towing challenger 1800

[cjb]

Hi all.

Has anyone ever weighted a 97 or similar challenger 1800? I just got this boat and i need to go out shopping for a small SUV that will tow it. I know the dry weight is about 1900 lbs but i will like to know that will the weight be with all fluids in it. I am looking on getting a new Mazda CX7 and that SUV has a towing capacity of 2000 lbs but if im over by 200 or 300 I know is not going to be a big deal. I am trying to stay small since my wife will have to drive the SUV everyday about 40 mile round trip so it has to be good on gas.

Thanks.

 

[kustomkarl]

That 1900# won't include the cooler, equipment or misc. The 07-08 Mazda CX7 can handle a Class III Hitch, which is what I recomend. I am a Draw-Tite Hitch Dealer. The correct Part number for the proper hitch is, 75512, it has a 2 " square receiver. Gross Towing Weight for this Hitch is 3500#. Tongue Weight is 350# Retail price of the hitch is $195.42.


Your Vehicle should handle 3500 # towing capacity with no problems.

I hope this helps you out.

Karl

 

[DCKD]

It might not be a problem for straight towing....the only one I can forsee is launching issues. What are the launches like in your area? I have seen some pretty ugly things at boat launches. If you are cutting it close with towing capacity make sure that you at least have all wheel drive.

I tow my seadoo behind and Infiniti G35X and it has a dry weight of almost 800lbs so I am cutting it close as well. The car has no problem towing the Seadoo....but if i didn't have all wheel drive I don't think I would fare very well at some launches.

Hope that helps!

Matt

 

[DCKD]

Karl

That 1900# won't include the cooler, equipment or misc. The 07-08 Mazda CX7 can handle a Class III Hitch, which is what I recomend. I am a Draw-Tite Hitch Dealer. The correct Part number for the proper hitch is, 75512, it has a 2 " square receiver. Gross Towing Weight for this Hitch is 3500#. Tongue Weight is 350# Retail price of the hitch is $195.42.

I hope this helps you out.

Karl

Karl

Too bad I didn't know you were a hitch dealer sooner. It took me forever to find a hitch that would fit my car. I ended up going to U-haul....worst experience ever!:ack:

Matt

 

[kustomkarl]

Matt, I couldn't install your trailer hitch, but i could recommend what one to get.

Karl

 

[DCKD]

U-Haul

Thats true...I ended up getting one by Kurt Manufacturing through U-Haul. The hitch is not the problem...the installation was. It was terrible. I ended up going to the BBB and still haven't really heard anything. U-haul costomer service just ignored me and refused to compensate me for the butchering they did to my bumper. If you can try and prevent the people you sell hitches to from getting them installed at U-Haul. If you want to see picutres I would be gald to post!

Matt

 

[kustomkarl]

Well I compete with U Haul... All the hitches I sell, I install for free. I sell Kurt Hitches too, if i'm in a jam time wise..The originial owner of the Kurt Hitch company lives in my town local, so he got me in direct to Kurt.

Karl

 

[cjb]

That 1900# won't include the cooler, equipment or misc. The 07-08 Mazda CX7 can handle a Class III Hitch, which is what I recomend. I am a Draw-Tite Hitch Dealer. The correct Part number for the proper hitch is, 75512, it has a 2 " square receiver. Gross Towing Weight for this Hitch is 3500#. Tongue Weight is 350# Retail price of the hitch is $195.42.


Your Vehicle should handle 3500 # towing capacity with no problems.

I hope this helps you out.

Karl

Thanks Karl..

What about a 2008 Nissan Rogue. They have nice deals on the AWD models going on now. Thar little SUV gets 21city 26 hwy.

 

[cjb]

It might not be a problem for straight towing....the only one I can forsee is launching issues. What are the launches like in your area? I have seen some pretty ugly things at boat launches. If you are cutting it close with towing capacity make sure that you at least have all wheel drive.

I tow my seadoo behind and Infiniti G35X and it has a dry weight of almost 800lbs so I am cutting it close as well. The car has no problem towing the Seadoo....but if i didn't have all wheel drive I don't think I would fare very well at some launches.

Hope that helps!

Matt

Well i think ramps around here are well maintained (Miami FL). There's a few of them that are kind of steep but the cx7 been a FWD i think it will be better than a RWD on steep ramps.

