4 X 4 Necessary For Bass Boat?

[00 mod]

They bumped up the HP and tow numbers on the 2013 5.7. I've got an 08 I bought new. Has 90k on it. I get 13-14 on the highway @ 70  and 10-11 with the boat in tow. 

 

 

Seems the same hp and torque settings from my 07 to the new 2013's.  Mine has 93K on it and I love it.  It is my second Tundra and I wouldn't own a different truck!

 

Jeff

[00 mod]

I don't know ANYONE that gets the 4.8.  I have the Vortec 6.2L 403 hp/417 trq.  I don't think they make the 6.0L anymore.

 

 

Ahhh, not being familiar with the GM line anymore, I looked it up and those were the only V8 options I saw.  Crazy the 6.2 outperforms their 6.0L......

 

Jeff

[J Francho]

The 6.2 is a real cracker, performance wise, so is the 5.3 married to the 6-speed auto.  I think the 6.0 is just a HD workhorse.  The 4.8 is an absolute dog.

[jbsoonerfan]

Oh man, my 09 Silverado only gets 11mpg in town. It has the 5300. Of course it has a 5" lift kit with Bilsteins adjusted up another 1" and 33 x 13's on 20's. I really need to do a performance tune on it.

 

Luckily I only live a block from work.

[Teal]

Im contemplating getting a diesel my next go round. (Some time later this year) I love my work truck and the mileage is much better than i would have thought. Any of yyou guys got any input?

[slonezp]

Seems the same hp and torque settings from my 07 to the new 2013's.  Mine has 93K on it and I love it.  It is my second Tundra and I wouldn't own a different truck!

 

Jeff

Maybe it's for the 2014 model. I saw an advertisement at the dealer a couple weeks ago while getting the oil changed. I think it was 10,800lbs on the towing capacity and 405 HP. TRD has a supercharger you can get dealer installed that adds another 100HP and won't void the factory warranty.

[00 mod]

I have seen the supercharger. But could not justify the cost. Mine also has Borla catback exhaust, k&n air intake and I had hid lights until the inspection station made me change them.

Jeff

[MarkH024]

I tow with my '07 Ford Explorer 4x4 V6. I have a 17.5' Ranger R73 which I believe boat and trailer weight is ~2300lbs. The Explorer does good in the flatlands. I'd be a little more weary if I lived in a very hilly or mountainous place.  If I ever upgrade my boat to bigger than that I'd definitely get a truck or something with a V8.  But the 4x4 is a must for the nasty landings. 

[slonezp]

Im contemplating getting a diesel my next go round. (Some time later this year) I love my work truck and the mileage is much better than i would have thought. Any of yyou guys got any input?

If I was towing every day or driving a ton of miles every year, I wouldn't hesitate on getting a diesel. 

[00 mod]

Im contemplating getting a diesel my next go round. (Some time later this year) I love my work truck and the mileage is much better than i would have thought. Any of yyou guys got any input?

 

 

If I was towing every day or driving a ton of miles every year, I wouldn't hesitate on getting a diesel. 

 

 

The truck i owned in between my 2 Tundras was a Dodge 3500 with the 12v Cummins diesel.  It was a beast.  Pull your house down.  Same mileage towing or not.  Porblem was, it is big. Hard to park.  Tires are even a bigger expense. Diesel is more expensive than gas.  And made for towing.  At the time I raced every weekend.  I would put in excess of 40,000 miles a year in towing.  I needed it.  My trailer was a 36' enclosed trailer with reacecar/spare engine/tools/ tires/gas, and spare parts.  It weighted in the neighborhood of 17,000lbs.

 

Jeff

[jerzeeD]

As a guy who has towed AND built Toyota trucks I will tell you this. Go for 4wd... Muddy and slick ramps make it worthwhile...The boost in resale value makes it even more worth it. As for the TRD off road package, skip it. It costs 4000+ dollars more for a locking rear diff and 4 ok quality shocks. You can purchase and have installed a ARB air locker and Better HD bilstein shocks for around 1800 dollars less. If all you want is Limited slip, my base model 2010 Tacoma 4x4 has that standard.

