Do these things tow???

[Firecat]

Does any know how the new Ford Explorers or GMC Acadias tow?
I'm concerned about hooking my 20 ft pulsare up to a vehicle with no frame under it.
They say they are rated for 5000 & 5200 lbs with the factory tow packages installed, but do they really handle this kind of weight.
I'd like to go down the road with confidence that we're safe and sure that I can reach my destination without blowing something up!
I've had a full size SUV for a long time, but I don't need a huge vehicle at this point in my life---- until I want to tow something.
I'm guessing my boat and sled trailers are no more than 4000 lbs tops.
I can buy a new Acadia for what I'd pay for a used full size anything SUV.
Any advise or experience you could share would be appreciated.

 

[Sam I am]

I dunno...Those things weigh close to 5000 pounds themselves without people or gear and then add in boat and trailer...that's a lot for V6. Just sayin'.

 

[1989checkmate]

This is off track of what your wanting to know, but where do you snowmobile at?

 

[sim]

This is off track of what your wanting to know, but where do you snowmobile at?

 

[horseplay1]

We used to pull our 240 baja with a ford explorer always did fine!

 

[jumbofordman]

We pulled a 19' baja with a BBC and a tandem axle trailer with a Jeep Cherokee (no frame) and it did adequately.

 

[Firecat]

Western New York.
Trips to Ontario and Old Forge sometimes.
Not much snow the last 2 winters.

 

[knarloid]

For what it's worth, our 2008 Toyota Highlander 3.5v6 tows the 21ft Starliner no problem.
Plenty of grunt when I need it, and just drive cautiously. I've racked up about 1500 miles towing it this season.

Not sure about the frame setup (afraid to ask Google around here).

 

[atc250r]

The highlander is a unibody as is the Acadia. I wouldn't worry about it as long as the hitch and vehicle are rated for it. If you're really worried you can have a brake system put on the trailer to get it slowed down.

 

[knarloid]

Highlander is rated for 5000lb, with the correct hitch (I hope!).

I reckon I'm at the max size boat for this tow vehicle - but then I love the Starliner, so no plans to change anytime soon.
.....famous last words - I'm on my second Checkmate in 18mths!

 

[john lamon]

I tow with a Ford Flex 3.5 V6 which is around the same size as your talking, the newer V6's are pretty peppy, it has no problem with the boats, even tows the ZT 219 I/O easily, what kind of sled trailer do you have? open or closed? while mine tows the boats very easy a closed two place sled trailer is another story, even empty any kind of wind and it's like trying to drive with a parachute back there, open sled trailers are fine.

I was surprised by how well the Flex did with the big ZT so I took a little video of it on take off, stopping is also good as the trailer has brakes, this boat would be a lot heavier than your 2000, and no I'm not going 120 MPH, the speedo is in km/h, lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dedlyYGWrYA&feature=plcp

 

[1989checkmate]

Western New York.
Trips to Ontario and Old Forge sometimes.
Not much snow the last 2 winters.

We ride in the U.P.

 

[atc250r]

+1 on what John said. Even empty my 3 place enclosed is a lot of drag and its a V nose so that helps but not that much. My guess is the shape of the boat and the fact that it tucks in behind the truck for the most part helps a lot. I lose about 2mpg towing the sled trailer with a couple of sleds in it compared to towing the boat. Oh, and what you'll have to be careful for is a cross wind with a boat behind a light vehicle.

John

 

[Firecat]

Thanks for all the replys.
Looks like I may be down sizing my tow vehicle.

Now if I could just downsize the toys I need to
tow around.
Well, one thing at a time.

Well, what fun would that be.

Thanks

 

[MindBLOWER]

Maybe an occasional short tow under 3500lbs would be ok, but I would not make a habit of towing very often w/ a fwd or awd V-6 w/ no rearend or frame.

 

[Jetmate]

Most of the GM V6's have plenty of power, don't know about the Fords. I have had three GM 3.8's in my automobiles, and they are rockets.



.

 

[ianz]

I owned an Acadia. It was rates at 5000 or 5500 lb towing capacity. It tows okay. The most I towed was about 3500 and I would say that is the limit. The 6speed transmission is geared very high so towing resulted in alot of shifting. Also the brakes are a litttle weak (IMO). Also surprizingly bad on fuel when towing.

I did tow 2 snowmobiles many times in snow and bad conditons and had zero issues. It actually surprized me how good it was in the snow with just regular tires.

I would say if you wanted to pull a sled trailer or boat rig in the 3000 lb. range it would be perfect.