Towing boats with a Sienna??

[surfdiva30]

Hi Everyone.


My husband and I are thinking of buying a Sienna. We have a few considerations to think about before we do so:

1) We have a 18' runabout boat (3000 lbs) and we are worried about towing long distance with the Sienna. Can it handle it? How about launching boats?

2) Has anyone been towing boats or something similar with their minivan on a fairly consistent basis? If so, what are the long term effects of frequent towing?

3) Any idea whether the Sienna is just as good at towing as a mid size SUV (like the 4Runner)?


Thanks so much for your help - Cindy F.

[j4x4ar3]

Originally Posted by surfdiva30

Hi Everyone.


My husband and I are thinking of buying a Sienna. We have a few considerations to think about before we do so:

1) We have a 18' runabout boat (3000 lbs) and we are worried about towing long distance with the Sienna. Can it handle it? How about launching boats?

2) Has anyone been towing boats or something similar with their minivan on a fairly consistent basis? If so, what are the long term effects of frequent towing?

3) Any idea whether the Sienna is just as good at towing as a mid size SUV (like the 4Runner)?


Thanks so much for your help - Cindy F.

I have a 2004 Sienna and I wouldn't tow anything that heavy on a consistent bases. You say it's 3000lbs .. is that dry weight or fully loaded? If it's dry weight then you may be closer to the limit that you realize. Anytime you get really close to the limits on a tow vehicle you don't necessarily have engine problems but you risk safety as the weight of the trailer can cause the tow vehicle to become unstable. Using a weight distribution hitch can help but ....

In terms of launching boats and such... well I have no experience with the Sienna in that regards however it is FWD (unless you get the AWD version) so your drive wheels won't necessairly be getting close to the slippery water when launching and retrieving. It's got a fair amount of power and with VSC/TRAC it may help you a little.

In my opinion however I wouldn't do it with that much weight. Infrequent towing maybe but regular long term and long distance... hmm.. maybe with a light weight tent trailer. I'm purchasing a 2005 Double Cab Tacoma to handle my towing needs. 6500lbs rating there. Gives me room to load the trailer and gives me the gearing for mountain and hill driving. (FYI - 4Runner is rated for 5000lbs however check the fine print as hitch requirements change)

Try this link and download the towing guide found there for more information.

http://www.searay.com/towing_guide.asp?tab=6

[jhbhatia]

go buy a v8 tundra, you will be happy! With the sienna you will kill your transmission fairly soon!

[JyRO]

Originally Posted by surfdiva30

Hi Everyone.


My husband and I are thinking of buying a Sienna. We have a few considerations to think about before we do so:

1) We have a 18' runabout boat (3000 lbs) and we are worried about towing long distance with the Sienna. Can it handle it? How about launching boats?

2) Has anyone been towing boats or something similar with their minivan on a fairly consistent basis? If so, what are the long term effects of frequent towing?

3) Any idea whether the Sienna is just as good at towing as a mid size SUV (like the 4Runner)?


Thanks so much for your help - Cindy F.

Surfdiva - As you can see from my signature I have truck that is capable of towing very large loads. And I do tow very large loads. I tow a 9,500 lb. 5th wheel camper frequently. I also have a 24' enclosed trailer that is 4,100 lbs. empty. I haul up to 10,000 lbs with that trailer loaded. I have hauled and launched many a boat. Suffice it to say ... I know a little something about towing. I will answer your questions and throw in my $0.02.

1) Can it handle it? A: If 3,000 lbs is all you'll tow, it *might* be OK. The power will be dissappointing on hills, it may have good power for non-towing acceleration but it has very little torque at highway rpm (and not much more at an uncomfortable high rpm pull up a hill). As mentioned, the transmission will be the weak link. Heat kills auto transmissions.

How about launching boats? If its AWD you will likely have no issues on the ramps. FWD is better than RWD on some boat ramps, but I wouldn't want to pull a 3,000 lb boat up a wet ramp with something that did not have AWD or could not be switched to 4X4 (like my truck).


2) If so, what are the long term effects of frequent towing? I haven't towed with a minivan but I have seen it done and can give you an idea of the long term effects of towing with a unibody, underpowered, short wheel base vehicle. Examples of long term effects: a) grey hair, b) stress marks will appear on your face, c) finger indintations on the steering wheel from 'white knuckling' while towing that much, d) possibly soiled underwear. Those are the more serious issus believe it or not. e) possible transmission woes, f) more frequent than normal rear shock replacement. I'm serious about a - d. I think towing that much weight with a Sienna could be a harrowing experience. Picture it, your towing about 60 - 65 mph down the interstate and having to be mindfull of the sway (left to right steering) that your having to compensate for due to the boat. Then 4 big rigs go blowing by you because their trying to run 75 mph. The air off those trucks WILL have you white knuckling the steering wheel. An 8 hour run down the interstate (you said long distance) will feel more like 24 hours, and may shorten your life by a week. I expect it could be that stressful.

3) Any idea whether the Sienna is just as good at towing as a mid size SUV (like the 4Runner)? No way in he11 will the Sienna tow as well as a 4Runner. Even the 4Runner is not spectacular, but it will beat the cr@p out of towing with a Sienna.

