How much tow capacity is enough?
 

I'm looking at buying an SUV. I'd like to get a big V6 in lieu of a V8 due to the gas mileage. Of course this will decrease the tow capacity. I'll be pulling a 21' boat weighing 2500lbs wet including trailer. The average tow capactiy for mid size SUV's is around 3500lbs. Should it be an issue?

The V6 shouldnt really be an issue. But is the mileage difference between the 6 and 8 that much of a difference for the model you are looking at?

You should have no problems with that setup. We tow a two-horse trailer with a Ford F-150 with a 4.2 V6 and a 5 speed.
I've seen people tow bigger boats with a Jetta Diesel!

Les

I think you should be OK. I am pulling about 3500 lbs of 911 and trailer behind a 2001 Toyota Tacoma and it works acceptably well. The Toyota is rated to tow 5000 lbs, but I wouldn't want to test that rating.

If you're only towing 2500 lbs or so, I would think it would be OK.

Tow ratings are based on some secret formula that takes into account engine HP, axle ratio, gross weight, day of the week and phase of the moon, etc. Your V6 will be working harder than an 8, but it also depends on where you're towing. I'm towing in the flat land of Florida and others are towing across the Rockies. Like everything else.....it all depends.

To Vin's point....

I've had four Explorers. Two had six bangers, two with eights. One six was standard while the second was the Hi Output version. Eights were 5.0 and then the 4.6...I still have this one.

The 5.0 got the same, if not better, mileage than the Hi-output six. It also didn't work nearly as hard and had much better torque. The 4.6 is a bit thirstier but not by much.

I spoke to a neighbor a couple years ago to ask about his Ford Escape. He said he was very disappointed as he traded his V8 Explorer for the Six Cyl Escape and expected better fuel economy....

Just some food for thought.

The new V8s from GM and Chrysler shut down cylinders and actually get better gas mileage than their respective V6s (which cannot shut down cylinders due to harmonic balance issues). Look into those models, you get the best of both worlds: good fuel economy and high towing capacity.

And just for comparison, my old F150 with the 4.2L V6 could swing 19mpg highway with a tailwind and had a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. My new Silverado with the 5.3L V8 can break into the low 20s in the same conditions and can tow 7,500 lbs.

Good info.

I'm not looking at anything in particular. Just started shopping today.

Florida is pretty damn flat, where you gonna find a hill you need a V-8 to get up?

Terry like the others have pointed out. Most V6's do not get significantly better gas mileage than a V8. As for towing capacity, I remember before SUV's people pulling all kinds of boats, trailers, etc. with their cars! I have an 18 foot bass boat that I had no trouble pulling with my Wrangler with the straight six. Normally pulling is not the problem with most any vehicle. It is the stopping. When what you are pulling weighs more than the tow vehicle you need to be more cautious.

What Kurt said...I've pulled my bass boat for 20 years with all types of vehicles and there is no substitute for "bigger is better" (vehicle, not necessarily the # of cyls). I've had V6s that were "adequate", until you came to a steep hill (or wet boat ramp), but for overall stability, stopping capabilities, etc. I like big (and longer wheel bases for stability). Terry, what happened to the Bronco (perfect imo)? Could uou dedicate it as a "tow vehicle", and find something else for daily driving if mileage is a concern?

The V8 makes it easier to get up the boat ramps, leave lights, and pull on the highway.

I have been buying used ***** box trucks/suvs to tow with because I am a sports car guy at heart and can't commit to spending $20k plus on something I do not want. I go back and forth with the idea.:(

I got an offer for double what I paid for the Bronco as soon as I got it home. Sold it immediately. Never even registered it. Bought another Dodge Ram which I've decided I hate.

I ran across a 96' 993 I want though. Could that pull a boat? :D

I think tow capacity includes what's loaded in the tow vehicle as well, minus the driver or something like that.

Also, FWIW, I get about 14 mpg towing with my Toyota. Not great, I know, but I only tow a handful of times a year. It takes some time to get up to speed, but once there it will cruise along at 75 mph without problem. It struggles up hills, but will keep with the flow of traffic.

Get the 993. Rent a U-haul or Penske van for towing.

We towed a 3500# keel boat for years w/ Toyota 4 runner V6. Through New England mtns. it would go slower than w/ the previous V8 vans but it still did very well overall

I'm not here to be judged!!!;)

My sailboat is 3200#, and I have it on a double axle trailer that weighs god knows how much. It's pretty funny to see my Suzuki Samurai with VW 1.6 diesel pulling it. Not far, mind you, but it does work

I've owned SUV's with 6's and 8's. Never do a 6 again. Too much vehicle for a 6. The 6's were sluggish when towing, terrible in the mountains and did not get better mpg worth discussing. I remember having to give it all it had to get out of a sticky situation.

6's are for cars, 8's are for trucks.

Add a transmission cooler and transmission temperature gage. Keep the temperature down and you will not have a problem.

90% of towing failures result from transmissions over-heating.