CONTINUOUSWAVE

Q1: how much tow vehicle capacity is required to safely transport a 2021 190 Montauk 300-miles?

The 2021 190 Montauk weighs 2,769-lbs; the dual axle trailer weighs 980-lbs. The boat is also equipped with a T-Top [whose weight is not include in the 2,769-lbs and the total towed weight is now said to greater than] 4,000-lbs [by an unknown amount ]

The rated towing capacity of my tow vehicle is 5,000 lbs. I don't think that is enough for this trip.

I plan on renting a truck.

Q2: what towing capacity should the rental truck have?

I tow my 20013 190 Nantucket with a 2016 Honda Pilot which has a 5000 lb.max tow rating. Total boat, motor, trailer weight is about the same as your boat. The Pilot tows fine but I live on the Alabama coast which is flat. Hilly terrain may make a difference.

Masbama wrote:I tow my 20013 190 Nantucket with a 2016 Honda Pilot which has a 5000 lb.max tow rating. Total boat, motor, trailer weight is about the same as your boat. The Pilot tows fine but I live on the Alabama coast which is flat. Hilly terrain may make a difference.

My tow vehicle is a model year 2022 MDX and similar to a HONDA PILOT.

If the planned trip were shorter than 300 miles,, I'd be less concerned. But at highway speeds I worry about having enough braking power to decelerate and enough engine power to keep up with traffic,

I appreciate the input.

Q3: do you not trust your vehicle manufacturer's tow rating?

If the vehicle is in good condition use it to tow your Montauk home. Before towing ensure the tires are fully inflated on both your vehicle and the boat trailer.

Jefecinco wrote:Q3:Do you not trust your vehicle manufacturer's tow rating?

I do not lack confidence in the vehicle or manufacturers stated capacity for towing. [My vehicle is] equipped with some additional equipment for the task.

I think I read suggestions that more [towing capacity] is better [than something unspecified] when it comes to tow vehicle capacity.

I want to ensure safe transport of the boat on this longer trip.

Ratings for towing capacity are stated for an empty vehicle with only the driver in the vehicle. Any additional weight in the tow vehicle such as other people or gear must be subtracted from the rated capacity.

The wheelbase length of the towing vehicle also influences the towing ride or feel, with a longer wheelbase resulting in generally better control of the trailer.

As for “keeping up with other traffic” don’t try to match their speed. Towing at close to a vehicle’s rating will mean limiting speed. I have driven perhaps 80,000-miles towing a heavy boat, and spent that entire time in the right lane at 55- to 60-MPH, being continually passed by faster traffic.

More towing capacity is not necessarily better. More capacity often requires a more heavy-duty tow vehicle which possibly will require more fuel to operate. It may also require a heaver-duty suspension resulting in a rougher ride for the trailer and cargo.

When we purchased our 190 Montauk we traveled from the Mobile, Alabama area to St Louis, Morsouri to bring it home. Our tow vehicle was a a 1/2-ton Nissan Titan made in 2009. The trailer was a single-axle galvanized trailer with surge brakes. We had no difficulty bringing our Montauk home and used the light duty pickup for several years.

You may also have some difficulty renting a truck equipped for towing. Check the rental agreement to ensure towing your load is allowed.

Account for the weigh of the fuel in the total weight of the rig. Gasoline weighs about 6.1-lbs-per-gallon, and premium and recreational gasoline weigh slightly more. I keep my 160 Dauntless fuel tank near full so that's an additional 250-lbs with around 42-gallons in the tank.

Make sure your insurance covers your liability and equipment. Most auto insurance will cover the liability of towing but not the boat or trailer themselves. I have separate coverage for the boat and trailer to cover the potential loss.

Good luck.

Todd

Regarding renting a truck and then using it for towing a boat, my experience agrees with JEFECINCO's comments: most truck rental policies forbid using the rented truck to tow anything.

ASIDE: when I bought a larger boat and did not have a tow vehicle that could tow it, I resorted to an age-old method: I borrowed my brother-in-law's truck to get the boat home.

Have you considered hiring a tow driver through uShip.com? It has been great for me, and several others I know. You never know 'til you post and see. It may very well be cheaper than renting.

I'm in the camp that thinks you should trust your vehicle's tow rating. I've towed our 190 MONTAUK on a 2000-mile-round-trip with a Sprinter van rated at 5000-lbs tow capacity. I do often check tire pressure, and I feel tire sidewalls for heat at each stop, and I check the hub and bearing temperature using a handheld infrared temperature sensor.