New Truck

[Fishin4Life]

Question for all you guys. I am looking at buying a new boat, and in tern need a truck to pull it. I currently have a small boat and my car can pull it just fine but the boat I am looking at is a older forester that a friend of mines parents are looking at selling to me cheap. Do you think I would be ok with a 2WD truck? I don't have a lot of money to spend on the whole rig and 2WD is much cheeper. Any input/personal experience would be great. I am thinking an S-10 because they are better on gas. I used to have a S-10 blazer and that pulled large trailers real well. Thanks

[Lund4ver]

Lots of people pull with 2wd instead of a 4x4 truck. To me it would depend on what lakes you are going to fish, the landing conditions, and overall size of boat that you are going to be getting.

I personally have a Lund 1700 Fisherman, and have a Supercab F150 to pull it with, and love it, plenty of power to pass if need be, and yes, mileage isn't the best, but I knew that buying a truck from day one.

Just my opinion.

[lawdog]

I think Lund hit it on the head, the big question is the landings. Twice I've had to have people unhook their trailers, I've unhooked mine and then pulled their boats out of the water for them and then had to rehook and unhook again. Its a huge pain, but I couldn't stand waiting any longer for them to not get their stuff out because they didn't have a vehicle that could pull it out. That was on a hill with a sandy landing and the two wheel drive just couldn't do it. As for going down the highway, it shouldn't matter.

[Fishin4Life]

Yeah the landings were my main concern. Do you find you need the 4x4 more than not? When I had the blazer I used it just because I didn't want the dink around throughing it in if the 2wd didn't cut it. I never really tried with just 2wd

[harvey lee]

I hardly ever use my 4x4 to pull my boat out of the landing.But if you are at a landing with low water and need to back in a long ways and the landing is dirt/gravel or wet concrete you might then need the 4x4.I maybe use mine 1 time a year but I also know the landing where I go.

[stmichael]

It has been said but I thought I would add:

Most lakes have decent concrete landings and you should not have any issues. Even some lakes that have sand you will be okay. I did say some, I was at a couple of lakes that had sand for a landing, Norris Lake up in St. Francis, I launched a boat at least 30 some odd times, shortly after back tires gave in and I was stuck, had to call a buddy. (this was in a 2 wd Ranger), they moved the access to the main road. Then there was Long Lake in Isanti just off of 47, there I landed a boat 3 times no issues, on the fourth, I was stuck, this was a 3/4 ton 2wd Ford. However, I was trying to pull a boat out that my buddy forgot to put the plug in. (it was his grandpas boat)He was not happy about coming to pull us out. We were all teenagers at the time. Good times, good times. but anyway you should be okay and just remember there is always going to be some advantages of having a 4 wd, but, they are not necessary, as long as you know what type of conditions you are going to be launching in. For instances where you do get stuck, I am positive that you would find someone to come and give you a hand. (I hope that most of us would lend a hand if we seen you, but, just in case you are alone try to find a landing with a house and 4 wheel drive truck close by.) or have a tow truck number handy.

[TSCTSC]

I would say that 4WD is an insurance. Most of the time you would not need it. I would say more than 90% but that depends on what landings u use regularly. And it also depends if you intend to continue boating in winter and early spring. I only used 4WD during winter when I am using the ramps and it looks a little icey. For the last 2 months, it has always been 2WD.

Absolutely no problems. But then again, that one time when you get stuck out of 50 times could make you curse and swear.

Also, the weight of your boat matters.

I used to pull a 16 foot trihull fibreglass with a 75HP chrysler with a Honda Civic Si hatchback for about 1 year. If the ramp were a little too sandy, I would have front wheels spinning but I have never had a situation where I got stuck. But it was hairy tho. Not recommend for you to experience that.

[Fishin4Life]

TSCTSC -

You sound like my kinda guy! haha. I pull my boat with a little neon. It gets the job done. You actually don't really notice the boat much at all. I am looking at a 16ft tri hull, your civic pulled that with no problem? Or little problems I should say? I thought I would for sure have to give the car the boot on this one. You get some funny looks though, fishing on a budget I call it! LOL

Next time one of you guys see's me, please take a moment for a quick laugh. I always like to brighten peoples days. LOL

[TSCTSC]

Hehe...u got that right. I have got quite a number of senior citizens coming up to me at the gas station while pulling that fibreglass rig, and just saying to me --- "That's a lot of boat". I guess what they were saying is the boat is so much more bigger than the car. Hehe.

[Fishin4Life]

They were just jealous! haha

[lawdog]

TSCTSC and Fishin4life,

The downside to what you guys are doing is you are destroying those cars. They aren't meant to haul heavy loads and the trannys and brakes will be shot in short time doing so. That's not to even mention the lack of a frame/chassis strong enough to control a large load behind them...

Having said that, the difference isn't 4 wd and 2 wd as the original question asked. I totally agree that 4wd isn't needed everywhere or often, but you have to be careful where you go if you don't have it was all I was saying after having to pull those boats out for other people who weren't equipped for what they were trying to do...

[Fishin4Life]

Yes I figured a large boat would not be the best behind my little car. I did check the capacity for towing before adding a hitch to pull my little 14 footer. The owners manual actually said it was rated to pull up to 1000 lbs. But I am sure the glass boat would be over that with trailer, motor, and all the gear...

Safety first. If it ruins the car, I don't mind, it is a throw away car. Just a little commuter. It would force me to get something else. LOL. But I know that pulling something too large for the vehicle could cause a roll over at the wrong time.

Does anyone know about the gross wieght of a early 80's 15.5 foot forester with a 70 horse merc?

[BigWadeS]

I went from a 4wd pick-up last year to a 2wd/front wheel drive mini-van, due to many reasons. I use it to pull my 18ft crestline and have had NO problems, YET, if I should I hope there are some nice people at the landing, but it does a decent job. I also use the dnr's HSOforum to figure out what lakes and where the good ramps are...seems to be a good and quick resource to find concrete ramps.