Can my truck pull my boat?

[jetboater]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

you can call a local Chevy dealer and see if they can give you the tow specs for your truck (most can't) or maybe check at trailer boats magazine. they keep a wealth of historical info around for stuff like this. you can email them at editors@trailerboats.com<br />If your vehicle can pull the boat (I ewould think it wil be fine) I'd recommmend a regular hitch rather than using the bumper <br />good luck

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

Twowatt, my boat weighs about 1500 pounds, and it is 16.5 feet with a 125 horse motor. Not sure what my trailer weighs, but I doubt I am pulling more than 2200 lbs. I would guess without seeing your boat that the hull is 550-650 lbs, don't know what motor you have but on a 14 foot boat I doubt you have a motor that weighs more than 150 lbs. Trailer, who knows, but you total rigged weight with trailer is probably no more than 1300 lbs. Best to get it weighed, and get a good reciever hitch. Good luck...

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

W-F-B,<br /><br />Cruisers is made in Occonto Wisconsin and they have an excellent technical assistance line.<br /><br />1-866-734-2770<br /><br />They can provide you with dry weight with engine and the rest you can figure, or go to truck stop. $8.50 is cheap to find out your rig weight.<br /><br />Two-Watt,<br /><br />Souldn't be a problem, just watch the bumper if that is where you are going to mount the ball. They tend to twist out of shape. I wouldn't hesistate pulling, getting out of a ramp might be a little dicy depending on the circumstances..

 

[MFG197]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

Most serious tow vehicles are 4x2. They have higher tow ratings as many have said, a good 4x2 with a limited slip (both wheels drive when one slips) is a must-have. My dakota has V-8, tow pkg, inc. limited slip, and I like it alot. I have not yet had a slip problem even on a wet ramp and my boat/trlr is almost 5000lb. Some 4x4's also have larger circumfrance tires/wheels which look cool, but decrease tow rating. Look for the better axle ratio...it means a lot...I can't remember if its the higher or lower number that's desirable though. This means worse fuel economy, but better towing. It can mean thousands of pounds in GCWR (gross combined weight rating).<br /><br />posters feel free to correct me but...another poster said that the 4x4 is better for parking on a ramp which is wrong...the weight of the boat should rest solely on the cable operated parking brake... the rear brakes in all vehicles, not the parking pawl in the tranny. parking pawls are not meant for this. this is why you are supposed to set the brake then put in park.

 

[danthern]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

Hey Guys....I found out that the boat weighs approx. 3660 lbs. dry. The trailer is a 23 ft. dual axle galvanized easyloader, GVWR 7000 lbs. Any educated guesses what the trailer would weigh?<br />Thanks

 

[danthern]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

P.S.,The first post states all the stats that I have on the truck. Do you think the trailer weighs more than a ton?<br />Thanks again!

 

[danthern]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

Pointer, thanks for the number. I was able to get a very nice lady at Cruiser at cruiseryachts.com who sent me stats, pics, etc.<br />Thanks again

 

[DJ]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

The short answer-NOPE.<br /><br />The Ranger is a tough truck, but it lacks some key elements fot SERIOUS towing.<br /><br />1. Rear spring strength. (for ride purposes)<br /><br />2. Braking. The brakes will not fail, yet they can only be so large for a small truck.<br /><br />I've towed 3400# with a 3.0 Ranger and it did OK. It was not a comfortable feeling, however. I felt the load, big time.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

Sorry to piggyback on your thread wont-float.<br />Back to my question about my S-10.<br />"Twowatt, my boat weighs about 1500 pounds, and it is 16.5 feet with a 125 horse motor" <br />So, if I bought a regular receiver hitch, I would be OK? What about wear & tear on the truck itself? I'm thinking would put some heavy stress on the clutch,etc. Not to mention, what if I need some extra "umph" at a boat ramp.<br />I failed to mention, I have a fullsize GMC Van with a true receiver hitch that I use as a winter beater type vehicle. I will probably end up just using this as I have no doubt about it's towing ability. So I guess I just answered my own question, I will just use the van.<br />The S10 is my everday driver, I'd rather just use the van instead of buying a receiver/ hurting the truck etc.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

I have a 25ft cruisers that has a dry weight of 3600lbs. I took it to a truck scale and it weighed almost exactly 6000lbs. Tandem axel trailer.<br /><br />I took it to the scale full of gas, beer, ice, water, and equipment, to get the worst case scenario.<br /><br />There is no way you can tow this with a ford ranger. I use a full size bronco with a 351, and it does OK. Not great but OK. You will eat your brakes away, tear up the tranny and smoke the engine. Sorry for the bad news. <br /><br />I used a 4.0L ford ranger to tow my 17ft from California to Wisconsin, and it was never the same after the trip. And that boat was only 2000 pounds.

 

[MFG197]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

I don't see why any S-10 could not tow a 16' fishing boat. the package should be under 2000lb. As long as the bumper is rated for 2000 lb and the tongue weight is not over 200, I don't see why you need a receiver...but they are not that expensive either. If your van is a beater, it's probably not a reliable tow vehicle.

 

[02'Crownline]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

i got a 2003 GMC yukon with a 5.3 V8 295 hp 7800 lb towing capacity with a 2 inch reciever and tow package, and it pulls both of my boats effortlessly. For the people who have gm trucks or suvs they have a tow/haul mode which really helps when pulling a heavy boat

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

02crownline:<br /><br />Boy, youve been doing some reading!!

 

[jofish]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

Don't think it's gonna do it, call your local U-Haul store they can tell you what your truck will tow. The wife pulls a 27' camper which weighs 4500 empty probably 5000+ loaded with a 03 F-150 thats rated to pull 6800 no problem towing it but you would never stop it without the brakes on the trailer, The boat (approx. 3000lbs) gets pulled with a 86 F-150 4X4 with a 300 6cyl and manual tranny no problem stopping or towing just hafta get a run at some of the steeper hills near the lake I camp on to stay at 55 by the time I reach the top. I wouldn't pull a boat that size with any thing less than a V8, theres no such thing as "to much power" Good luck

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

I just bought a GMC 2500 HD. I traded in a 1500 GMC -- not so much for the going as the stopping. I can dictate how fast I want to accelerate with either truck but sometimes its the other guy that dictates your stopping distance.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

GM sure has some nice rigs for towing, I hate to say it but any of these smaller trucks (Rangers/S10's) just are not built for towing. The 4.3L V6 in some of the S10's have all the power you would need but no handling/stopping.<br /><br />My next truck will be a GMC 2500 HD.