Towing with the 2WD?

[Joe J]

Recently bought a 2007 EX-L, 2 WD. The salesman assured me it would tow my 18 ft Ranger fish and ski if my previous car (2002 Explorer 2WD) did. My concern is, that car was rear wheel drive and my Pilot is front, and I'm concerned about traction coming out of the water on the launch ramp. I don't know yet what the tongue weight is though I know the totoal weight is under the 3500 lb limit listed. Anyone with towing experience with a 2WD? Other wise I love it. If it won't do what I need what options do I have? I've only had the car 3 weeks. Thanks and Merry Christmas, Joe J.

[mmmmark]

Originally posted by Joe J
Recently bought a 2007 EX-L, 2 WD. The salesman assured me it would tow my 18 ft Ranger fish and ski if my previous car (2002 Explorer 2WD) did. My concern is, that car was rear wheel drive and my Pilot is front, and I'm concerned about traction coming out of the water on the launch ramp. I don't know yet what the tongue weight is though I know the totoal weight is under the 3500 lb limit listed. Anyone with towing experience with a 2WD? Other wise I love it. If it won't do what I need what options do I have? I've only had the car 3 weeks. Thanks and Merry Christmas, Joe J.

Try a search on towing. There have been quite a few long posts about this very subject.

In a nutshell, I think drawbar weight is supposed to be < 10% or about 350. Some people have installed the airbag system "liftmaster" I believe to help level slightly.

I have a 2wd and have only towed a utility trailer with probably 2500 lbs on it. It towed fine and didn't lower the rear end at all (but the weight was with a fairly light tongue weight.

[N_Jay]

Towing up a slippery boat ramp with FWD is very hard to do.

I would get 4WD or find someone to fabricate you a front hitch for use on the ramp.

[Tupperware]

My 2wd Pilot was so bad in wet conditions, without a trailer, that I sold it. I don't think you'll be satisfied with it's performance pulling (attempting) ANYTHING up a boat ramp.

[kraky]

I remember years ago taking a new girlfriend boating with my fwd. We had a great time and things looked good till I tried to pull the boat out and couldn't do it.
We were trying to get it out within eyeshot of a bar/restaurant that had a deck full of people watching. I had to give up and take the trailer over to another really shallow ramp where we got the job done.
It almost felt like the "bully kicking sand in your face" syndrome........but in the long run the girl wasn't worth it anyhow!!!
Bottom line is "maybe" if you have a really shallow ramp and good sound slope up out of the water.

[Joe J]

Finally got to try it...thanks to the above for your replies. It did fairly well pulling my boat out of Lake Guntersviile, with only one brief scratch or slip. I think I would be afraid to try it on a rainy day, but for now it'll do the job.

[Matt Gent]

In most cases the front wheel drive is an advantage at the boat ramp. RWD pickups and SUVs have their drive wheels down near the waterline where seaweed, scum, mildew, etc build up on the ramp. FWD cars keep the drive wheels up in the dry area. Also, the engine is up over the front wheels so generally there is good load on the tires. Pickups have very little weight on the rear axle.

As long as the trailer is loaded correctly (correct tongue weight) it should be no problem. Especially for a bassboat-sized load.

[rocky]

Glad your pilot succeeded and your Ego remains intact

Keep chosing the mildest of ramps and no rain dates and you'll do ok.

If the wheels spin, don't rely on traction control. Use left food braking, rev the engine and release the brake gradually