Hi folks,

I'm starting to look at trucks to replace my aging sedan.  Right now I'm pulling a 14' Jon but with a truck I know I can do better  How much truck do you need to pull your typical fiberglass bass boat?  I'm looking at the Dodge Dakota would this do the trick? Or do I need to go with a Dodge 1500 (i.e. Ford F150).  For my first bass boat I won't be buying a 20 foot monster, 16 to 18 feet would be plenty.

Thanks for all your help!

Hi folks,

I'm starting to look at trucks to replace my aging sedan. Right now I'm pulling a 14' Jon but with a truck I know I can do better How much truck do you need to pull your typical fiberglass bass boat? I'm looking at the Dodge Dakota would this do the trick? Or do I need to go with a Dodge 1500 (i.e. Ford F150). For my first bass boat I won't be buying a 20 foot monster, 16 to 18 feet would be plenty.

Thanks for all your help!

V-8 . JMHO

^^^^Yup if your upgrading to fiberglass don't chance not having enough truck.  You might find a deal on a 20 footer.

I am pulling a 17 foot Bass Tracker with a 2008 Ranger with a 3.0 six cylinder.  I could pull a small glass boat, but if I had any intention of buying a fiberglass boat more than 18 feet I would want an eight cylinder F150.

The more the merrier. I pull mine 20 footer with a 2008 Ford F250. Diesel of course. More than needed for the boat but i pull other stuff with it also.

I have a  2 fishing buddies that have Dakota's, both are 4x4, ext cab

one has a 04  with the 4.6L V8 and pulls a Nitro 911 with it and it does it fine.  even in the hils/mts in western Pa.

other has a 03 with a V6, pulls a 17 foot astro, and has troublepulling the boat in the hills. (when he fished with us he doesn't run with us to the lake anymore, because he just can not keep up with us)

FYI;

I would go with the V8 not the V6.

also put an extra Trans cooler on it as soon as you get it, even if it has a fatory one, add another one to it. Both of them did not have a cooler on theirs and both have had to put new trans in their trucks.

I have an 18 1/2 foot Champion.  I pull it with a F-150 supercab with the 4.2 V6, auto transmission.  A V8 would be better but as my everyday driver, the gas mileage back and forth to work is better with my V6.  

I had a 03 Ranger 4.0 V6 4x4 and it could tow a full sized bass boat with no problem at all.  That being said it was not ideal.  You could easily pull a 16-18' Bass boat with a V6 4x4 truck.  Check the manual for the towing capicity if you want to be sure.