Honda CRV

[High Noon]

Hi Folks,

I am looking at possibly purchasing a 2005 or 2006 Honda crv and I was wondering what you folks think about it as a tow vehicle. I have a 14ft Lund wc with 15hp Honda on it. We also load up for trips to the family cottage. It is rated for 1500lbs. I am hoping to stay small with good mileage. Thanks for the help as I am clueless on this one.

High Noon

[waynerb66]

You should be fine. I carry my 14ft. Misty River, which is pretty well identical to your Lund. I have a 20hp. and a heavy duty trailer, and I haul it with my Nissan Altima which is rated for a 1000lbs. And I sometimes load up the boat with campfire wood and stuff to bring to the campsite. So I think you should have no problems.

[Half-hitch]

Hi Folks,

I am looking at possibly purchasing a 2005 or 2006 Honda crv and I was wondering what you folks think about it as a tow vehicle. I have a 14ft Lund wc with 15hp Honda on it. We also load up for trips to the family cottage. It is rated for 1500lbs. I am hoping to stay small with good mileage. Thanks for the help as I am clueless on this one.

High Noon

Have a 2008 CR-V AWD. It will tow that lund fine - mileage will likely suffer somewhat, at least that's been my experience. Apart from that, great vehicle.

[Bondo]

I have a 1997 CRV rated for 1000 lbs and I have been towing my Princecraft Starfish DLX SC with a 40 hp. I pack heavy always so my boat is usually very heavy and I have never had an issue. My buddy is a mechanic at OC and he told me that those ratings are set very conservatively so if that newer CRV you are looking at is rated for 1500 lbs, it would probably take 1750 - 1900 lbs or so.

[Joey Rat]

Just remember that most vehicle load ratings are a combination of what's in and behind the vehicle.

[waynerb66]

Also, remember that the wheels on a boat trailer sit far back. They probably take a lot of the weight off your the trailer tongue.

[High Noon]

Good info. so far guys. Any other 4cyl. towers out there?

Thanks

Pat

[Half-hitch]

Just remember that most vehicle load ratings are a combination of what's in and behind the vehicle.

Good point, but most manufactures give numbers for both towing, as well as total gross vehicle rating.

The CR-V is rated for 1500 lbs towing - you can suff about another 500 lbs in the car before exceding the gross.

[Half-hitch]

I have a 1997 CRV rated for 1000 lbs and I have been towing my Princecraft Starfish DLX SC with a 40 hp. I pack heavy always so my boat is usually very heavy and I have never had an issue. My buddy is a mechanic at OC and he told me that those ratings are set very conservatively so if that newer CRV you are looking at is rated for 1500 lbs, it would probably take 1750 - 1900 lbs or so.

Interesting point, and note that I am NOT condoning exceding load limits, but the European and Aussie versions of the CR-V are rated for 3,000lbs towing. They are, from all I can tell, the same vehicle as here.

[Billy Bones]

Bear one thing in mind, you are not just talking about towing a boat. The biggest load would be when you pull it out of the water. All ramps ar not created equal. Some are very steep, some are gravel, some are even just dirt. Easy in doesn't mean easy out.

Billy Bones

[High Noon]

Just back from test driving an 07 CRV. Pretty nice ride and peppy to. I am not sure about the all wheel drive system. I will have to look into how the system works. I think it's basically a front wheel drive unless it senses wheel spin and then the rear wheel kick in. Someone told me that if the front wheels spin athe the same rate the rear wheels will not kick in. That might suck at a launch. If anyone has better details on this can you let me know.

Thanks

High Noon

[Raminator]

yes,they have sensors for their wannabe awd,it will be junk in a bad situation.the best bang for your buck ,if you don't want a real truck,with full locking diffs, will be the subaru awd system,they never slip and don't depend on sensors for engagement.

[Raminator]

fyi,the only awd's that actually stay engaged full time are subaru,audi,mercedes,older saabs(new saabs are frt.wd)and chrysler,except some jeeps and rams are awd and some are 4x4,older ford expeditions/explorers stay locked up, ,,to name the more popular ones...............................................toyota, honda,hyundai,kia,ford cars and new suv's like edge are all ones that aren't fully engaged axles and run off of sensors.

[waynerb66]

So what smaller type SUV would anyone recommend? Just curious, as I am in the market for one also. Are all the newer ones with AWD not that good?

[joco]

the crv is the most reliable suv. to start wit. in it size.

look for 2 prob that could have ocur..air condition prob in those years 04-05... the best thing is to go see the forums for crv. you will find so mutch great info. in there i was there for a few months...most guys were not recoment those suv to carry big load...but again it depend what you will pulling wit it.

but for what i can read..your is not a huge boat should have no prob.

but do have to think ahead off time to...do you think you will get a bigger boat soon or the next few years..if so.mmm something to think about.


joco