keith_nuttle wrote:
I have a Venture 21 sailboat that weigh about 2000 lbs loaded. I have
pulled since I got it in 1970 with rear wheel drive. It has been from
coast to coast.

The cars I have use are a
1968 Buick Skylark Convertable
1973 Two door Buick Century
1985 small wheel base Dodge passenger Van
1994 GMC Sarfari

Chris wrote:

Just curious as to what everyone's experiences have been with
towing... I know that a good full size 4x4 pickup truck is ideal,
however, for those of us with toy trucks (smaller 2x4's) there could
be some issues...

I have a 1995 Plymouth Voyager mini-van with the 3.0 liter engine
(142 hp) and a 3 speed auto transmission.
My Sandpiper 565 sailboat weighs about 1400 sails & all and the trailer
must weigh 300 to 400 lbs. My owner book says my van can tow 2000 lbs
but I must have brakes on the trailer if the towed load exceeds 1000
lbs. I had a transmission cooler installed and will tow very carefully
at about 90 kph until I get a better vehicle.

Don White wrote:
keith_nuttle wrote:

I have a Venture 21 sailboat that weigh about 2000 lbs loaded. I have
pulled since I got it in 1970 with rear wheel drive. It has been from
coast to coast.

The cars I have use are a
1968 Buick Skylark Convertable
1973 Two door Buick Century
1985 small wheel base Dodge passenger Van
1994 GMC Sarfari

Chris wrote:

Just curious as to what everyone's experiences have been with
towing... I know that a good full size 4x4 pickup truck is ideal,
however, for those of us with toy trucks (smaller 2x4's) there could
be some issues...

I have a 1995 Plymouth Voyager mini-van with the 3.0 liter engine
(142 hp) and a 3 speed auto transmission.
My Sandpiper 565 sailboat weighs about 1400 sails & all and the trailer
must weigh 300 to 400 lbs. My owner book says my van can tow 2000 lbs
but I must have brakes on the trailer if the towed load exceeds 1000
lbs. I had a transmission cooler installed and will tow very carefully
at about 90 kph until I get a better vehicle.

2001 Chevy Express van LT Edition, 350 engine, 373 posi rear end. The
rig is rated at 6500lbs towing. The boat is 3900lbs on a steel dual
axle trailer/w surge brakes. Guessing to be about 1500lbs.

This has been the nicest towing configuration for what I tow. I like it
much better then the Suburbans I use to use. It does not sway as much
and I like having the front end being short for close/restricted space
manovers.

Capt Jack R..

On Thu, 7 Jul 2005 11:24:04 -0400, "Chris"
wrote:

Just curious as to what everyone's experiences have been with towing... I
know that a good full size 4x4 pickup truck is ideal, however, for those of
us with toy trucks (smaller 2x4's) there could be some issues...


I have a GMC 1500 Sierra I use for towing a 21' Proline. No problems, but I
never get over about 55mph, and I always leave more room than necessary between
myself and the vehicle in front of me.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

On Thu, 7 Jul 2005 11:24:04 -0400, "Chris"
wrote:

Just curious as to what everyone's experiences have been with towing... I
know that a good full size 4x4 pickup truck is ideal, however, for those of
us with toy trucks (smaller 2x4's) there could be some issues...



Forgot to mention...I have had problems with traction at ramps, but having a
couple guys jump in the bed of the truck has always worked.

I pulled a 15' Boston Whaler all over the place with a Jetta. No problems at
all!

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

Chris wrote:
: Just curious as to what everyone's experiences have been with towing... I
: know that a good full size 4x4 pickup truck is ideal, however, for those of
: us with toy trucks (smaller 2x4's) there could be some issues...


I've hardly ever used a 4WD vehicle for towing. I'm not hauling a real
heavy load (about 2,500 Lbs with a 17 Ft. Galaxie I/O). Tried a small
Toyota pickup at first but the back end was too lignt (scary braking it).
Then went to a '66 Dodge with a 318 CI. Towed great! Now, I'm using
a Toyota T100 w/manual transmission (automatic is better due to
torque amplification). No problelms.

b.

Two wheel drive is almost always enough.

Most don't know how to create a locker rear in a 2WD setup. Too bad,
because it's a very, very useful trick.

All thats necessary is to apply the parking brake until it provides
resistance to the drive wheels. When both drive wheels encounter resistance
the differential will provide power to both.