[BKeith]

My son has a 2010, 4WD 2500HD Diesel and Allison transmission.  Yes it will pull, but fuel milage and the additional cost suck.

 

As for 4WD, it does absolutely nothing for you 98% of the time as long as you are launching off concrete ramps that are not very steep. 

 

It does give you a few more options on where you can launch from and areas you can get into. 

 

Also, just one other thing, you know those other 2% of the time, you will be thanking god you had enough since to go ahead and get the 4WD.  It will save your butt on more than one occassion over the years you have it.

 

I have not been without a 4WD truck of some sort since 1968.  I have no need for a truck that's not 4WD and see no since in even buying one that's not. 

 

Just remember on very important rule, 2WD to get in trouble and use the 4WD to get you out of trouble.  If you use the 4WD to get yourself in trouble, you are screwed, it will probably take two more just like to get you out.  You ain't never been stuck until you bury a 4WD because you are already going to be in a place most other vehicles can't get to help even if they

wanted to.

 

As mentioned, get some sort of limited slip/positive traction differential, and if there's an option to get it in the front axle, get it there also.  Especially if they offer an option where you can select locked or unlocked front differential.    There are companies that make an after market air lock for the front.  It's worth it.

[ipeeinmywetsuit]

Whoa this thread kept going! For those still interested I will have the truck tomorrow. I decided on a white v6 Tacoma with the off road package, tow kit obviously, and 4 x 4. Now I just need to keep saving for a boat.

 

I'll try and take back the thread now. Since many of you are boat owners. What would you recommend for a first time boat owner? Fiberglass vs. aluminum & new vs. used. I think I want a fiberglass boat because I hear they don't blow around as easily in the water and I don't see the point in investing in an aluminum boat if the end game is to end up with a fiberglass bass boat. 

[slonezp]

6 of one 1/2 dozen of the other. There are pros and cons to both. In general, tin boats blow around more because they are normally lighter, and normally sit higher out of the water. They also allow you to get into shallower water because they draft less. Generally you get a better ride from a glass boat. A glass boat requires a little more maintenance, being wiped down after each use and waxed on occasion. If you fish shallow rocky water a tin boat is probably a must. Do plenty of research. All 'glass boats are not the same, and all tin boats are not the same.

[Glenn]

My first boat was a tin boat.  But that was dictated by budget more than by choice.  That said, I got all the "stupid" mistakes out of my system with the aluminum, meaning they were less costly mistakes. LOL!  But if I could do it over again, I'd go straight to fiberglass.

 

Now all this talk about trucks....I have to admit, I have two.  I have a 1999 F-250 V-10 that did very well towing both the aluminum and the Ranger 520 Commanche.  But when I wanted to get a camper...well I had to upgrade to this baby.  An F-450 King Ranch edition dually Diesel!   600hp and 850lbs of torque baby!  She pulls the boat and camper over the passes better than the F-250 just towing the boat!  Got her decked out with Ride-Rite air springs w/built-in compressor, Stable Load suspension upgrade, and a Tork-lift Superhitch Magnum with a 3' SuperTruss Extension. We're talking 23,000 lbs towing capacity boys!

 

Bad to the bone!

[00 mod]

My first boat was a tin boat.  But that was dictated by budget more than by choice.  That said, I got all the "stupid" mistakes out of my system with the aluminum, meaning they were less costly mistakes. LOL!  But if I could do it over again, I'd go straight to fiberglass.

 

Now all this talk about trucks....I have to admit, I have two.  I have a 1999 F-250 V-10 that did very well towing both the aluminum and the Ranger 520 Commanche.  But when I wanted to get a camper...well I had to upgrade to this baby.  An F-450 King Ranch edition dually Diesel!   600hp and 850lbs of torque baby!  She pulls the boat and camper over the passes better than the F-250 just towing the boat!  Got her decked out with Ride-Rite air springs w/built-in compressor, Stable Load suspension upgrade, and a Tork-lift Superhitch Magnum with a 3' SuperTruss Extension. We're talking 23,000 lbs towing capacity boys!

 

Bad to the bone!

 

 

Sweet set-up!  Let me guess.  8 mpg pulling or not?

 

Jeff 

[Shane J]

Glenn, that truck could tow away a Wal Mart! 

