Towing

[fishingfourfun]

I am looking at buying a Tracker Tournament V-18 with a 115 HP motor. I was wondering if anyone knew if I could pull this boat with my current truck. It is a Ford Ranger 2 wheel drive with a 4.0 liter automatic.

[T-Bone]

You shouldn't have any problem pulling that boat with that truck, my cousin used to pull around his 19ft G3 aluminum bass boat with a ford ranger.

[HPBB]

with tha 4.0L you should have no problem, now if it was a 3.0L then you might have a problem. If its a auto do not tow in Overdrive

[brgbassmaster]

you wont have any problem towing with that setup. i have a 4.7Liter toyota tundra and cant even feel the boat on the truck. you might feel it a little bit but wont have any problems. oh and i also have a tracker its a 17ft with only a 40 horse though.

[Wilson]

it will tow it but you may break down while towing seeing on how your using a FORD:P   lol sorry I am a dodge type of guy.

[BassChump]

First of all, I'm a Dodge fan too but I am currently driving a 1990 Ford Ranger 4x4 extra cab with a 4 liter automatic. I'd rather have a Dodge but I'm glad I didn't get a Chevy. Just don't care for their trucks for some reason.

With all that said, I own a 17 foot Trophy bass boat with an 85 horse motor. With the trailer and all my gear in the boat, it weighs around 1900 pounds and my little old Ranger tows it just fine. Even when I forget to take it out of overdrive.

Remember, Mazda has been making all the Ford Rangers for more than 20 years. It's actually a Mazda truck and frankly, it's been a good truck.

It shouldn't have any problem at all towing a boat like you're describing.

The only thing I don't like about the truck is it has rear anti-lock brakes. On steep ramps with a little gravel around or are wet, my front tires will tend to lock and the back wheels don't, or should I say won't. I lose any steering when the fronts lock up. It's a pain but you get used to it.

[powerman970]

It's not the towing that will be a problem...It's the stopping.  I had a Toyota PreRunner with a V6 and it would drag a 19' fish and ski around with no problem.  As long as I didn't need to stop quickly and as long as I didn't mind replacing brake pads at least once a year.  Just be careful and keep in mind that a boat that size is going to push a truck that size.

[Scott C]

You have the same truck that my dad has.  He tows his 19' Chapparal open bow with it and does ok.  Brakes would be nice, but then, that boat is WAY heavier than the one that you are looking at.  

You aren't going to win any races, but you'll get where you are going.

[fishingfourfun]

The boat weighs around 2300lbs.  I do not think I can tow it with the bumper.

[HPBB]

depends on what the bumpers tow rating is, but I would get a hitch instald.

I mean my Tahoe's bumper has a tow rating of 5,000lbs, but I would never use it. always like a hitch better. also if you turn sharp with a bumper hitch you may bend the trailer ( which I have done) or hurt the bumper, where a hitch and tow bar will let you 90degree the trailer with ease.

[Popeye]

+2 on the "get a hitch" suggestion!!! They are relatively inexpensive and much safer for you, your truck, and your boat, IMO. Check Ebay for some good prices for a bolt on hitch.

[jhoffman]

My concern with that truck would be NEVER EVER get the back tires in the water. Be ok with the boat on but as soon as you lose that weight you're gonna spin! Then you might end up in the drink. Maybe its the length of my trailer but I cannot launch my 14ft john without getting the back tires in. I always put it in 4wd. I was coming down a rather steep mountain Saturday morning and was going just a tad to fast, scary, no trailer brakes. When I buy my nitro this winter its DEFINITELY getting trailer brakes.