4 cyl 2wd Towing 18ft Bow rider?

[bradtw191]

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

seen that before haha. must have been operator error

 

[jefro]

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

Let me know how it works. I have a 2010 Colorado Crew Cab, I4, Auto and am looking at what size boat I could get away with. I do know that the Colorado can tow up to 6000# with the V8, 5000# with the I5-4wd, so you know the tranny, diff. and frame can handle it. Just going to be a pig on the ramp. Keep an eye on the tongue weight, you may have to play with it a little to find the ideal setup.

 

[Prophammer]

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

As long as its legal I would do it, like someone else said drive slow, use common sense, make sure ramp isn't slick like ice, I would & I have, done it!

 

[mkast]

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

Edmund's website states, the towing capacity is 4000 LBS.
More important, what load range tires are on the vehicle?
Inflation pressure?

 

[Joshua Nichols]

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

I pull with a full sized truck and my boat pushes me around a bit.You know for sure it's back there. Be careful..

I have 4x4.. Never have ramp worries...

 

[jkust]

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

I can attest that it doesn't take much of a vehicle to simply tow something heavy. It'll do it. The issues I found when towing my 4000lb Chaparral/trailer with my minivan before I wised up and got a v8 equipped suv are many but easily overlooked. First and formost is that situation where the right tow vehicle makes the difference between tragedy and stearing around safetly. Interestingly the first time I towed with my body on frame suv, that very situation occurred and literally the absolute worst case scenario was narrowly avoided because of having the correct vehicle. The other is the stress you feel that you are never sure ahead of time if the ramp will give you trouble either loading or unloading. If I'd get my boat in the water ok, great but the whole time out, I'd be worried if I'd get it out or not. My 180hp engine on my ancient, decrepid minivan was I'd swear 10 times more power than I ever needed to simply pull out but the traction was always the potential issue. I discovered it takes very little to pull over two tons out of the steepest ramp. Had I continued to abuse the minivan more than one season, I'm positive it would have imploded. By the way the intown trips were a lot harder on the van. It coultn't handle all the stop and go but a 400 mile trip with few stops was less of an issue. I came to the conclusion that If I wanted to be a trailer boat owner, I'd have to dig down and buy a legitimate tow vehicle for everyones safety and my sanity. Will your truck do it, yes, I'm pretty sure it will. Will it be ideal, likely not.

 

[FichtFan]

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

^^^^^^^ Well put jkust

 

[Cannondale]

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

Edmund's website states, the towing capacity is 4000 LBS.
More important, what load range tires are on the vehicle?
Inflation pressure?

I'd also investigate the load rating of the replacement wheels that were put on the truck. Not all wheels can carry the same loads that the OEM wheels were rated for....

 

[TimBobCom]

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

TrailerBoats.com has the 08 Colorado with the I4 listed as 2100lbs for the manual and 3100 for the auto. 4000 is for the 5 cylinder engine.

I had one of these truck, but the I5 engine (4000 towing) and I traded it on my current truck since the Colorado wouldn't have towed the way I wanted it to.

 

[Captain Caveman]

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

Lot's of great advice so far. I think that you're on the right path. One comment that I want to re-emphasize is on that first trip to haul your boat home, get going at 30-40mph (with no one around) and step on the brakes. Once that feels comfortable then do it again at whatever speed you'll be at one the highway. You really want to understand how the boat/trailer and truck will react in an emergency stop situation. Also, you stated that you'll drive like your grandma....perfect. Just remember that your grandma won't tailgate anyone. If I can give any advice based on your vehicle, it is to give MUCH more room than you think is necessary between you and the car in front. If someone cuts in front of you, get off the gas and coast back to a safe distance. That way you can avoid the whole emergency stopping situation in the first place. I doubt that your brakes had significant towing in mind.

I tow a 16' Alumacraft which likely weighs about 2,000lbs with trailer and 4-stoke motor. I use a 2007 Ranger with a 4.0Lv6 and tow package. It does well here in Minnesota but I go 500 miles round trip each time to my cabin. I do feel the weight of this boat behind my truck and even with the 4.0L v6, the truck struggles a little bit going up hills. I think that you are heading in the right direction about getting a cheap tow vehicle instead of trading in your Colorado.

