PDA

View Full Version : Anyone With A 4 Cyl Truck What Do You Pull



TEXCOASTIE
07-30-2005, 01:53 PM
Does Anybody Think I Would Have A Problem Geting A 16-18 Foot Speed Boat Out Of The Water With My Truck It Is A 4 Cyl 5 Speed 2 Wheel Drive Dakota I Have 31-10.50 Allterrain Tires On It I Have Pulled A 16 Foot Bass Boat About 50 Miles A Couple Of Times But I Have Never Launched Anyting With It Before.

Anybody Else With A 4 Cyl What Do You Pull

Ted Stryker
07-30-2005, 05:19 PM
I don't know how well the two compare, but my brother had a 1997 Ford Ranger with a 5 speed, 3.45 gears and a 2.5L. 4 cyl... His boat/trailer weighed about 2000 lbs and we had fits with it at the launch.... It didn't have enough torque to " labor " the boat out... The only two options were either smoke the clutch while revving the engine, or to rev it up and dump the clutch and smoke the tires... We usually ended up with the accelerator on the floor with the engine loaded down to about 1200 rpm.... The truck would move the load up the ramp for 10 feet or so and start to bog, at that time we would just push in on the clutch enough to let the engine back up and the cycle repeated itself until it got on flat ground... When the trailor got out, you could either smell tire smoke or clutch dust and on occassion both.... Irronically enough, it would pull a single axle XB-2002 Allison 85+ mph on flat highway in fourth gear... Good luck...

Rickracer
07-30-2005, 05:54 PM
....about 300 miles on a wheel dolly, it was no problem. However with that tire size, your overall gear ratio suffers quite a bit. I would suggest a shorter, wide tire, or changing the gear ratio. With the right overall gear ratio, it should be no problem. :cool:

fijjity
07-30-2005, 06:27 PM
I pulled my Baja Sport 190 a lot and never had a problem. You have to take into consideration the weight ratio so it doesn't pull it into the water on a steep loading ramp-seen that happen a few times. Make damn sure it is a concrete launch with no gravel or rocks. It will only take ya in as far till the boat floats, but with practice it may be okay(considerin if ya have a few trucks to practice with :D ). My ranger also had 410 gears. Be veddy careful

ssent
07-30-2005, 06:55 PM
I got a buddy with a older ranger boat, probably around 2500 lbs. boat, motor, trailor and gear. He has a toyota 4x4 with a 4 banger, no problem pulling it up a steep ramp. He doesn't even use the low side gearing for the ramp. But it has 4.10 gears from factory.
Top speed on the highway I think he said wasn't much more than 85mph because of the low gearing. He pulls the boat down the highway 70-75 mph.
I do know that his gas mileage without the boat is about 22 mpg. Usually the words truck and gas mileage don't even go together in the same sentence. A 4 banger with the right gearing can get the job done.

dc96819
07-31-2005, 02:01 AM
Never had trouble with a 86 toyoty with 31s 4x4,dident even use the 4wd.
Towed a 20 footer.

Rickracer
07-31-2005, 07:22 AM
I believe that Dakota will probably have 3:55s or somewhere in that neighborhood, for fuel mileage. The tires he's running are probably about 15~20% bigger in circumference, hence that much lower overall effective gear ratio. Going to a 4:10~4:30 ratio would give plenty of pulling power. The idea is to get back to, or slightly lower than, the stock overall ratio. You can do it with tires, or gears, whichever is most cost effective or desireable. :cool: I did a set of 4:88s in a customer's S-10 Blazer so he could pull a 25' cabin boat to the local lake, and he's quite happy with it, and with the overdrive trans, it still isn't too bad on the highway. :cool:

Ron V
08-07-2005, 08:48 AM
I'm pulling the Rapid Craft with a 2005 Toyota Tacoma, which has the 4-cylinder 2.7 DOHC w/variable valve timing and a 3.58 rear, plus it's an automatic. I really do think the automatic is the way to go for towing, especially launching boats. My motor has a lot of torque compared to the other 4-bangers out there......I still think you'll have enough power (it doesn't take that much to pull a boat that size out), but getting it out of the ramp will be hard on the clutch and getting the tires to hook up on a slick ramp will be tougher with the stick shift.

I was never aware they put a 4 cylinder in the Dakota. That has to be a rare truck. About as rare as a 2-wheel drive 2005 Tacoma regular cab with automatic.

