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Posts: 103
| I have a Ranger 681vs and I am looking for a different (used) tow vehicle. I am leaning toward a midsized suv like a Pathfinder, 4 Runner, etc. Anyone have any experience towing a boat with a "finished" weight of around 3000 pounds with a 6? Will I be wishing I had an 8 every time I pull the boat?
Thanks
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Posts: 1316
Location: Lebanon,Mo | Probably depends on what year of vehicle you plan to purchase...most v-6 these days put out as much or more horsepower than v-8's from ten years ago... |
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Location: MN | I tow a Ranger 680T w/ 60hp Etec behind an 06 Trailblazer I6 and it pulls it fine. I normally tow in drive and have plenty of power when I need it. However, my hull is 300lbs lighter and I have a smaller outboard. IMO I think you'll be fine pulling that rig with a 6 cylinder; always nice to have the extra power of an 8 cylinder engine but I definitely don't think it's necessary for towing a 681vs.
Edited by Mak51 8/4/2011 9:47 AM
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Posts: 797
Location: North Central IL USA | I like having the 8 cylinder. It's nice to be able to pass a logging truck on those northern Wisconsin highways. |
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| Also consider the suspension in a vehicle with a 6-cylinder. I had a 98 ProCraft 180 combo with 175 Merc and towed it effortlessly with our 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8. One day, my wife needed the Jeep so we were going to pull the boat to the launch with my buddy's Toyota 4-runner 6-cyl. We hooked up the trailer and when I got the tongue jack all the way as low as it would go, the trailer was still putting weight on the tongue jack. I had to put a floor jack under the 4-Runner's frame and jack it up in order to get the tongue jack tucked up. The 4-Runner really struggled pulling that boat. Had to do the same thing with the floor jack under the 4-runner to get the boat off the hitch. If you tow frequently or far, IMHO the v-8 is probably a good investment. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | trucks should pull boats and not get pushed around by trailers ... if you use a heavy glass boat and want to pull it around, you're best to have something that will pull it with ease. being pushed by a trailer is dangerous for you and anyone around you on the road. just has to happen once and you'll know what i mean. |
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Posts: 495
Location: midwest | I have a 08' Tacoma 4x4 with the 4.0 litre v-6 and I have had zero problems pulling around a Tuffy 1760 with a 150 on it. The weight should be similiar to what you are looking to pull. Make sure you follow the manufacturers specs ( I lock out OD on my truck) and you should be fine. It helps to have a trans and oil cooler (tow package) as well as the 4x4 models as they typically come with larger breaks and four piston calipers for the front breaks. My truck is listed as a 6,000 lb tow capacity. I believe if you stay close to 50% of what the manufacturer claims is the tow capacity then you should be fine. |
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Posts: 676
Location: Twin Cities, MN | I tow my 617 with an inline 6 extended trailblazer.
It has done a very nice job or me for quite a few years now, although I do not feel the need to floor it going up steep hills, or tow at 70 MPH either.
Pal |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | "A Government that robs from Peter to pay Paul, can always count on the support of Paul"
Ibidah!! |
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Posts: 146
Location: where the fish are... | Personally if I were you, a newer pathfinder with the 4.0L V-6 has more than plenty of power and torque, I think those motors are 240hp and almost 300lbft. This will be sufficient to tow a 3000lbs boat. I have a 2001 Ford Ranger with a 4.0L v6, i towed a uhaul trailer 1100 miles from NC to IL that was tipping the scales around the 4000lbs mark and had no problems, hell i even still got almost 17mpg. |
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Posts: 227
Location: Maple Grove | I tow my 681vs with an Explorer V6. It's been doing the job fine for several seasons now. That being said, as soon as the budget allows I will be getting something with more power.
Joe Olstadt |
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Posts: 222
Location: c.wis | jeep has a cherokee diesel now, its 3 cyl. but form what ive heard it tows nice |
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Posts: 103
| Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like if I want a Pathfinder or 4 Runner with a 6 it better be at least a 4.0 liter. |
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Posts: 11
| Ford is now making a3.5 liter V-6 engine to replace its 5.4 liter V-8. It is called ECOBOOST, has 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 420 foot-pounds of torque. Estimated gas milage is 16 city and 22 highway for the Ford F150. |
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Posts: 395
Location: NW WI | Couple things:
One thing nobody has mentioned here is wheelbase. A Pathfinder/4 Runner has a pretty short wheelbase. MIGHT want to consider a longer w-base vehicle. Less chance of trailer sway especially in windy conditions.
On average, consider how far you are going to trailer the boat? The farther you go the more things like transmission and engine oil coolers will help the drivetrain handle the load as the miles pile up. Use synthetic fluids.
Get a tow vehicle with rear wheel drive. Just better pulling the boat out on slippery or steep ramps. AWD/4WD even better! Ask me how I know this!
If you go with a 6 cyl., look at what RPM range the engine makes it's best torque. Some engines make their best torque @ 5000 rpm. Who tows at 5K rpm?
I've towed with Suburbans, Trailblazers, minivans and currently have an 08 Grand Caravan with a 4.0L 6 cyl rated at 260+ hp. Best torque is on the 3K rpm range. I would not hesitate pulling a 620 Ranger a long way with this van, but I better be launching at a paved ramp that isn't real steep.
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| I have an 08 Honda Pilot and that exact same boat. Towed it 700 miles total this weekend with an avg. speed of about 75mph. The Honda did great, avgd about 15.5mpg and can barely tell its back there. The trailer swayed a little at high speed but nothing to bad. The Honda has a 3.5 245hp V-6, awesome vehicle. |
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Posts: 393
Location: Hopefully on the water | IFiskSkie brings up a good point about the wheelbase. A couple of year ago I watch a Suburban and 32 travel trailer roll a couple of times on the highway because it started swaying. My wife and I backed way off and watched the whole thing happen. Everyone was alright but with the shorter wheelbase you need to pay attention even more. it is like shooting a bow or a gun with a shorter barrel. The forgiveness is less with a shorter wheelbase.
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Posts: 495
Location: midwest | It doesn't seem like my 08 extended cab tacoma is much shorter than my friends new 1500 Silverado? I'll have to look up the measurements. I have not experienced trailer swing while towing with this vehicle. |
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Posts: 495
Location: midwest | Looked it up and a new extended cab Silverado has a wheel base of 133" while my extended cab tacome has a wheelbase of 127.4". |
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