Towing...Am I Nuts???

[1stTimer]

Hi..been posting questions about buying a 25' Pontoon with a 125 Merc and in looking at the towing rating on my truck, a Toyota Tacoma, they're saying that pulling this boat without any braking assistance isn't good (ie hydraulic / electric), and even WITH it...it's too heavy for the load. Anybody out there pulling anything around 2,800 pounds with a light truck, and HOW?<br />Thanks for your patience with my ignorance!<br />1stTimer

 

[lepper]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

4wheel drive? or 2 wheel drive????<br /><br />And for the record I have been pulling a 2700lb glass boat with a tacoama 4x4 with a 4cyl eng... it goes up hills kinda slow but pulls just fine.<br /> <br />Breaks are a good thing though.. check your load rating.. mine on my truck is 3500lbs..... and don't over load your tongue... if you wanna talk some more about it.. email me at <br />daweston@earthlink.net

 

[1stTimer]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

Good info Lepper... I've got a 4wd and so far...I'm looking at my braking options IF I need any. Emailed you to get more info on your Tacoma. <br /><br />Anymore info is definitely appreciated!<br />1stTimer

 

[steelespike]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

1st,<br />I dont tow a lot with my Tacoma 4X4 4cyl.but have towed a 2,800 lb. car to PA from central NY a number of times with no problems. If your running a 2 wheel drive The boat may be a bit too much.I think if your towing a lot you need <br />trailer brakes and a v6 4X4 Tacoma. <br /> Good luck.

 

[JB]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

It's just as predictable as the sunrise. Some one asks about towing Xlb with Yvehicle and everybody has a tale of russian roulette to tell, "with no problems". There must be some sort of Macho payoff for the guy who exceeds safe towing weight by the most pounds.<br /><br />I saw one today where a guy was boasting about pulling 2800lb with a NEON!<br /><br />Find out the tow rating for your vehicle without trailer brakes. <br /><br />Find out if that requires a tow package.<br /><br />Find out the GVWR (Gross weight LIMIT).<br /><br />Do not exceed. Your insurance will not pay liability and you would be beyond toast if you survive.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[1stTimer]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

Good Advice from each of you.... JB, I know that this sounds crazy, but if I exceed by 400 pounds, and pulling the boat short distances, such as 5 miles (distance from home to lake) to 15 miles (next closest lake) from a safety standpoint...not to beat this horse to death, but...if I don't rip the guts out of my truck, and drive safely... i'm hoping that I can pull this off cost-efficiently AND safely. So far 2 of 3 are saying i'm good, and not doubting you, I just seek devine wisdom from those with alot of experience.<br /><br />I appreciate all the help!<br />1stTimer

 

[RJS]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

I was in the same situation. My truck wasn't up to snuff. I felt that it wasn't worth the risk and upgraded my vehicle. I agree with JB, his advice is excellent, if you exceed the towing capacity, the insurance won't cover it. Better safe than sorry

 

[Zac]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

I think you should just tow it. If it exceeds the maximum by only 400 lbs it shouldn't be that bad. I have towed the same weight boat with a four cylinder ford ranger and had no trouble starting or stopping. Just take off slow and if you need to do some heavy braking pump the brake on and off so the brakes are able to coll of.<br /><br /> Good luck,<br /> Zac

 

[skeffer]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

question why would a 4 x 4 be any better then a 2wd as if I remember right the only time you should be using 4wd is pulling up the ramp if needed. having a vechile in 4x4 on the highway is not good for the tranny or tires.?????

