[musso]

I have an 04 2wd Navigator. It's rated to tow 8500lbs. I am looking at a 29 Renegade with twin 250 mercs. I am guessing with a trailer, fuel and motors I should be in the 7300lbs range. Think I will have any trouble pulling that with the Navigator? Mostly just to from storage to the ramp with the occasional 3-4 hour haul. Will the 2wd be an issue?
Thanks.

 

[mcbacb]

most 2wd trucks are rated for higher towing ratings

 

[Super24]

You should be OK. I prefer a truck to tow with though. I think the longer wheel base makes a difference.

 

[baja29c]

Isn't the navigator on a 1 ton truck chassis? i pulled my 29 Outlaw with twin 454's back and forth to the Ozarks from Illinois with my navigator/4WD with no problems

 

[hap hazzard]

Only problem you might encounter is at the ramp with the 2wd. It the ramps are good you probably wont have any problems, but I prefer to have 4x4 just in case.

 

[DonMan]

Only problem you might encounter is at the ramp with the 2wd. It the ramps are good you probably wont have any problems, but I prefer to have 4x4 just in case.

DITTO !

I have seen plenty of embarrasing situations at slippery ramps...

FYI: I would never "guess" at the weight you`re towing. If you`re guessing 7300 lbs and your max tow is 8500 #, there`s not much room for error there. Try to get a more accurate number.
Towing rule #1 : Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Sydwayz]

The Navigator is based on the Expedition which is based on the F-150.

Its barely a 1/2 ton truck with a suspension designed for smooth comfort, and NOT the tongue weight of a boat. That tow rating is with a FULL WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH setup, not just a weight carrying hitch.

The 2WD is going to be a MAJOR issue one day. You will be willing to pay a good $150K for 4WD at that moment your Navigator and Boat are slipping down the ramp backwards.

I am willing to bet you will be over 8K lbs with fuel, beer, coolers, anchors, tools, etc.

I'd DEFINITELY step up to at LEAST a 3/4 ton truck OR a Diesel Excursion.

You may be rated to tow the Space Shuttle. How well can you stop it when life depends on it?

 

[Pachanga_Rick]

I have an 04 2wd Navigator. It's rated to tow 8500lbs. I am looking at a 29 Renegade with twin 250 mercs. I am guessing with a trailer, fuel and motors I should be in the 7300lbs range. Think I will have any trouble pulling that with the Navigator? Mostly just to from storage to the ramp with the occasional 3-4 hour haul. Will the 2wd be an issue?
Thanks.

Nope.. I towed a twin engine 29 Scarab to Lake Cumberland from Michigan with a 5.4L 2wd Van. I was worried at first but I never had a problem, even with those killer hills in KY.

I should add my Van is a 1 ton Ext. wheel base, so that may have helped it along the way.

 

[cfm]

Only problem you might encounter is at the ramp with the 2wd. It the ramps are good you probably wont have any problems, but I prefer to have 4x4 just in case.

2wd WILL NOT work at my local ramps. Been proven 100's of times. :laugher: :laugher: :dead: :dead:

 

[Pachanga_Rick]

2wd WILL NOT work at my local ramps. Been proven 100's of times. :laugher: :laugher: :dead: :dead:

Pictures?

 

[baja29c]

sorry.....my mistake. My excursion is set up on a 1 ton chassis not my old navigator

 

[mirage257]

There wasn't a ramp I couldn't pull my boat up with my 98 GC with AWD .

Disc brakes with ABS all around on the truck, hauling boat on 7% grades up or down . Trailer brakes are HD 12"X2" Dexter units.

You would only have issues on slimy steep ramps with a 2WD . My 03 Navigator is a 2WD , AWD or 4 WD H , 4 WD low , with air suspension , traction & level control .The Navigator weighs 5900* , so it doesn't get tossed around going down hill like a lighter vehicle [ GC is only 4000*] could if you're over speeding :winker: . The Navi can take up to 750 lbs tongue weight alone ,and has 8800* towing capacity . The torque [ 355 foot pounds ] comes in at a low 2700 rpm . I don't even notice the boat [ 8380* with trailer ]
hooked up . The new Navigator is rated up to 9200 like the F150 SC .

