Fort Myers Beach to Tampa Bay

[GregF]

If you have a Navigator, why tow with the MKX?
The Navigator is a truck, the MKX is a car with an mini SUV body on it.

We tow with the Explorer but it isn't as good as the old F-150, more like your Navigator. Obama made me an offer I couldn't refuse on the F-150

[Pammy]

I traded the Navigator for the MKX. Gramps tows with and Enclave. I am hoping to get some insight from him on that.

[Bamby]

According to 2013 standards here:

Performance
Trailer Tow/Trailer Sway Package

Tow up to 3,500 lbs. when your Lincoln MKX is properly equipped with the available Class II Trailer Tow Package, which includes trailer sway control to help you maintain control. That’s serious capability for a stylish crossover. It works in conjunction with AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) to help maintain vehicle and trailer stability while you’re towing a trailer. Trailer sway control applies brake force to individual wheels and, if necessary, reduces engine power to help the driver regain control.

It appears your MKX needs the tow package to attain a 3500 pound tow rating. The GVR on a pontoon boat and trailer in most cases will be up against the manufactures limits or slightly exceeding the set for towing with this vehicle. It also appears the the Estimated Base Curb weight of a MKX is 4236 lbs. which isn't much heaver than the boat and trailer. This doesn't allow much mass to subsidize braking to stop the rig so hopefully the trailer you purchased has brakes.

As far as would I utilize it to pull the rig if I owned one? Up here in the hill country not a chance, but down there in relatively flat Florida probably exercising caution such as locking out of OD and keeping a lot of open road in front of me and keeping my speed down to acceptable minimums. Pulling my boat at 55 returns about 14.5 MPG increase it to 70 and it drops way on down to an unacceptable 8 MPG or so. So I always allow myself some extra time and also save some hard earned cash at the pumps..

[rbiederwolf]

Pammy,

Not sure you are soliciting info but,

I towed my 22ft Avalon with a 2010 Buick Enclave (without the tow package) for the first year. Mind you only relatively short distances - 10+ flat miles each way. The vehicle was only rated for 2000 lb. For short flat distances it was not an issue. The biggest problem was that it was Front wheel drive (not all wheel drive) and if the ramp was wet from rain etc. the tires would slip.

In the Buicks case, the only differnce for the tow package was a larger tranny cooler. I was considering adding an after market transmission cooler, but opted to get a different vehicle because of the front wheel drive. If it would have been All wheel drive, I would have been comfortable just adding a tranny cooler.

I currently tow with a Mercedes ML 350 All wheel drive. The vehicle is rated for 7500lb and I have towed hundreds of miles on long trips with no problems, and have pulled the boat out of the water on some ramps that were not too good.


You can always rent a vehicle for the trip home.

[Pammy]

I have the tow package. I figure I will tow it just this one time and get it home due to the weather will never cooperate. Of course we needed a trailer anyway so this is for the best.

It is SO flat here, I was figuring that I wouldn't have a problem towing it but since it is 120 miles or so, I thought I would see if anyone had any experience. I will be glad to get it home so we can get it settled on the lift.

[BobG]

It is SO flat here, I was figuring that I wouldn't have a problem towing it but since it is 120 miles or so, I thought I would see if anyone had any experience. I will be glad to get it home so we can get it settled on the lift.

I bought my boat 1,100 miles from home.
When you pick it up, CHECK THE TONGUE WEIGHT before you hook it up.
Tongue weight should be 10% of the total weight of the boat AND trailer.

When your tongue weight is too low, the trailer tows like you have a squirrel on crack back there. Ask me how I know. 1,100 miles with essentially ZERO tongue weight. Now I know to check!

[GregF]

Again, you still have that Tampa Bay thing

That is the biggest hill in Florida (over the bridge) and if it is really windy that trailer can be a handful up there but if you take it easy you will be fine. Like Bamby says, just keep a lot of open road in front of you and ignore all the people who are signalling that you are #1.

80-85 is not usually fast enough to make people happy on I-75 down here.

[OK Toon]

80-85 is not usually fast enough to make people happy on I-75 down here.

Then I'd be making lots of folks upset with me because I don't pull ANY trailer over 60mph -- doesn't matter if it is my little 8' smoker trailer, 26' travel trailer or 22' pontoon boat. I go 60 and enjoy the scenery.

[Ron Burgundy]

Whatever you do avoid the Sunshine Skyway. That bridge freaks me out.

[pote]

. The biggest problem was that it was Front wheel drive (not all wheel drive) and if the ramp was wet from rain etc. the tires would slip.

... ... ...


You can always rent a vehicle for the trip home.

To respectfully disagree, it's not the towing, but the stopping that concerns me. While you control how fast you take off from the traffic lights, up the ramp, etc., it's the dumbass who has never towed and doesnt respect that you have left that gap between you and the car infront of you, that should concern you the most. Passenger car frames are not equipped with enough strength to handle a panic stop with an extra ton and a half pushing on the back. I've been cut off by too many inconsiderate douches who are in a freaking hurry to get around me cuz they cant wait to get to the next stoplight to not want stopping power under me.


I do agree with renting a rig to tow with. Believe it or not, a UHaul or Hertz truck is cheaper to rent than a Mustang. Who cares if you cant go fast. The end result to me is getting "there" without having to deal with a cutrate insurance company.

[Bamaman]

Just about every car rental company has a commercial division in every major city servicing their direct lease fleets and doing daily rentals on pick up trucks, vans and medium duty trucks. They're usually in an industrial part of town--not the airport.

They're a source of getting a truck that's going to do the job for you.

[OK Toon]

Just about every car rental company has a commercial division in every major city servicing their direct lease fleets and doing daily rentals on pick up trucks, vans and medium duty trucks. They're usually in an industrial part of town--not the airport.

They're a source of getting a truck that's going to do the job for you.

Just have to verify if it is allowed to tow your own trailer. Hertz uses Penske for their truck rentals -- this is from the Penske site regarding towing personal trailers.

Can I tow my own trailer behind a Penske truck?
No. For liability reasons and your safety, we do not allow customers to tow any non-Penske owned equipment behind our trucks.

[Texoma Toon]

I have towed my toon over a hundred miles round trip with my Acadia with out any problems. I have a trailer tow package that keeps the 6 speed tranny in lower gears for longer than normal. I get it up to about 65 max and it did fine other than suck gas. I do have brakes on my trailer which helps, but it you keep plenty of space. Between the cars ahead you should be ok. Don't try to do this trip during rush hour.

[Pammy]

Well I towed the Manitou home behind my tiny(by comparison) MKX. It was smooth and easy. I put my truck in manual and home we came.

I still would have rather "floated" home, but the trip via tow was quick and painless. Not bad at all.

Since getting it home, we have been out and about the bay 3 times and the ride is incredible. The 150 Merc performs great and the boat is as stable as the dock. We went down to Egmont Key and Anna Maria way in some rough water....even a huge wake from a freighter...Wow!

We are very impressed with the Manitou. It fits our needs. We are trying to rig it to carry our fishing gear a bit more efficiently, but other than that it is perfect.

Again, thanks to all who gave advice on the purchase and transport.

[HandymanHerb]

OK where are the pictures ??????????????????????