Trailering a 24' Yamaha

[Devildog]

Getting ready to pick up my 2016 Yamaha SX240 on Wednesday. Just got my 21' Sea Ray from winter storage today to get it ready for the trade in. Which leads me to my question.....

I have a 2015 Acura MDX with a max towing capacity of 5000 lbs. Does anyone trailer a 24' Yamaha with an Acura MDX? And if so, what has been your experience? My boat will be kept in a slip, but I will need to trailer it a couple times a year.

I have done the research and it appears that the trailer and boat have a dry weight of 4995 pounds. When you add all of the normal accessories, I would imagine that this would add another 100 pounds or so.....without gas and liquid spirits .

Let me know what you think......Thx.

 

[Dhow]

Wow congrats on new boat! Looks like you are on max towing with MDX.

 

[DBamaC]

There is someone on the board that shows a current generation MDX hooked to a 24' boat but I can't remember who it is. That said, I'm at least 1,000 pounds less and I am thinking about buying something with a bit more towing capacity. Towing with our MDX is more work than I prefer.

 

[Rob9550]

You will be well over your max with fuel and extras. Just the fuel will be 300lbs. I wouldn't risk it.

 

[OperationROL]

Be certain to figure out the GVWR as well. The capacity is about the weight of what is being towed, but the GVWR accounts for all weight added to the vehicle, including people and cargo. We bought my wife a 2016 Traverse that has a towing capacity of 5200 lbs with a GVWR of 6,459 lbs. We will mostly tow with my Silverado, but can use the Traverse if needed.

 

[Mainah]

@Devildog - Your MDX would most likely handle it if both were at dry weight. That said I would not try it myself. Another option is to offer a neighbor with a truck or 8 cyclinder suv a day out on the boat for towing it. Better than risking doing damage to anything especially yourself or others.

 

[Johmas50]

I towed my SX210 with a 2008 MDX and from my experience it was something I wouldn't want to do again. It's hilly here in KY and ill just say it was a bit scary at times. We have a new tow vehicle now and it's better, I can't imagine towing a 240 with it personally.

 

[Eurocat]

The problem you have is something breaking with the transmission. If they deemed it was due to abuse (towing more than u should) then you might not be covered.
If you do it once or twice or if it is a very short distance then it might not do any harm, otherwise I would not recommend it. This is especially true if you outright own it. If it is a lease and you plan on returning it soon, then you can always gamble.

 

[subysti]

I towed my 24' with a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a tow capacity of 7800lbs and I just bought a new Silverado. The jeep did it but it seemed hard. The biggest issue could be if you get in any kind of accident. It may not happen but if it does your insurance won't cover anything if you are over your limit by a pound. Repair costs, medical bills nada nothing zip and you know they never find a way out of paying a claim!!

 

[Julian]

I towed my boat (lighter) with our MDX with no problem, but you knew the boat was back there! The MDX has heavy duty brakes...and it is stopping you need to be most worried about, plus the new models have anti sway technology if I recall. So for a twice a year event, I'd not be too concerned....I'd take slow and easy....leave tons of stopping distance all the time and don't let other drivers push you. Unless of course your drive from your lake to storage/house is through mountains...then perhaps something bigger would be in order. ( but I just noticed you are in IL....so NO mountains ANYWHERE near by....so I'd say you'd be ok for just those trips)

 

[Devildog]

The dealer is about a 2 hour drive through Milwaukee and then North to Oshkosh, WI. The boat is brand new, so there won't be a ton of extra weight besides a little gas. All of my boat accessories are at my house, so I will load up the boat when I get back. What worries me the most is the braking that you guys were talking about.

The marina is about a 20 minute drive from my house, so that shouldn't be too bad. It's a pretty straight shot without any driving issues.

I do have a local relative that has a Mac-daddy Ford 150. I think that I'll give him a call tomorrow and use his truck for the long trip and try my MDX for the shorter trip to the marina. At least give it a shot

Appreciate all of you help. I have been posting on several different topics and have received excellent advice.