By applying the parking brake only enough to provide power to both drive
wheels damage to the parking brake is avoided.

Give it a try and practice a little. You may like it.

Butch
wrote in message
roups.com...
Chris wrote:
: Just curious as to what everyone's experiences have been with towing...
I
: know that a good full size 4x4 pickup truck is ideal, however, for those
of
: us with toy trucks (smaller 2x4's) there could be some issues...


I've hardly ever used a 4WD vehicle for towing. I'm not hauling a real
heavy load (about 2,500 Lbs with a 17 Ft. Galaxie I/O). Tried a small
Toyota pickup at first but the back end was too lignt (scary braking it).
Then went to a '66 Dodge with a 318 CI. Towed great! Now, I'm using
a Toyota T100 w/manual transmission (automatic is better due to
torque amplification). No problelms.

b.

Works great with an automatic, but with a standard I would think the clutch
wouldn't enjoy it much...

Fortunately I have a locker rear in mine already.. so they'll both spin...


"Butch Davis" wrote in message
link.net...
Two wheel drive is almost always enough.

Most don't know how to create a locker rear in a 2WD setup. Too bad,
because it's a very, very useful trick.

All thats necessary is to apply the parking brake until it provides
resistance to the drive wheels. When both drive wheels encounter
resistance the differential will provide power to both.

By applying the parking brake only enough to provide power to both drive
wheels damage to the parking brake is avoided.

Give it a try and practice a little. You may like it.

Butch
wrote in message
roups.com...
Chris wrote:
: Just curious as to what everyone's experiences have been with towing...
I
: know that a good full size 4x4 pickup truck is ideal, however, for
those of
: us with toy trucks (smaller 2x4's) there could be some issues...


I've hardly ever used a 4WD vehicle for towing. I'm not hauling a real
heavy load (about 2,500 Lbs with a 17 Ft. Galaxie I/O). Tried a small
Toyota pickup at first but the back end was too lignt (scary braking it).
Then went to a '66 Dodge with a 318 CI. Towed great! Now, I'm using
a Toyota T100 w/manual transmission (automatic is better due to
torque amplification). No problelms.

b.

Chris,

I agree it's less easy to use with a stick. But I learned this trick in the
snow of Germany with my old VW bug in 67. Worked very well with the bug but
it probably helped that the parking brake was a handy lever between the
seats. On my Titan it's a not so handy foot actuated device under the dash.
I'm glad it's an automatic. Got to the point where it was second nature
to use it with the bug. Same with a Porsche I had in North Dakota. With
eight inch treads in the rear and a mountain of torque that hummer could be
a handful.

A locker rear is the best answer, IMO.

Butch
"Chris" wrote in message
.. .
Works great with an automatic, but with a standard I would think the
clutch wouldn't enjoy it much...

Fortunately I have a locker rear in mine already.. so they'll both spin...


"Butch Davis" wrote in message
link.net...
Two wheel drive is almost always enough.

Most don't know how to create a locker rear in a 2WD setup. Too bad,
because it's a very, very useful trick.

All thats necessary is to apply the parking brake until it provides
resistance to the drive wheels. When both drive wheels encounter
resistance the differential will provide power to both.

By applying the parking brake only enough to provide power to both drive
wheels damage to the parking brake is avoided.

Give it a try and practice a little. You may like it.

Butch
wrote in message
roups.com...
Chris wrote:
: Just curious as to what everyone's experiences have been with
towing... I
: know that a good full size 4x4 pickup truck is ideal, however, for
those of
: us with toy trucks (smaller 2x4's) there could be some issues...


I've hardly ever used a 4WD vehicle for towing. I'm not hauling a real
heavy load (about 2,500 Lbs with a 17 Ft. Galaxie I/O). Tried a small
Toyota pickup at first but the back end was too lignt (scary braking
it).
Then went to a '66 Dodge with a 318 CI. Towed great! Now, I'm using
a Toyota T100 w/manual transmission (automatic is better due to
torque amplification). No problelms.

b.

"Chris" wrote
for those of us with toy trucks (smaller 2x4's) there could be some
issues...

Meh.
http://blizzard.zmm.com/boattruck.jpg

and would you ever launch this on a gravel launch?

"Joe Blizzard" wrote in message
...
"Chris" wrote
for those of us with toy trucks (smaller 2x4's) there could be some
issues...

Meh.
http://blizzard.zmm.com/boattruck.jpg