Will these trucks pull my boat?

[Brian Manthe]

Does anyone know how the Toyota Tacoma (2002 or older) and the Dodge Dakota crew cab (2002 or older), will pull my 20ft. champion bassboat. Is this to much boat for these trucks> I will be pulling it over the siskiyou's.

Thanks,

[Scott D.]

I think you'd be sorry. What a lot of people don't think about is that it's easy to tow a boat as in getting the tires rolling. However, stopping these big heavy boats is another thing. Plus, you'll wear out the transmissions in those small trucks real fast. Even if your trailer has brakes, think about when you're having to stop a little faster than planned. That boat will push a little truck all over the place. I'd stick with a 1/2 ton or better. Think about resale on it someday too. Just my $.02.

[mark poulson]

Try to keep a 1 1/2 to 1 or 2 to 1 ratio of truck weight to trailer weight. I've used that formula for years towing construction equipment, and it's never let me down.
Weight of tow vehicle is important, both for the size of the brakes that come on the vehicle, and for the leverage it provides against the towed trailer. There's nothing more terrifying or helpless feeling than coming down a steep grade with more load behind you than you vehicle can handle.
Just like line is cheap when you retie compared to a lost fish from that extra foot of frayed line, don't go light when you're picking a tow vehicle.

[mark poulson]

If you're in doubt, call Anglers Marine and ask Rick Grover what he recommends. He's been in the boat business long enough to have all the answers.
It may not be what you want to hear, but it will be the truth.

[mark poulson]

*NM*

[basstamer]

I agree with the above posts....power isnt everything that needs to be considered. Both these trucks probably could do a fairly decent job. I pull my 19' Champ with a Ford Explorer Sport Trac with a V6 and power has never really been an issue. My problem is that the truck is really not designed for that much of a tow chore. My tranny is a vibratin and my brakes are a squeezin'! I am starting to have transmission problems and have went through several sets of brakes even with trailer brakes the truck has to work hard to stop the weight. I agree-I believe you would wish you'd made a different choice and unfortunatly then it would be too late. Just my .02-good luck
Scott

[Fishin' Dave]

WAIT A MINUTE

The question should be "Can I STOP my boat with these trucks."

I towed my 20ft Skeeter with a 4cyl nissan pick up. It was no V-8, but I got where I was going.

Now of course biger is better, but just be careful of stoping distances and be sure to down shift. You'll be fine with those trucks. After all, this is a bass boat, not a horse trailer!

[mark poulson]

Dave,
Maybe it's different up North, but down here in SoCal, there are so many idiots who cut in front of you and then slam on their brakes, or try to merge into your trailer, that a redundency for safety is critical. I've had to lock them up at 55 mph too many times coming back from Castaic to LAX to ever think that just being able to stop my boat in normal conditions is enough.
I had a V6 Ford 150 that I traded in for a V8 Triton with a towing package because I felt "light" when I had to break in an "idiot induced" emergency stop. It may not be right, but we have to plan for those fools who don't have enough sense to plan for themselves. I guess it's all part of being a grownup.
Sucks!
Mark

[g]

A tandem axle trailer helps a lot. It's no problem pulling that boat but the pushing is the problem.

[Fishin' Dave]

We knew about the LA freeway idiots when we went to San V, so we passed theough at 3 am. 70mph down 5 through LA, nobody cutting us off! HA!

It's the same in traffic up here. I have sat in the worst commutes in the NATION before. 680 from Dublin to San Jose was the worst commute one year. 205 is a nightmare. 880 sucks. I have sat on the 405 and the 210, but nothing compares to a Monday morning on the 205 from Manteca to Livermore! If I took my boat in for service, you bet I passed through at 4 am. There is only "light" traffic then.

[mark poulson]

Dave,
My sister lives in Richmond. She says she only ventures into the City at midday, otherwise she's stuck on the fwy for hours.
I guess there's no escaping overpopulation and lousy urban planning.