 

[SigSaurP229]

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

can and should are two different things. Twice a year I pull a 28' Lowe pontoon boat 19 miles to launch and 19 miles back after retrieving. It is ALOT of boat for that truck I indeed know that boat is behind the truck. I am pretty much at my maximum capacity if not I am within 5% of maximum capacity for the truck. I have a little difference my truck is a 2003 Nissan Frontier V6 4x4 (all though I have never used 4x4 for launching or retrieving). Ohh and it helps that I have a CDL and am used to pulling heavy loads. The truck can do it but you MUST have a transmission cooler or you will cook that tranny in less than 6 months if you tow often. Don't tailgate and don't get complacent after doing it a few times.

 

[bradtw191]

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

thanks for all the great info guys. i have actually found a storage place within 5 miles of the boat ramp. originally i was planning on keeping it at a storage place about 20 miles away but i figure i will save as much money by not towing as far as the closer storage is more expensive. so as long a launching and retrieving is not an issue i only have 1 long haul to worry about. the boat is about 3 hours from where i plan on keeping it. my grandfather has offered to let me use his f150 for that long haul. i may take him up on it but i would hate for something to happen to his truck while i was hauling it. i would never hear the end of it haha. love him though the is a gracious man that got me hooked on boating

 

[98Shabah]

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

thanks for all the great info guys. i have actually found a storage place within 5 miles of the boat ramp. originally i was planning on keeping it at a storage place about 20 miles away but i figure i will save as much money by not towing as far as the closer storage is more expensive. so as long a launching and retrieving is not an issue i only have 1 long haul to worry about. the boat is about 3 hours from where i plan on keeping it. my grandfather has offered to let me use his f150 for that long haul. i may take him up on it but i would hate for something to happen to his truck while i was hauling it. i would never hear the end of it haha. love him though the is a gracious man that got me hooked on boating

Cool grandpa you have.. Ask him if he'd like to come with you. Picking up a new toy is exciting. Last spring I drove from STL down to my dad's place in arkansas so that I could go with him to pick up his new boat in springfield.. Those are memories.

 

[Captain Caveman]

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

I had the same thought too. Take grandpa with you. You never know how many years he's got left and he'll probably enjoy a couple hours of conversation with his grandson. He might teach you a few things, especially how to drive like grandma!

 

[sea_goin_dude]

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

Can you tow that rig? Sure you can.......BUT. Check the gross vehicle weight limit (on the door frame) After you load all your gear couple of buddies and the dog, you will be surprised how close to that limit you will be, if not already over. Problem comes with not enough *** in the truck to control, (steer/brake etc) in an emergency. If you choose to go with it, be sure to go with great care. There are many rigs like this on the road all the time without incident BUT just be careful and upgrade your towing vehicle if/when you are able. Good luck and be safe

 

[shepster]

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

I used to tow a 20' Bayliner with a 1986 Mazda B2000 5 speed and it made it up some of the steppest ramps I've ever been on with no issues. Just take it to a spot a try it out.

 

[bradtw191]

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

Well a couple buddies isnt happening in my truck as you can see....its a single cab small truck hahah maybe squeeze 2 females in but anyways i did it!! It did a wonderful job, I was pleasantly suprised. She towed great down the HWY in 3rd gear at about 60 mph. Braking was better than i expected. The only time i had some trouble is down in the ozark mountains....she lost some speed on the big hills but thats ok. And now the boat is at storage just 4 miles from the ramp so I am good to go She didnt squat, the tail never wagged the dog, no bouncing. I am VERY happy to not need a new truck.

 

[bigdee]

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

Well a couple buddies isnt happening in my truck as you can see....its a single cab small truck hahah maybe squeeze 2 females in but anyways i did it!! It did a wonderful job, I was pleasantly suprised. She towed great down the HWY in 3rd gear at about 60 mph. Braking was better than i expected. The only time i had some trouble is down in the ozark mountains....she lost some speed on the big hills but thats ok. And now the boat is at storage just 4 miles from the ramp so I am good to go She didnt squat, the tail never wagged the dog, no bouncing. I am VERY happy to not need a new truck.

Hallelujah! Now you can focus in on some summer fun.....happy boating!!

 

[Blue2Green]

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

i have looked into the trans cooler too. gonna see what temps look like then decide on that

I would definately get a trans cooler no matter what. It saves you from premature transmission wear. I have seen small automatics go out and it is not a pretty sight.

 

[bradtw191]

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

she pulled her out of the water just fine also. not a single slip even with a little water on the ramp from the last guy pulling his out.