Rep Power: 0

Please feel free to call me an idiot if this is totally impossible!

I have an '01 EX with 86K miles on it and would love to buy a small (12') jon boat and tow it with my Civic. Does anyone know anyone who has done this? Does anyone think that it's doable? Please keep in mind that I live in Tampa and all the roads are flat here so I believe it will pull okay on the road. I'm more concerned with pulling the trailer and boat out of the water at a ramp.

Thoughts??

Thanks,

Barry

 
Rep Power: 244

I have thought about doing the same thing with my civic. I have a small 16ft run about and have thought about towing it in the past. Basically with the research that I found the engine can handle it it's the transmission thats the weekest link. If you have a manuel then it's only going to hurt the clutch. A Jon boat is not heavy and as long as the boat ramps are not super steep I would think it would be ok. I decided not to with mine cause I'm lowered and have summer tires and the ramp I use is sand.

 
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I have an auto tranny and have thought about the ramp steepness. I'm sure you're correct about the weak link. Mine is not lowered and has all-season tires.

 
Rep Power: 244

My neighbor has a 4 cylinder Malibu that is not rated to tow and he pulls his Jon Boat, but its only a short distance, less then 1/2 a mile. Maybe someone at a dealer will know something.

 
Rep Power: 174

if you ask your dealer they are going to say you cannot tow anything as thats what the manual says. i always wonder how uhaul etc can make and install hitches for cars that are not rated to tow anything lol.

if its an empty aluminum boat with a small outboard you should be fine. just make sure you dont have too much tongue weight