Tow Vehicle?

[wormburner]

I am looking at buying a 370 Ranger bass boat 18' it sits on a single axle trailer, the vehicle I own is a 2000 Ford Explorer with a V-6 and automatic, will it do the job or is it a little underpowered? Only travel about 75 miles to most of the lakes I fish, not that it makes a bit of difference. Are they a heavy boat? Thanks

[Deitz Dittrich]

All glass boats have some weight to them... more so than an aluminum boat. However, I pulled an 18'6" bass boat with a 175 merc for a couple of years with a V6 Ford Ranger. I think its importnat to have a trasmision cooler on your truck if you do a lot of pulling.. and ALWAYS turn your overdrive off. Its better to turn more RPM's.

Thats Just my opinion, I would find out from ranger how much that boat moter and trailer weighs and then ask Ford what its rated to pull? Then you would know for sure!

[wormburner]

I have heard of guys that do it, but just don't want to have issues with the tranny, it does have a cooler on it already. Thanks for the info. Was just wondering if anyone else has done it with good results or bad?

[bucketmouth64]

I have an explorer with v8 and I tow an aluminum boat. It has a tranny cooler and I have the tranny serviced every year. My tranny mechanic said that he likes the explorer trannys in the v8 and not the ones in the v6 engines. He sees more problems with the v6's. He thinks the v8's trannys are more powerful and durable that can handle the towing better. In my opinion, the heavier the boat the better equipped vehicle you need that can handle it. If you are at the max towing capacity with the v6 I think the tranny will give out quicker. Remember the towing capacity doesn't take into account the weight of occupants or other stuff you may have in it. So find out the weight of the boat/trailor and estimate how much additonal weight you might have for a fishing trip, or family vacation. Then check out what your towing capacity is. Better to have too much power than not enough.

[Superduty]

You probably won't have too much trouble pulling that boat. Expect to bog down considerably on hills however. My main concern would be stopping the rig. Does it have trailer brakes? I towed a glass bass boat with a chevy s-10 in my younger days. I hate to think what could have happened with a tire or bearing failure on a tricky stretch of highway.

[delmuts]

i agree with super duty. i pulled a 88 ranger 364 ( 18'10")for years with a f 150. i had an auxiarlry (sp?) tranny cooler put on it besides the reg . one.pullling was ok.( the book said that boat weight was 1250 empty)) but stopping it ? i had to put sand bags in the back( like you would in the winter) to help control the rig when braking. i had to slam on the brakes a couple of times and had problems with it jack knifing. del

[Ray Esboldt]

My sentiments exactly. A tranny cooler should be a for sure on any vehicle that tows. However, stopping safely is the bigger issue. A rig that size needs trailer brakes if it is going to be coupled with a smaller tow vehicle.

I have witnessed two truck, boat, trailer rollovers in my day. Both of them were on HWY. 53 north of Cloquet/Duluth, both of them were slam on the brakes for a deer deals. Both of them were towing larger bass boats. And, both were smaller SUV tow vehicles. I don't know if either of them had trailer brakes, they were too shook up to talk when I stopped.

You know, I think both vehicles had Iowa plates. Sorry, Del.

[Bushwacker]

These last posts hit it on the head. I had a V6 Chev Blazer pulling an 18 foot Alumacraft(a lot lighter than a Ranger) and there was no problem at all getting it up to speed, but stopping was another story. There were a few times where I had some pretty close calls on two lane highways with other drivers pulling out or not using turning signals. Trailer brakes would be a huge plus, but if no be sure to leave plenty of space when you are following vehicles, that is a lot of weight pushing you from the back.

[delmuts]

that's ok ray ! SOME DAY i may not have crashed mine; but i did have to change my shorts the first time it jack knifed on me ! one thing i did learn., was to hit the brakes and to let off a little , then get back on them. gives you a chance to control the rig a little bit. mine didn't have trailer brakes either.you learn to drive defensively !

[wormburner]

Thanks for the input, I belive the trailer is equiped with surge brakes. My main concern was eating up the tranny or just not enough power. Thanks... Maybe I'll have to find a fishing buddy with a V8.

[bucketmouth64]

I see you live in Duluth. If you have to contend with a lot of hilly roads that in itself will take a toll on a vehicle if it is underpowered towing something heavy. And I would think trailor brakes would come in handy for that area too.

[andy j]

Brian,

I had a 99 silverado with a v6 and it did the job in the St. Cloud area for me. I have a 17 1/2 foot lund pro bass with a heavy trailer. I got a 98 ford with a V8 when I moved to Duluth and am very glad I did. I don't think they V6 would of did the job on all the hills on a consistant basis. Just my opinion.

[wormburner]

Andy, I was planning on getting a pickup this coming fall, maybe I will have to move it up a little. I think for the time being it will work, but there could be problems if I pulled it all the time, for now I still plan to get the boat, trying to find a good pickup should be easy, vehicles are a dime a dozen.

[andy j]

Brian,

Sounds like a nice bass boat, If I am in the area this summer we should get out for some Duluth area bucketmouths.

[Granny]

Burner,

I know of a guy with a green F150 with a V8 that would probably be willing to trade a day of fishing in your new boat for a tow to the access.....and the front casting seat! .

Granny

[wormburner]

Andy, sounds like a plan!

Hey Granny, sounds like you picked up on my hint I dropped!

Just got back from the bank, taking off tommorow to pick it up, YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

[Granny]

I will keep an eye on the Rices Point landing and let ya know when the ice goes out so we can do a lunch time cruise. Congrats on the new boat! Did you find it on the net? Send me the address if there are any online pics.

I can just hear it.....

Seller: The boat has a blah blah blah and comes with blah blah blah.

Wormburner: Does it have a livewell?

Seller: Yes it does.

Wormburner: Does it work?

Seller: Yes it does.

Wormburner: I WILL TAKE IT!

Tournament bass anglers beware! There's a Burner on the loose!

Granny

[ChuckN]

As long as you have a Class III hitch on the Explorer, and trailer breaks, you may be able to do it. DO NOT use that hole in the bumper for your ball hitch, you will have to upgrade the hitch. I think an Explorer like yours has this feature as it was common after late 90's models.

I have a deep V 18.5 glass boat (heavier than a bass boat I assume) that I would never consider pulling with my old Explorer 4.0L. Reason why, I don't have a true Class III hitch and my boat trailer does not have breaks.

[Fisher Dave]

I had a lemmon of an explorer in 95'.. a 94' (v6)model.. 2 transmissions in about 1000 miles if I remember right.. I know it wasnt many. I didnt even have a chance to install a hitch yet.

I'm not trying to put down any type of vehicle... but that left me with some serious doubts on the trannies.

Personaly, I would drop some cash on a tow vehicle.. $2000 could buy an economical tow vehicle (older 3/4 ton pick up, Suburban, etc)... this would save on your explorer and be sure it lasted a few more years, or delay the inevitable repair bills.