Towing Issues: Towing over 3500 lbs, trailer brakes, grand marquis

Question
We want to buy a boat that weighs in at about 3500 lbs. -- possibly more with gas, skis and the cooler.   We need to buy a car to tow it... but can't find one that will do the job for us.  We are not SUV people and have been looking at small SUV's -- Liberty/RAV 4/ Escape etc. and can't get a straight answer on whether or not they'll do the job.  Will they?  Also, if we get a bigger SUV ( Grand Cherokee/ Explorer/ 4 Runner etc.) without a factory installed tow package, will an "add-on" after market package allow us to tow over 3500 pounds?   We can't get straight answers from anyone and we can't find a car with a factory installed tow package!!!   Help us get on the water soon...

Answer
Leesie,

A car will not tow 3,500 lbs.  They have even begun to downgrade the towing capacity of the Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis.  

The Jeep Liberty can to up to about 8,000#, although I don't recommend it with such a small vehicle.  There are many aftermarket hitches for it that are rated to 5,000# or higher.  That said, always check the owner's manual of the car you are going to buy before you sign the paperwork, or get the dealer to put the towing capacity in writing.  

Given the option, I would always prefer to go bigger with the tow vehicle.  It is very likely that you will want a bigger boat in the future and vehicle lose power as they age and starting out with a more capable vehicle may be better appreciated in the future.  

I have a 2004 Dakota that I bought simply for the reason that it was the only mid-sized truck available with a V8 at the time.  I tow very often on my own and for business and I knew from past experience that regardless of the claimed HP numbers, a V6 simply doesn't make the torque to pull a heavy trailer at the speeds I tend to travel (always legal of course ;-).  

I would say the bigger the better but that also means more gas and more trouble in tight traffic and parking lots.  

Also, make sure the trailer brakes are in top notch condition at all times.  I would even recommend converting to disc brakes if it currently has drums.  If you are in a state that allows the use of brakes on one of the two axles ensure there are brakes on both axles.  Brakes for a 3,500# capacity axle are only able to brake 3,500#, not 4,000.  
In the end it's cheap insurance.  It's amazing how much insurance premiums go up when you rear end someone because your trailer brakes failed (hopefully everyone's ok).

Good luck,
Shayne Peterson
MobileHitch
http://www.mobilehitch.ca/