 

[msavold]

I tow our '12 SX240 with an '06 Honda Pilot - pretty much the same vehicle. Last year we towed back and forth to the ramp, about 3 miles, all FLAT, and back while we waited for the lift to be finished. No problem even on days with temps in the high 80s. BUT you sure are aware of how big that boat is! Braking takes longer and you notice it in the steering - but it can be done. BTW, Enterprise Commercial has trucks you can tow with - may be an option for you a couple of times a year if you're concerned or you can see if someone from the marina will tow it for a few bucks....

 

[MattFX4]

To each their own, but honestly towing a 24' boat with any small/midsize SUV or truck is a bad idea. I'm towing my 242 with my
F150 and I can tell it's back there. No way would I want to tow it with anything less. When loaded down with gear, fuel, etc it has to be pushing 5,500 lbs easy. Not to mention any other items and things you have in the vehicle.

 

[njmr2fan]

@dansshin , didnt you tow with a MDX?

 

[KyleWade14]

I towed my boat (lighter) with our MDX with no problem, but you knew the boat was back there! The MDX has heavy duty brakes...and it is stopping you need to be most worried about, plus the new models have anti sway technology if I recall. So for a twice a year event, I'd not be too concerned....I'd take slow and easy....leave tons of stopping distance all the time and don't let other drivers push you. Unless of course your drive from your lake to storage/house is through mountains...then perhaps something bigger would be in order. ( but I just noticed you are in IL....so NO mountains ANYWHERE near by....so I'd say you'd be ok for just those trips)

x2 on all this. Just use common sense and you'll be fine.

 

[Zarrella]

It is a bad idea....and unsafe for you and everyone you encounter on the road. They set towing weight standards for a reason. Plus, you don't want to be that guy who finds out it won't pull the boat out of the water on a wet ramp with 10 people waiting behind you!

 

[txav8r]

The only day you won't be more than a few hundred pounds over both the GVWR and the GCWR, is delivery day. And my suspicion is that the whole family will want to go get that new boat, so you may be more than just a few hundred over. Sure, some will argue that the limit has margins, and it does, but limits were designed to protect you, your vehicle, and the other folks on the road. Just food for thought...I wouldn't buy a pre owned vehicle with a trailer hitch on it, because I would know that the chances were good that the transmission had been abused. It is the transmission you need to worry about, the gearing isn't heavy enough, nor can you add enough cooling to keep damage from occurring. But braking is the more apparent problem, and you can see that easily. Others offered how you can deal with this, but I better like the ideas about borrowing or renting a truck. I suspect that with caution and emptying the boat completely as well as the MDX, you could get away with it for short distances a few times. But do yourself a favor and take care of your nice car too. Nice boat btw, congrats!

 

[njmr2fan]

My Ford Edge with taller gearing and 3.7 mustang engine CAN pull the 190 we bought, and a few time we did. With upgraded stainless steel brake lines and slotted rotors it stops well too! BUT, in the ultimate interest of safety for my family, My wife gave up her car and we added a Ram 1500 as a second vehicle so that we can safely and easily pull that boat anywhere without worry (or that feeling of the boat wagging the tow vehicle around).

 

[Dhow]

Wow I am surprised that nobody talked about the trailer having brakes . It's not like you are loading up the MDX or the tow vehicle with 5000 pounds and trying to stop. They work together. You need extra room to stop anything big . So the real question is the MDX going to drop a transmission that all lies in the hand of the driver go slow you will be alright

 

[Bruce]

Wow I am surprised that nobody talked about the trailer having brakes . It's not like you are loading up the MDX or the tow vehicle with 5000 pounds and trying to stop. They work together. You need extra room to stop anything big . So the real question is the MDX going to drop a transmission that all lies in the hand of the driver go slow you will be alright

Trailer brakes help but they will not stop the trailer quickly on their own. Additionally the vehicle tow rating assumes the trailer will have brakes. The tow capacity would be lower if the trailer was unbraked.