My personal opinion is, I wouldn't want to tow more than two (side-by-side) jet skis with a Sienna. It's just not built for it. The Sienna is a wonderful choice vehicle for its applications ... towing is not one of them. I wouldn't make a (you enter a $ amount here) mistake buying a Sienna with plans on towing a 3,000 lb boat. You'd be money ahead to spend more money on something larger (preferrably body on frame, with as long a wheelbase as you can get) that can get the job done and not leave you feeling miserably worn out from stress when you get to your destination, than to buy a Sienna, sell it because its not good for towing, and then buy the vehicle you should have bought in the first place.

A Tundra double cab (if you need cab space) or Sequoia would be the vehicle of choice for that much boat. A Tacoma Double Cab (as mentioned) would also be way better than a Sienna. Do not use a 'towing capacity' as a reference for how much you can tow. Those numbers are derived from unrealistic data. This is all you need to know, and if you stick to this, you will always be OK. Find the subject vehicle's GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating). Find the subject vehicle's GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). Both of those numbers are associated with a vehicle, either a lable on the vehicle, in the owner's manual, or you should be able to get it from a dealer. Take those two numbers. The amount you can tow without burdening your vehicle detrimentally is = GCWR - GVWR.

GCWR is the total weight the vehicle is rated to propel down the road (including the vehicle, what its towing, and all contents of both ... meaning the total weight).

GVWR is the total weight the vehicle is rated to carry with its own 4 tires (meaning the weight of the vehicle itself, passengers, fuel, the trailer's tongue weight (if towing), etc.).

Its really simple if you look at it like that, and its safe too. Sorry for the book, but I type fast and know a bit about the subject. Let me know if I'll need change back from my $0.02.

- JyRO

[bwhaler]

Originally Posted by surfdiva30

Hi Everyone.


My husband and I are thinking of buying a Sienna. We have a few considerations to think about before we do so:

1) We have a 18' runabout boat (3000 lbs) and we are worried about towing long distance with the Sienna. Can it handle it? How about launching boats?

2) Has anyone been towing boats or something similar with their minivan on a fairly consistent basis? If so, what are the long term effects of frequent towing?

3) Any idea whether the Sienna is just as good at towing as a mid size SUV (like the 4Runner)?


Thanks so much for your help - Cindy F.

I have a '99 Sienna and I sometimes tow my 18' Boston Whaler. On straightaways and short hills, it tows okay. However, on long steep hills, my car has a hard time. I can go only 25 mph with the pedal to the medal in 1st gear. Next time, I'll take the long way around so I won't have to go up a hill when I tow my boat again.

You should also install trans and engine oil coolers to help keep the drivetrain from overheating or minimum a trans cooler.

One good thing when not towing, you have an excellent "bumper protector" sticking out from the rear bumper - no one will park close to your rear or stop near your back bumper at traffic stops.

Alan

[84Cressida]

A Sienna can tow 3500 lbs, but I really wouldn't tow something that heavy if I were you. A 4Runner or a Tacoma could pull it with ease.

[tfret]

Bwhaler,
Do you have any trouble pulling your boat out of the water?

[bwhaler]

No I don't have any problems with pulling my Boston Whaler out of the water. I also have a trailer tongue extension that slides out about 7' so I am high up on the ramp away from the water where it is not so slippery.

[tr918]

One thing that everyone has overlooked and forgotten to mention. You will need trailerbrakes if you do not already have them. All minivans weigh in at or around 4000lbs dry weight. Add a 3000lb trailer to that and your brakes that were designed to stop ~4000 to 5000lbs now have to stop ~7000 to 8000 lbs. That is a tremendous amount of inertia to try and stop in the event of an emergency. Especially at highway speeds.

I own a 17ft runabout that weighs roughly 2000lbs fully loaded with gas and gear. I use a 1993 T100 with the 3.0(slow)L. I have been looking at buying a new Sienna for the wife and putting the tow package on it to tow the boat for the one or two times a year the wife and kids want to go for a ride in the boat. The Sienna would not be a replacement tow vehicle(I would still have the truck for that). It would be the wife's daily kid hauler and a 2 time a year boat hauler.

With the amount of trailer weight that you have I would be concerned about using a minivan as my primary hauler. Especially if the 3000lbs is your dry weight. If you do decide to get a minivan(sienna) or a smaller SUV(06 rav4 with the v6). I would suggest installing trailer brakes on your trailer.

I put a set on mine just so that it would be easier on my T100's brakes.

[mstevens]

Are you sure that your 18' boat weighs that much. I have a 17.5 runabout and it only trailers at about 23-2400. I pull my boat on long trips with my 98 sienna van and have no troubles at all. Now, I will say that I only do that 2x per year and otherwise use my truck for the local trip to the lake. But, the van is entirely capable of towing that weight. Would I use it as a primary hauler for long distances, no. But I wouldn't hesitate over short distances as the primary hauler. Plus i have seen many RWD trucks get stuck on the ramps I have pulled out with on my FWD. I have over 130K on that van and it runs like a top. I frequently service the trannsmission since I do tow with it, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it around town or to and from the lake.

[kg4rgo]

I just put a toyota hitch on my 06 sienna - have only 8" clearance.
If I sit in the back I have 7.5" clearance.
If I were to put 350 lbs on the hitch I suspected I'd need
another set of wheels under the hitch!