scooter Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 Need to tow a 20 foot skeeter (glass) can a f150 with a six do it. I am talking trips from 50 miles regularly and 600 plus 2-3 times ayear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedar1 Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 Yes you can, but I would'nt recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cajun1977 Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 i see no harm in pulling it its a truck its a boat its a match could be a chevy but a ford will do lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernel Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 If it is a newer model, then I would not see any problems with it. Some of the older model trucks with the six cylinders didn't have that great of a breaking system. Of course if you do not live in the mountains like me, then that will not be as big of a problem. Then again, the old stright sixes had more torque than some V-8s did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Javelin_Venom Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 I tow my boat with a Ford Explorer Sport Trac. It is a 2001 and has a 4.0L V6. I've never had a problem. I haven't made a run of 600 miles with it but I have made a run of a 2 or 3 hundred and back more than once without any difficulties. I asked my mechanic about it when I got my boat, they didn't forsee it to be a problem either. Good luck with everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basser89 Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 My uncle used to tow his Hydra-Sport with a Bronco two. Matter a fact, he towed it from Texas to PA. While I wouldn't recommend a ford, it can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamblerOH Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 If that 6 cylinder is an automatic I would install a transmission cooler right away. those six cyl trannies are not very durable when towing. I know of a lot of people that have had lots of problems towing with them. If is a manual I would say you'll be fine. I have towed my boat with my wifes 2002 explorer it will pull it but It gives it a good workout on the hills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 As GamblerHO stated, put you and extra cooler on it. There is one I like much better than all others but can't find the brand name, It looks more like a minnie car radiator than the ones that one that look like a zig zaged piece of tubing going through the cooling fins. They are very thin and much smaller than the those cheaper tubing things for the same BTU rating. Making them much easire to mount because it should go between the AC condensor and the radiator. Next, DO NOT tow in overdrive and limit your speed to 60 - 65 mph if the roads are fairly flat and a little slower than that if constantly going up and down even small hills/rises in the road. If you're running the five speed manual, don't tow in 5th gear. If you will abide by these, you should have no problems, but trying towing it fast or in overdrive and you will greatly shorten the life of your tranny. Coming from Az to Ga with my Javelin R20 on a dual axle trailer, I found I got better gas milage in my 98 FWD, Chevy truck with a 350 towing in 3rd than in Overdrive. My transmission is highly modified so I can tow 6,000 lbs in OD all day long, but when coming back I was getting 12.4 mpg at 65 - 70 mph in OD. Towing in 3rd at the same speed I got 14.6 mpg. Taking that extra strain off the engine let it breath easier. Even in my truck with a bigger engine and an extensively modified transmisson, I still mostly stayed around 65, 70 on long flat highway and less in hilly country. Lot of that had to do with gas mileage as much as anything but the transmission was still much happier. I tow 93 miles one way every two weeks or so, I still don't use overdrive and speed is approx 62 mph, (55 mph speed limit). There is almost no level road during that trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyKeyBe Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 No matter what the engine, use a transmission cooler on an auto trans. Every 20 degrees you lower the temp of the transmission fluid will double the life of the trans. Also get the biggest cooler you can fit. You cannot over cool a transmission. And if Ben is speaking of the B&M mega cooler I would have to agree. The B&M mega cooler is one of the best coolers on the market. Way better than any tube in fin cooler. The stacked plate design that B&M uses is superior. Anyhow, yes you can tow with a six. However I will say some work better than others. If you have an older Ford with the 4.9 inline six you will have no problems. If it is a newer Ford with the 4.2 V-6, well you can tow with it but you may not be happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low_Budget_Hooker Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I pulled my 16 ft whaler with my Jetta for 2 yrs,but I only live down the street from the ramp. Still probably wasn't a great idea. Now I keep it at a slip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SENKOSAM Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 I once had a '80 something Ford Ranger with a V-6 and it had little power going up hills, even in 3rd. To tow my 17' Ranger, I usually invited my neighbor with his big 8, to fish any distance over 60 miles from home. I won't ever buy a six for towing and for getting out of steep ramps. My '87 F-150, 4 speed, with a small eight, still hauls fine, but is starting to slow on the mountains. I'm looking for a good used truck that gets better than 13 mpg. I heard that the gear ratio in the back should also support towing over 1000 lbs. The Ford Ranger didn't have a power ratio. It's no wonder the heat gauge was up there in summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyKeyBe Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 Gear ratio will affect effective torque ratio. The Ranger probably had something like a 2.8/2.9 liter v-6 and maybe 3.53 gears tops. Most likely 2.73 or 3.08 gears. It all adds up to an engine and gear/trans combo that sucks for towing but is pretty good on fuel mileage when not towing. You want to buy something in between? Good for towing and not bad all around when not towing? Get a v-8 with a rear end ratio of 3.50-3.73 maybe 4.