Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

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

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.

Yes it does have 4wd

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.

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

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 .