2wd truck for towing boat?

[Guest]

I'm considering purchasing my first boat and am wondering about the vehicle for towing. Would a Ford F-150 2wd pickup be adequate? My main concern would be backing in and pulling out of the water. Is there a risk of poor traction with 2wd vs 4wd? Anyone have any experience?

I would probably be considering a boat that would be 14-16ft with outboard up to 75hp (just a guess at this point).

[Walleye_GFA]

Should be fine if you stay to deveoped ramps.

Wally

[Surface Tension]

You can get by with 2WD 95% of the time.
Theres going to be situations when your going to wish you had 4WD. Low water conditions mean the cement pads at boat ramps will be out of water. You'll then end up backing the rest of the way over dried lake bed. Loose rocks, sand and gravel may pose a problem. Watch what your backing onto and you should be fine. Ive pulled boats with 2WD for years and havent gotten stuck yet. Have fun with your new boat, ST.

[LuckyFish]

I've pulled my 16ft 94' Lund Angler II since it was new with my 2wd F-150. Only once did I have a problem and that was on an icy ramp at the Wis. public access on Pool #4 on the Mississippi. Other than that not a problem. The only other consideration is boat size and weight and engine size in your truck ( mine has a 300 six). With what your considering buying I see no problem.
Lucky

[This message has been edited by LuckyFish (edited 04-17-2003).]

[maxx rpm]

The question is not can the truck handle the boat and launches, rather can you drive a 2wd truck. It does take some good judgement and sometimes some creativeness. I would not see a problem though, just be careful and patient.

[Pike Patrol]

as long as it says FORD on it, you'll get the job done

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-dont take 'em all

[maxx rpm]

Fell Off Ramp into the Drink? =)

[Farley]

Found on Road Dead

[Finlander]

Doe's "That thing got a Hemi?"

[Guest]

If I were you I'd look into a Dodge diesel Ram 4X4..

Just kidding. You shouldn't have any trouble on cement padded launches at all. But, be careful of the angle of decent into the water on some. Too steep and you may have a bit(or a few) good words. Stay calm and patient! Try to pre-inspect your launch sites b4 you do try the boat is a definite remedy to any questions you may have.

Have FUN!!

"LUND-MAN" (Dodge Ram (diesel)4X4 owner)if I see you in trouble at the same launch..heck I'll be happy to pull your Ford AND boat and trailer outta the "drink"

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"Leave NO Trace"

[This message has been edited by LUND-MAN (edited 04-17-2003).]

[delmuts]

i would also add that mid summer;( once the green slime shows up) watch for slippery ramps. del

[musky hunter]

For a point of reference: I drive a standard Dodge caravan,pull a 17' boat, and put quality tires with some TREAD on the front and it's always done a job. Obviously this is not the rig for launching on a sand beach or in muck. But if the ramp has any concrete at all, it's been satisfactory.

[upnorth]

I have a 17ft crestliner with a 70 horse on the back and drive a little Ford Ranger 4X4. In 2 yrs I have only put it into 4 wheel drive 3 times. Twice launching on an icy launch and once on a sandy launch, and then not because I was having problems, it was so I would not have problems.

I tend to think that you should be fine with boats in that range if you use you head about putting in and taking out and where you do it.

[Guest]

Dr Fish
My thought would also include if you ice fish and drive on the lakes in the winter time... I like my 4x4 Chevy for that reason

Good Luck

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Fishspicermn

FMWL

[Sturgeon46]

When I was a kid, we towed our boat with a 2WD. We used a ramp that was a real bear. My dad mounted a second hitch on the front bumper that we'd use when things were too dicey to go the other way. Kind of a pain in the rear, but it worked!

[Guest]

Our old 1988 Ford F-150 300 6 cyl. 2wd pulled out our 21' Superior boat out(and many other boats) with ease on all sorts of steep launches. Just don't get those tires under water on top of slimy cement!

[MWellner]

Just stay away from ramps with a steep angle.
Maybe some of you have heard of Fontenelle on Blackduck Lake. A 2wd lanches it fine with no problem, but in this case we had to push a 88-93 Chevy C-series full size up the ramp. It was a pulling an older Lund skiboat.

[Northlander]

Sounds like a lot of just dont do this or that. If you have the $ get a 4x4. Its embarrassing watching people get pulled off the ramp because the 1 wheel wonder is spinning on a wet, steep or iced up ramp.
Next best is front wheel drive.
In Canada there are a lot of spots Ive been where you have to back way down in the water on loose gravel and a 2 wheel drive just spit rocks on the boat!