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Author Topic:   190 MONTAUK Tow Vehicle

newwhale posted 08-23-2009 08:31 AM ET (US)
We've got a 2007 Boston Whaler 190 MONTAUK with a 115 Mercury that we tow around Florida. Shortest tow is about 65-miles, longest would be down to the Keys, about 370-miles.
If we could find a relatively fuel-efficient tow, that might be our primary vehicle that we generally put about 15,000-miles a year on. Another possibility is picking up a tow as our second vehicle for around-town short trips and weekend boat towing, maybe a good-condition used truck or SUV. Any recommendations for a tow vehicle? Suggestions are welcome!
TC posted 08-23-2009 09:40 AM ET (US)
If a pick up is to be considered, any full size half ton with either a extended or crew cab short bed combo would make a great all around vehicle that would tow your boat anywhere without breaking a sweat. 15-18 mpg with a small V8. If you would consider a diesel, I have a 2500 cummins Dodge 4x4 that gets 20 mpg in mixed driving and will tow anything. With an extended cab, power everything and leather seats etc. it is a great truck. It's a 2000 that I paid 10,000 for 2 years ago. If an SUV, I loved my Tahoe and even love the 3.4 liter V6 4runner more that replaced it. It gets 20 mpg on highway trips and would tow your boat well. 1996-2002 models are my favorite. My 2001 with 65,000 miles in immaculate condition loaded with all optoins was 12,000 about a year ago.
newwhale posted 08-24-2009 05:38 AM ET (US)
Thanks for those recommendations! Some friends have a 4Runner V8 they pull their Proline with, and love it. I think we'll probably lean toward picking up a used truck or SUV as a second car. Sadly, it's going to have to replace our vintage '86 Volvo wagon, which is like part of the family after all these years:(
20dauntless posted 08-25-2009 12:26 AM ET (US)
My brother has a 4runner V8. It's terrible, in my opinion. A few weeks ago we drove both the 4runner and my Pilot to Sun Valley. The 4runner got significantly worse gas mileage, was much less comfortable to ride in (it feels like it was put in a car crusher and partially crushed, the ceiling is too low and the floor is too high), and in my opinion drove worse than the Pilot. Furthermore, it seems to have less usable interior space than the Pilot, yet when you drive it it feels much larger. Aside from those complaints, the climate control system is also an illogical mess.
We love the Pilot and I think it would tow a 190 Montauk just fine, especially in flat Florida. If you want an efficient combo vehicle, look into a used Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.0L diesel. This is a Mercedes engine and is fantastic. The Jeep won't have the same interior volume as your Volvo, however. We've got a 1991 240 wagon that is massive inside.
jimh posted 08-25-2009 09:23 AM ET (US)
The ready-to-go weight for a Boston Whaler 190 MONTAUK is about 3,000-lbs (from the performance reports published by Boston Whaler). A tandem axle trailer for a 19-foot boat will probably weigh close to 1,000-lbs. You can figure your towed weight will be about 4,000-lbs.
When looking for a tow vehicle to pull a 4,000-lb trailer, you can figure another 1,000-lbs of capacity will be in the vehicle itself in the form of fuel, passengers, and gear carried in the vehicle. Therefore you'll need a vehicle rated to tow about 5,000-lbs. Vehicles with tow ratings of 5,0000-lbs are generally in the half-ton truck segment. You won't find any sedans, and smaller SUV or crossover vehicles may be marginally rated for towing.
It is hard to combine a daily driven vehicle for commuting to work with a tow vehicle for a 19-foot boat that is suitable for 370-mile trips, unless you don't mind driving a half-ton truck as your daily driver.
If you confine your towing to areas like Florida, where the steepest grade is probably encountered on a bridge overpass, you may be able to tow with a marginally rated vehicle.

masbama posted 08-25-2009 10:03 AM ET (US)
I tow my 18" Dauntless with a new 2009 Pilot. Works great!
TC posted 08-25-2009 10:07 AM ET (US)
Well, no wonder, it's only 18 inches long:)

