ROOKIE02

im a toyota guy myself, i used to tow my 18ft ranger with my fj cruiser and it was fine until going up hill then it lags a bit but i dont push it, plus the aerodynamics suck on the fj but i bought it for its offroad capabilities, i would suggest a 4runner for a midsize suv its sporty, more offroad capable, u can get it with leather, 4 doors, room for your dogs, tow 5000lbs, plus it holds its value, or go balls out and get a crew cab tundra or sequoia 5.7 i towed my boat with my dads tundra 5.7 going uphill doing 75 mph no problemo just my suggestions get what makes you happy

i used the 8" model and don't like it, it feels like chuckin out a piece of tire rubber, but in your case i think it might work out with all the rocks and the teeth those fish have, a good thing is those swimbaits dont rip very easily i have noticed that the hooks on the megabaits are never straight and off to one side hence will not swim true dont know anything about fish in your area so no color suggestions but good luck with what ever you decide to go with

nice boat and awesome deal i was thinking about one of those before i bought a boat but i can't swim so i bought a bass boat instead (more stable physically and mentally) chistmas came early for you this year get out there and see what presents you got under the trees

A 4RUNNER SHOULD WORK FOR BOATS IN THE 17-18FT RANGE LIKE THEY SAID ITS BETTER TO HAVE MORE AND NOT NEED IT, THAN TO NEED IT AND NOT HAVE IT. I HAVE A 18FT RANGER THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM TOWED IT WITH A 89 TOYOTA V6 4WD HE SAID IT WAS FINE, BUT HE DOESN'T DRIVE LIKE ME, ALSO AT THE TIME I HAD A TAHOE 2WD TO TOW IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT, TRADED IT IN FOR A USED TITAN (5.7 TUNRA DIDN'T FIT THE PAYMENT PLAN, ALTHOUGH MY DAD HAS ONE AND IT TOWS GREAT) I HAD TO USE 4WD TWICE TO BRING IT OUT SO FAR IT WASN'T BECAUSE IT WAS HEAVY BUT FOR TRACTION AS THE RAMP HAD SEAWEED ALL OVER IT. BIGGER TOW VEHICLE MEANS MORE POWER TO GO UP HILL AND MORE STOPPING POWER AS WELL. A 4RUNNER IS A GOOD CANDIDATE UP TO AN EXTENT. P.S. THE GAS THING IS AN ISSUE TOO, YOU SAVE MORE FOR ALL AROUND DRIVING, BUT YOU USE A LOT MORE FOR TOWING

starting to swimbait is a whole other level in fishing i just started this year and spent too much money on baits that dont work( run true, swim straight, etc.) but thats another thread im like you i dont like round reels but i do have a cardiff( cheaper to find out if i like them or not) and a green curado with braided line i use a shimano 7'11 5-8" swimbait i think you should try to get a curado 300 if your you dont like round reels, the curado is a low profile that holds alot of line my cousin has a calcutta/cruical setup as well as a curado300/crucial setup i like the curado300 setup myself that reel is the next addition to my swimbait arsenal oh i mainly use the green curado w/ 65lbs braid but the round cardiff is on reserve for when i need to use mono 20lb p-line cxx around rocks or sharp objects

THANKS ALOT GUYS FOR YOUR REPLIES THANKS BASSX08 FOR HAVIN MY BACK IM AT WORK SO I TYPE AS FAST AS I CAN WHEN IM ON (FISHIN IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WORK J/K) SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION ON MY EXPLANATION OF MY PROBLEM AGAIN IM AT WORK HAD TO DO IT QUICK ON THE OTHER NOTE STILL NEED TO CHECK MY CHARGIN SYSTEM BUT I MAY HAVE FIGURED IT OUT MY BOAT HAS THREE TANKS 2 ON EITHER SIDE AND 1 UNDER THE SEAT GAS METER NOT WORKIN GOOD EITHER SO I WAS TRYIN TO RUN OUT THE ONE UNDER THE SEAT UPON INSPECTION (2HRS OR SO AND READING MY MANUAL ON MY MOTOR) I WENT TO CHECK THE FUEL SYSTEM AND IT WASN'T GETTIN FUEL INTO THE MOTOR WHEN I PRIME IT??? REFFERED TO THE BOOK IT SHOWS MANUAL VALVES FOR MULTIPLE TANKS, I CHECKED MINES AND FORGOT MINE ARE ELECTRONIC ACTUATORS, OKAY PUT POWER TO IT AND FLIP THE SWITCH NOTHIN, I REMEMBERED I RAN OUT OF GAS BEFORE BUT I HAD THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION BECAUSE THE MOTOR SHUT OFF HALF-WAYS ACROSS THE LAKE, SO I TURN THE KEY TO ON AND FLIPPED THE SWITCH HEARD A POP THE GOT MY HOPES UP, PRIME THE BULB GOT GAS FLOWING HAD A SMILE ON MY FACE, TRIED STARTING IT, 2 CRANKS LATER IT STARTED AND I GOT A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF, STILL NEED TO CHARGE CRANKIN BATTERY BECAUSE IT GOT WEAK FROM TRYIN TO START IT / FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS UP I WILL TRY TO TAKE IT OUT THIS COMING WEEKEND I COUDN'T DO IT THIS WEEK BECAUSE I WENT DEER HUNTIN, GOT MY FIRST DEER, THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR DEER HUNTIN, AND BEST OF ALL IT WAS WITH MY DAD A MEMORY I WILL NEVER FORGET. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HELP OH ALMOST FORGOT I FOUND OUT MY MOTOR DOESN'T HAVE AN ALTERNATOR, BUT A STATOR AND RECITATOR THAT RECHARGES AND THE BOAT IS IN USE.

SORRY TO HEAR THAT ALL MY SHIMANO GEAR ARE GREAT, I THROW THEM AROUND THE BOAT/ SHORE WHEN I CATCH A FISH AND PICK UP TO RECAST WORKS GREAT, NOW I THINK THAT I WILL NEVER BY A DAIWA REEL AGAIN J/K GOT A TIERRA AND EVERYTIME I CAST IT ALWAYS NESTS UP MY CURADOS ON THE OTHER HAND GO OUT FLAWLESS IM NOT GONNA SAY DAIWA SUCKS BUT I WILL DEFINITLY NEVER BUY A BAITCASTER WITH THE 1-??? DIAL ON THE SIDE AGAIN GO TO ANOTHER STORE AND GIVE SHIMANO ANOTHER TRY I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CHEAPER SHIMANO'S AND IT CAME OUT TO BE A BAD SHIPMENT OF DEFECTED PRODUCTS (SOMEBODY MAKING THOSE WERE ON DRUGS OR SOMETHING THAT DAY)

I FIND THAT WHEN I TAKE MORE THAN 3 I SPEND MORE TIME SWITCHING AROUND THAN I DO FISHING 1 JIG SETUP 1 T-RIGG SETUP 1 SWIMBAIT SETUP

THANKS FOR THE REPLIES GUYS THE CRANKING BATTERY IS BRAND NEW(CAR BATTERY) BECAUSE I HAD IT FOR A CAR BUT NEVER USED IM NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED SO CAN YOU GUYS TELL A BREAK DOWN OF HOW TO CHECK THE STARTER/ ALTERNATOR WHAT VOLTAGE TO LOOK FOR ETC. THANKS AGAIN

I NEED YOUR ADVICE, IM HAVING TROUBLE STARTING MY 86 RANGER WITH I BELIEVE 86 MECURY/MARINER BLACKMAX 175 WITH OLD BATTERIES HAD REALLY HARD TIME CRANKING OVER. NOW WITH NEW BATTERY STARTED FINE AS SOON AS IT WAS ON THE LAKE, STARTED FINE THE WHOLE TIME ON THE LAKE, AFTER FISHING AS NIGHT FALLS I TRIED STARTING AND DID CRANK OVER 2 MORE TIMES AND IT STARTS, AS WE GET BACK TO THE DOCK/LOADED HALF WAYS I NEEDED TO START IT TO LOAD IT ON IT DID NOT WANT TO START LIGHTS WENT DIM, TRIED 3 MORE TIMES DID NOT WANT TO CRANK OVER, ONE MORE TIME W/ GAS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND IT STARTED BUT WAS LIKE IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS, SWITCHED TANKS TRIED AGAIN SAME THING FINALLY STARTED GAVE IT GAS AND IT STAYED ON (DURING THIS WHOLE TIME IM TRYING TO RUN OUT THE MAIN TANK OF GAS BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL IF ITS FULL OR EMPTY, NOT PLANNING ON USING IT ANYMORE, AND IT HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME THING BEFORE WITH THE OLD BATTERIES AND NOT TRYING TO RUN OUT THE GAS) ALTERNATOR, STARTER, IGNITION???? ANY SUGGESTIONS WILL BE APPRECIATED

NO WORRIES IF YOU WANT IT ENOUGH YOU'LL LEARN IT, ITS LIKE LEARNING TO DRIVE MANUEL YOU CONTROL SPEED, BRAKE CLUTCH (RESISTINCE), AND MOMENTUM START OFF WITH EVERYTHING ALMOST TIGHTENED DOWN ( I READ ALOT OF HOW-TO'S, IT HELPED BUT USUALLY PEOPLE THAT WRITE THESE ALREADY KNOW HOW TO CAST VERY WELL AND KNOW THE CONCEPT OF USING A BAITCASTER, THEY FORGET SOME PEOPLE GO IN BLIND. I USED AN ACTUAL SPINNER BAIT WITH THE HOOK CUT OFF THAT BOBBER UR USING MIGHT BE TOO LIGHT, LEARN HOW TO USE UR THUMB TO STOP BEFORE YOU TRY DISTANCE AND ACCURACY, SLOWLY LOOSEN YOU DRAG AS YOU LEARN HOW TO STOP THEN COMES THE DISTANCE AND ACCURACY OH!! MY BIGGEST MISTAKE WAS CHANGING LURES(WIEGHTS) WHEN I WAS LEARNING, IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT DOWN AND YOU CHANGE LURES(WEIGHTS) YOU HAVE TO RELEARN IT ALL OVER AGAIN HOPE THIS HELPS

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT MY WIFE LETS ME BUY ANYTIME THE BAIT MONKEY COMES BY AS LONG AS "I" HAVE THE MONEY WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE, BUT "I" AM ALWAYS BROKE $60 OR MORE FOR GAS IN THE TRUCK + $20 OR MORE FOR GAS IN THE BOAT + $20 FOR FOOD = $100 FOR A FISHING TRIP NOT INCLUDING ENTRANCE FEES AT THE GATE HOW CAN "I" AFFORD TO SEE THE BAIT MONKEY??? **SORRY I DONT DO 2ND JOBS** THERE WILL BE NO TIME FOR FISHING

MY FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME IF YOUR GOIN TO BASS FISH START WITH THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD, I DIDN'T LISTEN, AFTER MANY TIMES OF SWAPPING REELS I ENDED UP WITH 3 SYMETRE 2500 AND 1 SYMETRE 4000 FOR STRIPERS WISH I CAN BUY SOME FOR $49. THE BEST PART IS I GOT 6 INTERCHANGABLE TOPS WITH DIFFERENT LINE ON IT

CRUCIALS ARE VERY STRONG I CAUGHT AN 8 POUNDER ON MY ML DROP SHOT WITH 6LB LINE AND WAS ABLE TO FIGHT IT THROUGH ROCKS ON A OVERHANGING BOULDER FROM THE BANK (BEFORE I GOT A BOAT) IT BOWED ALMOST END TO END WELL GOT MY PERSONAL BEST SO FAR AND GOT 4 MORE CRUCIALS

CONGRATS!! THATS A GREAT JOB YOU DID I WOULD'VE GAVE UP AS SOON AS I GOT THE BOAT HOME!!