pulling a bass boat 2025

brgbassmaster reply :

i was originally looking to buy a new toyota tacoma, i can afford it, but i was also looking at a chevy colorado i can afford better ,so i would like to have that more. i know that the tacoma double cab will pull a good size bass boat. but do you guys think that the colorado would pull a boat like a 16 or 17ft boat? or like a bass tracker. thanks. the colorado is a 3.7L V6. i was told you need at least a 4.0L but wondering if you could slip by with a 3.7 thanks.

elduderino reply :

i used to pull a 1448' jon with my old ranger (4.0l v6) on the bumper.. for a tin boat under 18', you're not talking much weight when compared to a glass boat, i think you'd be fine.

I also used to pull my 19' bass boat with a GMC envoy w/ a straight 6.. no problem.

Don't expect very good gas mileage though...

fooman reply :

I had a Colorado for less then a year...had alot of problems with it and it had a weak engine..search the internet for reviews on the Colorado's..

I would not pull my 16' Ranger Cherokee with it because of braking issue's

Stick with the Tocoma or a Ranger

Catt reply :

Ok first is it a fiberglass or aluminum boat; major difference in weight here

Pulling a boat with a small tow vehicle is not going to be your problem, stopping it will be. Forget what you've heard an automatic will out pull a standard every time.

Jig Man reply :

My next door neighbor pulls a 16' alum with a Colorado. It does just fine. However, I haven't seen him have to make a quick stop. I did see a guy try to make a quick stop with a Chevy s-10 once. He was pulling a 17 alum and she wouldn't stop quick at all. For a while I thought we were dead.

dave reply :

Quote
Ok first is it a fiberglass or aluminum boat; major difference in weight here
Pulling a boat with a small tow vehicle is not going to be your problem, stopping it will be. Forget what you've heard an automatic will out pull a standard every time.

I have also heard that it is better to use an automatic to pull a trailer. It is because the automatic transmission is fluid cooled.

ThomasL reply :

I just bought a subaro forester in 5 spd that claims towing 2400 lbs,my boat weighs 790 lbs(xpress sv17)320 for the trailer,189 for the 50 yammie,at most 96 lbs of gas 8lbs per gallon x 12,105 for two 24 group batteries,trolling motor and extras around 1600 and i hope it will pull it.The main concern is not pulling so much on the highway but pulling a boat out a steep ramp on wet surfaces,i'm hoping the allwheel drive will be a benefit for me.You know a toyotas reliability will be much greater then the colorados will? :

tntitans21399 reply :

If you really look around and do research a stick shift can usually pull more weight then a automatic mainly because their is less moving parts. I prefer a automatic over a stick shift because if I'm on a hill I don't want to roll backwards. Stick shifts do last longer, cheaper to replace, and get better gas mileage but when towing it is nice not to have to worry about down shifting to get up a hill or rolling backwards.

Getting out of a boat ramp just about any truck can pull bigger boats out as long as you understand how truck's rear end works. I have a Dodge Dakota V6 but it has a limited slip rear end. If I floor it the tire will just spin really fast and I wont move much. But with the limited slip I just barely give it some gas and even with balded tires it has no problem pulling out. With the bald tires I can feel it grip and start moving and if it looses grip it stops and starts and keeps doing it to get traction and it will pull you out without problems. Once you understand how your truck works in that situation then you won't have any problem pulling out of a boat ramp.

Of course the bigger the truck the easier it will be to pull and stop what you are towing. Stopping is my biggest concern, not really pulling. That is what you might want to keep in thoughts. That's why I love my 2003 Dakota because that year they came with 4 wheel disc brakes, so stopping is no problem even with a car being towed behind it.

tntitans21399 reply :

Oh yeah and with any 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive vehicle just the fact that the front wheels have all the engine weight on them helps them keep traction when the rear wheels may lose some traction. We all know how rear wheels can be in snow or rain.

Catt reply :

An automatic will out pull a standard because it knows better when or when not to shift.

When pulling up a steep ramp with an auto as with the standard drop it down into low and ease on the gas.

Disc brakes on all 4 wheels will help stopping but your problem will be your boat out weighing your tow vehicle and thus pushing it on emergency stops.

Matt Fly pulls an 18' BassCat with a Dodge Durango with little to no problems.

Olebiker reply :

I pull a 17' Bass Tracker with my four cylinder Mazda B2500 with an automatic. I wouldn't try to pull anything larger.

ABC123 reply :

1) Motor displacement has NOTHING to do with towing. The only thing that matters is low end torque for breaking the load loose and gaining momentum, and mid range hp for keeping the load moving. I could go on for pages, but...

