Forums59
Topics1,055,791
Posts14,258,304
Members144,574
|
Most Online39,925 Dec 30th, 2023
|
|
V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
#6056377
04/11/11 06:06 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 64
go4big
OP
Outdoorsman
|
OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 64 |
Do any of you you use a V-6 half ton to pull a 20-21ft.bass boat on a tandem axel trl.Most newer model trucks base models with a V-6 automatic have a tow capacity between 5000-6500 lbs.Seems to be more than sufficiant.See a lot of guys at the boat ramp with 1 ton deisels total overkill.
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: go4big]
#6056453
04/11/11 06:22 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,491
redchevy
TFF Celebrity
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,491 |
What make and year is it?
I would think you should be fine, it is just going to work it a little harder than the guys with the diesels.
Keep up with transmition maintenance and you should be good to go.
Also let the truck take its time, expect to get up to speed at a slower rate, dont mash it to the floor and say man this things has no power, thats how things get broke.
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: redchevy]
#6056722
04/11/11 07:30 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,228
5-20
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,228 |
I used to have a chevy k1500 with the 4.3 and towed a basscat classic ('19 boat with a single axle trailer) around with it. It did the job decently on flat terrain. It wasn't so great on steep hills/mountains. I don't think I'd even think about towing a 20+ boat with a dual axle trailer with that thing, especially if I had to climb hills every now and then.
Toads for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: 5-20]
#6057280
04/11/11 09:38 PM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 17,561
Chris B
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 17,561 |
Thats all i had for about 10 years. A 1996 1/2 ton reg cab with a 4.3. I had 330,000 miles on it when i got rid of it and towed a boat every weekend. It only got about 8 mpg towing but it got the job done safely. Now i have a 5.3 V8 and it blows my mind when people say they can't tow with that.
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: Chris B]
#6057308
04/11/11 09:43 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,491
redchevy
TFF Celebrity
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,491 |
Thats all i had for about 10 years. A 1996 1/2 ton reg cab with a 4.3. I had 330,000 miles on it when i got rid of it and towed a boat every weekend. It only got about 8 mpg towing but it got the job done safely. Now i have a 5.3 V8 and it blows my mind when people say they can't tow with that. Exactly! The op didnt ask if it would tow it like there is nothing there without downshifting or loosing speed up a hill. He asked if it would pull it. Some people think that if you loose a little speed going up a hill the world is coming to an end, but you will soon learn to either just let the truck take its time or speed up going down a hill to carry you up the next. Also you will probably not be able to run in O/D but it wont hurt a thing.
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: redchevy]
#6060602
04/12/11 05:17 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 14,738
Stump jumper
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 14,738 |
My general rule of thumb is if I am in the middle of the tow capacity I am going to be real happy. Wind resistance is one thing that some people forget when towing. My father in law had a 18' barge and towing it was like towing something at least twice as heavy. Bass boats are generally easier to tow than a lot of things because of lower wind resistance. I often think back to the old days (mid 80s). I had a 351 that pumped out a whopping 150 HP. Like others said I think you will be fine unless you plan to go west in to the hills or mountains.
2200 Bay Champ/200 Mercury Optimax 2017 Tundra TSS 4x4 Crewmax 5.7L
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: Stump jumper]
#6061207
04/12/11 07:52 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,382
chuck44l
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,382 |
It will do the job but be sure to lock it of overdrive even on the flats or you will be buying a transmission. Some of us tow with big 3500 dualies because thats what we have to drive Just like some people pull with a v6 because thats what they have to drive.
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: chuck44l]
#6063959
04/13/11 02:08 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 393
strokinrun
Angler
|
Angler
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 393 |
I have over kill with my current truck...cummins...but back in the day when all i had was a 1/2 ton std shift..300 cubic inch six....i had no problem at all...just had to stay out of overdrive....but it did a good job 
Stroker Boats & Mercury Racing Talk the Talk..Walk the Walk
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: strokinrun]
#6064909
04/13/11 05:52 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 14,738
Stump jumper
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 14,738 |
I have over kill with my current truck...cummins...but back in the day when all i had was a 1/2 ton std shift..300 cubic inch six....i had no problem at all...just had to stay out of overdrive....but it did a good job My inline 6 had a 4 speed with granny 1st. The dang thing would sart in 1st gear without depressing the clutch. It scared the carp out of a few freinds who forgot to about the clutch. One heck of a hill climber but not too good of a hwy truck. It may have had something to do with the 33" Buckshot mudders. It did an adequate job towing my 18' Ranger unless there was a strong headwind.
