Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

[jfw432]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

No that's a hornest's nest ^^^^^ Takes a lot of fuel to make that work. 60 miles per day = 3 gallons? double your efficiency and you save 1.5 gallons, so $5 a day? x 20 days = $100/month. There's your answer, and that's if you go from 20 MPG to 40 MPG

Agreed. Amazing how many people don't do the math when they get rid of a working vehicle to save money on gas. Just the depreciation alone of a newer vehicle blows away any savings.

I promise you that I'm all too familiar with the math of it. The assumption of logical math is that the vehicle will last forever and is in perfect working condition. The reality is, the truck is dying even though it's only a 2000... It has a valve tap, leaks a tiny amount of coolant into the oil which means more frequent oil changes, had the alternator replaced, brakes changed, AC system fixed, radiator replaced, needs new paint, etc. etc.

So since replacement is inevitable in the next couple years, just looking to get something with better economy to help offset the added payments....or dump it now while it's still fairly reliable and get something better now.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I'm kinda disappointed. It's been a while since we've had a good old tow vehicle fight around here. Guess we're getting soft.

You can can fuss at me for towing a 20 foot toon with a S 10

 

[scoyt]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

And fuss at me as well. I have pulled my 17 foot bass boat with my 1991 s-10. Sure, it wasnt a speed demon, but it got me on Lake Degray!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I have a lot of respect for all of you guys, but we're talking 10 - 15 MPH, 1/4 Mile. We're worried about stopping? Have some little kid on a bike ride out 50 yards in front and blow his little horn as a warning to all Unless this is a mountain community, and he's got a 10% downgrade somewhere, we could stop this thing with a well placed brick. Call me a risk taker, but a little redneck ingenuity is a good thing, and in this case I don't think we even need that.

Honestly no offense intended, and noobs should always take heed of all of the safety implications, but this sort of reminds me of hot coffee warnings . . .

Very amusing.....but I agree !!!

 

[gtochris]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I seem to have stirred a hornets nest but thanks for the insight guys. Still have to decide if I really want to trade in a working truck for a newer vehicle AND a car payment...

Since it probably isnt worth much, is keeping it and buying very gas friendly car an option?

I SHOULD adjust my sig, the tahoe is back at my parents, they own it, my daily is a 2002 Civic 5 speed with 170,000 miles. I get 40MPG highway and about 34 average with my commute, nothing short of 27 even on my worst tank! Having an efficient car is key as I have a similar commute, I couldnt imagine commuting in a gas guzzler at this point.

 

[98Shabah]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I used to tow a waverunner with my very modified high 11 second street/strip 95 mustang gt. It had 315 drag radials out back, skinnies up front, a 150 shot of nitrous, heads, cam, dumps at the axle, small cage, an orange to purple fade paint job, and a class I trailer hitch. I got plenty of funny looks. lol! Oh to be in my 20s again.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

You can can fuss at me for towing a 20 foot toon with a S 10

Me too....and have done it for over 5 years with over 100k on her.....she struggled but she never let me down and got 28mpg when not towing.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

Some one mentioned a Ford Escape. My experience with one was that the gas milage wasn't that good with the V6.

The ramp I use all the time is at the end of our road. I find it hard to drive more than 10mph backwards going to the lake!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

And fuss at me as well. I have pulled my 17 foot bass boat with my 1991 s-10. Sure, it wasnt a speed demon, but it got me on Lake Degray!

I'd rather fuss at you for going to Degray instead of Ouachita. For those of you who don't know I was joking about the F350. Some of us feel neglected if we don't see an argument about towing vehicles at least once a quarter.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

for those concerned about lights for short tows: get a set of lights and attach them to the boat's stern cleats when you tow, and to the vehicle. They even used to sell them as "cleat lights" with short bungies on each light (hint: mark the left and right!). In salt water/salt air, trailer lights are a constant problem; these stay indoors when not in use, and never even get damp.

Our hunt club uses an unlicensed trailer kept right at the private ramp, and the cleat lights for the occassional trip to the mechanic about 5 miles on a country road away. Boating is all about the circumstances; there is no universal rule but one.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Towing short distance with smaller vehicles

I have the same situation, very short hall twice a year. Trailer has no registration and I generally don't connect the wiring at the harness. Speed is only about 10 mph, so I hang an orange triangle on the back indicating slow moving vehicle. Before I got the Jeep, I hauled the pontoon out with a Dodge minivan. The ramp was fairly steep and I never had an issue.