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2014 Towing a Boat - V6 or V8 (CRD not in the decision)

3K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  magiaone 
#1 ·
Hi All,

Just joined this Forum as I am looking to pull the trigger on a 2014 GC Overland.

Couple of things i would like to get some feedback on;

I currently have a 2010 Ram 1500 Laramie which i tow my 22Ft Tahoe Q8i Bow Rider with no issues. Of course the question becomes, with the V6 and the new 8sp, will it be ok to tow with. I dont tow cross country and i live in MI so that are plenty of lakes within 1 hrs drive, and the boat season here is only several months.

Boat is 3500lbs dry.

I like the idea of the V6 for fuel econ and i already have an SRT Charger for the speed fix. The Jeep is my daily driver, so the econ is a much better idea than the V8. With the increased capacity to 6200Lbs, i think I still will have close to 1000Lbs safety margin, plus with the new SAE towing stds, the 6200 is the actual number that it can tow.

Understand there will be a lag in performance as well with the V6 compared to the hemi, and the diesel is out for me, in MI its $4.25 at least right now and was $4.50 a few weeks ago.

So if there are any new owners out there that have a similar set up and are either having (or not) having issues, please chime in.

My dealer has a Steel Blue w/ Visuvio/ Brown interior, tech pkg and V6 on the lot now.

Thanks!
Kevin
 
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#2 ·
If you are just going to be in michigan you will be fine, you will be in 5th or 6th gear most of the time though just a fyi. I towed my dads 17' lund a few weekends ago for a few mikes and it towed fine, that was about 3k loaded though. Your biggest concern will be seeing around the boat. I could not see around it hardly at all, and that is a 93" beam, I don't know what yours is but I'm guessing wider than that. Fyi the new SAE towing means nothing, all of the manufacturers backed out of it because it will drop their numbers, of course that is with the trucks. Launching should be no problem because of that real tall 1st gear, your biggest issue will be stopping, hopefully you have real good trailer brakes.
 
#3 · (Edited)
I towed a 21' Larson Bow rider, a few hundred lbs lighter, extensively with my 2012 WK2 V6 and I was very pleased with the engines ability to move the load even through the inclines in the poconos and upstate NY. Enough power to maintain the speed limit plus and even enough umph to pass slower vehicles. My trailer used a surge brake to offload most of the braking load but my only concern was the ventless rear rotors, this is one are the HD Brakes on the hemi seem to a big improvement. Not sure how this applies to a 2014 but I wouldn't be too concerned, you should be just fine w/ the V6. Also, no problems launching or recovering, when you have the boat dipped in water it can be even heavier, and my typical ramp is a sandy beach where the rear wheels can be in the water depending on lake level.

I couldn't pass up the deals on the 2013's right now so I traded in the 2012 and I still got the V6 w/ the 2013 so certainly no regrets passing on the hemi after 15K miles w/ the V6.
 
#5 ·
Yes - The Trailer is dual axle with surge brakes.

We still test our trucks to the SAE std - but thanks for the info.

Thanks for all the info - i think the V6 will work for me, took the wife to the dealer this am - there was an overland unlocked, it was not the blue/ brown but the light color, it gave her in idea - and she smelt the leather!

I have had vehicles with dark interiors since i moved to the states, so the blue/brown combo is much more appealing and different.

Max Steel Blue is maybe a little dark but with this i can now park in the 3 car garage, no more scrapping and sweeping snow!
 
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