MacGregorSailors.com

March wrote:I did tow the MAC with a Chrysler van for years. <snip>
1) the van seemed much more stable than the SUV. It also used a little less gas on the highway. Never had a problem pulling the Mac out of the water with a front-wheel drive.

Same here, with our '03 Odyssey.

March wrote:4) I had a Honda Oddysey whose towing abilities were right on the line, but it didn't have a hitch. I replaced it with the Nissan, but my guess is, the Oddyssey (or even better--a Toyota Sierra) would have worked just fine with the Mac. There are a few people on the board that have used Sierras and their comments are quite positive. I, for one, believe them.

See above.

March wrote:5) THe SUV is a compact, sturdy beast of burden, but it's less stable than the minivan which hugs the ground more efficiently, I guess. Not such a big deal if you pay attention to the weight of the tongue and you're n ot in a hurry though.

I believe it's the long wheelbase and wide track that makes the difference. Pickup trucks may have higher load carrying capacity, and a full frame, but again, in my opinion at least, long and wide beats short and narrow, and pickups and vans are longer and wider than mid-size SUVs.

My Highlander isn't as stable on the highway as the Odyssey, but it has a factory tow package and 5 kip capacity, with tranny cooler and better engine cooling (bigger fan I believe is the only difference), which is why I got it. The Odyssey had no trouble pulling the boat out, even with ballast, though I open the vent and drain just before hitting the trailer, so any bow-high attitude starts draining ballast, which shortens ballast draining time.

Much as I'd like a PU for trailer towing, a larger SUV is probably the way to go for me. Something like a Suburban, Excursion, or Sequoia (7400 lb tow capacity, 68/69" track, 122" wheelbase, last two dims a bit larger than the Odyssey, and much larger than the Highlander, and tow cap. of 3500 lb for the Odyssey, 5000 lb for the Highlander).

Take a look at the new durangos, something like 30 mpg high way. They have that new zf8 trans with 8 gears that drops in 2014. I think that trans will change towing forever.

I haven't owned a Chrysler car since some time in the 70's, but the specs on the 2013 look pretty good (a hair under 120" WB). The 2014 is quite different looking, but the specs aren't published yet. I'll have to look into it when the lease is up on the Highlander. It may be what I'm looking for.

http://www.dodge.com/en/2014/durango/#intro

Tomfoolery wrote:I haven't owned a Chrysler car since some time in the 70's, but the specs on the 2013 look pretty good (a hair under 120" WB). The 2014 is quite different looking, but the specs aren't published yet. I'll have to look into it when the lease is up on the Highlander. It may be what I'm looking for.

http://www.dodge.com/en/2014/durango/#intro

I hadn't owned Chrysler either since then, but my little Dodge Dakota I got for this job tows like a dream; also chugs gas like a champ , but that's what trucks are for.

The new Durango looks pretty good all right, but I sure don't like the position of the transmission selector knob (gear shift):
http://www.dodge.com/en/2014/durango/#interior

- Nick

Take a look at this, comparison between a f150 and ram 150 with 5750 lb load up the mountains with the V6 motor.
Test results are for standard V6 and not eco boost.

http://www.edmunds.com/ram/1500/2013/co ... -test.html
Each one could can easy haul our 4500 lb Mac. around.
I am still hauling my 4500 lb Macx in a 1999 f150 extended cab with standard shift and 4.2 liter v6 with 92000 miles. Truck has a towing of 2000 lbs.(2000 with standard trans. 5000 lbs with auto trans,)
204 hp. engine. New trucks are far superior than mine.
Dave

dlandersson wrote:Tow Vehicle: V-8 or V-6?

http://www.boatingmag.com/how-to/traile ... MTA3MjEzS0

Noticed the Ram 1500 had the "Big Horn Equipment Group". Now with something called that, how could it loose!

On the other hand, it would not have a chance against the Ford with dual high pressure turbos (EcoBoost).

The Durango (and Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler Aspen) is a platform share with my SUV, the Benz GL-350. It brings its own drivetrain, but has the same suspension and unibody. It shares the same (totally awesome) towing characteristics, but I don't know whether it has the tow-stability trons.

