"Paul Schilter" paulschilter@comcast,dot,net wrote in message
...
Doug,
For the record Ford's engines are measured in microns. The leaking oil
issue hasn't been around for years. Have you driven a Ford lately?
Paul

I've driven behind them. New ones smell like they're old. Very strange.

"Steve Daniels, Seek of Spam" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 16 May 2004 01:55:41 GMT, something compelled "Doug
Kanter" , to say:

"Steve Daniels, Seek of Spam" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 15 May 2004 23:29:00 GMT, something compelled
, to say:

The Tundra has the best reliability rating in "Consumer Reports"
magazine and the Ford F-150 is next.

I don't tow with my F-150, but I can say that it's a '94, has
more than 140,000 miles on it, and has yet to let me down.

What do you mean by "front end rebuilt"?

It was pulling to the right quite severely, and wearing out the
tires. I took it in for an alignment, and was informed that
several parts had worn to the point where they would have to be
replaced before an alignment would work. I had the front brakes
done at the same time, and paid about $1000 when it was all done.

I don't remember which parts were replaced, but I'd think that
for $1000 worth of work, rebuilt is the proper word.

Agreed. At 140K, that kind of rebuild shouldn't be necessary, unless you're
racing it offroad or some such thing.

"Bill Kiene" wrote in message
om...
Hello V,

The minivans all tow about 3500# max with a trailer towing package. That
is
cutting it pretty close.

A Toyota Tacoma double cab with a V6 and a towing package can pull ~5000#
max.

To be safe I would think that you would want to have a vehicle that can
tow
~5000#.

This will probably be a 4 door pickup or an SUV ? but they won't get 30mpg
on the free way. Maybe 20 not pulling.

If you don't need to tow your boat all the time, I would get a new mini
van
and get someone to pull your boat.

Bill Kiene

As a benchmark for the OP, my Tacoma gets 20-21 mpg on the highway NOT
towing, assuming I pay very close attention to when to use cruise control,
and when cc is NOT the best idea. Measured this on about 30 identical 200
mile trips.

"Slambram" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 15 May 2004 15:49:16 GMT, "V Crenshaw"
wrote:

My husband and I have a 21 foot Searay. We have it in a slip at a marina
now.
Together it and the trailer weighs 3000 lbs.

We are going to buy a new vehicle and we are trying to decide what kind
would
most closely meet our criteria of
1) hauling misc things like building materials, tools, an occasional
sofa or washing machine
2) Holding 4 or more people
3) towing the boat
4) As fuel efficent as possible

Truck would be great for everything except the people and fuel. We were
thinking about
a minivan, but don't know how good it would be at towing the boat and
more
specifically
launching the boat. I say minivan because he likes them better than
SUV's.

Any advice would be appreciated.

V Crenshaw


You do NOT want anything with front wheel drive if you plan on
launching and retrieving your boat at a ramp. This rules out most
minivans. The only ones I remember being RWD were the old Aerostars
and Safaris. Especially on steeper ramps, all of the weight will be
shifted away from your front wheels and you'll get no traction. I
usually only see FWD vehicles launching jet-skis and small fishing
boats. As a matter of fact, a few years ago a FWD minivan ended up at
the bottom of the lake at the ramp I go to because he lost traction...

He might check out the Crown Victoria. Rear wheel drive, and there's an
upgrade suspension available that's VERY nice - eliminates the "grandpa"
ride and makes the car almost the same as a police car. Comes with
self-leveling rear shocks. He'll get 25-28 mpg on the highway while NOT
towing. The major caveat is that at least as of two years ago, there was an
issue with the gas tank being more susceptible to igniting in high speed
rear-end collisions. A temporary fix was devised at the time while Ford
looked for a more elegant modification.

Well no, it is a 1989 200 Bowrider, 2500 lb. Custom trailer is 500 lbs as
stated on the sale receipt and label on
the trailer (not tandam axle/brakes) You are right about the gas and
contents.

My MIL pulls her 19ft Cuddy cabin behind her Chevy 1500 and then pulled ours
to the marinia. She said pulling
ours is nothing like pulling hers, felt like it wasn't even there.

Actually, my ex-husband used to pull it some behind his Chevy Impala which
was only rated at 2000 lbs!! He got lucky
that it didn't damage his car.

Thanks to all who replied. That gives us some good ideas.

