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Posts: 78
Location: Montgomery,Illinois | I am trying to help out a friend. He is telling me he is going to get a 16ft sylvan with a 25hp and casting decks along with a bow mount trolling motor. Sounds like a nice boat but he has a 4 cylinder ford ranger with 2 wheel drive I tried to tell him he will have problems pulling it along with problems getting it in and out of launches. He wont listen to me so what do you guys think.
Thanks Jake |
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Posts: 827
Location: Minneapolis,Minnesota | He won't have any problem towing a 16 ft aluminum boat with a 25hp with a 4 Cyl. Ranger. I know pleny of guys who tow that exact size rig with that truck or a S10 like it's not even there.
Some of the sh!ty landings on small lakes in N. Wisconsin can be a problem getting the boat out, but with a bit of practice and once he learns a few tricks he'll be able to yank her out of the water with little problem.
Edited by Phish Killer 5/27/2003 9:08 PM
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Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | He'll have no problems at all with that boat, I have a 1999 Ranger 4 X 4 with a 3.0 V6 and I pull a heavy 16.5ft fiberglass boat with a 75 oil injected motor and loaded with muskie gear no problem. My truck has a 3000# towing capacity. I get around 16 mpg pulling my boat at 55 mph. |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | "My opinion," you ask??? 2wd will be his only concern. Wet ramps with a little algae will cripple even a dually with 2wd. As stated earlier, he'll have to be careful about each ramp and weigh the slime factor so he doesn't tear up his new baby...or his ride.
Edited by stephendawg 5/28/2003 6:18 AM
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Posts: 78
Location: Montgomery,Illinois | well yeah i told him he could pull it but whats he going to do if he gets stuck on a ramp. Also right now his top speed is 75mph so the boat is going to bring that down alot. Plus hes never pulled a boat before. I just think it would be smarter to get a smaller boat first.
Jake |
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Posts: 633
| I use to have a ranger with a 4 banger, and 2 wd. I would smoke the tires on the ramp from time to time, but I also pulled out a friend of mines 18' pontoon several times without many problems. It all depends on the ramp that you are using. A 16' aluminum with a 25 hp motor shouldn't be a problem unless the ramp is steep, and wet/icy. If your friend is only topping out at 75 mph, he might have other problems with the truck. Trust me I have the tickets to prove it. Of course this is my opinion.
Lance |
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Posts: 22
| Forget about a smaller boat. Get a bigger truck. Why is his top speed 75 Mph?
He dosen't need to go fast to tow a boat, but should'nt his top speed be better? Is something wrong with this truck? |
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Posts: 218
| I used my 2wd Ranger with a 2.3 liter to pull a Tuffy Esox Magnum with a 60 hp Yamaha all over Villas County and the UP. I never had any problem at any of the many launch sites. As far as power, I was able to move along at 65mph with no problem. Used this set up for 3 years fishing 5 times a week from early June to mid August. Tell your friend to relax, this setup will work.
Ray |
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Posts: 33
| This is not a lie!!!
My dad used to have a 16 foot Alumacraft Lunker.
*I used to pull it with my Dodge NEON!!!
Now I have a Lunker and I pull it with a minivan...I just have to remember to release my emergency brake when I pull the boat out of the water. |
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Location: Pewaukee, WI | geeze don't get a smaller boat
4 banger isn't the best but it will do the job............
you're not going to win any races but as long as you get there who cares...........
My brother pulls the same with a small 4cl yota p/u......works just fine..
just need to know the limitations |
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Posts: 1120
Location: West Chester, OH | My rig is nearly identical (only Lund flavored) & I pulled it for years w/Datsun p/u, including a couple of rounds from home to Vilas & back.
Sure, I had to row the shifter on hills & but it'd easily run 60+ on flat road & got 20 MPG. As someone else said "Know your limitations." That includes your checkbook. |
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Posts: 78
Location: Montgomery,Illinois | thats another thing hes only 16 and i still think it will take its toll on his truck by the way i dont know why it tops out at 75 but thats downhill with the wind. I think its an 87 or an 86 Ranger. |
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Posts: 827
Location: Minneapolis,Minnesota | I don't think the question is if he should get the boat or not, but if he needs a new truck or not. Either way....he can still tow it with what he has....just not very fast.
Leave him alone and let him get his boat...... |
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| Jake
Sounds like you don"t want him to buy this boat; old truck, new truck or no truck.
Ranger Lover |
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Posts: 78
Location: Montgomery,Illinois | truly it doesnt matter to me i fish with him every day so if anything i want him to get a boat so we can fish from a boat. Also i have a 17ft sylvan with a 55hp and all extras so I dont care weather or not he gets the boat. I told him to just get a smaller boat so he doesnt have to worry and 3/4 of the lakes we fish have the 10hp limit on them anyway.
Jake |
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Posts: 13
Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin | I am Jake's friend that wants to get the boat. I told him I was thinking about getting the boat. I can get a really good deal on it. My truck tops out at 80 MPH. It takes a while to get there but it will do it on flat ground. There is nothing wrong with my truck either. It is an 88 Ford Ranger and runs like a charm...Starts every time! I really do not want to get a new truck any time soon though. I am thinking I will have trouble on the ramps but you guys seem to be changing my mind.
I am not worried about top speed when towing because I could get to 60 MPH at least on the highway I think. I got plenty of time.
I have never towed before so I know nothing about tow speed and all that stuff but I am willing to learn.
All the help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Justin |
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Posts: 827
Location: Minneapolis,Minnesota | Depending on the trailer, you don't want to go much over 60mph towing anyway. You'll be fine on most ramps with what you have....if it's a real ugly steep ramp maybe try to find a better one. Otherwise, get the boat....there are tons of great deals right now that may not be around forever.
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Posts: 13
Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Ok, thanks for hte help.
I am not sure about getting the boat yet but will know soon.
I will keep your suggestions in mind!
Thanks Again
Justin |
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Posts: 78
Location: Montgomery,Illinois | Yeah thanks for all the info. The guys on this site are awesome with posting replies.
Thanks Jake |
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Posts: 736
Location: Hartford, WI | Is it Standard or Automatic Transmission. Believe it or not, if its Standard you get more HP out of it and are able to get into and out of landings easier. If its auto matic, then that might be your horse power problem.
Jim |
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Posts: 13
Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin | It is a manual transmission
Justin |
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Boat Question