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2005 Saturn Vue
- Thread starter Rob B
- Start date
Boston Predictor
Well-known member
It will definitely pull your boat. Just be carefull you dont overheat the engine, tranny or brakes. When I was in highschool we used to pull my friends cabin cruiser with a 92 camry. Ive seen alot worse than that too, just take it easy w/ the saturn and youll be all set
BullittBen
Member
Officially, the AWD model should be capable (3500 lbs rating), but not the FWD only model (1500 lbs).
Which one do you have?
Which one do you have?
claupie
Well-known member
You'd be wise to use this
I stole the pic from Claupie
Sawcat,w/this truck you would be able to take Coop's trailer and pull a full shipment of pulse 170..
Boston Predictor
Well-known member
That thing is BAD!
83PREDICTOR
Well-known member
You should not have any issues pulling that boat with the Vue. Just make sure yours isn't the one were the air bags all deploy for no reason while driving down the road.
It will pull OK short distances as-is. You should check into the tow package model and see what GM added to that body style Vue to see if you want to add those things too, if you're going to pull for longer distances.
In order to save gas, I'm letting my crew cab Tundra TRD 4X4 go back at the end of the lease, and I've purchased a new RAV4 Sport with the 3.5 V6 and AWD and the towing package. On the RAV, it adds oil/trans coolers and a bigger radiator and larger charging system, better brakes, etc. Toyota does a lot of tweaking on the towing models compared to the regular models.
The RAV4 is rated for 3500 lbs, and I remember figuring my previous Pulse 171 at about 2500 lbs towed weight. I used to tow my first Pulse with a '92 Toyota extra cab 4X4 with the 5-speed manual and the 22RE engine. Or was it 24RE. Anyway, that combo had a difficult time with long up-hills! I had to slowly gain speed before I could climb a long high hill on the highway if I wanted to stay in 5th. The new RAV has 269 horse, about double my old pickup!
In order to save gas, I'm letting my crew cab Tundra TRD 4X4 go back at the end of the lease, and I've purchased a new RAV4 Sport with the 3.5 V6 and AWD and the towing package. On the RAV, it adds oil/trans coolers and a bigger radiator and larger charging system, better brakes, etc. Toyota does a lot of tweaking on the towing models compared to the regular models.
The RAV4 is rated for 3500 lbs, and I remember figuring my previous Pulse 171 at about 2500 lbs towed weight. I used to tow my first Pulse with a '92 Toyota extra cab 4X4 with the 5-speed manual and the 22RE engine. Or was it 24RE. Anyway, that combo had a difficult time with long up-hills! I had to slowly gain speed before I could climb a long high hill on the highway if I wanted to stay in 5th. The new RAV has 269 horse, about double my old pickup!
The 2005 Saturn Vue is front wheel drive only and we would only go about 50 miles from home. Most of the time it's about 15-20 miles from home. Also remember i live down south so it's flat here.
I normally pull the pulse w/ my 2001 Nissan Frontier V-6 extended cab that has a towing package. I was thinking of the extra room in my wife's Satun Vue since we have a 4 yr old son. Here's a look at my Nissan Frontier.
Thanks for the info. I might look into getting a Nissan/Toyota crew cab, although i hate truck/car payments.
I normally pull the pulse w/ my 2001 Nissan Frontier V-6 extended cab that has a towing package. I was thinking of the extra room in my wife's Satun Vue since we have a 4 yr old son. Here's a look at my Nissan Frontier.
Thanks for the info. I might look into getting a Nissan/Toyota crew cab, although i hate truck/car payments.
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Ahh, front wheel drive and 50 miles each way. HM. Not sure about that. Front wheel drive is OK for towing with a towing package, but launch ramps can be a problem. Have you been OK at your favorite launch ramps with your truck in 2WD? You'll for sure want to add an external trans cooler. I think you have the Honda 3.5 V6 in that VUE, which is a great motor, but the tranny will need help. Honda has had some issues with the 5-speed auto. External trans cooler for sure. Get a big one.
