Rising gas prices finally got to me. I traded in my Dakota 4x4 on an Outlander w/AWD, 2.4 engine.

Did not want to put $60 to $70 in the tank every time I went fishing. The OUtlander w/4 cyl is rated at 1500 lb towing cap, so it will pull my fishing boat with no problem. The Dakota w5.2 was over-kill

Installing trailer hitch next week, and am using the Mitsu wiring harness.

I will pop in from time to time, and I'm sure that any advice I need will be freely given, and I will offer my 40 + years of doing car stuff to any and all who want it.

I hope you nice people will put up with an old guy, and I promise to fight nice

 

Throw in some rear airbags and towing is a breeze. I tow a 1400kg caravan with my 2.4lt cvt with no sag. Standard hitch is is bolted on with 8 bolts here in Australia and has a limit of 1500kg.

 

Got my hitch on and wiring done- Curt hitch and Mitsu wiring. Took the boat out of storage yesterday, and while the Outlander doesnt have all the power of he Dakota, it pulled it just fine and very little rear sag whin hitched up. I will have to go with a higher ball mount - I turned around the 2" drop to make a 2" rise, but 4 might be better.

A little scrape when I went up the driveway, but I don't think it will be a problem.

 

Will a 4" rise hit the tailgate when it folds down?

 

Don't know, but I don't gave a need to lower it when towing the "fishing machine".

After I get it, I'll post results.

 

I picked up a 5 1/2 in drop-4' rise Reese ball mount, and the tail gate will just barely touch the ball mount. It's not quite long enough to let the tail gate down without any interference. Possibly a different manufacturerer' ball mount will.

 

Just a tip for any one with a 5 passanger Outlander that wants to tow but doesn't want to spend money on air bags.

The 7 passanger Outlander's rear springs are heavier. The 7 passanger is rated for 2,800lb vs. 2,315lb for the 5 passanger.

You could find rear springs in a salvage yard for very little expence.

 

I did notice that there was not much drop when I hitched up the boat.

Does the rear seat option nincl the heavier springs?