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

Some of us have to play with the cards we're dealt with and make due with what we have. <br />I pull a 2 horse trailer with my Toy 4x4 2.4L, yes it has trailer brakes and the truck has overload springs. <br />To address your question with a qualified opinion and with the knowledge of every nut and bolt on your rig. Be careful, stay away from pulling the Continental divide or the Sierra's (Donner Summit) and most importantly don't use 5th gear. Fifth gear isn't designed to pull loads. When I am using the boat ramp I use low range, because it's way easier on the clutch. If, and this is a big one, if you have low miles, <30K, use Mobil 1 or an equivalent. If you have more miles use a good petro oil. By all means use a synthetic in your gear boxes and diffs. Metallic pads on your next brake job. Find a Redline dealer for all the lubricants and a product called "water wetter" for the cooling system. All of these are FAR from snake oil. For instance, my new Honda outboard picked up 3 mph JUST by using Redline oil. And 219K on my Toyota, nothing more major then a water pump. <br />I could have bought a F250 Super Duty, but I bought a NorthRiver Jetboat instead.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is that you are not attempting to pull an aerodynamic glass boat. You are going to pull a pontoon, which will require many more ponies than any 2800 lb planing hull.<br /><br />I speak from experience as I towed my 21ft pontoon (approx 2000lb) all over the place with an Expedition. <br /><br />The pontoon will act like a sail with all the flat surfaces of the fencing bucking the wind. Trailer selection also will help. The drive on type (supports the pontoons) will have the boat ride higher and thus catch more wind. A float on type (supports the deck) will sit lower and reduce the resistance.<br /><br />Just for comparison, the guy I sold my pontoon to called me to tell me that this boat trailered more like a 4000lb boat than a 2000lb. This was with a float on trailer. He usually tows a 3000lb with no trouble. <br /><br />The point behind this is that if you are marginal on power with a normal hull, you will be out of bounds with this rig.. Just my .02

 

[mako]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

I like JB's reply the most. I think we should have some sort of macho towing contest and see who can tow the most with the least. I have a 91 Plymouth Sundance with a 2.2 liter ready to enter.

 

[Franki]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

LOL, Ok, I have a 1.3litre Suzi Seirra to enter..<br /><br />Out of curiosity I hooked my boat to the suzi in the backyard and the boat dewarfed the car, so I decided it wasn't even worth checking out.. (my boat is a 17 foot half cabin)<br /><br />If you want to tow a ruddy big box (like a pontoon) down the street, for gods sake, get an F350 or something.<br /><br />You have a great new boat, which you'll love, and right now "making do" seems like a good idea to get out out on the water. If something happens, (like a big gust of wind when you are towin) and you jack knife off the road or whatever, you'll not only risk your life and anyone close by, you'll also destroy your boat and car..., Then you'll wish you had listened to JB..<br /><br />400 pounds can be alot of weight.. particularly when its in the wrong place.. (like at the back of a poontoon trailer, or worse at the hitch.) say that 400 pounds results in 400 pounds less weight over the front wheels of the 4x4?? you suddenly find your steering doesn't work properly cos the wheels are not on the deck with any weight...<br /><br />just a thought, play it safe.. even with a proper rig, (my 4 litre 200 kilowatt 6cyl 1.7 ton falcon) I am still nervous towing, I think any smart person is... and I've seen alot of accidents involving towing...<br /><br />Play it safe, don't risk your boat, car, life and think that nothing will happen, it can and does happen all the time.<br /><br />regards<br /><br />Frank

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

1stTimer posted:<br />"Anybody out there pulling anything around 2,800 pounds with a light truck, and HOW?"<br /><br />and<br /><br />"and pulling the boat short distances, such as 5 miles (distance from home to lake) to 15 miles (next closest lake)"<br /><br />The lawyers have a point though 1stTimer.

