Big boat little truck

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

What next........Now I see references that the Lund is a downgrade from the Ranger and coming from you iff I am disappointed!

[Fishin4Life]

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I have a 2001 Dodge 2500 with the Cummins - 19-21 unloaded, 16-18 towing.

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Wow that is pretty good, maybe he is smarter than I give him credit for haha. Then again....well we wont go there

[BobT]

Fishin4Life,

I own a diesel and I find it does really poorly on gas. In terms of mileage it's infinite but performance sucks!

[eyepatrol]

I've read a number of these posts and I think everyone here has the same common concern which is safety. Safety of both your own vehicle/rig and safety of the person traveling slower in front of you. I understand too that it can be frustrating to get caught up behind a vehicle who is going say 15mph slower than yourself, especially when you're all excited about getting to the cabin, getting to the lake, etc. We all look forward to these times and for most of us, it's likely marked with a big red circle or happy face on the calendar (okay, maybe not, but you get the picture). To be slowed down on a trip you've been waiting to make for days, weeks or months can certainly play on one's nerves.

But let's take a brief step back and look at it a little closer. If for example you're going 60mph and someone in front of you is going 45mph, obviously that's a 15mph difference. Usually there is opportunity to pass a vehicle in front of you within a few miles, but let's just pick 10 miles for this example. If one has to travel 10 miles before passing a vehicle driving 15mph less, you would end up losing 3 minutes from your entire vacation. And, if it takes 20 miles (not likely, but can happen), one would lose 6 minutes off their vacation. Not much really is it? But, with the fast-paced world we live in with the technological advances we have, it certainly can play on ones nerves, and it has on my own from time to time. My own suggestion, is to take a deep breath, loosen yourself up a bit, take a sip of soda if ya got one, and wait for a safe opportunity to pass.

I personally feel that the slower driver should pull over at some point, but I think it would be safer for them to pull over in a town rather than on the highway. Slowing down on the highway to pull over could potentially cause problems if there's a line of vehicles behind. If just one person isn't paying attention, there could be a big mess somewhere in that line of vehicles and a number of vacations would be completely ruined. Pulling over in a town where everyone's speed is decreased would be far safer in my opinion.

Hey, everyone have a great holiday weekend, remember what the weekend is for, and try to enjoy each minute of it as safely as possible.

[Jeremy airjer W]

My question is, if you know you are going to be drivin 40mph on a 55mph road why do you have to do it during peek hours. Same thing with the freeways. I was coming back from cook opener weekend and passed many late model vehicles only doing 45 - 50 mph with nothing in toe on the freeway during peak heavy traffic. All this does is cause a bottle kneck, brake checks, stop and go traffic, which leads to vehicles overheating or getting rear ended, which leads to rubber knecks slowing down to see the broken down or crashed cars, whick leads to brake checks, wich leads to stop and go traffic, etc.

People driving slow with trailers don't bother me. They are doing what they think is best and understandable so.

If you know your going to be well below the speed limit why not try traveling at off peak hours. I've done it and it is a lot less stressfull.

As far as big rigs and little trucks/cars. IMO its not safe but on the other hand I encourage it. Transmissions aren't cheap and I'm more than happy to replace yours!!!

[fishinchicks]

I believe in Minnesota it is illegal to pass more than one vehicle at a time. It makes me cringe when people do this. I have had to pull onto the shoulder numerous times to avoid a head on collision because of that.

[deepportage01]

Bob Iam not at all trying to be or sound better than enyone eles if you would read the hole post and not add a twist to what I have posted, buy the way i cant buy what ever turns my crank,oh and did I ever say buy a NEW boat and truck at the same time NO!AND JUST FOR THE RECORD MY BOAT IS A 1990 ALUMACRAFT YA THATS 16 YEARS OLD NOT NEW AT ALL BUT MY 9 YEAR OLD TRUCK TOWS IT JUST FINE.SO GET OF THE HOLE THING ABOUT ME PUTING ANYONE DOWN MAN THATS NOT THE POINT OF THIS HOLE THING!

