What Size Truck Do I Need??

[Juan Grande]

I'm looking at getting a 16-17 foot fishing boat (Crestliner Fishhawk or Lund Explorer) with maybe a 80 or 90 horse motor. Before I get that I need to get something to pull it with. Just wondering how much truck/suv I'd need to comfortably pull and launch a boat of this size?

What towing capacity should I look for? I guess I don't really need a full size truck so I'm looking at mid sized SUVs. Would a Ford Explorer work?

Any advice would be appreciated.

John

[FullTilt]

Another issue when considering a two vehicle is how far will you be towing? You can pull a boat with almost anything if you're going to the lake 15 miles down the road. The short comings of a tow vehicle will become very clear on a 400 mile trip. Factor in the heat of a typical summer day and problems will become evident. A truck with a stock tow package is a must. This should get you a larger radiator and transmission cooler. I had a Dodge Durango with a 360 V8 but it didn't have a tow package. I put a hitch on it and a wire kit and away we went. The truck had plenty of engine but the transmission and transfer case had a few issues with a 400 mile pull. I developed onset anxiety disorder (so my wife claims) every time I had to leave town with that vehicle and the boat (it left us stranded a few times). The only cure was a full size truck.One other thing, that Dodge got between 6 and 10 miles per gallon pulling a 17' aluminum boat at 75 mph.

[tafadzwa]

I pull a Lund Fisherman with a 135 behind my Nissan Frontier 3.3L manual V6. I have taken it on long trips without trouble. The boat is big and wide, so I can't see around it very well. If I bought a huge truck I wouldn't be able to afford the boat, so hopefully it'll hold up.

[shouldbefishn]

I pull an 18' Lund Fisherman with a Silverado (5.3 litre engine). When I load the pickup full and throw some gear in the boat I would not want anything smaller to pull with. Especially on a long trip. It also has the high speed rear end. I would not recommend that. Like all the other posts say, If you only are going short distances I would not be too concerned about an undersized vehicle. Long trip is a different story.

[JohnMickish]

airjer, you are right. But you know if a guy had the money (and I wish I did) a person should just buy a 3/4 ton Diesel 4X4 from the Ford/Dodge/Chevy camp and then not worry about the go or whoa. Just hook up to whatever you want and motor on down the highway. I have two buddies with Cummins trucks and my bosses each have a Duramax. Totally unbelievable trucks.

[Fishinglund]

Juan!

Give me your e-mail address...I may have something you might be interested in.

Thanks,

Fishinglund

[fish2live]

up north what size engine do you have in your 05 f150 i have the 5.7 with the tow package and i have also put a k&n filter in and i still only get 14-16 and i do not hotrod around mostly highway 70mph or less. tips would be awsome do to high gas prices a few mpg will do me well

[Jeremy airjer W]

mnfishinguy, no doubt about that! the diesels/1tons are about the only thing they build that are BUILT! Unfortunately the market is all about priced right trucks that drive like a cadillacs and not built right trucks that do what they are supposed to do.

[danfall]

I completely disagree with get the biggest truck. I own a 2004 3/4 ton Chevy Silverado HD and it gets about 11 MPG pulling my rig and is oversized.

Get the smallest rig that'll pull your boat out of a spot and is safe enough to handle the boat. To me this means 4wd is a requirement, sizing is tougher.

[danfall]

I read a post on here with someone going 70-75 pulling and getting bad mileage. I'll make a bet that slowing down to 55 will get you at least a 3mpg improvement in that scenario. If you are driving to Mille Lacs and it is 160 miles, for example, slowing to 55 won't cause you great dismay in the extra 30 minutes each way, it will be a lot better if you crash as 55 isn't generally a fatal speed, and 75 is, and on the 3mpg improvement from 13 to 16 mpg, you'll save about $7.50 in gas each way or 15 bucks on the trip.

Slow down fishermen, it leaves a lot of money in your pocket and the extra time it takes doesn't justify slamming the gas down.

[jltimm]

Just another "HAPPY" TOYOTA owner here!I tow a 1660 Pro V with my 1997 Toyota Tacoma Xtra cab with Auto tranny,and it tows with no problems.I got 17-18 mpg on a trip to Canada in June(towing the Pro V and LOADED with camping supplies) ,and I got 22 mpg with it on a late ice fishin trip to Lake of the Woods.It has a 3.4 liter v6 thats rated at 190 hp,which seems to have plenty of power.Toyotas is all I've owned for the past 12 years and I think I'm sold forever!

[Chris-Neises]

Another consideration is the whether or not you REALLY need four wheel drive. just shake my head when I see all of these ridiculous vehicles pulling boats when they could just as easily be towed with a two wheel drive and save a lot of gas doing it. I use a two wheel drive Grand Cherokee with a fairly heavy boat and have traveled all over with no problems. The only toowing accessory I had installed was a transmission cooler.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I think If you live in Minnesota and fish or hunt in Minnesota then four wheel drive is a must! If not for getting out of those slippery launches, then to get to your favorite spot on the ice, or getting through those old loqqing roads to the hunting shack! Not to mention getting to and fro on the unplowed / icy roads. Buy a truck with 2 wheel drive? Not this guy! Two extra wheels turning is alot of piece on mind!!