[Fishin' Dave]

Here was the theory on roads in the Tracy area. "If we widen the freeway, then more people will move out here" Gee, that guy is a genius! NOT. People move anyway, and now the road costs 15 times as much as it would have in the 80s.

Anyway, I hear you on size of the truck for idiot drivers. Thats why I sayd the question should be if his truck can stop the boat, not pull it. It sounds like highway driving away from traffic jams, so I think he'll do fine!

[mark poulson]

Dave,
That sounds like the same idiot who said, "Lets not give industry subsidies to help them clean up their pollution, they'll never move overseas".
Man, I'm starting to feel like the old timers I used to work with who always complained about "the good old days".
Maybe my best friend, a fire chief in Sacramento, had the right idea. He retired as soon as he could, and moved to Hawaii.
Sounds better and better.

[basstamer]

But Mark there's no Bass in Hawaii (is there???)

[Paul W]

I had a 1998 Tacoma w/ the v6 which has the same engine as the 2002's. It was a great, strong little truck but I would not pull a 20' boat with it. I know guys do it, but I wouldnt. It would put a helluva strain on the engine, tranny, and brakes, and it would be slow going up steep grades. It would be good for pulling something like a Tracker Pro Team 175 or at the most a 17' glass boat w/ a light hull weight. The 5,000lb tow rating they gave that truck was a JOKE!!

Paul W

[Smile_n_Jax]

I have to agree with the other guys. As a retired Auto Tech, I'll admit the Tacoma and Dakota are nice trucks, but not to pull a 20' boat. You'll burn up brakes and tranny. Find a suitable F-150 or Silvarado with a V-8. I figure the mileage would be about the same since the V-8 doesn't have to work so hard and it would be a much more stable platform.

[Fishin' Dave]

Something funny I learned the other day. The same brakes and trannys used in the smaller trucks are used in 1/2 ton small v-8 trucks. In some cases, the smaller trucks with v-6 are stronger than full size trucks. In my oppinion, until you step up to 3/4 ton 8-lug class pick up, you are not equiped enough to tow. That doesn't mean that you can't do it and can't do it safely, I'm just saying 3/4 ton trucks with bigger brakes, full floating rear ends, and heavier duty components are the way to go.

My grandpa used to tow a glass boat with a Triumph TR-4. Not the best idea or the safest, but it was what he owned at the time and buying another truck was out of the question.

I know plenty of guys who tow with a v-6. Sapp still tows with that old Dakota. I think you'll be fine, just be careful. When you make some more $$, upgrade to a bigger truck.

[Jason Wood]

I pull my Legend 199 with an 04 Tacoma... No problems goin' from my house in Brentwood to Russo's... The problem is goin' up to Berryessa and all the lakes which involve hills... If I was doin' that every time I fished, I would definately go bigger...

[mark poulson]

I heard they have peacock bass in Hawaii, and largemouth.

[Terry Smith]

My cousin ran A 2002 Dakota V-6 pulling A Ranger 195 and did fine but the transmision went out at 60,000 miles. He pulls it now with A Suburban 454 when he goes anywhere there are hills. Clear Lake,Berryessa etc... A trip to the Delta is fine with the Dodge.
I ran A 2002 F-150 V-6 pulling my 18 BassCat with no broblems and just bought A 2007 Silverado V-6 and can't wait to see how it pulls.

Terry

[Rich hamilton]

Dave is right on. Stopping is your concern as well as overall wear on truck components. I tow with a f150 and it is brutal on my front brakes etc. Not to say it cannot be done, I would consider something else for peace of mind. RR

[BIG DADDY BLUE RANGER]

OK, I pull a 1999 19 foot ranger with a 2000 V6 Tacoma. No problem at all on the flat ground, highways etc. I have surge brakes on the trailer and have never had any problem stopping.... and I've had a few close calls where those brakes were put to the test.....I do slow down quite a bit (35 or so) and sometimes drop down into 2nd going through the hills of 20 towards Clear lake from I5, but it's just something to deal with.. So far my only difficulty has been a few times in the winter on slick ramps where I don't have enough weight for good traction (I have the 2x2 prerunner) but a 4x4 in low would have no issues. As far as little engines and little transmissions not taking the abuse... rememember it's a Yota, that complaint is for those so called american made mini's which these days are really imports anyhow. (not to get a new debate started or anything) My Yota has close to 160,000 and the engine and trans are still runnin great,,, I've been pullin the same boat for all this little trucks life too......The new Tacoma's have even more torque and more HP than mine and looking at the specs come pretty close to the V8 Tundra anyhow.