[mtreno]

first of all let me just get this out of the way. drive as slow as you want i dont care. i will pass when i can and be on my way no harm done....

the bigger issue is stopping. and we are going to see much more of these problems i think with the suv craze everyone is in. "my ford escape says i can tow 5,000 lbs" "i have a class III hitch on my honda civic - that means i can tow a camper right?" "my new honda suv is rated to tow 9000 lbs - better buy a bigger boat" none of these are made to tow. they say they can haul it but can they stop it? how many ford explorers have you seen towning a 20 ft glass ski boat? well thats great they can get them up to speed..... now try stopping..... oh wait you cant cause your brakes are not meant for that. the even better part is thats not the guy going to a fishing hole every weekend - he is not used to towing. so add a truck that cannot stop to a person that does not know he needs extra room...... boy i wish they all drove 40 or less.

when was the last time you tried a quick stop with your boat. not a fast slow down a "we need to stop now" stop. i worry more about the guy with the small truck pulling a big boat going fast - even at 40 its going to take a long time to stop.

i wish they made people get a special permit to tow a trailer with yearly inspections. breaks - lights - safety - and of course an on site driving test.

my 4.624978556579 cents

[deepportage01]

VERY GOOD POINT I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE STOPONG FACTOR VERY GOOD POINT

[BobT]

To add to your point. How many of us pay attention to the tow rating of the hitch? Most of us have vehicles that claim a GTW (gross trailer weight) rating around 6,000# or more but do you realize the class III hitch (common 2" x 2" square tube) is usually rated much less? A standard class III hitch is only rated up to 5000# GTW and 500# TW (tongue weight). To tow a trailer in excess of these amounts one needs a weight distribution system or a higher class hitch. Bear in mind a weight distribution system does not increase the GTW of the vehicle or the hitch itself.

Bob

[captkev]

I just have to add to this topic, I drive truck (semi) for a liveing, for those who did'nt know, some big rigs are governed back so they can only go 65-68-70mph. top speed! My truck runs at 68mph, and I have to deal with this every day, its my job. I don't let much bother me out on the road, some are slower than others, I try and deal with it as best and safe as I can. But what realy P*** me off are the ones that are going slower and when you try to pass they speed up! Now if they are being so safe and concerned why do they put them selves into a situation where I might park 80,000 on top of them? just let me by and I'll be long gone before you know it.

I have to drive 538 miles tonight and watch everyone headed for the lake, please think of me while your on your way, let me by you so I can get home and get my boat and goto the lake as well. think of it this way, drive as slow as you like, but think of the guy behind you, he might want to spend some time with his family this weekend too, and if your not in that big of a hurry, why not find a back road and realy take your time and enjoy the view, but for everyone's sake, just get out of the way if your blocking the flow.

[Guest]

I drive a 3/4 ton cargo van with a class V hitch.. my boat weighs about 900 pounds, my trailer weighs around 350# if I remember right, add some gear and im pulling baout 1500#... either way its a light trailer for my tow vehicle, and I have more than enough power to drive any speed I desire..

The speed I desire is usually around the speed limit, or reasonable to the flow of traffic.. if its a 70 zone, I drive 65 for a couple reasons... safety and stopping is #1, especially on a holiday weekend when everyone thinks they learned to drive on a race track. The other reason is I get 4 mpg better milage at 65 than I do 70 because at that speed the vortex of air starts to drop into my boat and cause the parachute effect.

I always drive slower if I am getting close to where I need to turn and its not a major intersection. I have no desire to surprise the person behind me by slamming on my brakes at 60 when my turn comes up before I suspected it.

People get upset and drive recklessly when I am driving 65 in a 70.. someone always has a problem with what someone else is doing.. I really dont care if someone has a problem with what I am doing if I am operating my vehicle safely, especially while towing a trailer, my only interest is to get to point B from point A safely.

I think all trailers out there carrying a load of 1500 pounds should be equipped with brakes also... including my own. It can turn into a hairy ride quick when you really need to slam on the brakes for a hazard.

If someone out there is pulling a heavy trailer with any vehicle.. small or large.. drive in a way you are comfortable with the load behind you and reasonable for the road you are traveling(please dont do 40 in a 70, legal, but not reasonable) .... ignore the *looks* even if you are doing the speed limit, a good percentage of the people are still going to have a problem with you just because you exist on *their road*.

