so i have a v6 rav4, 4wd that can tow 3500lbs. How much does a typical 20ft console boat and trailer weigh? thanks! would i be an idiot to try and tow this type of boat with this car?

one word, YES, too much boat for that short and light of a vehicle.
way underpowered, too light to stop quick, and your probably not going to get it up the ramp when you load.

You should be fine!!! That is, until you actually have to drive anywhere, stop or go up the ramp. A jet ski..yes..a 20' boat, no.

Will it? Probably.

Should you do it all the time? Probably not.

I've seen half ton trucks with over one ton of stuff in the bed. And half ton trucks towing trailers with close to 10,000lbs on them. So yes, they will. But it's not safe practice, and if it must be done, it should be done with extreme caution.

Honestly, it does not take an Abrams tank to tow a boat 20' or less (even up a ramp). Stopping it is the key, and that would be my main area of concern. Trailer brakes are very important when towing with marginally rated vehicles. As a general rule, I don't like my load to outweigh the tow vehicle. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, just do it as safely as you can with what you have.


Jay

so in summary, i might be able to tow the boat from boat store to marina where i would keep it. hahahha

With 4wd you will have no problem getting it up a ramp. As others have said you will most likely have a stopping problem. That stopping problem may even occur while backing down a ramp. That would be a fun postion to be in. The other problem you will have is in side or head winds.

Sure if the boat store is the Slolam shop and the marina is Sneaky Pete's on Lake Lewisville and you can get the guy that manages the boat storage to launch it with the John Deere. Then again you could just run over there on the John Deere and pick up the boat. All kidding aside not enough vehicle weight to control such a beast safely. Your's and everybody else's.