Towing weight help

[MNtransplant]

Hi Guys,

I have been a shorefisher my whole life i have a boat that im really interested in that weighs 1550 lbs per the online spec sheet. My toyota highlander shows a towing capacity of 2,000 lbs but i know its not that simple right? Im thinking worst case is pulling the boat out of the water ....what information do i need to double check before making a purchase?

 

Thanks!

[MNtransplant]

Actually now i see on carmax the specs show 5,000 lb towing capcity, any input appreciated 

[Gavin]

Think you need a 4x4 truck. Skip the half ton mini truck, and get a 3/4, or one ton.

[moguy1973]

FWD or AWD?  I'd look for a cheap truck if it's FWD, although that's a pretty light boat.

[fishinwrench]

I'm not familiar with the Toyota Highlander but even my daughter's Jeep Liberty can handle 2500#   No problem pulling up ramps or even loose gravel going uphill.   Just be careful going DOWNHILL if you might need to stop quickly. 

Your average glass bass boat rig weighs 3500-5500#, and I've never seen one that a 1/2 ton Truck/Tahoe/Suburban wouldn't handle just fine. Uphill/downhill/whatever.

2000-2650# for aluminum bass rigs. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

1/2 ton truck will pull it no problem.  Don’t know about a highlander.  You will need 4 wd at some point.  

[Dutch]

If your truck is a 2x4 you may have trouble going up wet ramps.

[MNtransplant]

Thanks guys,

My highlander is a 4wd with a v6 that shows a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs.

The boat im looking at is a Javelin 389 FS. 1590 is listed as the dry weight but im guessing thats without the motor.

[snagged in outlet 3]

31 minutes ago, MNtransplant said:

Thanks guys,

My highlander is a 4wd with a v6 that shows a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs.

The boat im looking at is a Javelin 389 FS. 1590 is listed as the dry weight but im guessing thats without the motor.

I looked up a highlander and it's similar to a 4 runner right?  My buddy tows a 1752 jet boat that weighs around 2500 pounds with a 6 cylinder 4 runner.  It works hard but it does tow it.  I leave him sitting on those big hills on 44 south of Rolla.  I have a similar boat and Ram 1500.

[moguy1973]

1 hour ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I looked up a highlander and it's similar to a 4 runner right?  My buddy tows a 1752 jet boat that weighs around 2500 pounds with a 6 cylinder 4 runner.  It works hard but it does tow it.  I leave him sitting on those big hills on 44 south of Rolla.  I have a similar boat and Ram 1500.

Highlander is a FWD based vehicle (transverse engine with main power going to the front wheels) where the 4runner is based off the Tacoma platform. 

 

If your Highlander is 4WD you shouldn't have any problem towing the boat you are looking at.  The 4WD Highlander we had, while we never towed anything with it, had a good 4WD system that got us out of a few sticky situations in the snow and mud.  Wet and slimy ramps are the main issue with towing a boat with a FWD vehicle.