Class three trailer hitch

K

ken 120

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C Dory Year
2001
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Looking to purchase a Toyota 4-runner-Rated to tow 5000 pounds with a 500 pound tongue weight-Has a class three hitch which should handle towing a 22 just fine.

Anyone tow with a class three or a 4 runner with a class 3?

Thanks

Ken
 
Ken,

I had a Toyota Tacoma, 1998 I believe it was, (gone now), that I towed my 22 Cruiser with. I brought it home, about 5 miles from where we found it, and I towed it to the boat mechanics, about 60 miles RT. I did the job, on the level. On the ramp, (one time) it worked in 4WD Low, pulling up the ramp with the load on. Again, doing the job, but getting up and pulling are not the whole issue. S T O P P I NG is the most important factor, and I firmly believe that would have been a problem had I needed a full on emergency stop, even with the surge brakes on the trailer. IMHO the Tacoma was too light. The 4-runner will weigh in slightly more than my P/U was, but only a marginal difference. Too bad, cause I loved that little PU. Of course, I like my Tundra pretty much too.

As to the Class 3 hitch, It will do the job easy, if it is on according to manufacturer specs.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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We have a Honda Pilot that we do limited towing with, has class 3 hitch. Had plenty of power for it and launching fine. However any long distance towing between our 2 houses, Sacramento to Camano Island is done with out Nissan Titan. I used to do the same trip with the newer Tacomas rated at 6500# class 4 hitch and that was just fine also.
 
For awhile I towed my 22 with an Isuzu Trooper. It was rated for 5000 lbs towing. It's a bit heavier than a 4-runner (5500lbs vs 4500lbs) but also had a bit less horse power than a modern 4-runner (212 vs 270). I never really had any problems towing with the Trooper but it would lug a little on steep roads.
 
We towed our C Dory22 over some of the passes out of S. Calif. with a Honda Pilot--no problem. We even use the pilot for manuevering larger boats around our yard, or very short distances.
 
I wish my full sized bronco would tow my cd 22 better. Everytime I pull it with it, I am disappointed at how much it wanders around. Any wind or bumps and the thing is all over the place. It is more annoying than it is dangerous and there is no trouble with power with the 5.8 liter V8. But it just doesn't tow anywhere as nice as the 7.5 liter V8 F-250 HD I have which is unfortunate as the Bronco holds far more people. Do you guys think it is because of the Bronco's really short wheelbase or because my boat is on a single axle trailer? I think I am missing something as you guys are always telling me how great your short wheel based SUVs tow and mine is just marginal. What gives?

But to answer the original poster's question, I think that vehicle would be sufficient in a lot of situations. However, I do think it could be marginal if it was predominantly used in windy and or bumpy conditions. I also think it would get old towing with it over long distances. My brother has one and always said it used to tow ok towing his 21 foot ski boat (3000 pounds or so). I think "used" to is imperative....he now tows it with his 2009 f-150......
 
My guess is that if you are having significant wandering that the problem is either too much tongue weight or not enough rear suspension. I will say that I did add air springs to my Trooper and this made a significant difference in overall handling. You might consider adding air springs to your Bronco.
 
rogerbum":10hk6km4 said:
My guess is that if you are having significant wandering that the problem is either too much tongue weight or not enough rear suspension. I will say that I did add air springs to my Trooper and this made a significant difference in overall handling. You might consider adding air springs to your Bronco.
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I think a better way to deal with this problem is to shift the boat on the trailer fore or aft while observing the tongue weight. I had it done on my Tom Cat and it made a huge difference. My 22 is very light on the tongue so I need to move it up a few inches.

I went the air bag route too with my Dodge and learned later that the main application is to support heavy weights in the bed of the truck (e.g., campers), not towing. They did not do much for my Tom Cat porpoising problem until I moved the boat on the trailer. Maybe your Trooper needed air bags too -- I don't know.

Warren
 
We had a c22 cruiser about 3800-4000lb on single axcel trailer We had no problem towing with a Mazda mpv(96) then upgraded to a Honda Pilot (4whl) also 4500lb tow rating This was the best tow vehicle Ive ever owned . We now have a Toyota Sequoia (07) 6500lb to tow a venture cc23 about 5000lb .

The newer 4 runner should be no problem in fact the 06-08 hada v-8 option (4.7) with a 7000lb rating .

Buying a Truck ,SUV , or van to tow is a big investment towing 3500lb- 4500lb should not be a problem for a lot of mid-size vehicles You don't need a massive truck that gets 10mpg to tow a c-22 unless you just like having a big truck and you have other uses for it JMHO
 
The Bronco was a nice tow vehicle for short hops to the launch but with it's short wheelbase its not the best towing for rain ,snow etc and very busy at hwy speeds . Short wheelbase truck ,SUv are not good for long hauls

WE owned a 89 Bronco with 351 v-8 4whl drive it would pull a house but for long hauls it was way to bouncy and terrible mpg got rid of it
 
We towed our loaded CD 22 all over the West with a 1989? Pathfinder, rated for only 3500-4000? lb, with no problem at all. We had the higher-grade suspension, which definitely makes a difference. It actually worked a little better than our 1994 Trooper, the rear springs of which were too soft. Guess we could have added air bags to the Trooper, but didn't try that.

Getting the tongue weight right (not too light: 7-10% of total trailer weight) is key to avoiding sway and keeping the trailer under control. For the tow vehicle, more weight, longer wheelbase, adequate suspension with good shocks, and rear tires pumped to the max rated pressure are keys. Pump the trailer tires to max as well.

The 4-runner should work well, if set up correctly (tongue weight, tire pressures, etc).
 
I'm way too busy right now to do this, but if often thought before that it would be fun to make up a chart of three columns:

1. Factors that make a towing rig/vehicle/trailer less stable, and therefore:

2. Factors that make a towing rig/vehicle/trailer more stable, and then:

3. Corrective steps to be taken and/or accessories to add to reach greater stability.

Could be done a variety of ways, and could be separated into tow vehicle and trailer factors as well. Would probably become a good analytical tool in the process.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
jennykatz":3j8wp0t2 said:
The Bronco was a nice tow vehicle for short hops to the launch but with it's short wheelbase its not the best towing for rain ,snow etc and very busy at hwy speeds . Short wheelbase truck ,SUv are not good for long hauls

WE owned a 89 Bronco with 351 v-8 4whl drive it would pull a house but for long hauls it was way to bouncy and terrible mpg got rid of it
Click to expand...

That is my experience too. The four-runner is much better from what I have heard. The funny thing is is that my bronco will pull my car trailer with a car/truck on it just fine (7000 pounds or so with EQ hitch). The boat, well it is another story for some reason. Thanks for the input.
 
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