarrisY]

I have a Toyota hybrid AWD. Tow capacity 3500#. Boat weight is 2500# (pontoon boat). Concerned about pulling it out of the water at the boat ramp. Any helpful thoughts on this?

Forgot to mention it’s a Toyota highlander. It’s only being towed from my house to the boat ramp about 200’. My biggest concern is getting it out of the water. Thanks for all the helpful replies

 

[HarrisY]

ramp

Forgot to mention it’s a Toyota highlander. It’s only being towed from my house to the boat ramp about 200’. My biggest concern is getting it out of the water. Thanks for all the helpful replies

Also. I added a few hundred for fluids etc. in the 2500# gear can be loaded after launch

 

[Scott Danforth]

Highlander hybrid towing is only 3500#

Highlander gas engine towing is 5000#.

its not the chassis that is the weak link. its the EV/hybrid drive for the rear. its a FWD vehicle with electric rear drive.

 

[airshot]

To answer the original question...you will be fine going up the ramp as long as you get traction !! First gear is low and you will have plenty of grunt to get up that ramp. Now if you were going cross country, that would be another issue !!

 

[ahicks]

I was a little skeptical until you mentioned how far you're moving it. That in mind, I say go for it, unless you have some sort of redicoulously steep ramp to deal with.....

Been doing something similar, pulling from our yard 1/4 mile to the ramp for the last 40 years or so. If the tires are holding air you'll be fine....

 

[Scott06]

Forgot to mention it’s a Toyota highlander. It’s only being towed from my house to the boat ramp about 200’. My biggest concern is getting it out of the water. Thanks for all the helpful replies

i think you will be fine with AWD getting up the ramp unless it is atypically steep.

Ill probably get hate mail but ill share my experience with similar towing needs.

ive had two highlanders that i have used for short distance towing an 06 hybrid 2 wd that had a 3500 lb tow rating. My newer 2016 V6 is rated for 5500 lbs. towed my 04 sea ray 200 sport with both of them. Live 3 miles from the ramp, used to winter store in a barn about 15 miles away.

what i found when looking at purchasing our 2016 highlander which is an XLE, that the XLE is rated at 5500 lbs, the LE is rated much less. Drivetrain, brakes etc are all the same. Only difference between the two is an engine oil cooler and trans cooler. all this had to do with heat removal. Hybrid is the same in terms of tow capacity being limited by heat removal.

So bottom line you will be fine towing these short distances.

 

[tpenfield]

200' . . . make sure you have plenty of gasoline for the trip.

No worries about towing.

 

[nola mike]

I've pulled my boat out of the water using the following vehicles that I believe are rated for a combined 0#: Porsche Boxster, BMW 330ci, Mazda6 wagon, VW Golf Sportwagen. The RWD vehicles had no problems. Traction sometimes an issue on the FWD.