What to tow a 190DC+150HP Optimax with?

[jj1987]

Good Morning,

I am getting a 190DC Sea Pro with a 150HP Optimax. Issue is, currently I drive a Dodge Caliber, so before I can start using the boat, I need a new vehicle. Does anyone have suggestions on what I should look for to tow this? I drive a fairly long commute to work and don't have space to keep two vehicles, so fuel economy is a concern. It seems like the Dodge Durango and Ram 1500 v6 Diesel might be the best for the fuel economy, but I wanted to hear what other more experienced boaters suggested?

 

[Starcraft5834]

if your buying a boat, you will soon figure this out.. the term BOAT= Break Out Another Thousand With that said... boats are expensive to maintain and run, trailering. it sounds like that's what you are doing...is expensive too. dragging around a boat= lousy fuel economy, no matter which way you slice it,,,it's either lousy mileage, or really lousy mileage.. a quad cab truck would be my first choice.. I trailer my 20ft cuddy with a 4.8 GMC Sierra... it is what it is...but Im glad I've got a full sized truck pulling it. Dont cheap out on a "to small vehicle" for the job.....enjoy the summer!!

 

[qflyer]

If the ECO Diesel Ram 1500 is in your list of possibilities, then you're willing to spend $35,000 on a tow vehicle, right? If that's the case, drive every truck you want, and buy the one you like. You could save money by going with a small truck like a Tacoma or Frontier, and they'd pull that boat just fine. I bought a 2012 Ram 1500 HEMI when I got my 23' Sea Ray, and love it. 15 MPG (8mpg towing) sucks, but I didn't buy a truck expecting to get good mileage. If the ECO diesel had been out in '12, it would have been the clear winner. I think the ECO Diesel is getting better mileage than the smaller trucks as well. Get 4WD, you won't regret it even if you only need it one time!

 

[qflyer]

Oh, and most important of all: read up on boat ramp etiquette. If you've never trailered a boat before or been around ramps, google "boat ramp follies." You don't want to be "that guy" at the ramp.

If you're experienced, then google boat ramp follies anyways for a good laugh, and a reminder to not be "that guy!"

 

[haulnazz15]

Are you guys serious about needing a $35K+ diesel to tow a 19' fishing boat?!! Any vehicle that can tow 3,500lbs will probably do just fine, since the boat and trailer combined won't likely weigh over 3K lbs fully loaded. That pretty much opens up most any V6 SUV or truck made.

 

[zealer]

Are you guys serious about needing a $35K+ diesel to tow a 19' fishing boat?!! Any vehicle that can tow 3,500lbs will probably do just fine, since the boat and trailer combined won't likely weigh over 3K lbs fully loaded. That pretty much opens up most any V6 SUV or truck made.

I agree with the above. Sounds like serious overkill. However, I am of the opinion to only spend what is necessary and save the rest. On the other hand, if you really love the truck, I can't really say its a bad choice!

I would suggest buying an older SUV/truck on the cheap to be used solely for the boat, and keep the Caliber for daily driving. It'll be way cheaper, 5k vs 35k. It is also nice to have an old work horse. You won't mind if it gets dirty, throwing stuff in the back etc. V6 or V8 - doesn't really matter, both will do. My preference is American though.

 

[Mi duckdown]

You don't mention how far you are towing boat.?? But Dodge Caliber is not going to work, as you know.

 

[carey965]

i agree keep the caliber and get a nice v8 truck, you can get a early to mid 2000's 4wd truck from any of the big 3 for less then 10 grand that will last for many years and give you no trouble towing that boat and all your gear and even friends/family around

and i know its not an american car but the VW toureg is a pretty nice tow vehicle, i currently work for an RV dealer that also has an audi and VW dealer attached, we currently have a cross promotion with VW and they gave us a brand new toureg with the 3.0 diesel and she tows nice (7700 lbs towing cap), im all about the big trucks but this is a nice option if that is more of what you are looking for

 

[scarabite]

My uncle pulls his 19 foot princecraft with 2005 mercury sable no issues whatsoever i mean depends where you live and how far your driving, obviously traveling 100 miles through Tennessee or 100 miles through North Dakota are two different places dodge Durango is accually one of the most over priced vehicles on the market but would pull that boat wonderfully in either condition

 

[Pony]

I agree that a large truck might be overkill for the OP, but 19ft Princecraft with an 05' Sable?? The max towing on that can't be more than 12 or 1300lbs. I don't doubt that the engine can pull that.....the stopping I wonder about.

