ok tow vehicle question!

[samjr]

ok...I have this 20" boat and a 34" RV pulling it. no problem right? well when you get to the campground you have to have something to back the boat in the water. I know that my 2002 Chevy Tracker 4 wheel drive wont pull it on the highway but will it work to back my boat down the ramp? I can get a 3500# hitch for it but I sure dont want to end up with the boat pulling the tracker into the lake. Sorry for the dumb questions but i hate to be embarrased. lol http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[Chris E]

its not so much the backing down as it is the pulling out!!

[175checkmate]

IF the tracker has low range it will be no problem. I was pulling my 18' sea ray out of the water (heavy boat) with a 4cyl ford ranger. In 2 wheel drive it would no move, but in low rang it would pull the boat out with no trouble.

[Chris E]

i had a customer who had a 24' sea ray he used to pull from london, ontario to port carling (4 hours i think). His tow vehicle was a small chevy blazer. he always had us launch and pull out the boat cuz every time he did it he blew the u-joints out of it at the ramp. i doubt he ever used low gear though. he finally smartened up and bought a real tow vehicle, but he used that little truck for 3 years.

[the sMac]

hahahah, I use to use a 1986 GMC Jimmy, 2.8 Litre to pull my 25 foot Convincor all over the place. I did that for about 5 seasons. Never had a problem except for the amount of gas I burned. It pulled the boat, on a steel Eagle Tandem trailer, out of the water like nothing.

I would use LOW to pull it up long, steep ramps though.

[dlcss396]

It will largely depend on the ramp- last year i had to hook my truck up to an idiot with a jeep cj towing a 23' cuddy cab! we got him up though-- CHEVY POWER- 1974-1987!!

[zstevens]

it couldnt of been the jeeps fault just the driver. for usin a cj for a tow vehicle

[83PREDICTOR]

I had a Nissan P/U 4x4 with 34" Super Swampers and stock gears.
I used to pull my dads 25' cabin cruiser up and down the boat ramp (in 4WL).
It would pull it fine but, on those steep ramps my clutch would smell funny.

[Adam L.]

My neighbor use to pull his 22+ foot pontoon boat out of the water on his beach with his old 66hp Suzuki Samuria 4x4. Those had even less power than the Trackers. I agree as long as you have low range 4x4 you should have no problem.

With that said...



I am not liable for any damages to your boat, tow rig or any persons involved.:sssh:

[justincase]

just a thought enough pwer is a must, big boat small vehicle braking bad!

[BOB'S 283]

make sure the wheels are straight at the top of the ramp. it'll stop when it hits the water.

[Eaglenva]

Thats funny Bob.

:sssh: My thought is this, if it is good pavement you will probably be ok in low range on a shallow ramp. My concern is if the boat & trailer weights more than the Tracker and there is sand or something on the surface you may not be able to control it on a steeper ramp.

[mate229]

Here's an example of bad judgement in towing:

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203886

[alwaysredee]

It's all about technique at the end of the day unless the ramp is really old or in malrepair.

[83PREDICTOR]

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/Knjhn/beingtowed.jpg

[Acer2428]

I've seen RV'ers use big 4x4 ATV's to launch/retrieve boats before.

[jdinvt]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if a 2002 jeep grand cheeroke with a 6cyl would be able to pull my 25ft convincor. I only have to go about 5 mi. and the ramp isnt that bad. Thanks, John

[Acer2428]

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p63/Knjhn/beingtowed.jpg

I was amazed at how little that Taco squatted, but then I looked at the tandem axle trailer with most of the weight in the rear...lol