Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

[newmalibuguy]

All,

I have a 2009 Torrent AWD and it's rated at 3500 lbs towing capacity by Pontiac. We are looking to buy a 2010 Malibu Ride ski boat and between it and the trailer it's 4500 lbs.

We live 3 houses from our dock, which is in our subdivision and may have to launch the boat with this vehicle until we get a slip at the dock. I would not consider any other towing other than this 30 second trip 2-3 days per week.

If I drop it in low and drive cautiously slow, what do you think about the viability of this working?

Thanks to anyone for your input.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

How steep is the ramp?

Do not even consider taking this combo any further on the roads.

 

[newmalibuguy]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

I don't have any concrete data on that, but it appears to me that it's not overly steep, it's a long ramp, so they had the luxury of keeping that grade.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

If your ride is AWD, I'd say it'd be no problem with the short distance you have to go. We've a Equinox, which is basically the same car.

The only thing I'd worry about would be pulling it out of the water if your car is only FWD.

At that distance, you could probably pull your boat over there with a ride on lawn mower.

 

[642mx]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

I have a 2009 Torrent AWD and it's rated at 3500 lbs towing capacity by Pontiac. We are looking to buy a 2010 Malibu Ride ski boat and between it and the trailer it's 4500 lbs.

It may say it weighs 4500 lbs, but when you add gear, gas, and a person to drive it off the trailer you could be well over 5000 lbs.

Driving it 3 houses down, you should be okay. And with AWD, it should be okay on the ramp... But, I would make sure the engine and trans are completely warmed up before you attempt it.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

If it's seriously just 3 houses down I wouldn't worry about it

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

You're fine for that use. Yes, it would suck having an accident at house number 2 then get hassles from your insurance co. but mechanically I'm betting no sweat.

Most engineering endevours take into account the fact someone out there will grossly overload whatever product is under consideration and so they build some extra "wiggle room" in the capacity to save us from ourselves - deserving or not. (Of course, once you are in that uncharted territory you never know just how much over you can go and sometimes the warning signs before catastrophic failure are negligible). But for this application I certainly wouldn't worry and wouldn't even use low for level ground.

It's something I don't generally brag about but I've done the same kind of thing with our Honda CRV. In my case capacity was exceeded by about 300%.

Until I bought an old farm tractor to do the job, the Honda towed the very short distance (private road) many times without complaint, launched and retrieved without incident. Not sure I'd get up the ramp without AWD but you say you've got it too. And she's still running fine years and hundreds of thousands of kilometres later with no damage evident to unibody, suspension, clutch, gearbox, transfer case or brakes.

Recommended? Nope.

Dumb? Yes, probably.

Possible? Yewbecha.

 

[JimMH]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

I would think you would be alright as long as you don't hit the road. That boat when loaded down that boat would push you through a stop and scare the living _________ out of you! I've had it happen with a 1984 Master Craft and an 85 pontiac bonneville. Major pucker factor.

 

[mike343]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

If you can get the boat up the ramp, you will be OK.

 

[Rwebber77]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

You'll be fine if it's a short drive, just don't burn out your overdrive. I have a 2005 Jeep GC rated at 7200 and I have towed right at 8000 (skidloader and trailer) numerous times. It is hard on just about everything on the vehicle (suspension, engine, tranny) but as long as you are alert and know your vehicle you will be fine. As previously stated, engineers take into account drivers who push the envelope.

 

[newmalibuguy]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

Thanks to everyone for your feedback, I'm feeling better about it!

 

[kyle f]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

As previously stated, engineers take into account drivers who push the envelope.

Um, no they don't. The rating is based off the vehicle and what it can safely do. They don't built a car with a tow rating in mind. The do with certain level of trucks.

In design, there is a variable included in everything call a factor of safety. This is a calculation based off what you know, don't know, or assumptions being made.

Its more correct in the statement above..

