Greetings,

The rated towing capacity for our Honda Odyssey van is listed at 1,000
pounds. I have a 13' Whaler, which weighs 580 pounds. Add the motor
(208 pounds), the trailer (200 pounds??) and some fluids, and I'm
right at capacity.

I don't foresee a problem on level ground (there's no mountains here
in the Tampa Bay area), but I wonder if I'd have a problem at the
ramp, with the front wheel drive.

I've never owned a boat/trailer combination, so I'm wet behind the
ears when it comes to towing capacities, etc.

Thanks!

Open up the manual with the maintenance schedule. Go over the stuff that you
may have glossed over, like changing TRANSMISSION fluid and filter. Have you
done that religiously? If so, you have a bit of an edge. It would be even
better if you had a transmission oil cooler installed. It looks like a tiny
radiator about half the thickness of a loaf of Wonder bread. The dealer or a
trusted mechanic should do the work.

Do you know how to drive with two feet so that on the ramp, you can keep the
vehicle from slipping backwards when in forward gear, until you have some
momentum?

In other words, if you do everything else correctly, you'll probably do
fine. It still might be a good idea to get the boat/trailer combo weighed.
Call the state police and ask them how to find a local place to do that for
you. Don't forget to throw the cooler in the boat, loaded as usual (ice,
beer, 16 tons of worms).

wrote in message
...
Greetings,

The rated towing capacity for our Honda Odyssey van is listed at 1,000
pounds. I have a 13' Whaler, which weighs 580 pounds. Add the motor
(208 pounds), the trailer (200 pounds??) and some fluids, and I'm
right at capacity.

I don't foresee a problem on level ground (there's no mountains here
in the Tampa Bay area), but I wonder if I'd have a problem at the
ramp, with the front wheel drive.

I've never owned a boat/trailer combination, so I'm wet behind the
ears when it comes to towing capacities, etc.

Thanks!

I bet it's more like 2000 lbs (like my Plymouth voyager)
if you have brakes on your boat trailer. Without brakes...they recommend
1000 lb max load.
BTW...the Toyota Sienna has a 3500 lb tow capacity.
My load is 1200 lb sailboat, 400 trailer and about 70 lbs for outboard plus
whatever. I'm maxed out but have installed a transmission cooler to help.

I used to tow my 16 footer with my Honda Accord. This was a relativly
heavy 16 footer being that is has a large cabin and a merc 115. The cat
towed it fine. It was fine at the ramp too. Some precautions I followed:

-- Go slower than you think so you have more room to stop.

-- Leave more room between you and next car in front of you.

-- On the ramp I had someone standing by with blocks for the wheels.
They (or I) put then in when I stopped the car. Never came even close
to needing them...but better safe than car in the water.

The other's note about the transmission cooler is interesting. If you are
driving on flat roads and not for long distances I'm guessing it's not
really a concern. But if you are going long distances in that FLA heat
or up some hills check out a cooler.





wrote in message
...
Greetings,

The rated towing capacity for our Honda Odyssey van is listed at 1,000
pounds. I have a 13' Whaler, which weighs 580 pounds. Add the motor
(208 pounds), the trailer (200 pounds??) and some fluids, and I'm
right at capacity.

I don't foresee a problem on level ground (there's no mountains here
in the Tampa Bay area), but I wonder if I'd have a problem at the
ramp, with the front wheel drive.

I've never owned a boat/trailer combination, so I'm wet behind the
ears when it comes to towing capacities, etc.

Thanks!

Who puts brakes on a trailer for a 13 foot boat?


"Don White" wrote in message
...

I bet it's more like 2000 lbs (like my Plymouth voyager)
if you have brakes on your boat trailer. Without brakes...they recommend
1000 lb max load.
BTW...the Toyota Sienna has a 3500 lb tow capacity.
My load is 1200 lb sailboat, 400 trailer and about 70 lbs for outboard
plus
whatever. I'm maxed out but have installed a transmission cooler to help.

What 40hp weighs 208 pounds?


wrote in message
...
Greetings,

The rated towing capacity for our Honda Odyssey van is listed at 1,000
pounds. I have a 13' Whaler, which weighs 580 pounds. Add the motor
(208 pounds), the trailer (200 pounds??) and some fluids, and I'm
right at capacity.

I don't foresee a problem on level ground (there's no mountains here
in the Tampa Bay area), but I wonder if I'd have a problem at the
ramp, with the front wheel drive.

I've never owned a boat/trailer combination, so I'm wet behind the
ears when it comes to towing capacities, etc.

Thanks!

"jt" wrote in message ...
Who puts brakes on a trailer for a 13 foot boat?

People who iron their socks. :-)

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

I used to tow my 16 footer with my Honda Accord. This was a relativly
heavy 16 footer being that is has a large cabin and a merc 115. The cat
towed it fine. It was fine at the ramp too. Some precautions I followed:

-- Go slower than you think so you have more room to stop.

-- Leave more room between you and next car in front of you.

-- On the ramp I had someone standing by with blocks for the wheels.
They (or I) put then in when I stopped the car. Never came even close
to needing them...but better safe than car in the water.

The other's note about the transmission cooler is interesting. If you are
driving on flat roads and not for long distances I'm guessing it's not
really a concern. But if you are going long distances in that FLA heat
or up some hills check out a cooler.

My 92 Taurus' temp gauge rarely moved when towing, UNLESS I was going up a
hill behind some fool who was busy slapping the kids or talking on the cell
phone. You know those drivers whose cars go slower and slower up hills until
they're finally doing 18 mph, because they think they get more MPG by
keeping their foot in the same position on the pedal? Anyway, since we can't
control when we'll end up behind drivers like that, an oil cooler's a good
idea, at least if you notice your car warming up significantly.

On 8/12/2004 5:52 AM, jt wrote:

What 40hp weighs 208 pounds?

Nissan's current-model TLDI with all the options (electric start & tilt,
remote controlled) and the 21" shaft weighs 208 pounds dry.


--
~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat"
"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats."
-Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"jt" wrote in message
...
Who puts brakes on a trailer for a 13 foot boat?

People who iron their socks. :-)

**Or someone who might be concerned that his insurance company might weasel
out of payment if he had an accident and his rig was over the manufacturers
recommended load (without brakes).