[slonezp]

Look at that guys, Glenn actually fishes

[BKeith]

I never thought I would ever say this but for what it cost to buy and operate a boat today, I would start off with a 17' Aluminum with at least a 60 hp motor, four storke or DFI two stroke (like an E-tech) if possible, something that has very good fuel economy.  I would not buy a new one, preferably something three to five years old.  Just be sure to stay away from one of those they put the little bitty motors like the 40 hp on so they could sell a package deal cheap. 

 

You should be able to find some pretty nice boats where people financed them for half a life time to get cheap payments and now are just wanting to get out from under it.  The new will be worn off and fishing trips will be expensive so they are not using it but they still owe more than they are worth.  If you find one of these, do your homework.  Most of the time they will be trying to get there full payoff for it, but it won't be worth anywhere near that. 

 

Yes, glass boats are much nicer, tend to offer more storage and fishing room, run faster and ride smoother, but they cost a lot more to buy and a more to operate, plus more gas to tow them.  

 

You also might want to start a new post for the boat.  Most people may no longer be reading this one. 

[ipeeinmywetsuit]

I never thought I would ever say this but for what it cost to buy and operate a boat today, I would start off with a 17' Aluminum with at least a 60 hp motor, four storke or DFI two stroke (like an E-tech) if possible, something that has very good fuel economy.  I would not buy a new one, preferably something three to five years old.  Just be sure to stay away from one of those they put the little bitty motors like the 40 hp on so they could sell a package deal cheap. 

 

You should be able to find some pretty nice boats where people financed them for half a life time to get cheap payments and now are just wanting to get out from under it.  The new will be worn off and fishing trips will be expensive so they are not using it but they still owe more than they are worth.  If you find one of these, do your homework.  Most of the time they will be trying to get there full payoff for it, but it won't be worth anywhere near that. 

 

Yes, glass boats are much nicer, tend to offer more storage and fishing room, run faster and ride smoother, but they cost a lot more to buy and a more to operate, plus more gas to tow them.  

 

You also might want to start a new post for the boat.  Most people may no longer be reading this one. 

Thanks for the input. I got the truck today. So I will continue saving for this boat as I pay off the remainder of my truck. Pics tomorrow because by the time I was able to take pictures it was already dark here. May start a new post to discuss this boat soon.

[mudkart]

I would let the waters you intend to fish the most dictate the boat you buy.  Unless you have smaller waters, hp limits, or electric-only situations (i.e. situations where tin boats shine), I would buy glass.  Just too many +'s compared to a tin.  

That said, I love my 16' tin rig as it is perfect (to me) for some of the 9.9-limited waters near me.  It does double-duty on the Potomac at times, and it is OK for that purpose, but a glass rig is a better choice for that application, no question.

[prjavelin]

i bought a 12 ft jon boat that I pull with a Hyundai excel very well.  mounting the hitch was tricky but the little car can pull the trailer and light boat no problem. the key here is that the ramps here are excellent. WIDE, not very steep and with a great surface that does not slip. 

 

Ive seen people pulling glass boats(heavy) with chevrolet sprints 3 cylinders. 

[J Francho]

Ive seen people pulling glass boats(heavy) with chevrolet sprints 3 cylinders.

 

Good luck stopping.

[jhoffman]

My only regret with my current boat is I want more motor. My little 25hp 2 stroke will get you there and its not TERRIBLE for the lakes I fish but I jump in my buddies identical boat, a little newer and he has a 60, my next boat if its a tin will have a 60 at minimum. That baby jumps right out of the hole and is PLENTY fast enough.

 

Id love to have a big truck with a 20' boat and a 225 to go warp speed across a lake like erie but its not in the cards right now. Any boat is better than no boat.

 

I keep telling myself that the only way to really own the boat I would want is to win it.

[J Francho]

Id love to have a big truck with a 20' boat and a 225 to go warp speed across a lake like erie

 

You don't need all that to fish Erie.  A 16-17' deep-V tiller, and a 50-60 hp motor.  I fished Lake Ontario for years with this setup, in some pretty nasty stuff.  Never worried about getting back safe.

 

Here's my dad, in the old Sea Nymph, note the horizon line, heh: