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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

you will be fine with that setup.

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.

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.

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