2) Stopping is a very important factor. Never overwork brakes, they will go on strike, and not work, when you need them the most if you do. Wheelbase and vehicle height also factor in to stopping. If you have a short vehicle and need to avoid something and stop, you will run ito problems with your trailer trying to take control of the rear of the vehicle. Same thing apply's to vehicle height, but the leverage the trailer puts on the vehicle is a little different.

3) A very important factor that is all too often over looked is the frontal surface. Just becouse a boat is lighter, like comparing a 19' aluminum V hull, to a 16' glass Bass boat, doesn't mean it will tow better. This is where mid range hp helps keep the load going. Frontal surface effects the vehicles power and handling at higher speeds. The effects could be felt as low as 40-45mph depending on how mismatched the vehicle and load is.

4) When at the ramp, rear wheel drive is good, AWD and 4WD could be better in some cases, front wheel drive is bad.

5) Auto vs. Manual shift. 15+ years ago, if someone even considered the thought that an auto could pull as good as a manual, they would need to step back and set the crack pipe down. Today, there are some truck/suv auto transmissions that pull almost as good as a manual. Their (auto tranny) efficiency is up in the 90 percent range. Years ago, modified autos made it into the mid 80 percentile, stock was in the mid to lower 70's. Make sure you get a tow vehilce with an auto that is designed to pull. DON'T ask the salesman!!! Research on your own what type of tranny is in what vehicle. Some suv's and smaller trucks have car tranny's. They are not good for pulling.

6) The original question....A lot depends on the actual boat. Are you talking a fully rigged V- hull open aluminum boat or a Tracker Jon boat style bass boat? If yes, then I would say the Colorado would be ok. If your thinking a run-about type 16-17 footer or a Tracker fiberglass boat, you might be pushing it.

Good luck and enjoy your new vehicle, I wish I could say that about my new Focus.

brgbassmaster reply :

thanks for all the help. i think its between the 2008 dakota, 2008 tacoma, or the 2008 ranger. does anyone have a ranger is it a pretty reliable truck?

ABC123 reply :

Quote
thanks for all the help. i think its between the 2008 dakota, 2008 tacoma, or the 2008 ranger. does anyone have a ranger is it a pretty reliable truck?

FWIW, I know of two Ranger owners (mid 90's trucks) that had put many miles on their trucks. Both were mainly used as commuter vehicles, with very little towing/hauling. My Parents have a '93 Explorer that has seen a lot of work, 200,000+ miles, with piston slap starting at about 185,000 miles. If they (the new Rangers) got 2-3 MPG better mileage, like the older ones (pre'95), I would have bought one instead of my Focus, and used that to pull my 16' run-about too. The bigger tires and higher stance really killed the mileage on those vehicles. My parents usually got 22-24 with their '93 Explorer, new Rangers are rated at 16-21???

Olebiker reply :

Quote
thanks for all the help. i think its between the 2008 dakota, 2008 tacoma, or the 2008 ranger. does anyone have a ranger is it a pretty reliable truck?

My 1999 Mazda B2500 is a rebadged Ranger. I have 138,000 miles on it and it still runs very well. I will buy a six cylinder, extended cab Ranger or Mazda when this one gives up the ghost.

fooman reply :

Around here you see alot of Tacomas,Rangers/mazda's pushing 200,000 miles..I dont think you can go wrong with any of the mentioned trucks..

Get it optioned out like you want it and they should keep you happy for a very long time

GThunter5 reply :

ive got an 06 3.0L 2wd Ranger Sport 5spd.

I put on 31" bfg's and a limited slip diff in the rear. i also have a class 3 hitch on the rear.

I pull a 16ft '74 ranger bass boat with minimal problems. Not sure the weight but its heavy.

Stopping is a little delayed so you should drive carefully although i have 4 wheel abs (not sure if thats beneficial or not). With lake lanier so low, my rear tires are usually in the mud and thats where the l/s and bfg all terrains comes in handy.

I would definitely buy one with a l/s. Going through aftermarket was a bit expensive and of course they messed up the abs system which was a hassle to get them to fix it.

You definitely get some play with the 5spd though. with the drought in GA my trailer will sometimes fall off the back of the ramp and i need to gain momentum to get it back on.

dale reply :

I have pulled with more trucks than most and over more mies than most...My input is since I bought a Yukon XL I do not need to think about this question...... ever see a pro pull up with his boat towed by a Ranger.