"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:Bnupc.7503$qA.851534@attbi_s51...
First of all - I think you have drastically underestimated the weight.
According to the SeaRay website - the 21' Sport has a dry weight of 3150
lbs. Add 40 gallons of fuel (240 lbs) battery, life jackets, all your
stuff
and your at 3500 lbs for the boat. Now add another 1000 lbs (or more) for
the 21' trailer (I assume it is tandem axle w/ brakes) and your at 4500
lbs.
4500 lbs is way too much for a minivan to tow and not destroy the
transmission.
Look at SUVs or 4 door trucks. And remember, if the vehicle is rated for
4900 lbs, 4500 is going to be a real load at highway speeds and you will
not
maintain 70 mph going up an kind of a hill. You need something rated for
5500 lbs or so to make it a comfortable tow.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com



"V Crenshaw" wrote in message
m...
My husband and I have a 21 foot Searay. We have it in a slip at a
marina
now.
Together it and the trailer weighs 3000 lbs.

We are going to buy a new vehicle and we are trying to decide what kind
would
most closely meet our criteria of
1) hauling misc things like building materials, tools, an occasional
sofa or washing machine
2) Holding 4 or more people
3) towing the boat
4) As fuel efficent as possible

Truck would be great for everything except the people and fuel. We were
thinking about
a minivan, but don't know how good it would be at towing the boat and
more
specifically
launching the boat. I say minivan because he likes them better than
SUV's.

Any advice would be appreciated.

V Crenshaw

Thanks, this helps a lot.

"Slambram" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 15 May 2004 15:49:16 GMT, "V Crenshaw"
wrote:

My husband and I have a 21 foot Searay. We have it in a slip at a marina
now.
Together it and the trailer weighs 3000 lbs.

We are going to buy a new vehicle and we are trying to decide what kind
would
most closely meet our criteria of
1) hauling misc things like building materials, tools, an occasional
sofa or washing machine
2) Holding 4 or more people
3) towing the boat
4) As fuel efficent as possible

Truck would be great for everything except the people and fuel. We were
thinking about
a minivan, but don't know how good it would be at towing the boat and
more
specifically
launching the boat. I say minivan because he likes them better than
SUV's.

Any advice would be appreciated.

V Crenshaw


You do NOT want anything with front wheel drive if you plan on
launching and retrieving your boat at a ramp. This rules out most
minivans. The only ones I remember being RWD were the old Aerostars
and Safaris. Especially on steeper ramps, all of the weight will be
shifted away from your front wheels and you'll get no traction. I
usually only see FWD vehicles launching jet-skis and small fishing
boats. As a matter of fact, a few years ago a FWD minivan ended up at
the bottom of the lake at the ramp I go to because he lost traction...

Doug Kanter wrote:



He might check out the Crown Victoria. Rear wheel drive, and there's an
upgrade suspension available that's VERY nice - eliminates the "grandpa"
ride and makes the car almost the same as a police car. Comes with
self-leveling rear shocks. He'll get 25-28 mpg on the highway while NOT
towing. The major caveat is that at least as of two years ago, there was an
issue with the gas tank being more susceptible to igniting in high speed
rear-end collisions. A temporary fix was devised at the time while Ford
looked for a more elegant modification.



Unfortunately, while capable of 5000 lbs, the Crown Vic is only rated to
2000 lbs. since 1995, even with the 41G package you reference.

Rob

Toyota Four Runner with the V-8.
2 wheel drive nice. 4 wheel drive perfect.

On Sun, 16 May 2004 12:10:44 GMT, something compelled "Doug
Kanter" , to say:

Agreed. At 140K, that kind of rebuild shouldn't be necessary, unless you're
racing it offroad or some such thing.

whatever.

"V Crenshaw" wrote
You do NOT want anything with front wheel drive
Thanks, this helps a lot.

Don't forget to take free advice (including mine) for what it's worth. I
regularly pull my portly old 18' runabout up a steep ramp using my front
wheel drive Taurus wagon with no trouble atoll. When the pickup truck guys
have traction trouble, guess which wheels they lock in to get things going?
This is not to say you shouldn't get a big truck or suburban or something if
you can afford it, (I'd love to have one just for towing), but if you have
to make do with a compromise, you can. I don't take my boat on long trips
behind the Taurus, by the way, just ~10 miles to and from the ramp to plop
it in and pluck it out of the water.