Date: 6/19/2009
Name: Carlos #2
email: calden3@msn.com
subject:Towing with a small car
Before I bought my boat I was also looking at a Catalina 22, and saw that the total weight of the boat with associated junk (including couple of folks in the car, cooler full of Black Butte Porter on ice, extra gas, etc.) exceeded the tow limit of my minivan by about 300 lbs. I called my dealer service guy (I have a great relationship with him) and asked him what the genuine tow limit was - i.e., if I could fudge it a bit. He told me the towing limits were conservatively rated and I shouldn't have a problem exceeding the limit a little if it was once in a while.Well, obviously I didn't buy the Catalina ;) but even with towing the SJ21 - a lot lighter - I can feel it behind me affecting the car, and it's well below the 3,000 lb. limit. I can't imagine what it might feel like with a much lighter and smaller car.
One thing that would help me, and I think would be almost necessary on a smaller car, is trailer brakes. I really feel the boat when I brake.
If you do tow with a smaller car, definitely check the tow ratings to see if you are in the ball park, make sure your trailer tongue weight has about 5-10% weight, consider getting a surge brake hitch, and cross your fingers. Also definitely switch off overdrive if you have that option on your auto tranny.
Carlos
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