Sorry but the truth of the matter is go to your local ramp and watch how others get there boat out of the water and what they are driving...you may learn and save a group of cash

Catt reply :

I've been here 2 years & aint seen no Pro yet

dale reply :

I don't see many pros here either...but

I do see them on the Potomac Kentucky lake or lake Onieda.

I often travel 300 plus miles each way to to fish and i'll be the first one to tell ya you need a good tow vehicle.

fooman reply :

I dont see many pro's paying full price for thier boats or tow vehicles...But what I do see are true hardcore fisherman buying what they can afford be it a boat or tow vehicle just to get on the water to fish...

I also see alot of "wannabe's" who think they are a pro over-spending on their boat and tow vehicle just to fish 1 weekend a month

Catt reply :

But fooman they look so good

We aint talking about a 20'+ bass boat with a 250+ outboard

You just have to pay attention to what you're doing, start stopping before you get to the red light or stop sign, drop down into low before pulling up a ramp.

dale reply :

Catt,

My mistake... I am talking about pulling a 21 foot boat with a 200 and don't forget the 36 volt trolling motor,( 4 deep cycle batts and a 4 bank charger ) add in 50 gal of fuel and a dual axle trailer... plus living here in the philly area it is either stop and go or up and down hills.

Dale

cajun1977. reply :

Quote
I also see alot of "wannabe's" who think they are a pro over-spending on their boat and tow vehicle just to fish 1 weekend a month

one of the best parts of living in america is that nobody has to get your approval for what they buy. To many people always worry about what others spend their money on

jdw174 reply :

I bought a (then new) '05 Tacoma 4-dr w/V6 and auto tranny. It pulls my TR20 with no trouble whatsoever, and gives about 14mpg while doing it. When not towing I average 19mpg around home, and 24mpg on longer trips. Absolutely no complaints here.

1fast68 reply :

The 1st problem like others have stated it the stopping. Pulling with a V6 (other than the Toyota) will just prematurly wear it out. Any automatic behind a V6 will not be better than a stick. My suggestion is to get a 1/2 ton truck with a V8. You will be much happier and safer.

Back to point 1. You can antisipate stopping sooner and use a small truck.....but what happens when you have an emergancy and can't start stopping 1/4 mile before you need to. What are you going to say to the Dad or Mom when you kill there child because you were pulling a boat with a truck that wasn't designed to stop it?

I'm just going to make an assumption that more than 80% of the people that responed to this post don't have kids, or are under 25 years old.

A lot of wisdom will come with age.

brgbassmaster reply :

thanks guys for all the posts im 99% sure im going with the 4.0L V6 toyota double cab. lol i cant afford the V8 tundra or i would like that. the military doesnt pay us lower ranking enough for those toys.

HPBB reply :

I am a die hard GM guy, but I will say buy the Toyota over the Chevy. I have pulled a lot with S-10 and the 4.3L V 6 was a great motor. these new colrado's with the straight 5 don't have the power (that 3.7l is a straight 5). Go with the truck that you like the best. but figure out what the weight of you rig will be, and make sure you truck can pull more that that. I know many guys that have trucks/suv's where their trailer cap. is just as much as their boat weighs. I always say go bigger than you need so you will not get in trouble. I now tow with a Chevy Tahoe 5.3L V8, it has 7800lbs trailer cap, so I can easily tow any bass rig.

NBR reply :

Check the GVW on both vehicules, get the boat, motor ,trailer weight estimate the weight of tackle add the weights up and see which vehicule can handle the load. If you get an automatic transmission get a tow kit with a tranny cooler. You might not really need it but heat is the enemy of automatic trannies.

With an automatic never pull in overdrive.

ThomasL reply :

To 1fast68,yea i drive everyday and have people pull right out in front of me,cut in front of me,etc,thats when i wish i had a 20-30 year old 4 wheel drive tank to teach them better... > ;)

1fast68 reply :

ThomasL, I think you misunderstood my post...my main point is that when you pull a boat that is too heavy for the truck pulling it, not only are you unhappy with your towing experiance, you can kill people. I just wished people would think of more than themselves when operating a vehicle. Also while I'm at it...I think its selfish to drink and drive.

LuckyCraft NY reply :

I'd recommend getting the best you can afford at the time you buy it.

You can comfortably pull a tracker style boat with a small 4 cylinder, but I'd recommend a 6 cylinder since the extra HP & Torque should mean less wear and tear on the engine

357

pulling a bass boat 2025

related Bass Boats Canoes Kayaks topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Bass Boats Canoes Kayaks topic