Just got a boat, what to tow it with?

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

A V-6 in most any decent sized SUV will do the job so long as it has a GOOD hitch(not a bumper hitch but a class 3 or 4 receiver hitch), and is setup with a decent tow package(trans cooler and lower gears for towing). I wouldn't go out and find an explorer with 3.08 gears, and expect to tow a V-20 with it, but if you can find one with 3.73's and a trans cooler you should be fine. I'm a GM guy myself, but the FORD will do the job just fine. Heck I still remember back when I was a kid and we used fukll size cars to haul boats to the ramp. They would do the job, but getting up the ramp was a PAIN to say the least. I still remember asking people at the ramp to climb in the trunk so we could get traction.

Yep, which brings up another hotly debated topic. 4x4 or 2 wheel drive.... If the majority of ramps you will be launching from are long shallow ones, then you'll probably do fine with a 2 wheel drive vehicle. BUT, if the ramps are steep, and especially if they are subject to tides, then you'll probably want to go with a 4x4 (yet another reason for the Jeep Cherokee) I cannot tell you have many vans, cars, and 2 wheel drive pickups I have towed up a ramp through the years because their rear wheels were sitting on wet concrete with seaweed or slime on it and they could not get any traction. Go for 4x4...trust me on this one.

[phatdaddy]

gotta agree with d, i trailered boats for 20 years with 2wd, never a big problem, but sometimes an adventure. my wife bought an 02 4wd tahoe in 07. we love it. it has an5.3 V8. not a big powerhouse, but tows the v fine an gets decent mileage 15 town,17 on the road. completely changed our launching procedure. now she launches & retrieves, i stay in the boat and glide off & drive on. she puts it in 4wd lo and idles up the ramp. not sure of your budget or location, but they can be had for around $3500-$6500 around here.

[bradford]

Agree about the 4WD. You will never need it until you NEED it. Luckily the wifey is a good sport and hasn't minded the few times we've been in the 2WD and had too jump on the back bumper to get us up the ramp....I love that woman.

[randlemanboater]

My wife's Honda Pilot with V-6 tows the V fine, but not as well as a full sized V-8 truck/SUV would...if I were buying a vehicle specifically to tow the V, I would get a V-8 Tahoe or Suburban or Silverado or Expedition or F-150 (if you are a Ford fan).

If you are having to buy anyway, might as well get one that does the job easily instead of "just gets by".

[Striper80]

I used to tow my 8 with my fathers 91 GMC 1500 with a 350 and it struggled. It was pretty tired at that time though. I picked up my GMC sierra 1500 with a 5.3 in 05 and it didn't even break a sweat. Once I stepped up to a larger boat I was kicking myself for not getting a 2500 with a diesal. You're always going to wind up wanting a larger boat. Better to be prepared with thd truck to tow it.

[jamesbalog]

pull mine with a 4.3 liter v6 and towed a v20 from Deleware back to ohio it did NOT like one minute of the trip through the mountains but made it. Around here on flat land there is no problem what so ever truck pulls it just fine.

[jasoncooperpcola]

I downsized from a diesel to a Frontier V6. Already got quite a few miles on it towing my quad and trailer. Feel pretty confident about towing the V20 once its (if its) finished.

[draglink]

My old GW does the grunt work these days

[spoggy]

Best tow vehicle ever made! 2002 F-350 Super Duty, 7.3l Diesel Dually, Super Cab.

[Destroyer]

Spoggy, I gotta admit you may have the prize with that one. I love my Hemi 5.7 Dodge, it's got more power than I know what to do with, but for overall pure looks etc, that dualie is really sweet.