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

[Papa Woodie]

Tell ya what! Take my '04 F150 XLT 5.4 off my hands. With a gas tank that takes darn near 100 bucks to fill (2.59 per gallon duluth) you can have the truck. I pull a 17' boat just fine. Accelorates perfectly, excellent for passing. I have my current boat for sale (see for sale forums)...after that, the truck is next. After that, is house buying time. Truck is awesome with a 2' level kit, 35" tires, dual exhaust, extended cab, and Airaid Intake with Custom Tuned Computer PRogramming by Troyer Performance. Interested..I got a good deal for you. Let me know.

[Ole #1]

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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.

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How does a 2wd truck get better gas milage than a 4wd truck if the 4x4 is in 2wd? And what do you consider "ridiculous vehicles"

[JohnMickish]

A 4X4 is still turning the front hubs when in 2 wheel drive, some even turn the front axles too. A 4X4 also weighs more, all factors in lower MPGs. 4X4's usually have wider, more aggressive tires that also dramatically hurt the milage. They sit taller, catching more wind which also kills the milage.

[united jigsticker]

Quote:

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How does a 2wd truck get better gas milage than a 4wd truck if the 4x4 is in 2wd? And what do you consider "ridiculous vehicles"

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Bwah HA HA HA HA!!!!

Good point!

Just exactly what does a "rediculous" vehicle look like?

It won't look so rediculous when there is some sand on a somewhat steep ramp and you need a tug...

doomoss

[rundrave]

dont want to get off track here, but a 4x4 is also safer to drive (winter snow etc), being taller and higer up also allows you to see farther ahead of you and over other vehicles.

not all 4x4's have hubs or axels engaged or locked at all time, there are also things like transfer cases, and gear ratio's that help with the MPG, for the larger tires etc.

[Dragonsm]

Just to touch on Valv's post about the Ford Escape.....recently went back up to visit the folks in Fergus Falls for a weekend (drove the car as I didn't think I'd need the truck) My brother came down from Fargo to also hang out and we got a wild idea to take Dad's boat out fishing since it was a nice night. Well, dad had his truck someplace, my truck was down in the Cities....so we hooked it up to my brother's 05 Escape (he has the class 3 hitch I believe on it) and pulled it to the lake with no problems. 16.5 ft deep V boat with a 90 hp, a 9.9 kicker, batteries, 25+ gallons of fuel and gear.

Really surprised the heck out of me.....and it had no problems getting it out of the water either and the gas mileage wasn't bad either.....I'd give them a second look if I didn't need my truck.

Later

Steve

[Valv]

The reason I am asking is...I have a '03 for sale, it was in an accident but is very fixable and in fact runs and drives as it is. Price is cheaper then you can even imagine.....

I know I shouldn't do this but I'll fix it with Rick.

[not_nuf_time]

Juan, I have a Chev 6.0 ltr hd. Love the truck at $1.50 p/g

but at 2.70 Its $55.00 every 5-6 days if you drive alot. Like one said it can tow your house and good thing is fuel milage doesn't change, 12 P/g. If you tow everyday get a big truck, if you drive alot get a medium that gets nice to reasonable fuel milage. Gas doesn't seem to be coming down soon.

[upnorth]

I have the 4.6 engine with 3.55 gears. I just got back from a 600 mile round trip and got 18.6 and drove between 65 and 70 both ways. It may not be able to burn the tires off but I don't see it as outright lacking power, tows my 17 foot Crestliner without any problems.

It could be where and how I drive. Up here you don't need to punch it to merge into traffic and I really do drive mostly highway and I am pretty easy on the throttle. Cities type of driving and having to be more aggressive would probably cost me abit too.

[CanoeCruiser]

Anyone driving a 4Runner out there? I'm finally retiring the venerable Jeep Grand Cherokee this year, and the 4Runner's look OK to do the job for a Fisherman 1800....

I'm mostly a city driver, with little or no off roading needed.

CC

[Chris-Neises]

My Jeep Grand Cherokee is a two wheel drive with the inline 6. I have fished the Metro Lets for the last three years and many other places here and in Wisconsin with ease. I get at least 25 MPG unleaded and just under 20 with a fairly heavy boat. I am an old "farm boy", and a pretty good driver if I do say so myself, but my wife and others have pulled me out of the water just as well. I am amazed at how many people I know immediately push the 4WD button (usually high range) when they only need to be in low range. When I drive out to my icehouse I usually don't stray to far from the road though. I'd like to think if I ever need a tug there will be an FM'er nearby. With price of gas I might find myself shore fishing more