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Vehicle for Towing boat
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 |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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 Here you go: http://www.gmc.com/gmcjsp/sierra/ind...geName=#model2 I don't have the crew cab, but I love mine. John H On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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 1. Toyota Sienna. 2. Honda Odyssey. I'm not really a big fan of either marque (I am a die-hard in the Ford camp), but these get the job done well. They have like 220-240 hp V-6 engines and very respectable towing ratings, lots of room for passengers and/or cargo, and neither one really seems like the stereotypical mini-van in handling & appearance. My first choice would be the Sienna. Rob |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"John H" 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 Here you go: http://www.gmc.com/gmcjsp/sierra/ind...geName=#model2 I don't have the crew cab, but I love mine. John H On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! How old is it? |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"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 You should get better mileage with a "normal" transmission like you'll find in minivans, as opposed to the truck gear ratios in SUVs & pickups. If you insisted on a pickup, take a look at the Toyota Tundra. I believe they make a double cab. I've got the double cab Tacoma (smaller), and it's quite comfortable for passengers in the back, even my 6'1" son who refuses to stop growing. But, I'm not sure if it'll be happy towing 3000 lbs on a regular basis. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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 |
Vehicle for Towing boat
On Sat, 15 May 2004 18:55:23 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote: "John H" 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 Here you go: http://www.gmc.com/gmcjsp/sierra/ind...geName=#model2 I don't have the crew cab, but I love mine. John H On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! How old is it? It's a '95. John H On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! |
Vehicle for Towing boat
How far are you going to have to drive to get to your drop in point? That
can make a big difference too, whether you will be driving right down the road or out in the interstate. --C "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 |
Vehicle for Towing boat
wrote in message ... On Sat, 15 May 2004 19:41:21 GMT, "Tony Thomas" wrote: 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. Based on the weight calculated by Tony, you'll need a tow vehicle with a V8. BTW, for my 21' Center console I bought a LoadRite galvanized, tandem-axle trailer with disk brakes on all four wheels last fall and it weighs 1,250 pounds. The Tundra has the best reliability rating in "Consumer Reports" magazine and the Ford F-150 is next. You can get either one with an extended cab or a double-size cab. For an SUV, the Toyota 4-Runner rates very high and it has been available with a V8 beginning with the 2003 model year. Based on what I hear from an acquaintance who visits the 3 American manufacturers, helping them set up their machining equipment: Keep in mind that Ford's engine manufacturing tolerances are measures in feet, instead of thousandths of an inch, like Toyota's. So, even if Ford's reliability ratings are close to Toyota's, the Ford will be puking burnt oil out of the tailpipe from the minute it's driven away from the dealer's lot. Chevy & Chrysler aren't far behind. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
Darn, I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a Ford 302 with pistons off sized
by feet instead of thousandth's of an inch.... That would be amazing to see.... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... wrote in message ... On Sat, 15 May 2004 19:41:21 GMT, "Tony Thomas" wrote: 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. Based on the weight calculated by Tony, you'll need a tow vehicle with a V8. BTW, for my 21' Center console I bought a LoadRite galvanized, tandem-axle trailer with disk brakes on all four wheels last fall and it weighs 1,250 pounds. The Tundra has the best reliability rating in "Consumer Reports" magazine and the Ford F-150 is next. You can get either one with an extended cab or a double-size cab. For an SUV, the Toyota 4-Runner rates very high and it has been available with a V8 beginning with the 2003 model year. Based on what I hear from an acquaintance who visits the 3 American manufacturers, helping them set up their machining equipment: Keep in mind that Ford's engine manufacturing tolerances are measures in feet, instead of thousandths of an inch, like Toyota's. So, even if Ford's reliability ratings are close to Toyota's, the Ford will be puking burnt oil out of the tailpipe from the minute it's driven away from the dealer's lot. Chevy & Chrysler aren't far behind. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
You knew that was an exaggeration, to prove a point.