 

[Terry H]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

I wasn't gonna git involved in this discussion but I will. I've ridden in a 4cyl Tacoma so I have a feel for the size and power and man you gotta be kidding. You should have a large enough tow vehicle to keep control of the trailer at all times...emergencies happen ie flat tire, car pulling out front, drunk driver, etc. You don't want a 2 ton trailer calling the shots as to where you are going...if you don't have enough tow vehicle you put not only your own but others lives on the line...towing is serious business, use a big enough vehicle...I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade but I got kids and grandkids out there...play it safe, go find a used 3/4 ton puckup or have someone tow it for you...jus some Thoughts

 

[jollymon]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

Before you start asking if your truck can pull 2800lbs, you need to really and I mean really look at where you got those numbers. I just bought a 25' Crest Classic Pontoon, dry ship weight w/o motor is 2450lbs. And in the motor, fuel, and anything else you but on board, Cooler, portapotti, fishing gear, anchor etc. I am sure you will be beyond the 2800lbs that you have mentioned. Then you need to add in the weight of the trailer roughly 1200lbs. I have not weighed my rig, but I estimated it is closer to 4000lbs. <br /><br /> I pull it with a suburban (1988) and some of the hills I have hit, I am lucky to do 40mph up the hill, and the thought of going down the other side without trailer brakes, whould scare the he** out of me. My trailer is dual axle and I had brakes put on both, even though the dealer told me I would only need them on one. <br /><br />I do not know where you are from, but I would consider getting a slip for the boat and keeping it on the water, given your tow vehicle you might make you summer a lot more fun.

 

[SCO]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

It's not about insurance, Lawyers, a tranny or engine's capability. It's about doing the right thing and not endangering others 1st and yourself 2nd. A heavy tow package will whip a light tow vehicle around like a red headed step child(that expression probably goes back to the anti Irish days). Big rigs get away with it by putting about 1/2 of the towed weight on the specially designed drive axles on the tow vehicle. A goose neck trailer operates on the same principle. 250 lbs on a trailer hitch does not afford much comfort and when you are driving at the max loading condition you should be breaking out in a cold sweat and driving accordingly. Be sure the trailer has its own functioning brakes. State regs will probably mandate that.

 

[trollhole]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

Had a isuzu rodeo v-6 4x4 until last year. I used to pull my centerconsole 3100lbs with it all the time. Until I finally burned the auto trans out in it. I never used overdrive changed fluid in it every 15k and it had a trans cooler with towing package. I just don't think foriegn cars are made to haul heavy loads consistantly. Sold the rodeo and got a 98 jeep grand cherokee v8 2wd and now I don't even know the boat is back there. <br />You might get lucky and never have aproblem but why push it. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[epresutti]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

OK guys this may sound crazy, but..... for a long time I had a Nissan Sentra and still have the same 18ft boat, there was no way I could pull the boat and got tired or "borrowing" friends vehicles to launch. Since I was going out on the weekends, I would rent a U-Haul ($19.95/Day) with a hitch that was rated high enough for my boat, motor and trailer. I considered this to be a "cost of doing business".<br /><br />Now I have a GMC Sonoma 4.3ltr, just hauled my boat from Florida to Ohio with no problem. Additionally, my trailer has 14" wheels (my friend who hauls commercial boats say's this greatly reduces hub speed) and a wide wheel base. My Sonoma is rated to pull 5800lbs.<br /><br />Thought I would add my 0.02.<br /><br />Cheers.<br /><br />emp.

 

[suzukidave]

Re: Towing...Am I Nuts???

OK, no offence intended 1sttimer, but I don't think you've thought this through so I'm going to be a bit self-righteous. Give your head a shake my friend and think again.<br /><br />You are talking about exceeding your rated towing capacity and ignoring brake assistance requirements for the trailer. Would you drive your truck around without insurance? Because you would be. And if you're going to drive without insurance anyway, why not take the free opportunity to drive drunk while your at it? I'm sure the odds are you probably wouldn't get in accident driving only short distances while fully loaded in more ways than one. Heaven help us if you beat the odds though.<br /><br />JB is right. No particular harbour who say it weighs more than 2800 lbs when you add in the extras is also right. Rogerwa who says a pontoon boat is going to be more work to tow than a regular boat of the same weight is right. Ever drive a VW bus in a cross wind?<br /><br />Ed from Granville's idea of a U-Haul is just one cheap way to avoid your problem. Sorry, but you need to come up with one.