Which Toyotas Can Tow Boats?
Which Toyotas Can Tow Boats?
Do you dream of owning your own fishing boat so you can cast a line at the crack of dawn? Or do you wish you could set sail for the entire day, going wherever the wind takes you? Living so close to the water has many Sunshine Coast residents dreaming of owning their own boat and getting out on the open water. However, before you’re able to spend the day at sea, you’ll need to determine what kind of boat your vehicle can actually tow.
Do your research - know which vehicle and boat combination is right for you
Determining the right vehicle needed to tow your boat is a bit of a delicate balance but it all comes down to simple math. To calculate the size of boat that your vehicle can tow (towing capacity), you have to consider both the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and Gross Combined Mass (GCM) as listed by the manufacturer of the vehicle.
The GVM is the maximum that your vehicle can weigh when fully loaded with passengers, luggage, fuel etc. and the GCM refers to the total mass of the vehicle and whatever you’re towing including the boat and trailer – as well as any gear and supplies inside the boat and vehicle.
When trying to figure out optimal boat, trailer and vehicle combinations, the Gross Vehicle Mass needs to be subtracted from the Gross Combined Mass. This will leave you with the maximum towing weight that the vehicle can handle. However, this remaining total will need to take into account the trailer, the boat, the motor, and any equipment and supplies that will be carried inside the boat when it’s on the trailer.
What kind of boats can Toyotas tow?
Toyota has a full line up of vehicles that make getting away for the day or the weekend a breeze. While even some of their smaller sedans are able to tow boat and trailer combinations such as kayaks, dinghies and other lightweight watercraft, Toyota 4WDs and SUVs are more commonly used for towing boat trailers. While individual model specs can cause towing capacity ratings to fluctuate, the list below notes some of Toyota’s most popular towing vehicles along with an idea of the types of boats that would work best for each.
How big a boat can a Toyota RAV4 tow?
With a towing capacity of 1,500 kg, the Toyota RAV4 should have no problem towing a small- medium fishing boat and trailer providing the total weight of the boat, trailer, motor, fuel and all other gear in the boat does not exceed 1,500 kg.
How big a boat can a Toyota Kluger tow?
The Toyota Kluger can tow boat and trailer combinations that fall under the listed towing capacity of 2,000 kg. Examples of these could be medium - large aluminium fishing boats, smaller pontoon or deck boats, or a small ski boat.
How big a boat can a Toyota Prado tow?
As the Toyota Prado has a towing capacity of 3,000 kg, it can tow boat models in the fishing, ski, pontoon and sailboat categories providing the total weight of the boat, trailer, fuel and all of the gear loaded inside the boat doesn’t exceed the listed towing capacity limit.
How big a boat can a Toyota Fortuner tow?
With a similar towing capacity (3,100 kg) to the Prado, the Toyota Fortuner would be able to tow similar types of boats but can handle a little more fuel or gear added onto the load.
How big a boat can a Toyota HiLux tow?
The Toyota HiLux has a towing capacity of 3,500 kg which means it should easily be able to handle any aluminium fishing boat, ski boat, pontoon boat, as well as most speed boats and medium sailboats.
How big a boat can a Toyota Landcruiser tow?
Like the HiLux, the LandCruiser also has a towing capacity of 3,500 kg meaning it can also tow boat and trailer combinations in the fishing, skiing, pontoon, sailing and speed boat categories providing the listed towing capacity weight limit is not exceeded once the boat and trailer are loaded up with all of the necessary gear.
Towing a boat safely is your first priority
As with towing any type of trailer, boat owners must make safety their number one priority. It’s imperative that boat owners research the towing regulations for their own state and pay close attention to the towing recommendations set forth by the vehicle manufacturer. Boat owners should also make a habit of checking the following before setting out:
- Double check all electrical connections to ensure that trailer lights are functioning properly
- Inspect trailer tyre pressure and ensure that tyres have adequate tread depth for the conditions you will be driving in
- Triple check that your boat is properly secured to the trailer and that the boat is positioned correctly to achieve the right balance on the trailer (in general 60% of the boat’s weight should be resting on the front half of the trailer)
- Be sure that you have the right length of safety chains and that they are secured safely to both the tow bar and the trailer.