[cybermuskie]

Boy are there alot of undies in a bunch on this post! First off I don't think DP was trying to offend or put down anyone on here. I met him the other night and he is one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet! Common now, everyone on here has seem the guy with the big tourney type boat being pulled by a piece of junk. Sure maybe the guy is a guide or does fish tourneys and needs that big of a boat, but the point as I see it is that maybe if that person can't keep up with the flow of traffic, he shouldn't have spent all his money on a boat! If a person can afford a $40,000 boat he should be able to afford something that can tow it! If not, then maybe he shouldn't buy that big of boat! To all the people saying "well I have this big of truck does that mean I can go this fast?" Grow up! Don't try to twist the guys words around! I think he was just making a general comment that he always gets stuck behind the slowest guy out there on his way up to the lake, and some of you jumped down his throat for NO reason! Just because you don't agree with some here, doesn't mean you have to bash him for not thinking the same as you! So let's all start playing a little nicer! For those of you who played nice I am sorry you had to read my rant, but I am sick of people ripping a guy for his comments!

I am sure there will be someone after my post that will rip on me for what I have just said, and that person may just make my point for me!

DP, YOU ARE WELCOME IN MY BOAT ANYTIME!!!

De De Dee!

[JohnMickish]

This question bears asking to all the "expert" towers out there. How many of you are using mirror extensions? Unless you are driving a Peterbuilt of have factory extended towing mirrors you cannot see behind todays boats that are almost 8 feet wide.

Do everybody a favor, buy some mirror extensions, drive the speed limit and carry a spare tire for the trailer and the highways will move alot smoother.

[JohnMickish]

Let me rephrase my above post. We don't need another accident like that one on 494 on Friday so have a vehicle that is big enough to control the load, mirrors that can see behind it, brakes that can stop it and keep up with traffic and we will all be happier for it. If you can't do the above please do your towing at 2am.

[reed1969]

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It’s just another one of those situations that gets me...

You can afford a $40,000+ boat but not a truck/vehicle to pull it! Like I saw a $45,000 boat being pulled by an old mini-van worth less that $10,000. Cmon! For one, you’re going to wreck your vehicle and 2, what your going to spend to fix it you might as well get a truck to pull it. Even your expenses out. Buy a 20K truck and 20K boat. You’re much better off!

Also, im sorry, but going 45 in 60mph 2 lane highways is just arrogant. They make shoulders wide and safe enough to pull over. If its doesn’t look safe by any means, then Im with ya on not pulling over. It’s still really not safe though since 95% of the traffic probably travels around 62mph on average. Not seeing a slow vehicle on the other side of the hill with a line of 15 cars going 60-65mph is DANGEROUS!

Just my opinion on the subject.

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You know what you call a guy with a $ 5,000 truck and a $50000 boat don't you??????? A true fisherman........

[walleyeaddict]

more like a true moron!!!

[upnorth]

1 thing to really consider it braking power. If you towing a larger boat, you need to be able to stop the dang thing in a reasonable amount of distance. I really don't think a mini van has the brakes of a full sized truck or even a mini/mid sized truck with a towing pkg. The tow ratings of vehicles include what you can stop, not just pull.

And yes if you are going 15 mph slower than the traffic around you are going to cause problems. People get a little irrate trying to get around someone like that and sometimes will do something stupid to get around. Going the minimum speed may keep you legal, but you may also be causing some real unsafe conditions for others motorists.

Just my opinion.

[eyepatrol]

Hey, let's not call people names on here. We do what we can, when we can, with what we've got. Sometimes it doesn't always work out "in order" if ya want to call it that. Let's all just drive safely and be considerate of others. Some people don't even have a boat, so let's be happy for those that do and can.

good fishin'!

[Guest]

I would love to hear the rants of many people here after dealing with truly bad traffic in the eastern US with a trailer attatched. You think cities, traffic, and vacationers are bad? Take a trip to western PA anywhere south of Erie and get off the highway.. when you try to get back on the empty highway.. everyone STOPS at the end of the on-ramp and looks over their shoulder ... that will make you hit the panic button. If it doesnt, all the amish buggies at 10 mph(55 speed limit) on the rural, hilly, winding roads will really make you slam on the brakes around dusk when they are coming home from church.

I guarantee you will come back to Minnesota and not mind that little truck/big boat half as much as you did before.

I was stuck in a situation where I had to drive 45 from Pennsylvania, all the way to the twin cities in good weather and dry roads.. pulling a enclosed uhaul trailer and the V6 in the car would not exceed 45 mph because of the wind drag unless I could get behind a truck to draft... it turned a 14 hour drive into a 17 hour drive, but I made it here, I didnt cause any accidents or have any close calls even in chicago traffic.

