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| I have a small aluminum boat and trailer. I want to purchase either a SUV or truck to pull it. I plan on getting the tow package. Looking on advice what to purchase? I want to spend about $25,000 or less. Do I need a 4WD or AWD or does it matter? Thanks |
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Posts: 188
Location: Madison, WI | I would think it depends on where and when you're going to fish. If you plan on fishing lakes with concrete landings in the middle of summer then you probably wouldn't need a 4WD. Once the temps start to turn towards the freezing mark and / or the landings are dirt or sand then the answer might be different. One thing to note: As I understand it (and I could be wrong here) many AWD vehicles actually only transfer power to the "other" wheels when they sense a need for it. My vehicle has an "Auto" feature the works in the same fashion and I can tell you that it is not the best at pulling the boat out bad situations. I also understand that AWD vehicles do not have a low gear (4WD LOW) which is almost a necessity if you're going to off the beaten path late in the season. Just my 2 cents. Craig |
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Posts: 3926
| there are so many variables to consider, but you can get a whole lot with $25K
*choose between a SUV or a pickup depending on what you'll need to haul
*choose between 2WD and 4WD depending on where you'll be driving
*choose between a 6 or 8 cylender depending on the total weight you'll be hauling, plus what you can afford in gas. Also, will you be upgrading your boat to somethig bigger in the future?
A review of Consumer Reports info will help steer you to the "better" vehicles. For what it's worth: if you head toward smaller SUV's, you might do very well with a Jeep. The Cherokee type, I mean. There's a gazillion used ones out there right now, the aftermath of a huge lease program that ended in the late 1990s. The 4.0 liter in-line 6cyl motor is tried and true, should be easy to pull your small aluminum boat. Not a gas hog at all.
hope that helps. |
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Posts: 294
Location: Suspended | Look at the Ford Explorer. It has plenty of room to store stuff in the back with the seats down and you don't have to worry about the weather getting at it. I load up the night before and don't worry about the weather or waking the family in the morning. If your boat is 24ft or over and you plan on going long distances get a transmission cooler installed along with the tow package. |
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Posts: 364
Location: in the white boat | I'm a little biased, but I've owned 2 Tahoes and a Suburban and can honestly say that I don't believe there is a better tow vehicle than a Tahoe. When the one I have now gets up to around 150k on it, I'll trade it in on a '99 (I don't care for the new body style). |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | I have a 00' Yukon and it is a giant POS. I am seeking arbitration to get out of this poorly engineered pile of crap. If your boat is light, consider a slightly used Toyota 4Runner or current generation Nissan Pathfindrer with the 240hp 3.5LV-6. If it is a heavy boat get a Toyota Tundra w/ the V8 |
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