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Author	Topic: 190 MONTAUK Tow Vehicle
newwhale	posted 08-23-2009 08:31 AM ET (US) We've got a 2007 Boston Whaler 190 MONTAUK with a 115 Mercury that we tow around Florida. Shortest tow is about 65-miles, longest would be down to the Keys, about 370-miles. If we could find a relatively fuel-efficient tow, that might be our primary vehicle that we generally put about 15,000-miles a year on. Another possibility is picking up a tow as our second vehicle for around-town short trips and weekend boat towing, maybe a good-condition used truck or SUV. Any recommendations for a tow vehicle? Suggestions are welcome!
TC	posted 08-23-2009 09:40 AM ET (US) If a pick up is to be considered, any full size half ton with either a extended or crew cab short bed combo would make a great all around vehicle that would tow your boat anywhere without breaking a sweat. 15-18 mpg with a small V8. If you would consider a diesel, I have a 2500 cummins Dodge 4x4 that gets 20 mpg in mixed driving and will tow anything. With an extended cab, power everything and leather seats etc. it is a great truck. It's a 2000 that I paid 10,000 for 2 years ago. If an SUV, I loved my Tahoe and even love the 3.4 liter V6 4runner more that replaced it. It gets 20 mpg on highway trips and would tow your boat well. 1996-2002 models are my favorite. My 2001 with 65,000 miles in immaculate condition loaded with all optoins was 12,000 about a year ago.
newwhale	posted 08-24-2009 05:38 AM ET (US) Thanks for those recommendations! Some friends have a 4Runner V8 they pull their Proline with, and love it. I think we'll probably lean toward picking up a used truck or SUV as a second car. Sadly, it's going to have to replace our vintage '86 Volvo wagon, which is like part of the family after all these years:(
20dauntless	posted 08-25-2009 12:26 AM ET (US) My brother has a 4runner V8. It's terrible, in my opinion. A few weeks ago we drove both the 4runner and my Pilot to Sun Valley. The 4runner got significantly worse gas mileage, was much less comfortable to ride in (it feels like it was put in a car crusher and partially crushed, the ceiling is too low and the floor is too high), and in my opinion drove worse than the Pilot. Furthermore, it seems to have less usable interior space than the Pilot, yet when you drive it it feels much larger. Aside from those complaints, the climate control system is also an illogical mess. We love the Pilot and I think it would tow a 190 Montauk just fine, especially in flat Florida. If you want an efficient combo vehicle, look into a used Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.0L diesel. This is a Mercedes engine and is fantastic. The Jeep won't have the same interior volume as your Volvo, however. We've got a 1991 240 wagon that is massive inside.
jimh	posted 08-25-2009 09:23 AM ET (US) The ready-to-go weight for a Boston Whaler 190 MONTAUK is about 3,000-lbs (from the performance reports published by Boston Whaler). A tandem axle trailer for a 19-foot boat will probably weigh close to 1,000-lbs. You can figure your towed weight will be about 4,000-lbs. When looking for a tow vehicle to pull a 4,000-lb trailer, you can figure another 1,000-lbs of capacity will be in the vehicle itself in the form of fuel, passengers, and gear carried in the vehicle. Therefore you'll need a vehicle rated to tow about 5,000-lbs. Vehicles with tow ratings of 5,0000-lbs are generally in the half-ton truck segment. You won't find any sedans, and smaller SUV or crossover vehicles may be marginally rated for towing. It is hard to combine a daily driven vehicle for commuting to work with a tow vehicle for a 19-foot boat that is suitable for 370-mile trips, unless you don't mind driving a half-ton truck as your daily driver. If you confine your towing to areas like Florida, where the steepest grade is probably encountered on a bridge overpass, you may be able to tow with a marginally rated vehicle.
masbama	posted 08-25-2009 10:03 AM ET (US) I tow my 18" Dauntless with a new 2009 Pilot. Works great!
TC	posted 08-25-2009 10:07 AM ET (US) Well, no wonder, it's only 18 inches long:)