Does Anyone Use Small SUV's to Tow Boat?

[Further North]

22 hours ago, RFSims said:

Trolling Motor, fuel, 2 batteries, fishing gear adds 200-300 lbs?

Easily:

My gas tank is 41 gallons; @ ~ 6 pounds/gallon, that's 246 lbs right there.

Trolling motor batteries (3) are 61 lbs each, total 183 lbs.

Starting battery is another 46 lbs.

Trolling motor weighs 76 lbs.

...that's 429 lbs.

Haven't even added in all the lures and other gear...

22 hours ago, RFSims said:

 I would not tow any boat larger than a 14' aluminum with a 20 horse motor with a small 4 cylinder SUV. 

10 years ago...maybe even 5...I'd have agreed with that...but technology has jumped a long way in that time and a lot of the old rules don't apply any more.

Between improvement in engine technology, suspensions, brakes and some of the anti-sway technology it not the same world I grew up in...not by a long shot.

 

[Robeng]

you can go to scales like moving van lines or feed silo locations for small fee n weigh your boat in trailer n get certified weight.

in Michigan we have to have weight at SOS (secy of state) for trailer permanent registration (one time only) tag and boat registration.  

 

[Brett's_daddy]

I found a 1989 Lowe 16ft. Model 161 at one my local boat dealer. It's aluminum with a modified welded v-hull, 1989 2-stroke Yamaha 50hp outboard, 1989 Johnson trolling motor, Eagle fish finder, 3 pedestal seats,  live well and 1989 trailer (with all new wheels and winch). The decks are in great shape. My boat dealer is asking $2800 for it but I'm pretty sure I can get him down to $2400 - $2500. I know weight is a concern for me as I would be towing it with a small 4 cyclinder SUV with a 1500lbs. max towing capacity. People have said i should stay under 10% of my maximum towing capacity which would be 1350lbs., this boat according to NADA weighs 435lbs., the motor weighs 164lbs., trailer weighs about 300lbs., the miscellaneous other stuff (gas, trolling motor, batteries, gear etc.) comes to about 1150lbs. which should be an okay towing weight for me. Do you think this boat would be worth it?

[WIGuide]

On 4/3/2016 at 8:51 AM, Brett's_daddy said:

I found a 1989 Lowe 16ft. Model 161 at one my local boat dealer. It's aluminum with a modified welded v-hull, 1989 2-stroke Yamaha 50hp outboard, 1989 Johnson trolling motor, Eagle fish finder, 3 pedestal seats,  live well and 1989 trailer (with all new wheels and winch). The decks are in great shape. My boat dealer is asking $2800 for it but I'm pretty sure I can get him down to $2400 - $2500. I know weight is a concern for me as I would be towing it with a small 4 cyclinder SUV with a 1500lbs. max towing capacity. People have said i should stay under 10% of my maximum towing capacity which would be 1350lbs., this boat according to NADA weighs 435lbs., the motor weighs 164lbs., trailer weighs about 300lbs., the miscellaneous other stuff (gas, trolling motor, batteries, gear etc.) comes to about 1150lbs. which should be an okay towing weight for me. Do you think this boat would be worth it?

You could probably pull it with what you've got, but that seems a bit steep for a 27 year old boat and motor. I guess it's worth whatever you're willing to pay though.

[Brett's_daddy]

Looking all around my area in the Northeast (NY, VT, NH, ME, MA) that's what those boats in good shape in that age range are going for...not just at dealers but private sales as well. These bass style boats seem to hold their value up here for whatever reason.