Tow weight for a 20 MA

[strick]

Originally Posted by rcoster38

not the boat ramps...

slippery boat ramps no fun...may need of put weight in the back of a small pick up. I've had my share of boat ramp follies back in the day...

strick

[bmajvi]

At the risk of drawing doomsday criticisms, I thought I'd offer the following. Here in the islands there's no DOT or even trailer registration, and some of the rigs you see pulling local fishing boats around are like the Beverly Hillbillies... and the police don't even blink an eye. So you're sort of on your own determining what's doable. I've had a 2002 Jeep Wrangler with the 4.0 liter 6 cyl engine and manual gearbox almost since it was new, and used to pull my 18' SeaCraft without any problem whatsoever, up and down hills, sometimes 20 miles at 45-50 mph.

Now for the kinda crazy part. Sold that boat, and eventually wound up with a 23' Sceptre. My brother-in-law had an old 3/4 ton Chevy PU that pulled it like nobody's business, but he died and the truck got sold. I had the bright idea one morning to try pulling the Sceptre down the road a mile or so with the Jeep, "just to see what it was like." Not exactly a jackrabbit getting it going, but the tongue weight seemed about right, and it pulled smoothly at 30-35. Trailer has brakes. Hmmm. The ramp I use is 4 miles away, with a couple of gentle hills. Decided to give it a shot the next day, and made it fine - kept it under 35 mph, and using 4WD made launch and retrieve a snap. I know, I know, It can't/shouldn't/mustn't be done, yadda, yadda.

Soooo... Would this be my first choice if I was purchasing a tow vehicle? Nope. But I'd suggest you look at how you really expect to use the boat. Is that 70 mile run a once a year thing, or every summer weekend? How far is your "normal" ramp? I think, especially in FL, decent braking is important. I'm a big fan of 4WD at the ramp, I've launched and retrieved solo a few times since repowering recently, and haven't had any problems, even on the side of the ramp that's pretty mossy. My 2 cents. Good luck!

[jorgeinmiami]

I used to have a 2007 Explorer 6 cylinder and I would tow it down to Islamorada all the time. I wouldn't go over 60-65 and never felt unsafe. As to the ramp never had issues either. That trailer that was under the boat was oversized galvanized and had no brakes.

The trailer I will be getting will be aluminum weighs 800lbs and has brakes. I figure the total weight is as follows

2000 for the boat, 400 for the engine, 800 for the trailer and 500 for gas and other crap on the boat. That brings me in at around +/- 3700.
Add another 200 and I'm under 4000.

The Colorado 6 cylinder with the trailer package says it can handle 7000. As always no matter what you use to tow and what your towing you must always be careful as to what your doing.

[FishStretcher]

I towed a 20 MA from Cape Cod over the bridge to central NH with a 4 culinder 2.7 liter 2WD Tacoma.


Once.


Everything survived OK. But I wouldn't do it again. I bought a 1996 2WD 7.3PSD F250 for $3400 and never looked back.

[Fr. Frank]

I used to pull a 20' Seafari with a V6 Merc with my 1986 Isuzu Trooper II with 2.3L 4 cyl. Loaded single-axle trailer weight was right at 2950 lbs, and the trailer had small 9" drum surge brakes.

I pulled the Seafari from Florida to Tennessee up into the mountains with the boat loaded with extra personal gear, probably around 3500 lbs towed vehicle weight. Pulled up I-24 to Sewanee/Monteagle without a problem, except for climbing the 6 degree slope up the mountain in 2nd gear at about 30-35 mph. No over-heat on either the motor or the 5-spd tranny.

Three years later, I pulled the boat back with a 1987 Bronco II 4X4 2.9L V6 with 5-spd. (The Trooper got totaled by an idiot who thought ice on the road meant go faster). Because the Bronco had 297K miles, I bought a used '95 Grand Cherokee 4X4 with the 4L I6. I used that Jeep to also pull my 74 Tsunami and my 27' Travel trailer after I bought them.

But the issue really isn't if the vehicle will pull the boat and trailer; it whether the vehicle will STOP them well once you get them rolling.

[jorgeinmiami]

Yes I agree stopping is the issue. I think I'm going to be ok withe colorado 6 cylinder and the trailer with brakes. South florida is flat except a bridge or 2 here and there . And with age comes experiance and I'm not in a hurry to get anywhere as I was in my younger days.

Originally Posted by Fr. Frank

I used to pull a 20' Seafari with a V6 Merc with my 1986 Isuzu Trooper II with 2.3L 4 cyl. Loaded single-axle trailer weight was right at 2950 lbs, and the trailer had small 9" drum surge brakes.

I pulled the Seafari from Florida to Tennessee up into the mountains with the boat loaded with extra personal gear, probably around 3500 lbs towed vehicle weight. Pulled up I-24 to Sewanee/Monteagle without a problem, except for climbing the 6 degree slope up the mountain in 2nd gear at about 30-35 mph. No over-heat on either the motor or the 5-spd tranny.

Three years later, I pulled the boat back with a 1987 Bronco II 4X4 2.9L V6 with 5-spd. (The Trooper got totaled by an idiot who thought ice on the road meant go faster). Because the Bronco had 297K miles, I bought a used '95 Grand Cherokee 4X4 with the 4L I6. I used that Jeep to also pull my 74 Tsunami and my 27' Travel trailer after I bought them.

But the issue really isn't if the vehicle will pull the boat and trailer; it whether the vehicle will STOP them well once you get them rolling.

[bobmac]

Motors are not what they used to be.

I drive a 2015 F150 with the 2.7 ecoboost V6, and it will out pull any old v8 out there.

It puts out over 300hp, and nearly 400 lbs of torque. I can hardly tell my 18sf is behind the truck. a 23 would be no problem.