Vehicle and trailer to tow Freedom 225

[Vic H]

Currently our boat is in rack storage and that works well for us most of the time, since we primarily use it on the Indian River near our home. Last week we drove to the keys to visit friends and wished we had the boat with us. Since then, I have been researching tow vehicles and trailers.

1. Will a vehicle with a 6K lb. tow rating be up to the task of towing our 225 from east central florida to the keys and back safely? Keep in mind, it is on flat ground using US1, I95, and the FL Turnpike. I have narrowed my choice to a new or used BMW X5 diesel since it would replace our only vehicle and it delivers 26mpg hwy. The other vehicles I looked at use too much fuel for everyday use, so we would need a second vehicle if I chose one of them. Also, the BMW would be very comfortable for driving long distances non-towing. It has a 6,000 lb. tow rating.

2. Does anyone have experience with Float On trailers? They are made less than 30 miles from where we live, so they would be convenient for trailer service or repairs. Also, our Grady dealer sells them. I am also considering Owens and Sons (slide on) trailers, but driving to St. Petersburg, FL for pickup and service would be much more difficult.

I believe our boat weighs about 5K lbs. with full fuel. The Float On trailer sized for our boat weighs 724 lbs. We would tow to the keys and back with as little fuel as possible, buying and burning boat fuel in the keys. Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[wspitler]

Should be fine. Diesels have more torque. Recommend surge or electric disk brakes on both trailer axles. Also torsion axles have better longevity in salt water and I prefer them over springs. Good luck.

 

[Parthery]

Vic,

I replied to your post on THT.

The biggest issue the X5 will have is the short wheelbase and stopping the trailer at interstate speeds....for short tows, I think you would be fine. Hauling it down I-95 or the Turnpike and through South Florida traffic is another story.

For comparison, my 225 with 1/4-1/2 tank of fuel scales out around 6300 lbs.

 

[family affair]

X2 with parthery.
It would be a little different if you said an F150 (for example) since it can be equipped to haul 11000 lbs + and you opted for the least powerful engine. The chassis and most other components have the potential to handle a lot more load. I would guess BMW does not have optional equipment on the same platform to increase towing capacity beyond 6k.

I also know from personal experience with numerous vehicles that hauling to the max towing capacity often results in atrocious acceleration making freeway driving stressful.

 

[wrxhoon]

I have a 228G and she is 6600 lbs including aluminum ACE trailer, I tow with a Landcruiser 4.5 TTD (twin turbo diesel) , you only have the 5.7 petrol in USA. Not as frugal as the X5 without towing but still gets around the 24 MPG, that goes down to 12-14 with the trailer behind but tows it very easy and she stops well with the electric over hydraulic Kodiak full Stainless steel brakes on all four ( that's the law here).
The X5 will tow your boat Ok ( just) on short trips but I wouldn't like to tow very far for two reasons. The chassis on X5 is not up to it to tow heavy loads and driveline will suffer if you tow often.
You need a heavier vehicle like a pick up truck to do it safely and less effort on the tow truck, the penalty is more fuel ( gas or diesel , diesel more economical ).
I'm very surprised the trailer weighs only 724 lbs, must be very light duty, mine weighs 1100 lbs.
I would have brakes ( at the very least surge on one axle) regardless of what the tow vehicle is.

 

[Vic H]

Thanks everyone, you have given me a lot to think about. I checked with Uhaul and the F150s they rent can only tow 5,600 lb., so no help there. I just read where Chrysler is coming out with a new diesel Grand Cherokee that can tow over 7,000 lb. BMW is re-designing the X5 for 2014, so maybe they will up the tow rating. Volkswagen makes a diesel version of the Toureg that tows over 7,200 lb. with a shorter wheelbase than the BMWX5 (go figure).

We still would like to only own one vehicle to save on insurance, maintenance, depreciation etc., so it will have to be comfortable enough to meets our long distance travel needs. For now, I plan to wait until after hurricane season and re-evaluate tow vehicles when the new models come out.

Thanks again,

 

[noXcuse]

I pull my 22 Seafarer with hardtop and curtains with my Nissan Pathfinder and a 4.0 V-6. One issue that you WILL run into. It has independent rear suspension with coil springs. So does my Pathfinder. I bought some air bags from Air Lift. Without them, my truck squatted so bad that it rode on the bumpstops. It too has a 6,000 tow rating and 600 lb tongue weight rating. The truck pulls it without hesitation. It stops just fine too. Matter of fact, I need to adjust the surge brakes on the trailer to apply less brakes. As long as the trailer brakes are good, you should be fine. Oh, something else to think about. The tires on the truck are mist likely going to be standard load ratings. You're going to need to step up to some better tires that will handle the load. They will probably support the weight, but the rear if the truck will sway pretty good. Feels kinda scary. I also had that problem. Basically, you'll need better tires, airbags, and good trailer brakes.

 

[family affair]

If you are looking for a vehicle to get you there without buying, try a Toyota dealer. 3 years ago I rented an extended cab 5.7 Tundra to bring our Voyager back from Florida. The truck is a beast of a half ton! I actually forgot on several occasions that I had 7500 lbs behind me. The price was very reasonable too.

Your decision to wait is wise. A 7k+ tow rating would be a much better choice.

Happy hunting.

Nox,

Sounds like you have waaaayyyy too much tongue weight!

 

[noXcuse]

Nox,

Sounds like you have waaaayyyy too much tongue weight!

I don't think so. I even moved the boat back a few inches on the trailer. My brothers 2013 Chevy 1500's suspension doesn't flinch pulling this boat. The Pathfinder is more made for comfort, not towing. Yea it has the tow package, but with coil springs, it's just not made for it. I bought the truck two years ago after a tree fell on my car during a hurricane. It's more or less the wife's and family ride. I bought the boat this past winter. One day I'll get me a real truck. Kinda hard buying a truck right now with the hefty mortgage that I pay, versus the money I make. lol.

Vic H., sorry for the thread hijack.

 

[Bigfoot]

X5 no way!

Minimum 1/2 ton or Tahoe, etc.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

I dont know much about the X5 but it is not much bigger than my 2008 4 Runner. Towing is easy, stopping is the trick especially on the Interstate. my 4 Runner is rated at 7,500 pounds with its V8 and while I can tow my 228 with it, I do not. I tow it with my Tundra with 5.7 liter and 14 inch disc brakes all around. Of course the trailer has brakes too. I have family in Titusville and take my grady from the nc mountains in April and fish out of the port. I tow it to the Keys and know that route like the back of my hand. Vehicles are often rated to tow x thousand pounds and they can but they are often designed to be really long haul work horses like a F150 or Tundra. Around Brevard County or maybe over to the St. Johns River that X5 would be fine I think. Longer highway miles you may be fine in the short run but will the towing takes it toll on the brakes and transmission? Perhaps, Perhaps not.

Maybe you could find a disel expidition around or something bigger with a longer wheel base like Brian said.