[jltimm]

I couldn't agree with you more on needing 4wd.If your an avid MN sportsman you "will" need 4wd!

[Macgyver55]

I agree with Airjer, If you are gonna have a truck it may as well turn all the wheels. With the vehicle drivelines and hubs etc now used any difference in mileage is minimal. What I shake my head at is all these so-called mini SUVs (that are more car than anything) and have all-wheel drive and still can't pull anything because they are too light.

[Valv]

Quote:

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I completely disagree with get the biggest truck. I own a 2004 3/4 ton Chevy Silverado HD and it gets about 11 MPG pulling my rig and is oversized.

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They were talking Diesels, you have a gasser, same truck as yours with Duramax does 18mph pulling a boat, and 17mpg pulling your house.

I have a Dodge Cummins souped up to 450hp/800lbs torque, I pulled a 22,000 trailer 2 weeks ago, and didn't get below 14mpg. I can get to 12mpg but I have to get my 5th wheel camper and travel 80mph on interstate, uphill.

Initial cost is an issue, that's the problem, but for towing NOTHING beats diesels, regardless of brand.

It is a tough choice finding what you need Juan Grande.

I am really surprised of new F150 having such bad gas mileage.....

[united jigsticker]

Yep.

Get a diesel. You won't ever have a problem towing. And then put a tuner in it...and, well, lets say the old "childs play" is possible.

Why, a buddy has a 3500 dually Duramax with a Bully Dog in it (tuner)

The big heavy dually will light them up on dry tar...As a matter of fact, he had the dually sideways on dry tar when he tromped it down.

My next truck is a diesel with a tuner.

The only downfall is...they are heavier, meaning possible problems driving on some lakes where bridges and ridges are a problem (URL, MILLE LACS, LOW, etc etc)

But...your gas mileage doesnt drop no matter what you tow or how fast you tow it (for the most part)

[ricqik]

You don't need a diesel to tow a 16-17' boat. Since you're considering family comfort and conveniences, go test drive some midsize crewcabs and some 1/2ton crewcabs and decide which you like best. For midsize I would consider the V6 frontier, V6 tacoma and the V8 dakota. These three are currently the largest strongest of the smaller truck.

[Juan Grande]

Fishinglund,

[YouNeedAuthorization]@earthlink.net

John

[korn_fish]

my insurance went down over 125 per year when I got the 2005 5.7 v-8 f-150. Made the jump up from a 2003 ranger 4.0. All I can say is giddy up, cause the milage is better in the f-150 towing than I ever got in the ranger empty.

[Juan Grande]

korn fish,

I here you on the Ranger. I had a 2001 4.0 and it got worse gas mileage (empty) than most full size pick ups. For that reason, I'm a little bit leary of buying another Ranger or even an Explorer.

[Juan Grande]

All,

Thanks for the great info. You can get a lot more practical info. from this site than you could get on any car review or ratings HSOforum. Thanks again!

[blakjack23]

Up North,

Do you have the 5.4 in your F150? I have an 04 supercab with the 5.4 and I usually get 14 or 15. I kinda have a lead foot but if I drove slower would that really give me 3 or 4 more mpg? By the way...I absoultely love the truck!

[ChuckN]

14-15mpg is about the norm for the 5.4L. I have a '97 5.4L and I get 14 mpg on average. Towing ranges 11-13 mpg, depending on wind....which is the worst enemy to my mileage.

The Fords are not known for gas mileage, but they sure pull. I do have the 4R100 (I believe) tranny which was more standard in the 3/4 ton trucks from what I understand. The new '05s have a lighter duty tranny to comply with EPA standards from what I've read, and get better mileage. They really don't make trucks like they used to..

[JohnMickish]

Valv, now thats a truck!

[Valv]

Quote:

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14-15mpg is about the norm for the 5.4L. I have a '97 5.4L and I get 14 mpg on average. Towing ranges 11-13 mpg, depending on wind....which is the worst enemy to my mileage.

The Fords are not known for gas mileage, but they sure pull. I do have the 4R100 (I believe) tranny which was more standard in the 3/4 ton trucks from what I understand. The new '05s have a lighter duty tranny to comply with EPA standards from what I've read, and get better mileage. They really don't make trucks like they used to..

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Let's call all the Chevy 1/2 ton owners here and hear what they say.

I had Dodges, but even if I love them I can't say they are good on mileage (except diesels, again).

I agree there is no need to get a diesel to tow a 17ft boat. I just made a remark.

I am actually learning something too here, I am not in same positions, but I always have people asking me about it.

How about the Ford Escape ? It has a 3.0l V6, feels snappy, is it too weak to pull ?