Your Frontier is like my old Toyota extra cab pickup. I had to get rid of it because my daughter reached about the age your kid is, and there's just not enough room back there. How about a used American extra-cab full size truck with a dealer added factory long warranty? Resale values are lower, so you can get one pretty reasonable. My Chevy 4X4 Z71 trucks would average 18 mpg with the 5.3 in the warm weather.
Your Frontier is like my old Toyota extra cab pickup. I had to get rid of it because my daughter reached about the age your kid is, and there's just not enough room back there. How about a used American extra-cab full size truck with a dealer added factory long warranty? Resale values are lower, so you can get one pretty reasonable. My Chevy 4X4 Z71 trucks would average 18 mpg with the 5.3 in the warm weather.
Boston Predictor
Well-known member
What A usless comment
Boston Predictor
Well-known member
My friend has a new Frontier 6 spd and its pretty nice too. That little truck has some balls. The Toyotas are nice, If I was going to but a pickup it would be a Tundra
Needafunboat
Active member
That 3.5L motor and trans powertrain is a steal in that Vue - same basic set up (although different state of tune) used in the $50K Acura RL's and MDX's. Same situation on the RAV4 V6's.
The Honda 5sp AT issues that I am aware of were all much earlier and should have been totally cleared up by 2003/2004. It had something to due with a lack of lube to one of the planetary sets I'm on my 3rd one in my 2002 Acura TL-S-- all replaced out of warranty at ZERO cost to me even though I ignored a mil light for about a year on the last one! (Stupid me), and with excellent customer service (I won't compare it to my adventures at the blue oval service department for IN WARRANTY work
).
From a transmission view, a big issue for towing on the highway is to be sure your torque converter stays locked up most of the time. RUnning at highways speeds with a load and a torque conveter open make lots of heat. (meaning it is functioning as a torque multiplying fluid coupling). Picture a tank of oil with a 28P prop driving oil on one side and a 19P prop being driven by that oil on the other side. This is the basic concept. I THINK this is why you now see the trailer tow button on newer tow vehicles with 5 and 6 speed wider ratio transmissions, but I don't know that for a fact.
One easy way to keep the TC closed is to drop it into 4th (aka turn OD off). But this won't help gas mileage. When I go up north in MI (rolling hills) I leave OD on , but watch going up hills that the TC doesn't run open for very long. If you watch the tach, you'll see that the car seems to down shift half a gear. This is the TC opening.
If you can run at a moderate speed for your 50 miles with the TC closed, you probably don't NEED a Trans cooler for that particular trip but its good insurance.
I can't speak to what FWD would be like on a ramp. I could maybe see it being dicey. I'm sure it all depends on angle, tounge weight, traction....
In any case - it's a great powertrain in your truck.
The Honda 5sp AT issues that I am aware of were all much earlier and should have been totally cleared up by 2003/2004. It had something to due with a lack of lube to one of the planetary sets I'm on my 3rd one in my 2002 Acura TL-S-- all replaced out of warranty at ZERO cost to me even though I ignored a mil light for about a year on the last one! (Stupid me), and with excellent customer service (I won't compare it to my adventures at the blue oval service department for IN WARRANTY work
).From a transmission view, a big issue for towing on the highway is to be sure your torque converter stays locked up most of the time. RUnning at highways speeds with a load and a torque conveter open make lots of heat. (meaning it is functioning as a torque multiplying fluid coupling). Picture a tank of oil with a 28P prop driving oil on one side and a 19P prop being driven by that oil on the other side. This is the basic concept. I THINK this is why you now see the trailer tow button on newer tow vehicles with 5 and 6 speed wider ratio transmissions, but I don't know that for a fact.
One easy way to keep the TC closed is to drop it into 4th (aka turn OD off). But this won't help gas mileage. When I go up north in MI (rolling hills) I leave OD on , but watch going up hills that the TC doesn't run open for very long. If you watch the tach, you'll see that the car seems to down shift half a gear. This is the TC opening.
If you can run at a moderate speed for your 50 miles with the TC closed, you probably don't NEED a Trans cooler for that particular trip but its good insurance.
