Appropriate for towing?

[luigi3363]

So I have recently decided that I want to purchase a small jon boat with a trolling motor and a 10 hp on it. I am just looking around to try to figure out what is most appropriate for the fishing I will be doing. I plan on hitting New Jersey lakes and creeks. I do not have a vehicle to tow the boat so before I purchase the boat I need to find a vehicle appropriate to tow it.

The problem is, I have no clue how much a small jon boat, suitable for 2 people fishing lakes, would weigh with the 10hp and trolling motor. I am looking for the cheapest crossover/suv or truck I could find that is relatively new for reliability on the drives and also capable of pulling and launching the boat. Can anyone provide me with an approximate towing capacity I would need? Any recommendations of certain makes/models that people have used successfully? thanks so much!

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

A 15 foot aluminum jon boat weighs less then 200 pounds. Add 300 for a trailer, 100 for a motor, and 150 for "incidentals" and you're only up to 750 lbs. Pretty well any car will pull that.

 

[dragginanchor]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

You could tow it with your car.

10 hp outboard/ fuel 75 lbs
trolling motor w/battery 75 lbs
14' aluminum jon boat 150 lbs
trailer 200 lbs

total 500 lbs. That sort of small boat rig is easy to tow and launch/retrieve. Been there, done that. Just get a trailer hitch for your car and have fun fishing.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

as a kid I actually towed a 12' alum row boat with a 7.5 outboard, 6 gallon tank, 3/4" plywood carpeted floors and a deep cycle for lights and radio with a bicycle...... once...... wore me out.... put a hitch on the dodge aries the next day.... didn't even notice it behind me LOL

 

[lncoop]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

F-350. Don't want to take any chances.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

as a kid I actually towed a 12' alum row boat with a 7.5 outboard, 6 gallon tank, 3/4" plywood carpeted floors and a deep cycle for lights and radio with a bicycle...... once...... wore me out.... put a hitch on the dodge aries the next day.... didn't even notice it behind me LOL

Just think of all the truck fuel you could save if you start pulling your Wellcraft with a bicycle.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

Just think of all the truck fuel you could save if you start pulling your Wellcraft with a bicycle.

If that ever happens it better be on Youtube!

 

[luigi3363]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

Thanks for all the responses

I was actually looking to buy a Honda CRV or Rav 4. A used car in that crossover range. I figure they will still be good on gas for the city driving I do most of the time and would be perfect for taking kayaks out. With a 1500 lbs towing capacity I am going to assume they are more than enough to tow the small boat.

These small 4cyclinder crossovers wont take a beating from the towing? How about the transmission? The ride is about an hour to the lake by highway. Also will there pseudo AWD systems be sufficient on slick boat ramp?

 

[DJ]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

The AWD will be nice for your area and will definetely help. There are a lot more small SUV's out there than those two.

The trailer will probably be the heaviest component. Maybe 350#. The boat about 200#. A four stroke outboard will be 100#. Figure the gear from there but I think you'll be well under 1K#.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

.... put a hitch on the dodge aries the next day.... didn't even notice it behind me LOL

This thread is not complete without this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9h3NqMokmg

Seriously, any car with a 6 cylinder, that you can put a hitch on.

Even with a cooler and all your gear, you are going to be under 1000#.

 

[luigi3363]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

Seriously, any car with a 6 cylinder, that you can put a hitch on.

roscoe, just to clarify. the vehicles I was looking at are 4 cylinder crossovers. they are much more in my price range.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

they'll be great too. just don't load down with 5 300 lb people and fill the boat with enough gear for a 2 month excursion and you'll be fine

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

Rosco... I didn't even have to click on the link to know what video it would be LOL BTW my aries was that same color LOL

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

You can pull what you're talking about with pretty much any vehicle which will hold a trailer hitch. No worries...

 

[haley]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

I used to tow a 15' West Wight Potter sailboat with an Acura Integra. The 4 cylinder Acura was rated for 1000lbs. The potter was 500lbs, but you have to add in trailer and incidentals. It towed fine on the flat. Vermont presented some challenges though.

Current boat (with gas, trailer, motor and 150lbs of stuff) weighs in at 1750lbs, half what my minivan is rated for. Tows fine.

Your Jon boat set up should be fine for your 1500lb limit (if you do catch and release. If you try to bring home a 500lb catfish all bets are off!)

JH

 

[ChampionShip]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

The boat weighs about as much as 2 fat chicks in the back seat so with a small SUV I wouldn't worry about it. It's worth mentioning that a 4 cyl trans would likely benefit from an oil cooler for safety.

 

[emoney]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

I think a 1 ton, 4x4, quad cab dually diesel at the very minimum. Assuming you don't have a CDL, of course. If so, then I'd definitely go with a Peterbilt.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

Don't sweat it, even a mini cooper would pull that rig. I pulled a 19' inboard ski boat and a 20' pontoon every weekend for 5 years with an anaemic 4 cylinder S-10 on the Uwharrie mountain roads!!

 

[luigi3363]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

Thanks for all the responses! I have definitely been put at ease now and could stop stressing about this lol. I shouldn't have to worry about it on the boat ramp then either right?

 

[wifisher]

Re: Appropriate for towing?

Thanks for all the responses! I have definitely been put at ease now and could stop stressing about this lol. I shouldn't have to worry about it on the boat ramp then either right?

With the boat you are talking about, don't worry about it. Anywhere the tow motor will go, go the boat will follow. What you are describing is as light as a trailer can get.

Less worry, and more fun is what you need.