4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

[H20Rat]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

i really just wanna try it once. the thing is the boat is 2hrs away. i have already paid but they are storing it and dewinterizing it when i wanna get it. so if i show up and sh wont pull i am SOL for a while

you will be fine, as others have said take your time and use common sense. Towing safely is about 10% vehicle, and 90% driver. You pulling that boat can do it far more safely than an F350 with a tinny behind, if the driver is a complete idiot. I grew up towing the limit (and dare I say, quite a bit more) of pretty much every vehicle I've owned, from a 4 cylinder car to full size truck. Just drive for the conditions.

Might want to get yourself a trans cooler though if that truck doesn't have one already. And if you are in the market for tires soon, get smaller tires! Big tires absolutely ruin towing capability.

 

[tpassmore]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

if u tow with that toy, u better get trailer brakes or u'll be kissing rear-ends. also, know ur ramp before you launch...u may not get out the water. some ramps are smooth, others terraced and rough, some slimy but ive seen f250's pop a tire trying to retrieve on a wet ramp. need a 4wd. i tow with v6/4wd/elect-brakes and laugh at guys spinning tires in their high pow'rd pickups. once on the highway, 55 mph, a car crashed right in front of me and those trailer brakes stopped everything within inches. can't say enough about trailer brakes.

as for summerizing, u can summerize, re-winterize, and summerize again if necessary. u don't want to get caught in a freeze after boating. its not worth it. if u hear a freeze is coming, just pull the hoses and drain the block. the extra effort is minimal compared to replacing the block.

 

[98Shabah]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

Brad, I'm in STL and plan to dewinterize at the end of the month.. For me it's just starting the boat on the muffs to burn off the fogging oil, then change the plugs, check the wires, cap, rotor, belt, hoses, and check the axle bearings and trailer tires.. It's an afternoon that I look forward to, like a kid before christmas.

 

[bradtw191]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

you will be fine, as others have said take your time and use common sense. Towing safely is about 10% vehicle, and 90% driver. You pulling that boat can do it far more safely than an F350 with a tinny behind, if the driver is a complete idiot. I grew up towing the limit (and dare I say, quite a bit more) of pretty much every vehicle I've owned, from a 4 cylinder car to full size truck. Just drive for the conditions.

Might want to get yourself a trans cooler though if that truck doesn't have one already. And if you are in the market for tires soon, get smaller tires! Big tires absolutely ruin towing capability.

I will definitely be driving like my grandma.....slowwwwww. my tires are brand new unfortunately but i do have stock wheels with tires that are quite a bit smaller. i have thought about that too. the fact that larger tires change your final gearing ratio, and bigger is bad. hopefully it will be ok with the ones i have cause i just put them on recently and love my wheels and tires
oh and i have looked into the trans cooler too. gonna see what temps look like then decide on that

 

[bradtw191]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

Brad, I'm in STL and plan to dewinterize at the end of the month.. For me it's just starting the boat on the muffs to burn off the fogging oil, then change the plugs, check the wires, cap, rotor, belt, hoses, and check the axle bearings and trailer tires.. It's an afternoon that I look forward to, like a kid before christmas.

I was thinking that same time frame. i have to go to a wedding in KC next weekend and the boat is at LOTO so I was thinking of picking her up (which consists of them dewinterizing and taking me on a test run) on the way back to springfield. This would avoid me driving up there the one weekend i have free before driving to ST joe mo for guard drill.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

Towing safely is about 10% vehicle, and 90% driver

I disagree.... It's 100% about either one if they are substandard.... you need a safe driver AND a safe rig...... This boat is really pushing the limits of the tow rig but is not absolutely unsafe if speeds are kept down. Add 1000 lbs to the boat and I'd call it wreckless to haul on a public road tho.

Might want to get yourself a trans cooler though if that truck doesn't have one already.

I completely agree except I'll say that a BIG aftermarket trans cooler is absolutely mandatory here. You will really be working your torque convertor to get that thing moving and that builds heat. Heat KILLS trannys.

 

[bradtw191]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

Appreciate all the info guys. I am gonna hold off on the tranny cooler for at least the first haul for the fact i dont want to throw more money into my truck for pulling then end up just trading it in

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

brad, be VERY careful on your first launch too. Walk down the ramp and into the water... If you step in the water, bust your arse right away, and have to claw/crawl your way back up to the dry you know that you absolutely can't let your rear tires get in the water.... might be a good idea to have a friend there with another truck to pull you out if needed and have a chain or strap at the ready....

I'm not trying to scare you but if a person is prepared a mishap is annoying.... If unprepared a mishap is a disaster.

 

[bradtw191]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

brad, be VERY careful on your first launch too. Walk down the ramp and into the water... If you step in the water, bust your arse right away, and have to claw/crawl your way back up to the dry you know that you absolutely can't let your rear tires get in the water.... might be a good idea to have a friend there with another truck to pull you out if needed and have a chain or strap at the ready....

