What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

[JD in Milwaukee]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

I am very curious as well. I wish they would make a 1/2 ton diesel. I don't need the capacity of a 3/4 or 1 ton. I've got an 06 Mitsubishi Montero, but it's a virgin tow vehicle so far. But the Islander CC is rapidly nearing completion. Pics to follow.

curious to hear about your results with the ecoboost....i've read some pretty interesting things about em.

 

[airshot]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

I tow my 22' Islander with a 2000 chev blazer 4x4 with vortec 4.3 engine. Pulls with no problem, vehicle is rated at 3500 so I am very close to capacity. Most towing is within 25/30 mile radius, might consider moving up to something bigger if I were towing at a much longer distance, but I like the better mpg when not towing.

Airshot

 

[jbing81]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

I am very curious as well. I wish they would make a 1/2 ton diesel. I don't need the capacity of a 3/4 or 1 ton. I've got an 06 Mitsubishi Montero, but it's a virgin tow vehicle so far. But the Islander CC is rapidly nearing completion. Pics to follow.

I had the SS out today and as suspected the ecoboost didn't even know there was anything back there , and If it weren't for the clatter from the hitch I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have realized it either. Also in 3 days and 150 miles I've averaged 17.2 mpg. Not bad for a full size truck in tye city!

 

[JD in Milwaukee]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

17.2 in the city is pretty good. Is that calculated mpg? I ask because my 05 4runner would always give me a dash readout 2 mpg higher than reality. By the way, that F150 looks great.

I had the SS out today and as suspected the ecoboost didn't even know there was anything back there , and If it weren't for the clatter from the hitch I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have realized it either. Also in 3 days and 150 miles I've averaged 17.2 mpg. Not bad for a full size truck in tye city!

 

[jbing81]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

17.2 in the city is pretty good. Is that calculated mpg? I ask because my 05 4runner would always give me a dash readout 2 mpg higher than reality. By the way, that F150 looks great.

Yep, good ole fashioned pencil and paper calculating. However the dash reading was only 6 tenths off.

 

[JD in Milwaukee]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

Damn that's quite good. Let us know about some highway mpg's.

Yep, good ole fashioned pencil and paper calculating. However the dash reading was only 6 tenths off.

 

[barato2]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

I wish they would make a 1/2 ton diesel.
the one way they could get me to trade in my Taco. Toyota, are you listening?

 

[JD in Milwaukee]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

You got that right. Everyone else gets the diesels, we get the hybrids. I don't want no stinkin batteries. Gimme a diesel now!

I wish they would make a 1/2 ton diesel.
the one way they could get me to trade in my Taco. Toyota, are you listening?

 

[barato2]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

corporate engineering ego can be an ugly thing. and it's not like Toy don't make direct inj diesels. the deal killer on hybrids for me is no 4WD....they even tell you not to think abt taking the hybrid Highlander on roads with gravel chunks bigger than 1".....i call that a Lowlander.

 

[prelude219]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?



2004 chevy silverado and i also tow with at 93 dodge ramcharger 4x4

 

[chris.j.marshall]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

I tow my 22' Islander with a 2000 chev blazer 4x4 with vortec 4.3 engine. Pulls with no problem, vehicle is rated at 3500 so I am very close to capacity. Most towing is within 25/30 mile radius, might consider moving up to something bigger if I were towing at a much longer distance, but I like the better mpg when not towing.

Airshot

I was thinking those were around the 4500-5000 range. I yanked around over 3500 a few 200+ mile trips back when I had my 94 Blazer.

 

[lakelover]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

....but I know I'm on borrowed time.

That was a prophetic post. A few weeks later....

 

[Jeepcollector91]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

Heres how I've been doing it this spring... :facepalm: Weee DOGGIEZ!

This must have been one of those "You can have it if you get it out of here right now" type of deals and they didn't have time to get a buddy's car or truck with hitch?

 

[TheWrks]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

Say hello to "Bart the Blazer'

His other job hauling the Buggy

 

[airshot]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

I was thinking those were around the 4500-5000 range. I yanked around over 3500 a few 200+ mile trips back when I had my 94 Blazer.

Correct if you have the trailer towing pkg, without that pkg it is 3500lbs. Yes they can pull more but the cooling system and suspension is beefier with the pkg. I also only have the heavy bumper hitch, rated at 3500lb.
Airshot

 

[Rainbow hunter]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

That was a prophetic post. A few weeks later....

Lakelover lover, I love it. When I saw the Malibu hooked up to the JS I thought why doesn't he have a color matched tow vehicle? I love your Jet Star too. It was the first thread I read on the iBoats forum and I still think the best, and one of the most thorough. I have a 14' Falcon, in addition to my 18' SS, that hope to make look as nice as your JS.
RH
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=551485

 

[lakelover]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

Wow, thanks, I'm humbled! Glad to share what I learned as I felt my way through it. I plan to make my first long distance tow of the Jet Star next week. Thanks again for the compliments. :redface:

I towed my SF14 180 miles last week behind the Malibu and was impressed with the way it handled it. It's a relatively light load (hull=215, motor about 100), also had a bunch of my tools, passenger & weekend supplies with me in the car. Got over 21 mpg @ 65.

 

[BonairII]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

I tow my SS with a Chevy Venture(V6) minivan. Tows it with absolutely no probs whatsoever....I sometimes forget the boat is behind me.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

I'm still working on my tow vehicle
5.2L 318 v8 and I <3 it to death. She can pull quite well, and I am pretty sure she'll tow the 180 SS like it's not even there.

She needs a new tow hitch. It's got a nice gap where steel used to be...
I'll order a Curt bolt on model and solve that problem. I already ran a 7 pin connection in preparation for towing anything.

 

[Jeepcollector91]

Re: What is everyone using to tow their tinnies?

I have towed my boats with both of these.

My 2003 Freightliner Columbia 12.7L (6cyl) Detroit Diesel w/13-speed Manual Eaton Fuller
My 1991 Jeep YJ 4.0L (6cyl) w/5-speed AX-15