 

[kustomkarl]

For the 08 Nissan Rogue Class III #75606 The same weight capacity 3500# and a 350# Tongue Weight, Retails for $174.64...has a 2" square recerver.

Karl

 

[cjb]

For the 08 Nissan Rogue Class III #75606 The same weight capacity 3500# and a 350# Tongue Weight, Retails for $174.64...has a 2" square recerver.

Karl

Nice.

Thanks

 

[kustomkarl]

The pricing could be a little different based on the dealer you buy it from but it is pretty close. The light harness might be in the vehicle, but could add more to the price. The ball, pin and clip too, might be extra too.

Karl

 

[gerapau]

Hi all.

Has anyone ever weighted a 97 or similar challenger 1800? I just got this boat and i need to go out shopping for a small SUV that will tow it. I know the dry weight is about 1900 lbs but i will like to know that will the weight be with all fluids in it. I am looking on getting a new Mazda CX7 and that SUV has a towing capacity of 2000 lbs but if im over by 200 or 300 I know is not going to be a big deal. I am trying to stay small since my wife will have to drive the SUV everyday about 40 mile round trip so it has to be good on gas.

Thanks.

Are you sure that that weight includes the trailer also? It seems a bit on the low side. My '08 speedster, which is only 15 feet long, weighs more than that with the trailer. If it is the dry weight of the boat alone then you should add between 600 and 1000 pounds more for the gross weight (including trailer/gas/equipment/etc...). The current challenger 1800 has a gross weight of almost 2900lbs.

As far as the CX9 is concerned, it can tow up to 3500lbs with an appropriate hitch.

EDIT - I mean CX7 above

 

[robertm]

Just because you can buy a hitch rated to tow more doesn't mean its ok to go over the manuf. tow ratings. If you ever get in an accident with a load over the manuf. specs you will be wide open to litigation. Additionally, those tow ratings may be the limit of what the tranny, dif etc can safely handle. If you go over that max amount you are sure to have mechanical problems down the road. Trannys are not cheap to rebuild.

Another thing to consider is what that small SUV is going to be like pulling ~3k pounds of boat and trailer with no trailer brakes. Personally I wouldn't want to do it. Pulling our challenger behind an F150 I can definitely feel it back there under breaking. Your emergancy brake distance will be HUGE with ~3k lbs behind a little suv.

You state 1900 lbs dry just for the boat. Don't forget about the trailer. What about all the fuel, life vests, tow toys, cooler etc? You will definitely be over 3k lbs. Its nuts to pull this behind a vehicle that is rated MAX 2000lbs. More than nuts, its criminal.

 

[gerapau]

Thanks Karl..

What about a 2008 Nissan Rogue. They have nice deals on the AWD models going on now. Thar little SUV gets 21city 26 hwy.

As far as I can see the Rogue is only rated to be able to tow 1500lbs (and that is with the tow package). Even though the hitch kustonkarl is talking about can tow 3500lbs I don't think the Rogue can.

 

[gerapau]

Well i think ramps around here are well maintained (Miami FL). There's a few of them that are kind of steep but the cx7 been a FWD i think it will be better than a RWD on steep ramps.

I think you will find that RWD would be better on a ramp than FWD. Especially with a heavier trailer.

 

[DCKD]

Just because you can buy a hitch rated to tow more doesn't mean its ok to go over the manuf. tow ratings. If you ever get in an accident with a load over the manuf. specs you will be wide open to litigation. Additionally, those tow ratings may be the limit of what the tranny, dif etc can safely handle. If you go over that max amount you are sure to have mechanical problems down the road. Trannys are not cheap to rebuild.

Another thing to consider is what that small SUV is going to be like pulling ~3k pounds of boat and trailer with no trailer brakes. Personally I wouldn't want to do it. Pulling our challenger behind an F150 I can definitely feel it back there under breaking. You braking emergancy brake distance will be HUGE with ~3k lbs behind a little suv.

You state 1900 lbs dry just for the boat. Don't forget about the trailer. What about all the fuel, life vests, tow toys, cooler etc? You will definitely be over 3k lbs. Its nuts to pull this behind a vehicle that is rated MAX 2000lbs. More than nuts, its criminal.

This is true...I have a class 1 hitch so it can handle 2000lbs and 200lbs tongue weight, however my car can only handle 1000lbs and 100lbs tongue weight. Even though the hitch can handle the weight it does not mean the my tranny, chasis and brakes can handle 2000lbs.

