Tom

Tom,

Q I own a Toyota Rav4 with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. I put a hitch

on it to tow my 22-foot boat last year, and the truck just kept overheating.
What can I do to stop this? Will it damage my SUV? It seems to me that it
should be able to tow a silly boat, don’t you think?

Sal—New Mexico

Sal,

A Your truck could tow a trailer that weighs about 1,500 pounds. Anything

over 3,000 pounds requires its own braking system and a heavy-duty vehicle
set up for towing. You did not give me the particulars of the boat, so I had to
do a little homework. On average, a 21-to 24-foot Searay sports boat weighs
anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 pounds, depending on how its equipped. The
cabin cruisers are even heavier.

Sal, at this towing weight, you are 1,500 to 3,500 or more pounds
overweight. This is a recipe for disaster. You will damage the frame, destroy
the brakes, and overheat the engine and transmission to the point of
meltdown, not to mention the safety risk you pose to yourself and others
while towing said boat. Sal, get another truck or sell the boat. Don’t tow it
anymore with this vehicle. It’s dangerous and will destroy the vehicle.