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| Would a 1/2 ton Dodge with a 318 be too small for this boat? I'd hate to find out after the fact. |
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Location: Green Bay | I use a 1/2 ton ford with a 330ci with 140,000 miles. No problems here. |
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Posts: 32950
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Would be just fine. |
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| I Had a 97 Jeep with a 318 ci, my wheel base was short, but as far as power no problems. |
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Location: MN | I am wondering the same thing, except I would be towing with a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer with a 4.2L I6 engine. My calcs put the total weight of boat/trailer/engine/gear/and gas around 4600lbs (based on BBC info & rough estimates). I am looking at larger rigs (bigger than the 680T) and wondering if anyone has an opinion if this vehicle could pull & stop alright with a 690 behind it?
Edited by Mak51 12/29/2009 10:42 PM
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | I have a trailblazer with a v6 in it,I just bought a tracker 17 ft 75hp merc in august and it has a hard time pulling that.The only way I could see it pulling a heavy boat is if the trailor is very smooth,mine is a 98 and I`m sure I need to do a few things to the trailor to make it smoother riding.Also pulling a boat my gas mileage is horrible,I need to get a truck again. |
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Posts: 90
| I have a 2006 Trailblazer and tow a 690T. I bought the SUV before the boat figuring I would never find the deal on the boat that I did and would end up with a smaller boat. It does ok. I drive in 3 instead of D and don't break 65 and get between 13-15 mpg. Been doing it for two years. Back in the 90s people used to pull these things all across the country with Astrovans which usually had the 4.3L V6. I know a walleye pro/amatuer that tows a 620 behind a Trailblazer. It can do it, just remember you are towing with a trailblazer and not an F-350 and you will be fine. Surge brakes help too. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Mak51 - 12/29/2009 11:30 PM
I am wondering the same thing, except I would be towing with a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer with a 4.2L I6 engine. My calcs put the total weight of boat/trailer/engine/gear/and gas around 4600lbs (based on BBC info & rough estimates). I am looking at larger rigs (bigger than the 680T) and wondering if anyone has an opinion if this vehicle could pull & stop alright with a 690 behind it?
Dude, I'm in Florida right now and I saw a guy in a Trailblazer towing a 23 (or so) Century today with twin 200's on it. Not saying it's a good idea, but it is doable....me, I think it'd be right on the line for that boat and your truck. But that's just a guess. |
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Posts: 422
| I would not recommend it. I drive the same rig for my squad car and have to sometimes pull a smaller enclosed trailer full of dive gear. It has a hard enough time with that. A lot of bouncing w/ the soft suspension and it is a pooch at midrange. I think you may be fine with the engine over time, but I would guess that you will end up w/ trans. problems and other thinkgs that will wear out faster with the load if you are pulling on a regular basis. |
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Location: Twin Cities | Just because the engine/drivetrain can pull it, doesn't mean it can stop/slow/turn gracefully without the load behind you causing big problems, especially in a panic situation.
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Location: MN | Thanks for good feedback. |
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