posted 03-10-2004 06:36 PM ET (US)            

What make and model pickup, and how is it equipped? Six cylinder pickups can be rated as low as 1,000lb for towing, or as high as 7,500lb.

Your Ventura, powered and loaded for towing, probably weighs 3500-4000lb.

posted 03-10-2004 07:14 PM ET (US)            

Sweat the details: My '01 stickshift Pathfinder has a 3500
pound capacity, the automatics, even though they have 10 less
HP, are 5000 (Nissan doesn't have a rock crusher manual box,
though maybe with their new V8 they'll come out with one).
With the American trucks, a given model can have a range of
as much as 2.5 or 3 to one, depending on options.

And double check the weights. That 3500-4000 number seems
about right, but you wouldn't want to be unpleasently
surprised. Remember to include boat, motor, trailer, gas,
anchor, beer, bait, ...

posted 03-10-2004 08:08 PM ET (US)         

I don't think you would enjoy towing this rig with a V6, regardless of its allowable towing capacity. Going uphill and accelerating onto freeway ramps would be downright scary.

I tow my 16/17 Katama, which is much lighter than yours, with a Bronco II, when my wife is out shopping with the Land Rover. It works, but I cannot go over 60 mph. For this reason, I am looking to get an F250 4x4.

posted 03-10-2004 10:27 PM ET (US)            

My suggestions:

Automatic transmission with a good tranmission cooler.

Limited slip differential (for those slick boat ramps)

4 wheel drive: The low range can be used for towing the boat up the ramp. It greatly eases the strain on the engine and transmission. Once on top, go to 2 wheel drive. However, if the truck has an adequately low gear ratio in the rear end (high numerical), and you have no other reason for a 4x4, this is more of a extra than a necessity.

I am not sure I like the new generation of 6 cyl pickups as I do the generation before last. The old Chevy 292 and Ford 300 with the old style 4 speed truck manual transmissions (with the unsychronized granny gear for first) were real stump pullers.

posted 03-10-2004 11:24 PM ET (US)            

Ask the manufacturer for the tow rating and compare it to your estimated tow load.

posted 03-11-2004 09:43 AM ET (US)            

I figure the trailer for a heavy 21-footer is going to be a tandem axle and will wiegh about 1300 pounds.

You need an additional 2,000 pounds of rating above the 6,000 pounds I am allotting for the boat/motor/trailer because you have to account for you, your passengers, your gear, and fuel in the truck. A couple of big fishing buddies, a full tank of gas, and coolers full of food and drink will add at least 1,000 pounds to the load.

posted 03-11-2004 10:14 AM ET (US)            

How bout a Cummins, Detroit or Perkins non-turbo diesel, now that would pull!
But not going to find one in a pickup.....

posted 03-11-2004 10:19 PM ET (US)            

See: http://www.iboats.com/sites/trailerboats/site_page_1483/article_page_259.html

posted 03-11-2004 10:39 PM ET (US)            

The upscale homegrown 2004 Ford F150 is more luxurious, most powerful, tows more, and is soon to be made at the uber green, historic Rouge Complex in Dearborn, MI (Now made only at Norfolk VA, and Oakville, Ontario).

Disclaimer: I do work for Ford, but have driven all of the competitive vehicles. The Titan is an amazing product, as are (less so) the Dodge Ram and GM Trucks, but the F150 is the class of the industry. They are pretty much equal in performance, but the F150 takes the segment to a new level for everyday livability. Quiet, and refined.

It is Americas finest truck (for now)... Research and drive one and see.

Sorry for the commercial... Let the Marketplace decide.

posted 03-12-2004 09:01 PM ET (US)            

See:

<url>http://warnerrobert.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=18;t=000513</url>

posted 03-14-2004 08:42 AM ET (US)            

I refrain further.

posted 03-14-2004 10:58 AM ET (US)            

For instance a Ford F150 1/2 ton pickup can have tow ratings that vary considerably based on the choices of transmission, differential and specific towing related options.

Engine size is one of the least limiting variables.

Although if you don't have enough engine you may still be able to tow but it will be a chore.