wrote in message ink.net... Darn, I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a Ford 302 with pistons off sized by feet instead of thousandth's of an inch.... That would be amazing to see.... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... wrote in message ... On Sat, 15 May 2004 19:41:21 GMT, "Tony Thomas" wrote: 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. Based on the weight calculated by Tony, you'll need a tow vehicle with a V8. BTW, for my 21' Center console I bought a LoadRite galvanized, tandem-axle trailer with disk brakes on all four wheels last fall and it weighs 1,250 pounds. The Tundra has the best reliability rating in "Consumer Reports" magazine and the Ford F-150 is next. You can get either one with an extended cab or a double-size cab. For an SUV, the Toyota 4-Runner rates very high and it has been available with a V8 beginning with the 2003 model year. Based on what I hear from an acquaintance who visits the 3 American manufacturers, helping them set up their machining equipment: Keep in mind that Ford's engine manufacturing tolerances are measures in feet, instead of thousandths of an inch, like Toyota's. So, even if Ford's reliability ratings are close to Toyota's, the Ford will be puking burnt oil out of the tailpipe from the minute it's driven away from the dealer's lot. Chevy & Chrysler aren't far behind. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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. I put in a new clutch at 130,000, and had the front end rebuilt at about 115,000. It still looks good, starts without hesitation, doesn't rattle, and everything still works. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one to anyone. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
On Sun, 16 May 2004 00:31:00 GMT, something compelled "Doug
Kanter" , to say: Keep in mind that Ford's engine manufacturing tolerances are measures in feet, instead of thousandths of an inch, like Toyota's. So, even if Ford's reliability ratings are close to Toyota's, the Ford will be puking burnt oil out of the tailpipe from the minute it's driven away from the dealer's lot. Yeah, I heard that. It's why I insisted on an F-150 built by elves in Switzerland. One hundred forty thousand miles later its lederhosen has yet to fall down around its ankles. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"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. I put in a new clutch at 130,000, and had the front end rebuilt at about 115,000. It still looks good, starts without hesitation, doesn't rattle, and everything still works. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one to anyone. What do you mean by "front end rebuilt"? |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
|
Vehicle for Towing boat
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 Kiene's Fly Shop Sacramento, CA, USA Web site: www.kiene.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 |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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... |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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 "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... wrote in message ... On Sat, 15 May 2004 19:41:21 GMT, "Tony Thomas" wrote: 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. Based on the weight calculated by Tony, you'll need a tow vehicle with a V8. BTW, for my 21' Center console I bought a LoadRite galvanized, tandem-axle trailer with disk brakes on all four wheels last fall and it weighs 1,250 pounds. The Tundra has the best reliability rating in "Consumer Reports" magazine and the Ford F-150 is next. You can get either one with an extended cab or a double-size cab. For an SUV, the Toyota 4-Runner rates very high and it has been available with a V8 beginning with the 2003 model year. Based on what I hear from an acquaintance who visits the 3 American manufacturers, helping them set up their machining equipment: Keep in mind that Ford's engine manufacturing tolerances are measures in feet, instead of thousandths of an inch, like Toyota's. So, even if Ford's reliability ratings are close to Toyota's, the Ford will be puking burnt oil out of the tailpipe from the minute it's driven away from the dealer's lot. Chevy & Chrysler aren't far behind. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
Also Sprach V Crenshaw :
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 Easy. You want a diesel Suburban. To me, "building materials" means the ability to carry multiple 4X8 sheets of plywood or drywall or whatever. You're not going to do that with a minivan or short SUV. 4 or more people means a standard pickup won't do, and a full-bed crewcab is an ungodly huge vehicle. A 3000 lb boat is really stretching a minivan to it's limit, but will be very comfotable behind a 'burb. As far as fuel efficiency goes, a friend of mine with a '97 Diesel 3/4 ton 2WD gets 21 MPG, which Is far better than the 17 MPG I used to get with a much smaller Nissan Pathfinder. Now, I have a 1990 Suburban, regular gas, 3/4 Ton 4X4 and get 12-14, or 8 if towing the boat... but's that's why I keep my VW as a daily driver. -- I shoot for the moon, but sometimes I hit London -- Werner von Braun |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"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. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"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. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"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. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"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. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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 |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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... |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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 |
Vehicle for Towing boat
Toyota Four Runner with the V-8.