-10 if the rig you just bought has a tall tire on it from the factory. Any gear ratio will support towing 1,000 pounds. You want to match the engine to the trans and to the rear end for an efective combo. Huh? It all comes down to effective torque ratio. What I am trying to say is that my S-10 with a 4.3 liter and properly matched rear end will out "pull" your F-150 with a 302 and mismatched rear gear ratio all day long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SENKOSAM Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 My other neighbor's S-10 aged 15 years pulling my boat up a mountain. It gave up the ghost 6 mos. later. Probably didn't have the ratio you speak of. There's not too many 8's that will get better than 17 mpg even on flat road, so if I want the power, the truck I buy won't be used for the commute to work. How about SUVs. Any out there that could do the job and get decent mileage? I looking at a 2000 Acura with only 55k on the odom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dink Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 I just bought an '05 G3 Eagle 165 bass boat (16 ft.) and I pull it just fine with my 99 Ranger with a 3.0L V6. It is a manual 5 speed but it pulls just fine. I have also pulled my buddy's 17 ft. Grumman a few times with no problems. Oh yeah, my truck has 108,000 mi. Don't use OD, change oil, check tires, catch fish! No worries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 I'd do it. Like mentioned above, install a trans cooler (and temp quage if your paranoid like me). I pull my 17 F&S with a I6 Trailblazer....no worries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlinrogue Posted January 24, 2006 Share Posted January 24, 2006 I pull a smaller glass boat(mid 70's Terry;16 ft I believe) with a Ford F150 w/ 6 cyl motor and have no problems.Of course the farthest I travel is 30 miles of fairly flat highway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afroengineer Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 I pull my boat with a Ford Explorer Sport Trac, with the 4.0 6 Cyl. It pulls with no problems. My boat is pretty light though it is just a 15 foot fiberglass Astro. Now these guys have me worryin about gettin a tranny cooler though lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyRod Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 If you are towing a fairly large and heavy boat with a midsize P/U, or even a midi SUV, you might find the tail wags the dog at inopportune moments; sharp curves at speed, wet pavement, etc. Braking can be a problem too...sometimes fatally. Also, though towing with a manual tranny on level surface is usually OK, assuming clutch skills are part of your resume', a manual tranny on steep ramps will probably need clutch replacement sooner than later. If the clutch is worn, the driver may not be able to gain ground, especially when recovering the boat, and may even lose ground...disaster! Further, if YOU want to drive the boat off and on the trailer, you'd better school your partner on manual clutches vs. steep ramps. Otherwise, the entire rig may join the Silent Service (See: US Navy, Submarines.) I've seen this happen more than once. I'd recommend the driver's door be OPEN and that the driver be wearing a PFD. Not kidding here! F.Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camofish Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 WOW, all I have is a little Tacoma 4cyl. and I pull my 17' TX tracker, about 1 - 3/4 hour drives up into the Adirondack mts. to camp 4-5 times a year. But mostly still with in an hour to the house and my little truck pulls it just fine, take your time and I always make it. Have been thinking of pulling it from upstate NY to SouthWest VA this spring. :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedar1 Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 WOW, all I have is a little Tacoma 4cyl. and I pull my 17' TX tracker, about 1 - 3/4 hour drives up into the Adirondack mts. to camp 4-5 times a year. But mostly still with in an hour to the house and my little truck pulls it just fine, take your time and I always make it.Have been thinking of pulling it from upstate NY to SouthWest VA this spring. :-/ There is a BIG difference in weight between a 17' tracker and a 20' skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDH Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 I pull my 19ft nitro with a '02 chevy s10 zr2. It does a great job... then again it has a 4.3 HO motor in it and the right gearing.. and beefed up for towing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Can I tow with a ford 6 NO.... I wouldn't do it if I were you ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JoshKeller Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 The biggest tip I've learned about towing a 16 ft deep V glass bass boat (2000 lbs) with my 4 cylinder manual, is to bring along a friend. Chuck the tires, and when you pull up, crawl the boat up the ramp and have him move the chuck. By chucking the tires, you prevent the truck from going backwards as you engage the clutch, and you get a straight pull right up the ramp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pa Angler Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 It's all about towing capacity recommended by the manufacturer. I tow with a 1999 GMC Jimmy with a 4.3 V6, 373 gears, 190 - 200hp and a tow rating around 4,500 lbs the 20' Skeeter with trailer doesn't weigh near that much. The Skeeter SX 200 dry weight without trailer is 1,650lbs according to Skeeter's website. With all my gear for a weeks vacation I trailer (estimated) 3,200lbs to 3,700lbs with no problems traveled 6.5 hours from PA to upstate NY without overheating. Granted the Tracker weighs less then the Skeeter just be shure you have a towing packing, mine has a factory trans cooler and a tow haul button that changes the trans shift parameters. I use synthetic oil rather then natural based oil the synthetic oil does what they claim reduces friction, increases fuel mileage, frees up power through less friction and doesn't lose viscosity through heat like natural base oils do. I trailer a 2004 Tracker 17' Deep V dry weight is around 2,500lbs with trailer. Pickup trucks are usually made with towing in mind. Chow The Pa Angler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassguy6 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 I think i got all of you fellas beat if I may, 4 cyl. ford escort station wagon, pulling a 16' aluminum monark (modified bateaux) w/ 55 horse evinrude. pulled it from Hammond, LA to Logansport, LA (toledo bend) and back. So the check engine light came on a few times big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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