Truck/boat question

[Justin Hawkins]

I’m looking at getting out of the kayak game and into my first bass boat. I currently have an 08 4 cylinder Toyota Tacoma with a towing capacity of 3500 pounds so I need to keep the boat on the lighter side. Why are some quality lighter weight boats I should be looking at? Also, there have been a couple I’ve seen I’m interested where I can find the dry weight, but am having difficulty finding a wet weight, how do I find that? Two boats I’m looking at are 2009 stratos 176xt, and 2007 ranger 178vs. Thanks

[d75bender]

I hope your Tacoma has 4 wheel drive. I pulled a 18ft bass boat before with a 4 cylinder Toyota 4runner with the SR5 engine in it that had a similar towing capacity as your Tacoma and it struggled. I towed it from Sacramento to Berryessa and even though it made it to the lake I couldn't pull the bass boat out of the water when leaving without putting it in 4 wheel drive. That was the last time I used that truck to pull the boat. It almost didn't make it off the lake and it barely made it up the hills of Berryessa.

[Justin Hawkins]

Yes it does have 4wd

[d75bender]

This is just my opinion but I wouldn't tow a boat again with a 4 cylinder engine. By all means I'm not a towing expert or mechanic but I'd want at least a 6 cyl to tow a boat. Maybe go with an aluminum bass boat like a Bass Tracker, Ranger makes some aluminum bass boats that look pretty good too. Trition makes aluminum bass boats as well.

[Justin Hawkins]

Yeah I’m on another forum and I’m getting the same feedback. If I tow a boat with it to really look at aluminum boats, thanks

[Lapsbp]

Aluminum is the way to go for light boats .but they have a stigma people think Jon boat bit they get really light so they also run smaller motors too. Instead of a 150 or so hp now they run good with 60/75 hp and can bee quick too . U can save a 1000 pounds or so in weight .