2 wheel drive nice. 4 wheel drive perfect. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
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. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"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. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
Joe Blizzard wrote:
"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. Ditto. Our 2 Taurus wagons have been superb tow vehicles including launch ramp performance. Rob |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"Doug Kanter"
Keep in mind that Ford's engine manufacturing tolerances are measures in feet, instead of thousandths of an inch, like Toyota's. So, even if Ford's reliability ratings are close to Toyota's, the Ford will be puking burnt oil out of the tailpipe from the minute it's driven away from the dealer's lot. Chevy & Chrysler aren't far behind. Something must be terribly wrong with my old 89 F-150 with the 5.0 (302) engine. 294000 miles and still not burning a drop of oil. It has been used as a tow vehicle too. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"Joe Blizzard" wrote in message
... "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. Just before I decided to get rid of my Taurus, my mechanic suggested simply changing the physics of the car a bit by adding air shocks in the rear. My experience was like yours - the car did pretty well, maybe due to its weight. Not great in all conditions, but not too bad, either. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
I think you should re-check the weight. It is hard to believe a 21'
boat + trailer + tare (all the stuff inside including gas) is only 3000 lbs. Bob 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 |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"John H" wrote in message ... On Sat, 15 May 2004 18:55:23 GMT, "Doug Kanter" wrote: "John H" 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 Here you go: http://www.gmc.com/gmcjsp/sierra/ind...home&pageName= #model2 I don't have the crew cab, but I love mine. John H On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! How old is it? It's a '95. John H On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! I have a 2004 Chevy crew cab and love it. Just took a 700 mile round trip this weekend with the camper on the truck and averaged a little less than than 16 mpg at 70 mph. this included a lot of mountain running. SF bay area to Eureka, Calif for a graduation ceremony. Mine is a 3/4T diesel. And just turned over 2k miles when getting home last night. The crew cab will carry 5 people in comfort, and haul all the rest of the stuff. My 99 Expedition will carry 8 people, but would have trouble with the rest of the stuff. Messes up the leather. Bill |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"V Crenshaw" wrote in message m... 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. I might have missed it in the thread - for a boat this weight a minivan like a Chevy Astro (and it's GM counterpart) would pull it. I don't even know if they make them anymore. But those vans were/are? built on a truck chassis, so the capacity would be there. Reliability, repair records, etc. are a different story. FWIW Cam |
Vehicle for Towing boat
PS: rather than argue with the folks who think you might be underestimating
the weight, I'd suggest taking it to a scale and actually weighing it - full of gas and all the gear you might be trailering. Even if you're confident about the wt. estimate (which it sounds like it's a reasonable estimate to me), it's still a good idea before you actually narrow your vehicle choices. The data might help you narrow the field. C. |
Vehicle for Towing boat
Also Sprach Not:
I think you should re-check the weight. It is hard to believe a 21' boat + trailer + tare (all the stuff inside including gas) is only 3000 lbs. I tend to agree.. My pop has a 21' Whaler Outrage center console with a 175 HP Evinrude OB and two 18 gallon fuel tanks, on a galvanized EZ Loader. Fully fueled, the boat and trailer weigh 3450 lbs on a certified scale. I would think a 21 foot cuddy cabin with a sterndrive would weigh more than a 21' center console with an outboard. FYI, he used to tow it with a Dodge Caravan, which was on it's third transmission when he sold it. He "upgraded" to a Lexus RX300, which now has mysteriously lost it's overdrive. Dan -- It seemed to me that any civilization that had so far lost its head as to need to include a set of detailed instructions for use in a package of toothpicks, was no longer a civilization in which I could live and stay sane. --Douglas Adams, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish (Wonko the Sane) |
Vehicle for Towing boat
Marshall Banana wrote:
Also Sprach Not: I think you should re-check the weight. It is hard to believe a 21' boat + trailer + tare (all the stuff inside including gas) is only 3000 lbs. I tend to agree.. My pop has a 21' Whaler Outrage center console with a 175 HP Evinrude OB and two 18 gallon fuel tanks, on a galvanized EZ Loader. Fully fueled, the boat and trailer weigh 3450 lbs on a certified scale. I would think a 21 foot cuddy cabin with a sterndrive would weigh more than a 21' center console with an outboard. FYI, he used to tow it with a Dodge Caravan, which was on it's third transmission when he sold it. He "upgraded" to a Lexus RX300, which now has mysteriously lost it's overdrive. Dan The RX300 is supposed to be a pretty decent tow vehicle. Please post back and let us know how he did with the transmission trouble. Rob |
Vehicle for Towing boat
"Marshall Banana" wrote in message
... Also Sprach Not: I think you should re-check the weight. It is hard to believe a 21' boat + trailer + tare (all the stuff inside including gas) is only 3000 lbs. I tend to agree.. My pop has a 21' Whaler Outrage center console with a 175 HP Evinrude OB and two 18 gallon fuel tanks, on a galvanized EZ Loader. Fully fueled, the boat and trailer weigh 3450 lbs on a certified scale. I would think a 21 foot cuddy cabin with a sterndrive would weigh more than a 21' center console with an outboard. FYI, he used to tow it with a Dodge Caravan, which was on it's third transmission when he sold it. He "upgraded" to a Lexus RX300, which now has mysteriously lost it's overdrive. Does the Lexus have a transmission cooler? |
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