Can your SUV handle the load?

For new boat owners, it may come as a surprise that securing a mooring slip in a harbour such as Thornbury’s is akin to spotting a bargain in the housing market. In any case, many choose to trailer their boats to wherever the fish are biting and their friends are playing.

The question, especially for new boat owners, is, how do you haul that gleaming toy safely?

While full-frame pickup trucks such as the Ram 1500 and GMC Sierra are ideally equipped for towing big weights, some people prefer the versatility of a sport-utility vehicle (SUV). After weekend outings, they can unhitch the trailer to maximize the “utility” function, hauling the kids to soccer practice, taking the dog to a hiking trail, shopping for groceries.

However, if the SUV lacks the towing capacity to transport the boat-and-trailer, drivers invite big trouble. The Internet gleefully houses plenty of video showing SUVs sliding down boat ramps, SUVs and their boat trailers flipping over on roads, trailers swaying across the highway. Nearly half of all accidents involving recreational vehicles, which includes boat-and-trailer rigs, are single-vehicle incidents, reports the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

“A lot of our sales process is matching the customer to the lifestyle,” says Joe Donoghue, marketing manager for United City Yachts, the national brokerage network that includes Georgian Bay Yacht Sales. “If you want to bring the boat to different places on the weekend, that’s when the conversation begins on the vehicle. Do you have enough towing capacity?”

How Much Tow Capacity is Enough?

An SUV’s engine, transmission, brakes, cooling system and wheel bearings all come under extraordinary pressure when towing. The tow capacity in simple terms is the maximum weight your SUV can safely haul including the trailer, boat, and everything on it. The calculations can be complicated; however, experts generally recommend that, for safety, you should plan to haul no more than 85 percent of your vehicle’s rated towing capacity.

Most manufacturers’ websites list towing capacity in their specs, although the sure bet is to verify the information with the sticker on the driver’s side door. The key numbers are:

• Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR): the total poundage a vehicle can weigh while moving, including occupants and all cargo.
• Gross combined weight rating (GCWR): the maximum total weight of your SUV, trailer-and-boat, plus all cargo and fuel, combined.

“I always tell people, whatever you’re towing, go for overkill,” says Paul Dollemont, general sales manager at Blue Mountain Chrysler, Collingwood. “Get way more towing capacity than what’s needed. If you’re towing a 3,000-pound boat, double it.”

Choosing the Right Vehicle

Unlike pickups, SUVs and crossovers come in a head-spinning variety from compacts (Honda HR-V) to mid-sized (Ford Explorer) to luxury (Land Rover Range Rover) to massive haulers (Jeep Grand Wagoneer).

Their ability to tow varies accordingly and often depends on trim level. For example, a Chevrolet Tahoe comes in six different trims, with three engine choices and towing capacities ranging from 2,903 to 3,810 kilograms (6,400 to 8,400 pounds). A Grand Cherokee, with 11 trims, can tow between 2,812 and 3,266 kilograms (6,200 to 7,200 pounds).

“Just because two vehicles side-by-side look identical, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are capable of towing the same weight,” says Dollemont, so double-check the trailering specs of your particular model and trim.

Tongue Weight and Tires

Another important factor to consider is tongue weight, the downward force exerted onto the hitch by a fully loaded trailer.

Tongue weight should be between 10 and 15 percent of the loaded trailer weight; for example, 200 to 300 kilograms for a trailer weighing 2,000 kilograms. How cargo is placed relative to the axles will affect tongue weight. A tongue weight that is too light may cause trailer-swaying. Too heavy, and braking will be affected.

“Overall the most common issue with SUVs towing is exceeding their GCWR due to downward tongue weight of the trailer,” OPP Constable Colin J. Watson of the Collingwood detachment wrote in an email.

Tires are another issue. “Most drivers are unaware that tires are rated not only for wear, but weight,” Constable Watson says. “There is a capacity rating on the sidewall of the tire, which indicates how much weight it can handle. SUVs usually are fitted with tires for smooth rides, handling applications, and fuel efficiency. They are usually not intended for heavy loads or towing.”

If your SUV doesn’t have capacity for hauling the boat, it can be retrofitted in various ways to make it more suitable, such as adding a bigger radiator, beefier tires, a better hitch, and other fixes. But you might be looking at a trade-in, considering everything.

The bottom line: Before hitching your new boat to an SUV, ask an expert. Making the wrong choice will risk voiding your vehicle warranty and compromise safety. Or worse, get you a starring role in one of those Internet videos.