Is it dumb, yes
Is it risky, yes
Is it doable, yes

I don't understand why you would invest in a boat you can't move? What happens when it breaks down and has to go to the dealer. It will happen.

Towing with an underrated vehicle is a big petpeeve of mine. If you are buying a new Malibu, why not pony up the cash and go spend another $1000 (probably less than 3%) and find an 80s modle F150 or Bronco somewher near you to use as a tow vehicle? It would be safe, you could take the boat where ever you need to, and not have to worry about what you are doing or ending up in the drink. Tow ratings on these, depending on equipment and wheelbase, is 6000-8000lbs, they are all over the place, and are cheap to buy, run, and fix.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

You'll be fine if it's a short drive, just don't burn out your overdrive. I have a 2005 Jeep GC rated at 7200 and I have towed right at 8000 (skidloader and trailer) numerous times. It is hard on just about everything on the vehicle (suspension, engine, tranny) but as long as you are alert and know your vehicle you will be fine. As previously stated, engineers take into account drivers who push the envelope.

As an engineer, NO WE DON"T. (Kyle has already stated that above). What we do consider is a saftey margin to cover variables in vehicles. For example, end of tread life on tires, end of oil change interval, etc. However, you will probably be OK. You will, however, void your warantee. That's right, GM will take a look at the trailer hitch and then say that you towed something too heavy and they will not pay. (Assuming that the failure might have been caused by anything towing related.) If it were only once in the spring and once in the fall, I would probably chance it. However, 2 or 3 times a week is a bit different. How long until you get a slip?

Also, if your boat pulls the Torrent into the wet, you insurance will probably not pay. If they do pay, they will likely cancel your policy.

TerryMSU

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

As previously stated, engineers take into account drivers who push the envelope.

Yeah I don't like this statement either. If anything the marketers like to push the envelope on what they can rate the vehicle at to make it compare better to the competition. Look at the tow ratings being thrown around nowadays in the half-ton truck market. Absurdly high in some cases.

 

[skargo]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

Yeah it's cool. I tow 65K lbs with my 2500 dodge ram all the time. Tow ratings aren't for us boaters, only for other people.

 

[jkust]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

I think you are pushing it a little once it's fully loaded. I towed my 4k rig with a FWD, 3500lb capacity minivan many long distane trips with only minor annoyances. If it were me, I would give it a shot if it's that close. I would not consider towing much further after experiencing a season towing with the wrong vehicle. I would bet it sags a lot unless you have air suspension however. Funny thing though I noticed the most obvious benefit with my new appropriate tow rig at slow speeds and slow speed maneuvering.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

...If you are buying a new Malibu, why not pony up the cash and go spend another $1000 (probably less than 3%) and find an 80s modle F150 or Bronco somewher near you to use as a tow vehicle? It would be safe, you could take the boat where ever you need to, and not have to worry about what you are doing or ending up in the drink. Tow ratings on these, depending on equipment and wheelbase, is 6000-8000lbs, they are all over the place, and are cheap to buy, run, and fix.

Sounds like he's going to have an in-water location sorted soon. Who wants to take up space in their driveway and pay additional insurance, gas and maintenance on an old beater just to cover moving the boat such a short distance for a short period of time.

And if the boat breaks and needs maintenance, a perfectly capable tow vehicle is ready as fast as you can dial U-haul.

Granted this is a highly unusual situation. On public roads for any real towing you do need the right machine to do the job. But in this case, I wouldn't sweat it unless there's something real unusual about the ramp, be it slope or surface condition.

 

[Rwebber77]

Re: Help - Towing a Malibu with smaller SUV

Most engineering endevours take into account the fact someone out there will grossly overload whatever product is under consideration and so they build some extra "wiggle room" in the capacity to save us from ourselves - deserving or not.

Okay, I was "paraphrasing" what was already said (see above). I have been hauling trailers for over 15 years both personally and commercially...I think I know my limits. I didn't mean to spark so much negativity, I was just giving my opinion.