I think you will need an eight cyl. to be able to easily tow that much.

Like someone else mentioned...

posted 03-14-2004 01:42 PM ET (US)            

As others have previously observed, you "can" tow 3,000 pound boat with a little Subaru wagon. It isn't safe, and it certainly isn't comfortable, but if you hook the two of them together the Subaru will start the package rolling. Some of the folks who put such packages together view themselves as thrifty or utilitarian. I see them as foolhardy and silly, and I resent them for putting the rest of us sharing the highways at risk.

Flame if you must, but I agree with JB. It isn't smart to exceed the manufacturer's recommended tow rating. If you're at or below that rating, you're arguably in the "should tow" range, but that doesn't mean it's going to be comfortable if you're at or near the upper limits of the range.

We bought a 2002 Chevy Tahoe, a wonderful vehicle with GOBS of power, and we occasionally used it to tow my 22' outrage (heavier than typical because of twin Honda 115s at 505 pounds each and, often, a heavy compliment of scuba gear). The Tahoe had adequate power, but it's shorter wheelbase and lighter weight made it noticeably inferior to our big Ford truck as a tow vehicle. After less than a year my wife replaced her Tahoe with a Ford F-150, as she needed another truck for her landscaping business. I occasionally use her F-150 to pull the boat - especially on short trips around town, as the shorter wheelbase makes it easier to back and maneuver the boat, but it isn't much better that the Tahoe. As long as the trailer is properly balanced, it's certainly safe, as was the Tahoe, but it just doesn't pull, track, corner, or brake with the confidence and stability of my big truck. (The big truck is a Ford F-350, 4-door, 4x4 Powerstroke diesel.)

When I drag my boat to the Oregon coast we have some long, fairly steep grades to negotiate. The diesel screams up the hills and, on the way down, she keeps her line without ever feeling like the weight of the trailer wants to lift the bed on bumps, or push the truck out of the corner. It's effortless.

If towing is the primary objective, there is no substitute for power, weight, and a long wheelbase. If you tow a lot of weight, and you do it regularly, the balance shifts more and more in favor of a behemoth like our big Ford. If you tow only moderate weights, you tow infrequently, and you're traveling only shorter distances, the balance shifts back in favor of smaller, more multi-purpose vehicles. I'd give up the big Ford if I lived in a big city and never towed my boat more than ten or fifteen miles.

Some folks regard my big truck as "overkill". They see it's enormous size as an example of "American over-indulgence". Those folks are not bothered by the facts - like the fact that my HUGE truck gets substantially better fuel economy (like 50% better) than my dad's old Toyota Landcruiser. For that matter, the my truck burns less fuel than our Tahoe and many of the other, smaller, "trendy" SUVs which are relatively weak as tow vehicles. My diesel whistles along effortlessly dragging a load that made the Tahoe groan - and it burns MUCH less fuel while doing it.

Lastly, I've had several 6-cylinder engines that provided lousy fuel economy (including Dad's Landcruiser) and several eights that were pretty fair, including our last Chevy Suburban. I don't think it's ever worth going to a 6 if the fuel economy is close to the 8-cylinder engine in the same vehicle.

posted 03-15-2004 09:14 AM ET (US)            

I agree with all of your statements. I would never trailer anywhere near my 4-Runners supposed 5,000 lb rating for the reasons you cited.

I learned many things from this site about trailering over the years. Since we lived on the water, we never trailered the boat. Long ago, the members here had a discussion about trailering follies. It was quite comical and sad at the same time to hear these horror stories of poor planning, inappropriate vehicle choice, fights at the ramp, etc.

Some of the best advice given at the time by a few trailer sages here was to go to the busy ramps near you, have lunch and just watch. You can learn a few things about trailering in a short time. I did that very thing at Port Canaveral, FL one day when I was driving by. My education came at the expense of others, thank goodness.

posted 03-31-2004 03:08 PM ET (US)            

A friend tows a round trip of 240 miles to the same slip with a similar rig with a 1998 grand cherokee with ease.

just take it easy give yourself plenty of time for the other idiots on the road and you will be a pro in no time.

both cars are rated at 3500kgs here in the UK.