Pull 4000 Ib Boat Trailer With Rav4 158 Hp..?

[Yonaz]

Hi!

I bought a DC-boat with boat trailer (unbraked 30 km) weighs approximately 4000 Ib (1800 kg) in total.

Starting to get worried that my new Rav4 2.0 VVTi, manual with 158 hp might struggle to pull it off...

The thing is that I have a gravel road with a rather steep slope with a curve at the bottom that I need to be able to run up and down.

What do you think, any risk that Raven will not be able to pull up the boat and/or experience a problem when I run downhill when the trailer is without brakes ..??

I also have a BMW 320 DA Touring with 177 hp as an option ..? Better/worse?

Have pulled a boat of 1433 lb (650 kg) + trailer about 400 lb (200 kg) with the BMW up and down the slope in the past without any problems.

Grateful for any answers/speculations. Want to avoid problems in the middle of the slope the first time...!

TIA :)

PS. forgive my english

[Davrav]

Hi!

I bought a DC-boat with boat trailer (unbraked 30 km) weighs approximately 4000 Ib (1800 kg) in total.

Starting to get worried that my new Rav4 2.0 VVTi, manual with 158 hp might struggle to pull it off...

The thing is that I have a gravel road with a rather steep slope with a curve at the bottom that I need to be able to run up and down.

What do you think, any risk that Raven will not be able to pull up the boat and/or experience a problem when I run downhill when the trailer is without brakes ..??

I also have a BMW 320 DA Touring with 177 hp as an option ..? Better/worse?

Have pulled a boat of 1433 lb (650 kg) + trailer about 400 lb (200 kg) with the BMW up and down the slope in the past without any problems.

Grateful for any answers/speculations. Want to avoid problems in the middle of the slope the first time...!

TIA :)

PS. forgive my english

Hi and welcome to the club

I think you may be struggling with your boat:SPECIFICATION

[Yonaz]

Hi and welcome to the club

I think you may be struggling with your boat:SPECIFICATION

Thanks!

If you referring to the "Towing capacity" (unbraked), that's for unbraked trailers but for driving with as a braked trailer (on freeway, 80km/h etc).

The trailer I have goes under something like "after vehicle" (translation?) and is not aloud to run on the freeway and only 30km/h. I think this is limited to at least the same gross weight as the car it self.

Also with my model in my country (Sweden) I'm aloud to tow braked 2000 kg which is 500 kg more than on the spec you showed... (which is irrelevant in this case but anyhow..)

I'm more after if my Rav4 will handle the weight with it's rather small engine and low max output/torque (and no low gear but with the diff)...?

[bothwell_buyer]

Not sure - is your RAV petrol or diesel?

Not that it matters much. I've towed 3000kg with my 3 door RAV before (braked trailer) and as long as I kept the speed down, then everything was fine. The only problem you may have is with reversing uphill - as the RAVs don't seem to like that so much.

[Parts-King]

It's too heavy!

The 1500KG refered to by Toyota is the MAX weight they recommend, regardless of what you are allowed to tow in law

I think your gravel road and steep slope will be too much, particularly in the long term

Kingo

[Yonaz]

Not sure - is your RAV petrol or diesel?

Not that it matters much. I've towed 3000kg with my 3 door RAV before (braked trailer) and as long as I kept the speed down, then everything was fine. The only problem you may have is with reversing uphill - as the RAVs don't seem to like that so much.

It's on petrol with manual shifter.

I don't have any doubts when it comes to tow on "normal" roads but it's this quite steep gravel road slope that worries me...

Hopefully I never have to even try to reverse uphill with a boat trailer! ;)

[Yonaz]

It's too heavy!

The 1500KG refered to by Toyota is the MAX weight they recommend, regardless of what you are allowed to tow in law

I think your gravel road and steep slope will be too much, particularly in the long term

Kingo

You are the first to say it's too heavy for my Rav4.

Yes ok, I thought wrong with the Toyota spec vs whats allowed in Sweden. However the recommendations from the manufacturar is "always" understated so they can have a clean back IF something would happen...

Think I will have my BMW standby in front of Raven so I can connect it and help if necessary, at least the first time!

[bothwell_buyer]

I drove my RAV towing a car transporter trailer which was carrying a Jaguar XJS... and towed it some 300 miles.

I'd guess the only problem you would have is possible loss of traction as the RAV is a bit lighter.... but using 4WD I think would be ok.

[Vance]

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