[BIG DADDY BLUE RANGER]

PS,, as far as wearing out the truck brakes,, I'm on my third set of fronts (counting the original factory pads) and still have good life on the factory rear drums... not too bad, maybe still better than average for non tow vehicles.

[B Becker]

just my .02, but if you plan on doing this sport for a long time and you are going to travel with this boat, I would look into the beefier trucks (3/4 ton)....you don't have to go diesel, like I did, but I am so happy I did......the extras that you get between a F150 and a F250 is night and day.......#1 bigger brakes and heavy duty (I made 110,000 miles before my first brake job on my F250), usually a transmission cooler, beefier springs/suspension in the back, and usually already equipped with the towing attachment to the frame....to upgrade a 1/2 ton would take you into the base model of 3/4 ton....check it out for yourself.....a 3/4 ton is by far worth the extra $$$$....I have 140k on my 2000 F250 (diesel) and I have never touched the tranny, except for oil changes, one brake job, and about 5 sets of tires....I will always own a 3/4 ton truck!!!

[Rich hamilton]

Big D,

not to say it cannot be done, he was asking for opinions. my perfect world would be a 3/4/ diesel. We all have our finnancial limits etc. RR

[sTony]

I've got a 2002 Ford F150 with nearing 130K in it and it has pulled my boats just fine with the same sort of history as Brent has experienced only not as many sets of tires, hahaha.

Previously I ran a Dodge Dakota and it had numerous problems as a result of towing especially brakes and calipers that went faster then I could've imagined. You also feel very much like you're towing a big boat with a small truck where as my experience with even the F150 was that it was hard to tell there was a boat behind you.

sTony

[MN]

Stoping is the issue i can name a couple time's i thanked the fishing god's i had a 3/4 f-250.

I realize not everyone can afford these 42 thousand dollor truck's but it's amazing the power of them and the towing capabilities

[Dynastyworms]

I have a 04 Ford Ranger Edge single cab V6 and a 19f Champion. My Ranger pulled it great but was still scared. Stopping was a big difference from the bigger trucks (Silverado/F150) Luckily I only have to tow my boat 200 yards for the dry dock to the water and back. No traffic no idiots on the road!

zach

[leatherneck77]

If you are going to be pulling in the hills, not only will you be under powered, you will be burning out brakes and transmissions on a regular basis. If it was me, I would pull with nothing less than 1 150 Ford or a 1500 Chevy/GMC. The braking alone would be worth the extra money.

[Ace!]

What about an F350 Long Bed 4x4 Crew Cab with 460. I think that'd pull it. Or maybe if you had a friend with an F250 Crew Cab 4x4 with the V10. That might do it????

[aNNieNsaLTIE]

.....well.........after reading all those comments, it makes me wonder about those dealers who told me i would have no problems towing a 19ft basscat with that nice 200 optimax w/ my v6 GMC sonoma.

but how about a aluminum rig w/ a 150 or 200? what aluminum rigs do they handle and and turn corners good?


saLTIE-

[twister]

I wish I had a bigger truck that can pull my boat over them hill going to Clear Lake. My Tacoma with that little 3400 cc works fine if you're not in a hurry to go to the Delta. When we go to Clear Lake, we just rev that engine in 2nd or 3rd. More surprising is my friends setup:

1986 or 87 4x4 Toyota mobile home w/dual rear axles
1986 20' Stratos
Huge surge brakes


This is one heavy setup. You would never think that he pulls it with a 22R fuel injected engine. Do the math, 20 yrs old and no problems. The point is, you can almost setup any truck to pull your 20' boat. You just need to sacrifice speed.