I tow the boat in my sig with an 04' Silverado with the 5.3L V8. Obviously well within the specs.....and I could probably tow with less, but I also tow a 26ft camper from time to time. I personally like having the full size pick up, and prefer the longer wheel base when towing versus a mid size SUV or small truck.

 

[haulnazz15]

I have no problem recommending a truck to tow it with, but it doesn't HAVE to be a truck, nor does it HAVE to have a V8. I tow my 5Klbs boat/trailer with a V8 truck, but it's not the heaviest thing I tow/haul. A mid-00's truck (of any make really, although I'm partial to Ford) will do the job just fine for 1/3 the cost of the Ram 1500 Diesel. Also, the diesel in the 1/2 ton is nice, but with the $3-4K premium on the engine option over the Hemi, higher maintenance costs, and paying a lot more per gallon for diesel over gasoline, it's questionable if you'd even break-even on fuel efficiency within 7+ years. Just my opinion.

 

[bigdee]

I have no problem recommending a truck to tow it with, but it doesn't HAVE to be a truck, nor does it HAVE to have a V8. .

^^^^x2^^^

 

[Starcraft5834]

jj. lots of good points made here...smoosh em all together and do what's best for YOUR SITUATION.... qf.. said it well......as to 4WD.. to sum it up.. "better to have than not need, than need and not have"... getting stuck on a soft ramp.. you will be busting out the old.......damn!! I wish I'd gotten a 4WD. if your never gonna be on a soft ramp.....dont need it.......of course there's always winter driving too........ 4WD is manditory in my neck of the woods.... It's all about what u got and what u want.. enjoy!!

 

[agallant80]

Are you guys serious about needing a $35K+ diesel to tow a 19' fishing boat?!! Any vehicle that can tow 3,500lbs will probably do just fine, since the boat and trailer combined won't likely weigh over 3K lbs fully loaded. That pretty much opens up most any V6 SUV or truck made.

The ecodiesel is a 1500 series truck. RAM just put a small 3Liter Diesel in it for fuel economy sake. Evolution of technology. With that said compair the price of diesel and the additional MPGs with the price of regular gas. I had a Diesel truck and while the MPG was slightly better the cost of the Diesel offset any savings. Not to mention that Diesels are lots more to fix, have expensive fuel filters that need to be changed out often etc.

With that said you may be surprised that a full size truck may get the same or slightly better MPG than a smaller one.

 

[haulnazz15]

The ecodiesel is a 1500 series truck. RAM just put a small 3Liter Diesel in it for fuel economy sake. Evolution of technology. With that said compair the price of diesel and the additional MPGs with the price of regular gas. I had a Diesel truck and while the MPG was slightly better the cost of the Diesel offset any savings. Not to mention that Diesels are lots more to fix, have expensive fuel filters that need to be changed out often etc.

With that said you may be surprised that a full size truck may get the same or slightly better MPG than a smaller one.

I'm aware that the diesel was in the Ram 1500. My point was that it was going to be a REALLY expensive option in the RAM, over the cost even the HEMI, which would be difficult to get the payback even with another 7-8MPGs over the gasser. More oil at oil changes, fuel filters, DEF, more expensive fuel. All to tow a lightweight fishing boat.

 

[jj1987]

Thanks for the advice everyone. The V6 SUV route seems very tempting, as it has a lot of players in that market which are rated to tow what this boat weighs and around the 25mpg range. If I had more land, the 2nd vehicle just to tow would be my first choice, however I'm limited due to HOA, so the cost of storing the extra vehicle somewhere + 2nd vehicle insurance would likely negate most of the savings, if not all.

To answer the how far question, typically I would be going <30 miles as I live in Central Florida, but I might want to take 4-5 weekend trips a year down to south Florida, which is several hours, so I'm forced to buy for the worst case, I suppose.