Matt

 

[kustomkarl]

The only way Draw-tite could have a hitch for that vehicle is if it could handle the weight. For instants if you wanted to get a class III for a Toyota Camery...the heaviest is a Class II. I have been a Trailer Hitch Dealer for 30 Years...If it won't pull the weight for the class hitch you can't get it . ALL HITCHES FROM DRAW-TITE ARE VEHICLE SPECIFIC. Tow Package means trans mission cooler and light harness. I'm a Certified Florida Car Dealer, and I Own a Custom Vehicle Shop too. I know Vehicles better than watecraft.


If in doubt, ask the selling dealer the Gross Towing Weight allowed.
Karl

 

[timmyboy76]

My speculation on what "robertm" mentioned is...If the trailer is designed to carry a certain weight, then its manufacturers descretion/mandated by law, that the trailer be equipped with electric/hydrolic brakes, if weight equalling(trailer and load) be more than law specs call out to enforce brake system
....with FWD or RWD, depend'n on ramp characteristic, if the ramp as vertical lines/wedges built in the ramp, then wouldnt matter much, but if smooth, then FWD would be better, since tires/wheels arent submerged like the back ones, where slime/grud can build up on the ramp...just an opinion/thought

 

[DCKD]

The only way Draw-tite could have a hitch for that vehicle is if it could handle the weight. For instants if you wanted to get a class III for a Toyota Camery...the heaviest is a Class II. I have been a Trailer Hitch Dealer for 30 Years...If it won't pull the weight for the class hitch you can't get it . ALL HITCHES FROM DRAW-TITE ARE VEHICLE SPECIFIC. Tow Package means trans mission cooler and light harness. I'm a Certified Florida Car Dealer, and I Own a Custom Vehicle Shop too. I know Vehicles better than watecraft.

Karl

I understand what you are saying but for instance my car a 2004 Infiniti G35x the manual states it can tow max 1000lbs. My hitch however, made by Kurt is a class I rated at 2000lbs. This means the hitch can handle more than my car can.

Matt

 

[DCKD]

My speculation on what "robertm" mentioned is...If the trailer is designed to carry a certain weight, then its manufacturers descretion/mandated by law, that the trailer be equipped with electric/hydrolic brakes, if weight equalling(trailer and load) be more than law specs call out to enforce brake system
....with FWD or RWD, depend'n on ramp characteristic, if the ramp as vertical lines/wedges built in the ramp, then wouldnt matter much, but if smooth, then FWD would be better, since tires/wheels arent submerged like the back ones, where slime/grud can build up on the ramp...just an opinion/thought

The problem with front wheel drive is that there isn't much weight on the front tires to allow them to get traction. Most of the weight is on the back tires pushing the front end up and reducing traction.

Matt

 

[timmyboy76]

The problem with front wheel drive is that there isn't much weight on the front tires to allow them to get traction. Most of the weight is on the back tires pushing the front end up and reducing traction.

Matt[/QUOTE
...yah, understand that theory, but...2-3k boat w/ trailer combined, what at most, 2-3 hundred pounds of tongue weight, dont think need to worry about bump steer,..understand what your say'n, then again, com to think, with that weight pull'n down cuz angle of ramp, darn thing just got that much heavier. wont know til its done...

 

[kustomkarl]

That's why I don't use Kurt unless I am in a Jam...Kurt sells hitches for vehicles that Draw-Tite won't even think of putting a hitch on...Draw-Tite only sells hitches that are designed and recommended by the manufacturers, for towing purposes. Kurt does not...

Karl

 

[cjb]

Well factory towing is a little conservative in my opinion. Example. I use to tow a jetski with my Scion TC but the manual states that no towing should be done with that car. well turns out it towed it just fine. The ski was at least 500 lbs plus another 150 for the trailer plus me and the wife and cooler and other stuff.

If i have to get brakes for the trailer ill probably will do it.

Is there anyone out there towing a 3k boat with a small SUV that can gives us some feed back?

 

[kustomkarl]

The issue isn't about opnions...It is about the capacity of the vehicle and it's capacity to pull safely. look at the spec on the door, if it isn't rated for the weight it shouldn't be done. Any trailer that weighs 1000# or more empty, Is required to have at least surge brakes. If the trailer pulls more than 3000# it is required to have at least surge brakes. It isn't an opnion...its the law!

Karl