If you want a new truck buy a new truck. Any half ton on the market will pull these boats. If you're looking for something to just tow the boat around; Buy and old 1/2 or 3/4 ton for less than six months worth of new truck payments and buy a new car for a daily driver. You'll still come out spending less money short term on the vehicle and less money every week on gas. Its funny how we forget the REAL difference in gassing up a car $60 vrs gassing up a 1/2 ton $100. Thats about $80/month thats $960/a thats $4800 per lease/financing term, and thats that used truck you bought.

Seeing Longfellow quoted in a thread with the "Big. Horn Package" is what makes this Forum.......special....

My 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee does not.

mastreb wrote:The Durango (and Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler Aspen) is a platform share with my SUV, the Benz GL-350. It brings its own drivetrain, but has the same suspension and unibody. It shares the same (totally awesome) towing characteristics, but I don't know whether it has the tow-stability trons.

yukonbob wrote:If you want a new truck buy a new truck. Any half ton on the market will pull these boats. If you're looking for something to just tow the boat around; Buy and old 1/2 or 3/4 ton for less than six months worth of new truck payments and buy a new car for a daily driver. You'll still come out spending less money short term on the vehicle and less money every week on gas. Its funny how we forget the REAL difference in gassing up a car $60 vrs gassing up a 1/2 ton $100. Thats about $80/month thats $960/a thats $4800 per lease/financing term, and thats that used truck you bought.

People can pretty excited about mileage - Last time I was tempted, I figured if I bought a new truck that ran on air, it take me about 20 years of savings on gas to pay off the difference in price between what I paid for the old one and what I paid for the new one.

But then I only use the truck as a tow beastie, not for picking up groceries...

- Nick

..and, without getting too political - you can never be greener than re-purposing (buying used) an old truck over the most efficient new truck...

Might consider me as a Red Neck Trailer Sailor.
Been Hauling my Macx across state may times with my new 4 yr old tandem axel with front disk stainless steel breaks and replaced axels 2 years ago because spray painted brackets to hold disk breaks rusted thru.
Those who go Tandem, make sure the brackets are galvanized, reject them if not.
The brackets are the flat plate that connects the brake to plate, most of these brackets are a after thought and are not galvanized.
I still Haul my MacX with a 1999 f150 extended cab with 6 cylinder 4.3 liter, standard trans. rated at 2000 lbs max tow.
I think the reason Ford rated the standard trans at 2000 towing is to many people dumped their boats at the ramp.
Dave

If you have parking for a 3rd vehicle, I totally concur that you should just buy a decade old diesel pickup to tow the Mac and stay with whatever car you drive. Buying ANY vehicle to do everything is going to do nothing well--much like our boats. But with boats, owning more than one is an excessive waste, whereas owning multiple vehicle is not necessarily.

It's all about total cost. If you can pick up a decade old truck for $3000, spend $300 for the year of towing, vice getting half the mileage every day which will cost you $2500/year, then you're better off with a 3rd vehicle.

And I'm all about 4WD for putting into ramps. With all the slime at low tide in San Diego I would NEVER rely on rear wheel drive only to pull a trailer out. You can't even safely walk on the wet ramps without slipping here.

Mastreb,
There are exceptions, one is to have a tadem axel trailer with the much longer toung were your rear tires are never in the water.
Other is having the Duel tractshion on both rear tires (anti slip or semi slip on Trucks).
I have never had my rear wheels in the water at any ramp I launch at.
Tho I have a 1999 F150 with standard trans. with V6 4.2 litter engine, would be much easier to have a automatic trans.
I think the MacX or M trailer is not equipped for towing these boats and both should have tandem axels with the longer 4 ft. length on hitch.
Remember proper toung weight is 10% of total trailer weight, In my case it's 480 lbs.
480 lbs. puts a lot of weight on those rear tires so they don't spin while hauling out.
Dave


And I'm all about 4WD for putting into ramps. With all the slime at low tide in San Diego I would NEVER rely on rear wheel drive only to pull a trailer out. You can't even safely walk on the wet ramps without slipping here.[/quote]