2200 Bay Champ/200 Mercury Optimax 2017 Tundra TSS 4x4 Crewmax 5.7L
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: Stump jumper]
#6066839
04/14/11 01:37 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 27,574
patriot07
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 27,574 |
My dad had a regular cab Silverado with the 4.3 V6, and it was more than adequate to tow our little 17-footer. We also towed a 12' enclosed trailer around with that truck, and it still did great. Just like others said, I think you'd be fine towing a 20-21 footer with that as long as you understand that it isn't going to be like driving it with nothing behind it.
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. - Soren Kierkegaard
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: go4big]
#6070415
04/14/11 10:01 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,777
CWCW
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,777 |
you will be fine with that setup.
2009 Tracker PT 170 TX Mercury 50hp Lowrance X125 Lowrance X50 Motorguide 46 TM
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: go4big]
#6072085
04/15/11 09:53 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 38,822
KingwoodCat
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 38,822 |
Do any of you you use a V-6 half ton to pull a 20-21ft.bass boat on a tandem axel trl.Most newer model trucks base models with a V-6 automatic have a tow capacity between 5000-6500 lbs.Seems to be more than sufficiant.See a lot of guys at the boat ramp with 1 ton deisels total overkill. I read an article a couple of years ago that said that the ford F-150 with a V-6 and the towing package did a better job than the 4.6L. I know when I had my Expedition with a 4.6, it was a pig when it came to towing. That said, my 6.7 Cummins doesn't even know my BassCat is back there.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him had better take a look at the American Indian".
Henry Ford
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: KingwoodCat]
#6073759
04/15/11 05:33 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 14,738
Stump jumper
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 14,738 |
Do any of you you use a V-6 half ton to pull a 20-21ft.bass boat on a tandem axel trl.Most newer model trucks base models with a V-6 automatic have a tow capacity between 5000-6500 lbs.Seems to be more than sufficiant.See a lot of guys at the boat ramp with 1 ton deisels total overkill. I read an article a couple of years ago that said that the ford F-150 with a V-6 and the towing package did a better job than the 4.6L. I know when I had my Expedition with a 4.6, it was a pig when it came to towing. That said, my 6.7 Cummins doesn't even know my BassCat is back there. The Expeditions use to be pigs with the small V8 even not towing. I remember when the 5.4 first came out that were putting them all in Expeditions. You could not even get one in a P/U. Broncos were the same way. I had a 302 Bronco and always said the 302 should have never even been an engine choice in that vehicle. Add the extra weight of a 4x4 and it gets worse.
2200 Bay Champ/200 Mercury Optimax 2017 Tundra TSS 4x4 Crewmax 5.7L
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: Stump jumper]
#6080821
04/18/11 02:19 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,503
Tejas Trofeo
muy peque�o hombre
|
muy peque�o hombre
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,503 |
my neighbor pulls a 21 foot stratos with his 4 door tundra with a 4.0 in it and he says it pulls it just fine.
|
|
Re: V-6 half ton P/u for towing large bass boat
[Re: KingwoodCat]
#6081428
04/18/11 06:49 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,382
chuck44l
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,382 |
Do any of you you use a V-6 half ton to pull a 20-21ft.bass boat on a tandem axel trl.Most newer model trucks base models with a V-6 automatic have a tow capacity between 5000-6500 lbs.Seems to be more than sufficiant.See a lot of guys at the boat ramp with 1 ton deisels total overkill. I read an article a couple of years ago that said that the ford F-150 with a V-6 and the towing package did a better job than the 4.6L. I know when I had my Expedition with a 4.6, it was a pig when it came to towing. That said, my 6.7 Cummins doesn't even know my BassCat is back there. The engine handled it much better then the chasis. Back in them days the expedition was the most squiriley and dangerous tow vehicle around with many towing accidents!!!! As far as the V6 tow vehicle 
|
|
Moderated by banker-always fishing, chickenman, Derek 🐝, Duck_Hunter, Fish Killer, J-2, Jacob, Jons3825, JustWingem, Nocona Brian, Toon-Troller, Uncle Zeek, Weekender1
|