GP-1
09-03-2005, 10:00 AM
I tow my V-King with a Suzuki Sidekick.. 1.6 liter, 100 hp. You're not going anyplace in a big hurry, but I can tow at 65-70 without much trouble. The thing I'm most careful about is stopping distance. My "truck" only weighs about 2600 lbs., so the trailer could push it around a bit if I had to stop fast. It's a 4wd so I have no problems at the ramp (I use low range to save my clutch).. The best thing is that I average about 20-21 mpg towing..

triple dude
09-03-2005, 12:45 PM
During my divorce, had to have another vehicle so I bought a six cylinder Dakota with automatic trans. My jetboat (with tandem axle trailer) is a bit heavier than most of the other guys boats on here. Not only was it a struggle at the launch but also on the road. Pulling away from a stop, it took forever to get up to sped and then I'd come to another stoplight and start all over again. :mad: I ditched that truck prety quick and bought a Chevy half ton with 305 and five speed. Works well.

bahamatrama
09-03-2005, 08:42 PM
If the ramp is wide enough back the truck to about 45 degree angle to the water. It allows you to get a little run before the weight gets to you. I worked in my little mustang pulling a 23 villian III

LakeRacer99
09-27-2005, 01:06 PM
I wouldn't think you would have any trouble with the Dakota.

Lets see...I used my 97 2.5L 5sp 3.73 4x2 Ranger to pull my Mirage River Racer, Both My Allisons, Both my ebko Tunnels, my jet Ski, a cajun Bass Boat, basically, if it had a hitch I pulled it. The only thing you need to remember is to not get in a hurry on the highway (ie plan your Passes). I launch on the local concrete ribbed ramps though.

I did not try to pull my 26ft Larson Cuddy with the little Ranger 4x2, instead I used my other Ranger with a 4.0L V6...Now that is a bad MF.


BAHAMA...Did you say you used a Mustang to pull a 23 Chaparral Villian? Wow.

Hot Shot Merc
09-27-2005, 01:49 PM
I used to tow my old Action 17 with a Mazda,S-10 and an Isuzu mini truck.All of them had the four banger.It would grunt a little but did the job.Now stoping was a problem from time to time. :p

Dark Allison
10-09-2005, 09:41 AM
A guy at work pulled a 20ft norris craft with a 4cyl 4X4 toyota for years. He had two hundred thousand miles on it when he sold it.We always passed him on the road. :rolleyes: He always passed us at the gas station. :o He never had any problems at any of the ramps we went to.

k_nesse
10-17-2005, 08:52 AM
For years, my dad has towed his sailboats around with our families Volvo 240 wagon. We had a 23.5 foot hunter that weighed around 3000lbs. Never had a problem with it. Just some excessive downshifting on hills :) . We just bought the car back for 75 bucks. 310,000 miles still going strong. So when in doubt tow with a volvo 2.3L 4cyl 5spd. BTW my dad is an engineer so I guarantee that the trailer was setup just perfect as far as tongue weight and balance issues go. Personally I like my 1998 F150 4.6 Manual for towing my Champion Mirage 201. With the flowmaster super 40s on true dual it makes some nice music goin up hills. If you don't have limited slip, you might want to go a little heavy on the tongue weight so you don't have traction issues pulling the boat out. Another thought is to get a really good trailer jack with a nice wheel on it and buy one of those walmart winches that you put over the trailer hitch and pull the boat out that way. After toasting 3 or 4 clutches my dad got sick of replacing them so he mounted a warn 4000 on the trailer and winched the trailer out to the Volvo. Good luck...

1BadAction
10-17-2005, 09:15 AM
does it count hauling a 6000lb boat with a v6 blazer thats running on 4 cylinders? or how about a truck that weighs 1/8 of the weight of the boat? :eek::D

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=60309

150aintenuff
10-30-2005, 12:05 AM
how about a 30K straight pull 48' trailer with 2 old school busses on it going to scrapyard with a powerstroke f250???? does that count for something.... and yes I have the weight slip showng my total weight at 36900... truck empty is 7K.. that was a not so fun drive.... EVERYTHING was over loaded.... front axle, rear axle, tounge, trailer tires(4 axles of them).. tires were at 100 lbs of pressure and were near squated flat.. very scarry... lost trailer brakes 1/2 mile from destination blew a fuse on Jake actuator.. took quarter mile to slow down from 30 to stop at redlight.. NOT FUN..

but it was a good payday.. next trip will only haul 1 at a time... it was scarier than the sububan pic 1bad posted..

merctech5591
10-30-2005, 08:06 PM
i've got the i-5 cyl chevy colorado pulling a 21 liberator w300x.i have no problems pulling out of ramp or even on the highway.