Trust me, there are worse places out there for driving.

[LocalGuide]

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would love to hear the rants of many people here after dealing with truly bad traffic in the eastern US with a trailer attatched. You think cities, traffic, and vacationers are bad? Take a trip to western PA anywhere south of Erie and get off the highway.. when you try to get back on the empty highway.. everyone STOPS at the end of the on-ramp and looks over their shoulder ... that will make you hit the panic button. If it doesnt, all the amish buggies at 10 mph(55 speed limit) on the rural, hilly, winding roads will really make you slam on the brakes around dusk when they are coming home from church.

I guarantee you will come back to Minnesota and not mind that little truck/big boat half as much as you did before.

I was stuck in a situation where I had to drive 45 from Pennsylvania, all the way to the twin cities in good weather and dry roads.. pulling a enclosed uhaul trailer and the V6 in the car would not exceed 45 mph because of the wind drag unless I could get behind a truck to draft... it turned a 14 hour drive into a 17 hour drive, but I made it here, I didnt cause any accidents or have any close calls even in chicago traffic.

Trust me, there are worse places out there for driving.

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Thats exactly why I like living in minnesota or the upper midwest for that matter...!!!

[BobT]

Actually, I'm not so sure that driving 15mph below the flow is as much a problem as driving 5mph below the flow. Passing someone going 15mph slower is much easier and more likely possible than passing someone traveling just 5mph below. And as was mentioned earlier, the ones that are most irritating are those that can't seem to drive a steady speed. Just as you are about to pass, they speed up and this is truly a dangerous way to drive. These same individuals have a habit of slowing down when meeting traffic and then speeding up just about the time you might be able to have an opportunity to pass. These are the ones that I have many times wished it was legal to run them off the road. Good grief! Pick a speed, set your cruise and move along.

Bob

[DTro]

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Actually, I'm not so sure that driving 15mph below the flow is as much a problem as driving 5mph below the flow. Passing someone going 15mph slower is much easier and more likely possible than passing someone traveling just 5mph below. And as was mentioned earlier, the ones that are most irritating are those that can't seem to drive a steady speed. Just as you are about to pass, they speed up and this is truly a dangerous way to drive. These same individuals have a habit of slowing down when meeting traffic and then speeding up just about the time you might be able to have an opportunity to pass. These are the ones that I have many times wished it was legal to run them off the road. Good grief! Pick a speed, set your cruise and move along.

Bob

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Can I get an AMEN!

[gorrilla]

How many of us have been behind a guy who is struggling to keep up speed on the two lane road and causing this huge build up of traffic, and magically when he gets to the short four lane section where one could actually pass, HE SPEEDS UP AND WE CAN'T GET BY.....

I live "up north" and took great pleasure in letting the guy know yesterday(after he just went by me and cut me off at 75mph in a 60 around Gull Lake on 371) that his H-2 pulling this huge Sun Tracker Pontoon on the little pontoon trailer had blown a tire and was now on the rim at 75mph. I had just told my wife how big of an one-who-thinks-I-am-silly this guy was for driving so fast with such a narrow trailer with little tires pulling that much weight. Almost on cue black chunks of rubber started flying out. If it weren't for the safety of the other tailgating, speed demon, morons I might have let him figure it out on his own. The funny thing is he pulled over briefly and when we were filling up with gas at Fleet he pulled in on the bad rim and all to get a new tire. Personally I wouldn't have driven the 8 miles on a damaged trailer, I would have dropped it on a busy holiday and come back....

[BLACKJACK]

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How many of us have been behind a guy who is struggling to keep up speed on the two lane road and causing this huge build up of traffic, and magically when he gets to the short four lane section where one could actually pass, HE SPEEDS UP AND WE CAN'T GET BY.....

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You just described my pet peeve!! What are those drivers thinking? Its a passing section, if they'd just keep going their same slower speed, the faster ones would pass and then not tailgate them but NO they speed up. Morons. Drive Hwy 12 into the Cities, from Litchfield to Delano they've developed some nice passing lanes, you see that 'speed up' behavior all the time. Just once I'd like to talk to one of them and ask what they're thinking.

They need to change those 'Slower traffic keep right' signs to 'Slower traffic keep right AND MAINTAIN YOUR SPEED SO PEOPLE CAN PASS.'