Tow Vehicle

Hi Fran Sea,

I use a Toyota Tundra V8, I think 250 HP. It has rear slip differntial, anti lock brakes, two package. It ius rated at 7200lbs.

Ron
Islander
 
Local ramps (within 25 miles) Toyota 4runner 4wd V6, 5,000# max rated

Anywhere I darn well wanna go, Chevy Duramax/Allison 2500HD equipped with the Edge Juice/Attitude performance module. :wink


Don
 
Hi Roger, glad to make your acquaintence at the Gathering. Not sure if you saw our tow vehicle or not, but it's a Dodge Ram 2500 truck with a V-10, about two gazillion horsepower and it'll pass anything on road but a gas station. Didn't get it to tow the boat but to tow a 28 ft Coachman Camper trailer that goes about 11,000 pounds, about 4X what Captain's Choice goes at.

Charlie
 
I tow with a 2001 Jeep GC, V8, 4X4, 6500# rating. Also use my 2001 Safari TREK motorhome with 8.1 vortec on a workhorse chassi.
Both the Jeep and the MH tow with no trouble.
 
Can't say enough good about my Tundra: 2001, V-8, Auto Trans, 4x. If ya want a cheap to maintain (long lasting quality and engineering) ultra-solid (the Mercedes of pick-ups) good on fuel truck, this is it baby :smilep Winter or summer, it tows it all.
 
When I replaced my "92 Ford 3/4 ton van conversion with a "98 Dodge Durango 4 x 4, I was surprised to find out that the new vehicle tows much better than the larger one it replaced. The Durango has the 5.9L 360 cu. in V-8, full tow package (lower rear end ratio, shocks, brakes, wiring harness, electric brake controller ((which is unused)), etc), + limited slip rear end, and has been equipped with 10.5 x 31 radial truck tires, which seem to make a big difference in tracking.

The old van produced about 11-14 mpg alone, and about 10-12 towing, and the new one about 14-18 alone, and about 15-17 towing except in the steep mountains where it drops down to as low as 10-12 or so.

The only thing I miss about the older, full sized van is all the room for tools, storage, sleeping, and the dog! Had to build a ramp to get her 175 lbs. up into the SUV! Also, it's much easier to back the boat (when it's home from the marina) down the 125 foot driveway into the RV Barn with the visibility of the new vehicle.
 
Shoot Bill, That '93 should be good for another 285K miles! I just picked up a '93 F250 with the 7.1 Diesel for towing the Migratory Dory. Great truck. It has 112K on it and runs like a top. Just need to replace the glow plugs so it'll start easier in the morning!

Using the F250 to tow my sled really surprised me. I hardly knew the boat was there. It should weigh out about the same as a 22' CD.
 
2004 Dodge Ram 2500 quad cab short bed 5 speed 4x4 with the Hemi. This vehicle rides comfortably, gets almost 11 mpg when towing the 22 and has all the power needed. It is a quiet and smooth machine.
Mike 'Levity'
 
Chevy 2500HD Duramax with no mods. 16 mpg at 60. Was thinking about a camper, but the boat is better. It even has a raised outdoor deck not available on a camper.
 
Tom-

Right on target!

Using the boat as a camper eliminates facilities duplication, moving of materials back and forth, provides the built-in patio/deck, and scores better on style points as well. Surprised more people don't relate their camping / "Boaterhoming" experiences on the site, but many boats are moored in the water and many have not discovered the simplicity of having just one RV / boat combo instead of a fleet of vehicles.

If now i could just persuade my wife to give up the 38 foot motorhome and its home style kitchen, flush toilet, shower, bathtub, 120 volt power anything generator, AC, satellite TV, etc., etc...... Hmmmm.....?

So maybe Boaterhoming is more of a Spartan experience suitable for men or women who like to keep it simple, but it sure makes for a simple, complete, on and off the water travel package without a lot of unnecessary complications! Off to Eagle Lake tomorrow with just that thought in mind! Joe.
 
I use two tow vehicles. The whimpy one is my 1999 Landrover Discovery (maybe 200 hp?), which does just fine in flat to moderate hills but would not be my first choice since my tow rig is a 2002 F350 Crewcab with a highly modified Powerstroke (intake, exhaust, chip, injectors and transmission). We set it up to tow larger horse trailers--definitely overkill on our little C-Dory; you wouldn't know the Dory is behind you. When we're not towing the big rig gives an honest 19 mpg (improved from about 13 highway mpg when it was stock). Have no idea what happens to fuel consumption when we tow (never wanted to check). It's a fire breathing torque-dragon. The Dory is pretty light and doesn't buck wind like a big travel trailer or fifth wheel. Any v-6 SUV would be a more than adequate starting point (Explorer, Trailblazer, 4-Runner, etc).
C-Trial
 
1995 ford ranger super cab v-6 4x4 with 195,000 rated at 4000lbs towing. it works just fine so far. never liked going fast up hill anyway. I have not had it over the pass yet but have gone to portland several times. the fuel pump went out today so I will be under the truck for a few days fixing that sob. who the hell decided to put the pump in the dam tank??? I just want to take a stick to some one. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
 
I like those older truck. We tow with an 1985 F-250 pre-powerstroke diesel. Cost $4000 4 years ago, 165000 miles, a little rusty, but pulls like a mule. Only put 3 to 4 thousand miles a year on it - I figure it will launch the boat for about 20 more years.
 
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