On 4/5/12 8:24 PM, Earl wrote:
Happy John wrote:
On Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:19:47 -0400, wrote:

Happy John wrote:
On Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:41:40 -0400, wrote:

Happy John wrote:
On Mon, 2 Apr 2012 18:22:29 -0700 (PDT), North
wrote:

On Apr 2, 10:14 pm, North wrote:
On Apr 2, 8:32 pm, Happy wrote:





On Mon, 2 Apr 2012 15:59:44 -0700 (PDT), North
wrote:
On Apr 2, 6:44 pm, Happy wrote:
On Sun, 1 Apr 2012 06:36:57 -0700 (PDT), North
wrote:
I was pretty well settled on a new 'Legend 15 AllSport' due
to my 4
cyl RAV4's low tow rating of 1500 lbs.
Lately I've been looking at the construction methods used in
this
model and the superior methods used in a higher class
boat... the
'Legend 16 Xcalibre'
For an additional $3400. + add'l taxes of about $500., I can
upgrade
to a bigger, heavier boat with a 50hp 4 stroke Mercury vs
the 40hp I
was planning on with the smaller boat.
Besides the additional cost of about $3900... I would be
overloading
my tow capacity by 500 lbs... about 33% more than the RAV4
is rated
for.
i.e 2000 lbs vs about 1300 for the smaller boat.
What to do?
I can drop a few pounds by keeping the gas tank empty until
I reach my
destination.. and not loading much into the bigger boat...
and by
towing at a 90km speed (55 mph). Am I asking for trouble...
sure do
like all the extra options.. such as bigger motor, stronger
construction, bigger boat for about 80% use on the ocean,
instruments
and a built in swim platform/ladder.
see the windshield models on the website..
http://legendboats.com/
Pulling a load of over 150% of your rated capacity would be
simply stupid. Hard to believe you asked
the question.
What the %$^&^%?
I thought you claimed to be a math teacher?
I figure it as roughly 133%
Multiply 1300 times 1.50 (150%) and see what you get.
1st you have to tell me where the 1300 figure comes from.
Never mind...I see you took the 15 AllSport's weight to be my
vehicle's tow rating... it's not!
The 4 cyl RAV4 is rated for 1500 lbs.
At this point i have the local dealer saying no.. I can't handle the
bigger boat and a rep from the manufacturers site saying that people
he knows are doing it.
If I remember correctly... a safe tow is actually only 80% of your
vehicle's rating... that would be a puny 1200 lbs.
Guess I should have purchased the V6 version of the RAV4.... mmm
wonder what deals Toyota is offering these days.
I have about 20K on my 3 year old 'truck' .... might be time to
trade
up.
Moving up to a used V6 Highlander might be the way to go. Towing
capacity's up around 3500lbs, I
believe. Probably get a decent trade-in. With gas prices where
they are you'd probably get a pretty
decent price for the Rav4.
5000# with the towing package:

http://trailerboats.com/towrating/in...x_tlimit=10000

"That wasn't around when my wife got her Highlander. It appears as
though an optional towing package
raises the tow rating to 5000lbs. Here is what the tow package
contains:

V6 Towing Prep Package [14] -- includes 5000-lb. towing capacity,
heavy-duty radiator with engine
oil cooler, 200-watt fan coupling, supplemental transmission oil
cooler and 150-amp alternator/

That sounds pretty good, but it doesn't do much to help braking. I'd
be afraid of getting shoved
down the road by my trailer if I had 5000lbs pushing me. Of course,
trailer brakes would be
mandatory at that weight, but I wouldn't trust those buggers a whole
lot either.

5000# isn't that much in the towing world. The trailer brakes are
assumed to be working, I'm sure.
You're correct. But, the Highlander isn't much in the 'tower' world
either! I can't see that the tow
package has done much to really improve the handling characteristics
of the Highlander.

And, if one is willing to tow 130% of capacity, how much time do you
think the fool would spend
keeping the trailer brakes in working order?
That would be insane.


Considering the high speeds at which I've seen drivers towing huge boats
and travel trailers down the Interstate, I wonder whether brake
condition will be much of a factor in stopping. They aren't likely to
stop before they smash into the cars in front of them.