Towing a boat with 4 cylinder?

Hey guys, I own a 2017 Honda CRV, and the towing capacity is only 1500 pounds.  I really want to buy a fishing boat, but i'm concerned the CRV isn't strong enough.  I would only be looking at 14-16 foot aluminum boats (like a Smokercraft) with maybe 40-50hp motor.  

Have you ever towed a boat with a 4 cylinder?  Any issues with this?  My main concerns would be very slow accelerating (especially on the highway), too much stress on the engine and body of the CRV, or having to pull the boat/trailer out of a lumpy/crappy landing which would add to the force on the trailer hitch.  

Have towed my older  (1975) 14 ft alumacraft with older (1996) 15 hp evinrude 2 stroke with my wife's Rav 4 and my father in laws outback.  Weight of rig,  boat ,motor, trailer maybe 750 lbs.  Both vehicles tow boat so easily you don't  even know they are there.  

Now, if you get 16 foot rig with carpeted floors and live wells and consoles, 4 stroke 60 hp, add a much bigger trailer, all your fishing gear and extra batteries for trolling motors you will be pushing 2500 to 3000 lbs quickly.  For a boat and trailer like that you had better limit the tow to a few blocks or couple miles.  Those smaller suv's would struggle hauling a bigger rig  down the road.

Good luck and be careful.

Here's another situation people keep forgetting

Vehicle your towing with

People load up their vehicle with four people and gear go off and tow their 1500 lb boat

Already there tow vehicle also at its Max caring weight

And they can't understand why they can't get up the express ramp to a safe speed to get on to the highway

And then again the other problem is the stopping distance

Max towing capacity it's hard for people to understand

To understand this easier let's say your vehicle has a weight capacity of a thousand pounds

you put a of a thousand pounds in a vehicle and you will realize that it will go all the way down to the stops

yes you can carry a thousand pounds but would you want to do this all the time

That is the same thing with towing capacity does this make sense

I used to tow a 17' Bass Tracker w/ 50 hp motor with my Ford Escape, however that had a 6 cylinder engine and the transmission had actual gears. Towing capacity was 3500 lbs. It towed great and I averaged over 17 mpg while towing. I would not tow with a 4 cylinder, especially a SUV with the CVT transmissions. Weight in the boat adds up very quickly, gas tank, livewell, batteries, trolling motor are the big ones. I own a Subaru forester and love it, but would never tow with it. 

But it all depends how far and how often you plan on towing. If its only a couple miles a dozen times a year, the risk of doing it may be worth it versus spending more money to upgrade vehicles.

I have been towing my 16' lund with a 50 HP for a few months now, boat, motor, trailer according to the specs is just under 1500#, with a 2015 Subaru Forester, 4 cyl. I used to have a different boat that weighed in about 1200#, never had problems there either.

I have no problems towing the boat, you just need to be a little safer regarding stopping, but that is with any vehicle towing any kind of trailer.

I am taking a hit on the mileage however, but I expected that. I have had no issues so far. you need to compensate for  Long uphill grades, that is when you really know you are towing a trailer, but it seems to handle it fine. 

He says smokerCraft from 14 to 16 

Here's the 16

Angler 16 XL SC

SPECIFICATIONSMax HorsepowerBeamDry Weight

I looked up a trailer for that size boat would weigh 420 lb

4 stroke Mercury

Specifications - 40hp 4-Cylinder

So right now he's at 1412 lb

That does not include fuel electric trolling motor it is gear he has to tow

I've seen people tow heavy boats with small cars

The problem they run into is when they get to ramps that are quite steep and they can't pull the boat out of the water

The weight ratio increases as the angle of the ramp

And they end up stuck spinning their wheels at the end of the ramp

So Chumley20 

Needs to look at his options because right now is dream boat is right at the border of his towing capabilities

I meant to say towing capacity, sorry. I have put a boat, motor, trailer with all the other essentials to go fishing on a scale, and they always exceed the the manufactures suggested weight.

The next time I’m out I will get mine on a scale to see what it weighs. I will bet that I am 2000# or more. Alumacraft Escape 145, ETec 30hp tiller, Trailmaster C channel bunk trailer.

Have a 16 foot flat bottom with a 15 hp 4 stroke trolling motor seats all the gear pull with a CRV or a forester subaru never a problem get 25 per gallon on highway pulling it All conditions drive safe you are good to go. Saw a v8 GMC along side the road pulling a big boat with oil spraying out Problems can happen no matter what you drive

Sorry Tuffy...not true my 15ft totally at 1050.weighed...noy near the 3500lb crv

I would not tow a boat with the CRV due to the transmission. The other thing I would be even more concerned with is stopping. Even a 14’ boat with a 40hp motor and trailer ready to fish will probably equal the weight of your vehicle.

Will the CRV have the weight to pull the boat out of the water on a steep ramp? Or on a ramp that's not paved? Or with a boat that may be swamped a bit from being caught out in the rain? Once the tires start spinning, it can get ugly. Not trying to rain on your parade, just making sure you're prepared.

Towed my old 15 foot Skeeter Bass boat with a 2wd 4 cyl pickup for a 5 speed stick. As long as you stay within weight capacity you should be fine . 

Just my 2cents.  It may depend on how far you drive and how often. Local travel shouldnt be an issue.  Once you get to those 100+ mile trips multiple times ayear then the wear n tear adds up.  With a 4 popper I would be more comfortable with a boat with a 25 horse tiller. Hondas are good cars known for their longevity but theyre not bomb proof. 

Been towing a 15ft deep.v...since 2004...

3 different models of crv....no problems...been to  Canada and northern Minnesota regularly...not a power house obviously..has served me well. 4wheel drive is an asset   about 20-22 mpg

Worth it fr me as not a fan of big truck..love Honda crv

I use to use my Isuzu pick up to pull my 12 ft mirrocraft  .  Just plan ahead for hills and ramps . Gas mileage stunk . 

One uncle had the same truck  , and I drove it from West Yellowstone to eastern Montana.  I had one snowmobile in the bed and two more on a trailer.  Had to do a bit of downshifting to get up some of those hills . It can be done .