 

[mirage257]

Here is some info for Ford and GM trucks for anyone interested >Ford

Chev >

 

[cads03]

There wasn't a ramp I couldn't pull my boat up with my 98 GC with AWD .

Disc brakes with ABS all around on the truck, hauling boat on 7% grades up or down . Trailer brakes are HD 12"X2" Dexter units.

You would only have issues on slimy steep ramps with a 2WD . My 03 Navigator is a 2WD , AWD or 4 WD H , 4 WD low , with air suspension , traction & level control .The Navigator weighs 5900* , so it doesn't get tossed around going down hill like a lighter vehicle [ GC is only 4000*] could if you're over speeding :winker: . The Navi can take up to 750 lbs tongue weight alone ,and has 8800* towing capacity . The torque [ 355 foot pounds ] comes in at a low 2700 rpm . I don't even notice the boat [ 8380* with trailer ]
hooked up . The new Navigator is rated up to 9200 like the F150 SC .

Not calling you a liar, but I'm not so sure you don't "notice" your 8,300 # boat behind your Nav. Towing my Sunsation (7,000 #) on the trailer is not much of an issue, but I definately know it's behind my F-250 4x4 Diesel. The ramps I typically use are not very steep, but there is one that if it has been used a bunch that day and is all wet, I have to use 4WD to get my boat out of the water.

I'd say you will have to use your best judgement BEFORE you put your boat in the water, however, I think it should tow it just fine. That is coming from a person that has only towed with a 4WD vehicle though, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[mirage257]

I towed my boat with a F350 PSD , and it was a slug !
My GC had a much better take off , only suffered stability going downhill if I went over 60 mph. I always kept to the 55 mph limit on our highways . The 03 Navigator has the DOHC 5.4 Triton and with the O/D off it pulls great .

 

[mirage257]

I have to use 4WD to get my boat out of the water.

[/b]
I've been towing boats for the last 40 yrs , and was totally blown away with the Jeep's capability. Never had to switch to 4WD low ever .The Quadratrac II tranny on these are a marvel on its own. Had 3 Cherokees and they all were pretty good to me. The only reason I have the Navi , because of liability involved when over the weight limit.

 

[cads03]

I towed my boat with a F350 PSD , and it was a slug !
My GC had a much better take off , only suffered stability going downhill if I went over 60 mph. I always kept to the 55 mph limit on our highways . The 03 Navigator has the DOHC 5.4 Triton and with the O/D off it pulls great .

You'd rather tow with a 5.4L Navigator than a Superduty Diesel?

It's perfectly fine, I'm just curious is all. I've towed our Sunsation with my wifes Escalade - 2005 with 6.0L AWD magnaride with autoleveling and it feels way too "loosy goosy" to me. Although way within the towing capabilities of the machine, I would much rather pull with my Superduty Diesel. But HEY! To Each His Own

 

[mirage257]

CAd , The Navi has an independant suspension with huge airbags and it handles like a car , unlike a truck that feels sloppy . Does your Escalade have airbags ?
The Avalanche with 4.10 gears pulls pretty good . My 66 Caddy had airbags , cause it would have been all over the road in the turns with its coil suspension . My 64 Lincoln had leaf springs and with its hefty 5050* it handled the turns pretty good ,on crappy bias tires. With radials it handled really well pulling my 4000* boat/trailer combo.

 

[NstyLX]

Not that it matters, but my brother towed his 32 Velocity with his Expidition(5.4L). Did not have any issues with getting it out of the water. I think the 2WD suvs have better traction than the 2WD truck due to the extra weight over the rear axle?!?! He has since purchased a 2500HD just for a little extra piece of mind!

 

[NstyLX]

Not that it matters, but my brother towed his 32 Velocity with his Expidition(5.4L). Did not have any issues with getting it out of the water. I think the 2WD suvs have better traction than the 2WD truck due to the extra weight over the rear axle?!?! He has since purchased a 2500HD just for a little extra piece of mind!