Towing a Boat
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Joined: May 2001
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Towing a Boat
I have a 4.2L V6 that pulls my 16' bassboat at 75mph on the highway. Its a 2 wheel drive. When I go to pull the boat out of the water, will I have problems? The boat and motor weighs about 2400 and the trailer another 350.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,360
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From: Iowa
Towing a Boat
Bill, I have a 3,550# pontoon, a '70 F100 with 3.50 gears, open differential, and a C6 automatic tranny. My biggest fear was the open differential on a wet ramp, but it has never spun a tire yet. If you have an auto tranny and a locking/limited slip rear of some sort, you shouldn't have any trouble. The best way to find out is to go fishing with all your gear in the boat. Take along a buddy, but have him drive his own truck, and be sure to grab a tow rope/log chain just in case!
Jason Kendrick
1970 F100 Custom 390/C6
1978 F150 Ranger Lariat Supercab 460/C6
Jason Kendrick
1970 F100 Custom 390/C6
1978 F150 Ranger Lariat Supercab 460/C6
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 772
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From: Glen Burnie Maryland
Towing a Boat
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 11-May-01 AT 11:09 AM (EST)[/font][p]I've got a '87 F-150 4.9, T-18, 3.55 and tow a 19'ft cuddy cabin with it (3650# wet on trailer). 1st gear just walks that sucker right out of the water no problems. Also the wife's '95 chevy astro with the 4.3-V6 4spd auto and 3.43 rear does well too.
F-150 tow mpg is around 11 and the chevy is about 16. So for short stuff(local) I use the truck but for out of state I use the van.
Never had any problems pulling boat out of water. If you have a slush box and the wheels start to spin, put the tranny in "2". This bypasses 1st and just ease the gas in. It'l feel like you've got the brakes on but it will pull out nicely. You can also use the "2nd gear" trick in snow too. Works well especially for a truck.
Larry
F-150 tow mpg is around 11 and the chevy is about 16. So for short stuff(local) I use the truck but for out of state I use the van.
Never had any problems pulling boat out of water. If you have a slush box and the wheels start to spin, put the tranny in "2". This bypasses 1st and just ease the gas in. It'l feel like you've got the brakes on but it will pull out nicely. You can also use the "2nd gear" trick in snow too. Works well especially for a truck.
Larry
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