TAXXIVADER
01-09-2006, 05:30 AM
got me a toyota hilux 4x2 and i always be towin broke down nissans back to the dealerships ,, dont know why , guess im just a real nice bloke..............lol.;)

TAXXIVADER
01-09-2006, 05:39 AM
Now on a more serious note . ican tow launch & retrieve a 5.99 mt polycraft no problems at all . this vessle wieghs 1350 kgs loaded...the towing cap of the hilux is 1800 kgs ......but i dont think i wiil attemp to launch or retrieve this max weight...........cheers taxxivader....:eek:

1BadAction
01-09-2006, 08:42 AM
pfffft... just get a SS Ute and be done with it :D

AZoutrage
02-22-2008, 12:18 AM
When I had a Whaler 13' I towed it with an old Volvo wagon (sometimes). I think it did as well as my V-6 Explorer. Now I have an 18 ft Outrage that may weigh 3000 lb. with outboard, trailer, fuel, and sundries. My Jeep Liberty with a 4 banger diesel pulls it like it's not there. I do notice some squirrelly behavior when backing down slippery ramps. I think the torque converter is still pushing in reverse and making the wheels slip. It behaves better in neutral, using the brakes to control speed. Pulling out is not an issue.

AZoutrage
02-22-2008, 12:21 AM
Oops. I'm new here and posted to the wrong thread. Sorry. Dave

AZoutrage
02-22-2008, 12:23 AM
When I had a Whaler 13' I towed it with an old Volvo wagon (sometimes). I think it did as well as my V-6 Explorer. Now I have an 18 ft Outrage that may weigh 3000 lb. with outboard, trailer, fuel, and sundries. My Jeep Liberty with a 4 banger diesel pulls it like it's not there. I do notice some squirrelly behavior when backing down slippery ramps. I think the torque converter is still pushing in reverse and making the wheels slip. It behaves better in neutral, using the brakes to control speed. Pulling out is not an issue.

baja200merk
02-22-2008, 11:50 AM
i pull a 25ft checkmate with twins wit my dakota (V8), launch and pull it out no problem i have done it in 2wd but usually put it in low range for the pull out part this 44re aint strong :rolleyes:

Mitchie
02-22-2008, 04:04 PM
I tow a 170 baja with a toyota 4runner 22r carb... I have never had any problems at all with launch ramps. My father pulled a 21 foot Chris Craft Cuddy.. With a 5.7l i/o 200 miles on a relatively regular basis with a 1990 4runner 4cyl 5 speed. It sucks on big hills on the highway.. But these trucks suck at that even when not pulling anything. The absolute fastest you could get a 4 banger toyota 4runner with no load is 90mph downhill....

gotboostedvr6
02-22-2008, 04:21 PM
i have a 84 2.2 liter 4cyl toyota 4x4

when im on the ramp i use 4low can pull 3500 lbs up a nice grade. no clutch burn at all.

the highway is a different story 1900 is my max comfortable weight

baja200merk
02-22-2008, 04:36 PM
i have a 84 2.2 liter 4cyl toyota 4x4

when im on the ramp i use 4low can pull 3500 lbs up a nice grade. no clutch burn at all.

the highway is a different story 1900 is my max comfortable weight

you have a 2.4l 22r ;)

i towed put a friends 23 mate in on my 89 yota 4cyl and that was spinnin 33s ;) gotta love low range:D

kevin:cool:

SUPAJAY
02-23-2008, 09:57 PM
I have a 2002 Ford Ranger 4cyl auto.. Ive towed pretty much everything with it. lol

My 22 activator with a dual axle trailer and a 3ltr merc... weighs approx 3000 with trailer

I have also towed, (short distances only) my 25 checkmate LOL. Yes its funny and Bash has footage. But it still gets the boat up the ramp!!! :D

The truck has 110,000 miles on it, and a rebuilt tranny at 90,000. For a little beater it gets up and goes !!!!!!!!!!

codprawn
03-07-2008, 06:48 PM
I have a Land Rover which is a 4 cylinder 2.5L turbo diesel. It will pull a 30' boat weighing 8,000lbs very easily - don't even need low ratio. I have even towed a 12,000lb load 300 miles with it. I get 26mpg towing!!!