Tow Vehicle

[SDoolittle]

Ok, I have just about decided to break down and buy a full size bass boat. I have been fishing out of my 14' jon long enough! I am looking at an 18' fiberglass boat with a 150 hp motor and it suits my needs perfectly. The only problem is that I'm not sure that my truck can handle the weight (roughly 3200 lbs). I drive a 2002 F150 4.2L V6. The bumper on the truck says it will handle 5000 lbs, but thats just the bumper. I really have no idea what the truck is capable of. Of course the dealer is saying that it will pull that boat with ease, but I would really like to hear from someone who's not out to profit off my purchase. Has anyone pulled a boat this heavy with an truck engine of this size?

[Way2slow]

The owners manual should have the tow capacity, if not the dealer can tell you.  

It has more than enough to tow a 3,200 pound boat.  The engine and transmission will have to work a little harder because of the small V-6, especially in hills but on fairly level roads it should cruise right along.   Make sure you check the manual, with the dealer or with a couple of transmission shops about towing in overdrive.  Something I don't recommend or do in my vehicles with that much weight but there are those that think you can tow the Queen Mary at 70 mph  in OD so I'm not going there.

[Fishing Buds]

hey Okie  8-)

I once owned a ford 2003 f150 sport with the 4.6 and I pulled a mini-back-hoe and trailer rental 30 miles home (of course I don't remember the wieght) I believe the 4.6 is rated at 200 horse power(i'm a ford man) 8-)

which gives you plenty of pep to pull(low end torch is decient)

If it is a standard thats a plus+

I'd get a trailer hitch big time, I did bend my bumper :'(

just my two cents :

[Jig Man]

Your owner's manual should have a section which gives you tips on how much and how to haul loads.  I have a freind who used a 6 cly Ford for many years pulling an 18' Ranger with no problems.

[rdneckhntr]

Its got more than enough to pull it...

[SDoolittle]

Thanks for all the responses. The reason I didn't look in the owners manual is because I can't find it. But, hey, I'd rather hear it from you guys than read it in a book anyway.

[cart7t]

I pull a 18 1/2 foot Champion boat with a F-150 4.2 V6.  This is my second Ford in 10 years with that V6 motor.   No problems.  I'd go with a Reese or Hidden Hitch. You can get one at Walmart for around $100 - 120.

Gas mileage wise, I get around 19mpg hwy with no boat, automatic transmission.  With the boat it drops to around 12mpg.

[Hot Rod]

I used to pull the same size boat with a 4 cyl Nissan up and down the mountains of PA.    

So the F150 should be more than sufficient.  

I agree with cart7, get a Reese type hitch instead of using the bumper.  It'll tow better, be safer and be easier to manuver when backing.

[RickV]

I pull a 19' Javelin Renegade FS with a 150 evinrude, with my Toyota Tachoma 2.7 liter 4 cylinder, here in the WV mountains with no problem, slows down a little bit on the hills but works for me.

[RobDar]

should be on the info tag inside the driver door...it is on my dodge at any rate.

there is actually a formula that someone once told me that calculates the COMFORTABLE towing weight from the tongue weight capacity...

I will email the guy and see if he still has that.

The 4.2 liter V6 should do fine. I might consider a transmission cooler. Your modern V6 is producing more torque and horsepower than most V-8's did just 15 years ago. Manufactuers are continually getting more capability out of "smaller" engines.

towing is as much about gear ratio and torque as it is horsepower. A V6 can actually tow better than a V8 if it is geared right.

I have towed my father in laws 20 foot Javelin with my 3.9 liter V6 van and it did better than his V8 Dakota does pulling it...but my van has the towing package.

[Flatfish]

If it is a Automatic install a auxillaty trans cooler and check about pulling in overdrive, I think it is recommended to not pull in OD