Can a Chevy Traverse pull a 242 on a trailer safely?

[Hezi]

If I'm lucky enough, tomorrow I will be the owner of a 2015 242 limited s. The boat is in Florida, I'm in New Jersey. I'm planning to haul it up here, (and to the water for the next 2 years) with my wife's car; a Chevy Travers with a tow package. The car tow rating is up to 5200 lb (this number includes passengers, luggage, etc.). The boat and trailer dry weight is 5056. This is w/o fuel (50 gallons =300 lb), equipment etc.

Initially, I will be pulling it from Florida just myself. In the future, I'm planning to load the car with up to 8 passengers and pull the boat no more than 25 miles to the water . I realize I'm borderline with this car but I'm have no choice. Does
anybody on this forum have the experience pulling boat with a smaller SUV? 2017 Travers is one of the biggest SUV, not including the Tahoe class of SUV. Yet it has less tow capacity compared to other SUV.

Do you think I should be alright?

 

[seanmclean]

Honestly, I would not try at all. If you're super close to the water, it might be okay for that but its not even close to ideal. With 8 passengers I'm sure you are way over the capacity of that vehicle. I would not tow it from Florida. If upgrading your tow vehicle is out of the question, I'd look into getting an aluminum trailer to try and get you back into a safe margin.

Not sure where in Jersey you're located, but Liberty Toyota in Burlington rents Tundras for a very affordable rate. I would at the very least, get a proper vehicle to pick it up with.

 

[seanmclean]

BTW, per current specs. Dry weight on trailer is 5,063lbs. Fuel alone, let alone gear and people in the car will put you over the limit.

 

[Hezi]

Thank you Sean. I'm aware of all of those numbers. I was thinking of hauling it from FL just by myself. Later, if I want to take the family, I thought we can go 2 cars. I'm a semi truck driver veteran of over half a million mile and I understand the physical forces working on a towing vehicle. I also know I'm pushing the envelope. I have a friend with a same boat I think I will go and hook his and take it for a spin. I really want to feel it hooked on the Travers.

 

[Neutron]

I wouldnt do it even for short trips. I agree 100% with @seanmclean

 

[Betik]

I am sure it can pull it.... but not so sure it can stop it .... I had to trade it in a 4 month old pilot when I bought the boat, but knowing what i know today I am glad I am towing the boat with a truck.

I am all about being stingy and a smooth ride, but the anxiety of not knowing if your vehicle can handle the boat in an emergency situation, it is a deal breaker for me. For me good times start the moment the boat leaves the driveway not when arrive at the lake

 

[Ismael Breton]

I Would not recommend you do this with a Traverse.

 

[djetok]

I had a Acadia, I would not pull it further than 5 miles. The trans is not capable, and the brakes are not either. Uship? I would use a trans company. Being in trucking you know this is pushing the envelope.

 

[Sef123123]

Rent a pickup truck in Florida and drop in back home, I tried to pull my 242 with my wife dodge Durango and driving 70 mph was on 3-4 gear all way it' just not strong enough, so I got 2017 ford raptor

 

[Betik]

UShip will cost you about $1 per mile.
Renting a truck that you are allowed to tow will cost you probably $600 -$700.
Note that most rental places ( Avis etc ) will allow you to tow with their vehicles

 

[Hezi]

I'm glad I asked this question here. I'm convinced, I will rent a truck to bring the boat back to NJ. As for the short hauls, the distance is short. If the car will fill unsafe, I may need to rent a truck every time we're going on the water. Better safe... Thank you you guys!

 

[Mainah]

@Hezi- Welcome and hopefully congrats. Lots of useful info here like the stock trailers come with waaaaay too much tounge weight and should be corrected and dry weight also does not include batteries. The boat and trailer really weighs around 5,500 lbs with fuel and batteries. Tires, axles, brakes, frame, suspension are all in question on the traverse with a load this heavy.

The good news is a Peterbilt with the right trailer will haul it no problem.

 

[Marvin willis]

I had a Chevy 1500 and hated how it pulled so I upgraded to a 2500. I wouldn’t pull my boat around the yard with a traverse. The tongue weight will kill that suv.

 

[seanmclean]

Check out that Toyota dealer. Rent a tow-package tundra for a week for under $400. I used that when I picked up my boat last fall, and upgraded the tow vehicle a couple months ago.

 

[swatski]

Check out that Toyota dealer. Rent a tow-package tundra for a week for under $400. I used that when I picked up my boat last fall, and upgraded the tow vehicle a couple months ago.

That is a very good tip! Also, some U-Haul locations rent larger trucks that have hitches and can tow a house.

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[2kwik4u]

The Toyota rental is the cheapest (and best IMO) option by far. Next is an enterprise fullsize pickup rental. Then UShip or similar.

We have a 2010 Traverse. We pulled our AR190 with it last summer with 6 people, full gear, and full fuel in 99deg weather. It did OK. Not great but OK. It is a competent chassis. The brakes are acceptable, the handling and turning I'd acceptable. The power is NOT adequate at all, and the cooling system can't keep up at high loads IMO. I would not even attempt a 242 with a Traverse. You need more truck for that boat....Actually any truck. The Traverse is a glorified minivan with stupid doors and big tires.

Here's a size comparison with our relatively small AR190. Add another set of axles, another engine, and about 5ft in length to the boat to get an idea of what size discrepancy you're looking at.

 

[Marvin willis]

I had a Chevy 1500 and hated how it pulled so I upgraded to a 2500. I wouldn’t pull my boat around the yard with a traverse. The tongue weight will kill that suv.

I need to apologize. When you said traverse I was thinking equinox. I still wouldn’t tow with it but it’s better than a equinox.

 

[Hezi]

@Hezi-...

The good news is a Peterbilt with the right trailer will haul it no problem.

Good one @Marvin!

I am lucky to be the owner of a 2015 242 limited, and no Sir, not pulling it all the way from Florida with the Traverse, I'm gonna rent an F150 for that. Here at home, its a 15 miles to the water. If the Traverse won't do it, I'm going to have to rent a truck every time I want to lunch. My fingers are crossed for the Traverse.

 

[Hezi]

Check out that Toyota dealer. Rent a tow-package tundra for a week for under $400. I used that when I picked up my boat last fall, and upgraded the tow vehicle a couple months ago.

Thank you @seanmclean, I will definitely will call my local Toyota dealers and check. I'm in Northern New Jersey and your dealer is close to Phili. I hope it's available in my area, if not, there's always enterprise.

Now my next challenge is to convince NJ MVC to title the trailer without a title or certificate of origin. My proxy in FL didn't think about it at the time of the sale, and seller claim (and I believe him) FL don't give out title for trailers this class. I'm pretty sure I am going to spend days in the DMV trying to solve this one.

 

[swatski]

Now my next challenge is to convince NJ MVC to title the trailer without a title or certificate of origin. My proxy in FL didn't think about it at the time of the sale, and seller claim (and I believe him) FL don't give out title for trailers this class. I'm pretty sure I am going to spend days in the DMV trying to solve this one.

@Murf'n'surf I wonder if you could maybe shed some light on that? This is making me curious, the trailer registration is so different/state by state.

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