FWD tow vehicle

[Captain Kidd]

I'm thinking about upgrading my tow vehicle. I've been driving a mid-size SUV with 4wd. In looking around, I see some attractive deals on some used fwd vehicles of the same class (i.e. highlander, CX-9, etc).

Would you be comfortable towing (actually retrieving) a 2000 lbs sailboat with 2' draft with such a tow vehicle?

[Timm R Oday25]

I wouldn't be comfortable with just front wheel drive at the ramp .
The only plus I can see is the wheels doing the pulling are up in front ,usually on dry pavement .
My experiences have shown me that ramps are usually wet and covered with algae and seaweed from  quite some distance from the waters edge ,
I'd rather have the tongue weight of the trailer pushing down on the axle that is doing the pulling .
One could suppose the angle of the ramp and condition of the ramp itself will affect the tow vehicles ability to draw the boat out of the water ,
Our boat weighs somewhere well north of 5000 pounds will not come out of the water without 4 wheel drive ,sometimes in 4 wheel low on concrete .

[Charles Brennan]

I agree with Timm, R. and can add my experience with a '93 Buick with FWD.  The trailer tongue weight pushing down on the rear bumper, (especially when angled on a ramp) tends to want to lift the front end just enough to reduce the front wheel drive traction.  As a result, you can slip, even if there is not algae where the wheels are.
We've all seen guys standing on the rear bumper of a truck, to get enough traction to pull a boat out of the water.  The same thing happens with FWD, except now you have people sitting on the sides of the hood above the wheels.  They sat on the sides, so as not to get run over, if they fell off;    not an ideal situation.

Critics might point out that a 5,000 lb boat like Timm references, is not in the same league as a 2,000 lb boat, but my experience says otherwise. 
The FWD example I cited, was on my 18' Windrose.  At the time, I had a 2 person Ford Ranger pickup truck.  When we wanted to take the whole family sailing, we had to take the Buick.  We had enough near-misses with the Buick, that we finally resorted to me using the Ranger to bring the Windrose 18 to the ramp by myself, and the family meeting up with me at the ramp, in the Buick.

One guy's experiences,
Charles Brennan

[Frank B.]

Is it 2000?  boat, trailer, and stuff.  Be sure to consider the tow weight and gross combined (includes tow weight and vehicle weight loaded) against the ratings for whatever you target as your new vehicle. I've no real experience towing or retrieving with modern front wheel drive uniboxes.  I sometimes tow my skiff with a Subaru Outback which is AWD and that tow is only an estimated 1200 lbs. I tow the sailboat which I estimate at 5000 lbs. total with a 2007 RWD Tacoma with tow pack, rated at 6500 and 11,500 gross combined. I'm not close to either ratings but would not want to be any closer than I am.  In about fifty launch and retrieves, at a few steep and nasty ramps, I've never had a problem getting out but proper tongue weight and keeping about 400 lbs in the bed help with this I'm sure.

[Brian N.]

There were a couple of years when I used a Volvo sedan to tow my P165 (trailer and boat probably near 1000 lbs). A few times I had my family sit on the hood to pull the boat out (in hindsight, not very smart). Currently use a 2020 Subaru Outback which is more than enough (I believe the tow capacity is 2700 lbs) but more importantly it is AWD.

[Captain Kidd]

There were a couple of years when I used a Volvo sedan to tow my P165 (trailer and boat probably near 1000 lbs). A few times I had my family sit on the hood to pull the boat out (in hindsight, not very smart). Currently use a 2020 Subaru Outback which is more than enough (I believe the tow capacity is 2700 lbs) but more importantly it is AWD.

I guess the Outback has a CVT transmission? Does that concern you?

[pgandw]

Substantially bigger and heavier, but I had to have my Ford full-size station wagon (RWD) pulled up the ramp once trying to retrieve my ODay 25.  I bought a 4WD Suburban to replace, and never had any problems afterwards.  Having seen the difference, even DW will not allow boat launching/retrieving without AWD.  We traded in our minivan on our present Palisade for just that reason.  Even though the minivan rode smoother and was a better family vehicle.

Fred W
19ft Carolina Skiff LS
Mariner 19  Sweet P

[Captain Kidd]

The obvious answer is, to be safe, 4wd or awd is best. My choice might depend on whether I decide to keep the Hunter. If I do, I think I need to take the "safe" option. If I sell and just sail my CIY, I believe I can tow with fwd without concern.

[noelH]

Watched a guy try pulling his larger trailer sailboat up the ramp one Autumn pull out season. Even with the texture on the ramp he was spinning. He needed to engage into 4x4. Maybe bad tires? Ramp is usually a bit slimy by Autumn. Friend only has a rear wheel drive full size truck. He has water ballast in the box to make life a bit easier. FWD, could be an issue.

My truck replaced the AWD smaller SUV. Working towing issue. Vela is below the Maximum Tow Capacity. Emphasis on Maximum. But just barely. Mechanics emphasized MAX and noted consider working capacity. I had an excuse for a new truck. They sort of knew. Was eyeballing the row of full size 4x4s with std cab and full size box for a few months.

[Roland of Macatawa]

I would discourage using a FWD-only vehicle to retrieve your boat and trailer up the ramp.

I tow a ~2000lb boat & trailer package with a mid-size cross-over SUV.
The SUV is rated for towing 3500 lb.
It is equipped with 3L-V6, 6spd-AT,
    and 3 selectable drive train modes:
        FWD, Auto-AWD, Locked-4WD for low speeds only.
I use the FWD mode for general towing.
But, I always use the Locked-4WD when pulling the boat and trailer up the ramp.

[noelH]

Going off topic. For a pickup truck always wanted a front wheel drive truck with a manual transfer case to engage 4x4 when needed. Right now the truck is the exact opposite. Before investing in a full set of real ice and snow tires even with "traction control" experience a bit of tail wiggle transitioning off the highway onto the steep initial section of township road. Or worst. Traction control is great until both wheels stop moving.  Truck has a switch to manual disengage the traction control. But I just engage 4x4 high or low for the rest of the climb to the driveway. Which prior to the ice and snow tires then required 4x4 if not engaged. The traction of the so called all season tires stinks with the minimal weight over the rear drive wheels. Why FWD seems to make more sense on a pickup if you have the option to engage 4x4.  IIRC, VW mini pickup was FWD?