Hi, I am going to but a used Bass Tracker it is the 16' with a 60hp engine. I have a Ford Exporer 6cyl 4wd , my question is can I use the bumber to tow with? it has a place to put a ball and says 3000 pds?

or would I be better off to buy a new hitch that mounts to the frame?

Thanks, Bob

I used to tow my 17' Tracker Pro team with a Ford Ranger with the bumper. The only reason I have a hitch now is because I lifted it and the bumper was too high.

I have been towing my 17 foot Tracker with my Mazda B2500's bumper with no problem.

Boats have been towed millions of miles with the bumper hitches.

Bob,

I tow my Pro-185 with two vehicles.

The first is my wife's Jeep.

The second is my Volvo sedan.

It is funny to see the vehicles and trailers parked in the parking lot after I put the boat in the water.

The count goes....

Truck, truck, SUV, truck, SUV, truck, Volvo sedan, truck, truck, SUV....

I do not think you will have any problem towing your tracker with your set-up.

I have had people pass me on the highway and give me a funny look or smile or laugh when I pull her with my Volvo.

I just wave and smile back.

Thank you so much! for the replys! I have never had a boat this will be my first , I know it's used but I am so jazzed about getting it!  I was just wantinf to make sure because bumper says 3000lbs and the trailer says boat and trailer weigh 1700lbs. I just wanted to be safe.

Thanks for the help!

all the best, Obb

I had a 1984 16ft Hydra-Sport fiberglass bassboat that I towed for 2 years with a ford explorer and never had problem. Good luck on the water.

And you towed on the Bumper? without using an after market frame mounted hitch?

Thanks!

Hey,

I put the ball right through the hole in the bumper of my Explorer Sport Trac and ruined an area of the bumper. You are better off getting a Reese set up. That's what I am going to do this year. Can you tow with the Explorer. Yup. I had no problems.

bassnajr

I tow my 17' Bass Tracker w/ a small Jeep Cherokee, and occasionaly a Ford Ranger w/ a 4cyl. The Cherokee has a tow hitch, and I barely know the boat is back there. I use the bumper on the Ranger, handles her fine.

If what you are towing is under the max weight of the bumper than its ok. just remember that you must add all the wieght, not just the boat,trailer, motor, don't forget gas, batteries, tm, gear, ect. You will still be under the 3000 mark. just one thing to watch out. I did this once and my buddy did it with my trailer on his Explorer. don't make very sharp truns. the trailer will hit the bumper, either damaging the bumper, or worse bending the trailer. that is what happen when my buddy pulled my boat and made a 90degree turn

HBPP...that's what happened to me. That's why I am getting a Reese set-up.

ajr

Your boat and trailer will track a bit better if the hitch gives a slight down slope to the boat/trailer.

Your boat and trailer will track a bit better if the hitch gives a slight down slope to the boat/trailer.

I would think not...  LeveL is the way yo tow anything

Level is best, less tongue weight.  

The under bumper receiver is great because you can turn sharper, but the best advance is if you tow different trailers.  Then you can switch between a 2inch and 1 7/8inch and still have that sporty look instead of 2-3 balls on the bumper, and for some they only 1 hole.  So it's easier to pull the 2inch out and slide in a different receiver then unscrewing the ball from the bumper.