I can't speak to what FWD would be like on a ramp. I could maybe see it being dicey. I'm sure it all depends on angle, tounge weight, traction....
In any case - it's a great powertrain in your truck.
That 3.5L motor and trans powertrain is a steal in that Vue - same basic set up (although different state of tune) used in the $50K Acura RL's and MDX's. Same situation on the RAV4 V6's.
The Honda 5sp AT issues that I am aware of were all much earlier and should have been totally cleared up by 2003/2004. It had something to due with a lack of lube to one of the planetary sets I'm on my 3rd one in my 2002 Acura TL-S-- all replaced out of warranty at ZERO cost to me even though I ignored a mil light for about a year on the last one! (Stupid me), and with excellent customer service (I won't compare it to my adventures at the blue oval service department for IN WARRANTY work
From a transmission view, a big issue for towing on the highway is to be sure your torque converter stays locked up most of the time. RUnning at highways speeds with a load and a torque conveter open make lots of heat. (meaning it is functioning as a torque multiplying fluid coupling). Picture a tank of oil with a 28P prop driving oil on one side and a 19P prop being driven by that oil on the other side. This is the basic concept. I THINK this is why you now see the trailer tow button on newer tow vehicles with 5 and 6 speed wider ratio transmissions, but I don't know that for a fact.
One easy way to keep the TC closed is to drop it into 4th (aka turn OD off). But this won't help gas mileage. When I go up north in MI (rolling hills) I leave OD on , but watch going up hills that the TC doesn't run open for very long. If you watch the tach, you'll see that the car seems to down shift half a gear. This is the TC opening.
If you can run at a moderate speed for your 50 miles with the TC closed, you probably don't NEED a Trans cooler for that particular trip but its good insurance.
I can't speak to what FWD would be like on a ramp. I could maybe see it being dicey. I'm sure it all depends on angle, tounge weight, traction....
In any case - it's a great powertrain in your truck.
Needafunboat thanks for the info. Are you a tech at a local Dealership?
Needafunboat
Active member
Sure CMPulse, hope it helps. I know more about transmissions than boats... Let's see - 3years doing transmission and transfer case bearing engineering, 3 years doing CVT belt engineering/sales (for the original saturn vue 4cyl auto trans...), 2 years doing transmission controller and solenoid development and now half a year selling this stuff.
But I've learned the most from talking to my tech who owned a trans shop for 20 years - amazingly smart guy.
If you don't put the cooler on, just take it easy and let it cool down if any lights come on (don't keep driving fast) - I doubt they will. That motor has alot more grunt to it than the 4.0 liter in my mountaineer. Frame on rwd / 4 wd is a better tow vehilce of course, but strictly from a torque and hp standpoint, that 3.5 liter beats my poor blue oval 4.0.
But I've learned the most from talking to my tech who owned a trans shop for 20 years - amazingly smart guy.
If you don't put the cooler on, just take it easy and let it cool down if any lights come on (don't keep driving fast) - I doubt they will. That motor has alot more grunt to it than the 4.0 liter in my mountaineer. Frame on rwd / 4 wd is a better tow vehilce of course, but strictly from a torque and hp standpoint, that 3.5 liter beats my poor blue oval 4.0.
Needafunboat i forgot to mention we also have a $3500 upgrade w/ 17" aluminum wheels plus the leather interior package. Does the 17" wheels make a difference ? Also i called the dealer yesterday spoke w/ a guy in the service dept (what a idiot) he couldn't tell me anything.
Second i can add a class III hitch which excepts 2" receivers and a wiring harness for under $200.00.
One last question the manual states not to pull a trailer if the weather is going to be over a 100*and to use the intermediate gear on the 5spd. Down south it gets hot here. I probably would need the cooler then?
Second i can add a class III hitch which excepts 2" receivers and a wiring harness for under $200.00.
One last question the manual states not to pull a trailer if the weather is going to be over a 100*and to use the intermediate gear on the 5spd. Down south it gets hot here. I probably would need the cooler then?
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