bfrnk, I am pulling a 17'6" Triton with a Chev. Ext. Cab 5.3 LTR engine. It screams like the boat is not their and the milage is still around 16/gallon. I was pulling it with a 06' Tacoma that could barely handle it (6 cylinder 4 X 4). Call Monte at Moritz and take him up on his offer. I bought mine their and have been very happy. You will not find a better offer or buying experience.

Guys
I'm new here to the forum and just retired and just bought my first used bass boat. Since we are talking tow vehicles, I plan on pulling a Ranger 362V that is 17'10" with my chevrolet 2004 Chevy Venture that is a front wheel drive. I dont think I'll have a problem pulling it but I'm wondering if I'll have trouble getting it out of the water with it being a front wheel drive vehicle.
Anyone have any experience along these lines or comments? I just may have to go buy me a pickup. Everyone told me that this wasnt gonna be cheap.
Thanks

Pville I'm not sure I've ever seen a bass boat pulled with a Chevrolet Venture so I'm not sure how it would handle the boat ramps. How much does the boat weight? If I'm not mistaken that van is rated to tow around 2000 pounds.

Just get a full size p/u with the big V8 option and they will all work for you. I have buddies towing 24' bay boats with 1/2 ton trucks and they work fine. Just do be like some dudes and expect good gas mileage b/c it won't happen towing a boat.

Also....get a 4x4 as it helps on some of the more "interesting" boat ramps. Down here in LA I need it on some ramps.

Well, I'm trying to avoid buying another vehicle..........I have a Dodge sedan, Ford Ranger and this van and I had trouble getting my boat out of the water last week with the Ranger so I'm gonna try the van to see how it works.
Wish me luck!

I hope it works for you Good Luck!!!

I pull my Fifth Wheel and my 21' Boat behind a Dodge Mega Cab Turbo Diesel, it never misses a beat. My brother has the new '07 Dodge. It has a Jake Brake on it.
Dayne, What are the prices on the diesel Liberty?

I have a 01 chevy with the 4.8.Next will be the 5.3.The newer ones have the flex fuel.From what I read smaller engines have to work harder in which uses more fuel.If Monte offers try both.

I wouldn't pull anything like that with a Venture Van. That 4T60-E isn't designed to pull a boat.

Take Moritz up on it. You will find out a lot of things on that trip such as is there enough braking power, enough suspension to handle the load, rear mirror visibility, real fuel milage, etc.

A generous offer!

Awe!!! tow talk. I just can't find the right vehicle. I pulled a 17 ft Glastron w/ a 92 6 Cyl Ranger till the clutch finally gave out on me. Pulled fine down the road but the ramps gave me problems. I now pull my 21' Skeeter Fish n Ski with a 2000 Ram 1500 w/ the 318. Great down the road but I have been stuck on some steep ramps and had to get pulled out. Lately, I use my wifes 4x4 Trailblazer, (her not happy). Not sure about the long haul, but it yanks it out. My next truck will be a 4X4, here pretty soon. I am tired of slipping my wheels on a wet steep ramp. That and it seems to kill a transmission. I wonder why.

I have a 16ft tracker to pull (lightweight). Does anybody have a full size Chevy truck with a 4.3 6cyl? I think this may be the way to go with my next truck the only problem that I can think of is the resale value but I kept my last truck for 12 years so that may not be a problem. I have also considered a Colorado 5cyl. What kind of mileage are these getting on highway? I already know it will suck when pulling a boat.

Monte: Do you know what kind of prices you are getting on these trucks say on the models without all the bells and whistles.
The only things that I need is Automatic Trans, Air, & pwr windows/locks

It all depends on whay you want to get out of it. If you just want what will do the job economicaly then any of the half tons with a v8 will do you just fine. If you are going to want to race the guy at the stop light while pulling your boat then you better get a diesle. I have been bulling a 30' travel trailer and a 20' boat with a half ton truck with a small block since 1994 and have had no problems so far. The truck now has 230000 miles on it and I still dont hesitate to hook either of the trailers up to it. Like I said before, you aint going to be lookin a zero to sixty times but it will do the job just fine.

matt

I had to consider the amount of time I was not towing..which was about 95% of the time..the other 5% I did not care what the mpg was....For me it was not worth figuring into the equation..I ended up with an 06 Tacoma dbl cab 4x4...17.5-18 mpg around town and will pull my 18' Ranger faster than the law will allow with ease...and no problems at the ramps.......

You guys don't need a big vehicle but theres nothing wrong with one. You might be dissatisfied with the mileage of a trailblazer. They aren't much better than a 1/2 ton.
One thing to get for sure is a limited slip or locker type rear end. It will make your towing vehicle much better at the boat ramp.

If you are wanting a diesel and don't pull 10k lbs daily don't get a Dodge or Ford. The mileage isn't much these days. The leader today is the Chevy as it appears they are still getting the same they have been getting for the last few years.

Remember the 1/2 ton diesels will be out in the next year or two and they will do much better on fuel than anything out there today.