I'm not trying to scare you but if a person is prepared a mishap is annoying.... If unprepared a mishap is a disaster.

will do. a couple of weeks ago i went down and checked out the ramp and it is quite nice. no slime that i could see and the ramp goes deep into the water. it is an average slope and in good condition, and i will have a tow rope on me

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

sounds like you are on top of it.... good luck

 

[wgt500]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

Youre vehicle will pull it; at least till the trans. burns up. I would slam on the brakes, where there's no traffic, at the highway speed you're planning to drive. I believe emergency stopping will be your biggest safety problem. Another issue will be if you have to put the truck in park on the ramp when loading the boat onto the trailer. When you pull the trans. out of park with that load on a steep ramp, you're going to rip the guts out of it in time. If you can be inside the truck when loading and keep the load on the brakes and not the trans. you will be o.k. If you have a parking brake that will hold that much load, (not many will) you can set it first then put the trans in park to keep the load off the trans when you pull it out of park.

 

[bradtw191]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

i will keep that in mind

 

[bassman284]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

Thank you. Straight from tht link. The boat weighs approximately 2120 pounds with an empty fuel tank and without any gear or passengers.

I would not rely on information at that link. I looked up my boat and found this:

"The 2001, 1650 Explorer SS is a 16.25 foot outboard boat. The weight of the boat is 680 lbs. which does not include passengers, aftermarket boating accessories, or fuel. The max rated horsepower of this boat, as listed by the manufacturer, (according to records we have) is 60 hp "

My 2001 1650 Explorer is actually 16'10", weighs 850 dry and is rated for 75 hp.

 

[bigdee]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

Hitch it up and try it that is the only way you will get an accurate answer since every situation is different . I pulled a very similar setup (Glasport 18.5 bowrider I/O) with an S-10, 2.2 litre, 5 speed for over 5 years. I pulled it 60 miles every weekend during boating season over some very hilly terrain. I had to use 3rd gear on some hills. The ramp I use is fairly steep and was rough on the clutch but never had an issue with traction. If I had had a colorado like yours with the bigger engine and automatic transmision it would have been much better. I guess the point I'm trying to make is if an old 2.2 S-10 could do it than your truck should be more than able. Factor in the rising fuel prices too! Also drive with caution....this is sound advice even if you pull with a F-250!

I forgot to mention that we have the same identical boat (Searay) in my family and it is lighter than the Glasport that I used to pull with the S-10. We have pulled it with a blazer that is similar in weight to the Colorado with no problems. Your trany will be just fine if you drive easy and keep it out of OD. Just avoid jackrabbit starts. At the ramp you have buoyancy working in your favor to establish that initial momentum. Just keep it in drive ( or 1st if that makes you feel better) DO NOT PUT IT IN 2ND! That will definitely overheat the torque converter. If you can avoid it don't stop on ramp and then re-start after you establish momentum. Be careful and you should be fine...happy boating!

 

[Subliminal]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

We pull a like sized boat with a 08 Chevy Equinox with the v6. I opted for trailer brakes, although the dealership insisted it wasn't necessary. I don't care. Your boat/trailer is going to weigh as much as your truck, and I'm guessing the truck brakes are probably about 'adequate' for your truck.

If your boat weighs 2100 lbs (according to the link), you can figure another 800 for the trailer, now you're at 2900. Let's say gassed up you're at 3k. Then you need to figure that the tow rating is based on an empty truck, so you throw in 3 people, some coolers and all, and you'll be sitting right there at the max rating...which is pretty much where we sit in our Eq.

But, all that being said, it pulls it fine, you just want to keep it out of OD for the most part and take the acceleration slowly. BUT brakes and a v6 go a long way.

 

[bradtw191]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

I just cant wait to get on the water now

 

[wifisher]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

I used to pull a similar boat with a 4 cyl 5 sp mazda. Never had any problems. But always carried wheel chocks for the front axle if i was going to get out of the truck. If your rear axle slides, the chock will catch the front tire and keep your truck dry. You can lean out the drivers door with your foot on the brake, and put it behind the front wheel. then when you get out kick it forward.

 

[tpassmore]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

If this guy can doit, so can U

 

[tpassmore]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fn8KH6rLEk&feature=player_detailpage

 

[jimbo_jwc]

Re: 4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

always towed with 4.3 chevys 1968 Woodson 18' fiberglass 4wheel trailer .2 horse trailer 4 wheel and always under powered / braked with Astro Van & 4 wheel drive 1/2 ton manual trans work truck . Loved 1/2 ton Surban
4 wheel w/350 v8 . Now using 06 work truck 4.3l 6cyl 4wd with trailer tow switch hauling 2400# Thompson 196 Sea Rage has enough power and braking but only gets as good miliage as surb with less Passengers and indoor storage for passangers and supplys for day but can launch anywhere even off sumerged roads as with surb in old days. Love 4wd low for backing and manuvering and pulling out of rained on horse shows steep unimproved launchs , steep,slick ramps yards drives anything I would consider deer drive ins