new tow vehicle

[Chet C]

after thinking about my 2018 outback for towing, i come to the conclusion that i feel i need a better vehicle, for starters, i am either going to sell my 2018 outback or trade it with 20k miles showroom shape, what do most people get by when towing for example a 16ft alum mod v hull, most models i am looking at are around 600lbs, one i have in mind is the G3 1652 or similar. i would like to stay in the 10 grand limit so with the trade or see, i am thinking the outback is worth roughly 20 grand, so what would about 30 to 32 grand buy, any suggestions on a reliable tow vehicle, was looking at a new tacoma for around 32grand with 4x4 and a 4 cyl, some say the 4 is not the way to go,any thoughts on the 4cyl or another suggestion on a tow vehicle.

 

chet

[Scott F]

For the same money you should be able to get in an Ford F-150 with a V8. Great trucks. 

[Born 2 fish]

Get a Subaru ascent I believe they will tow 5k so your boat would be fine. 

[Vilas15]

For a 16' aluminum you should be able to get by with just about any truck or true SUV. Maybe even some crossovers but I'm not familiar enough with them.

[slonezp]

  On 7/21/2020 at 6:13 PM, Scott F said:

For the same money you should be able to get in an Ford F-150 with a V8. Great trucks. 

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A 2-3 year old well equipped one at that.

[ajschn06]

  On 7/21/2020 at 6:07 PM, Chet Cognigni said:

after thinking about my 2018 outback for towing, i come to the conclusion that i feel i need a better vehicle, for starters, i am either going to sell my 2018 outback or trade it with 20k miles showroom shape, what do most people get by when towing for example a 16ft alum mod v hull, most models i am looking at are around 600lbs, one i have in mind is the G3 1652 or similar. i would like to stay in the 10 grand limit so with the trade or see, i am thinking the outback is worth roughly 20 grand, so what would about 30 to 32 grand buy, any suggestions on a reliable tow vehicle, was looking at a new tacoma for around 32grand with 4x4 and a 4 cyl, some say the 4 is not the way to go,any thoughts on the 4cyl or another suggestion on a tow vehicle.

 

chet

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I just got a new 4x4 Tacoma with a V6 for 29.  Tows my 16 foot smokercraft great!

[Kyle S]

Ive got a 2010 tacoma, V6, 4x4 off road edition. The tacoma tows my tracker grizzly 1648 like a champ. Good luck!

[Chet C]

  On 7/21/2020 at 8:49 PM, ajschn06 said:

I just got a new 4x4 Tacoma with a V6 for 29.  Tows my 16 foot smokercraft great!

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WOW... brand new without a trade. i would love to see a deal like that up here in the NEPA area. i'd but it tomorrow

 

chet

ps maybe it's worth traveling,

  On 7/21/2020 at 6:25 PM, Born 2 fish said:

Get a Subaru ascent I believe they will tow 5k so your boat would be fine. 

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i hear you on the Ascent, just not super crazy on turbo charged engines. i don't feel longevity would be like a normal aspirated engine, now i could be wrong, maybe todays engines will go the distance

 

chet

  On 7/21/2020 at 9:14 PM, Kyle S said:

Ive got a 2010 tacoma, V6, 4x4 off road edition. The tacoma tows my tracker grizzly 1648 like a champ. Good luck!

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i went to a few local weigh ins to see some results on the bass here in the Susquehanna river, i do notice quite a few tacoma's towing

 

chet

[OnthePotomac]

Heck, I have a, 03 Ford Ranger two wheel drive with a 3.8L V6 engine and tow my 17'6" G3 Pro 175 every where like it is nothing and it has a 21 gallon gas tank I keep full.

[wis bang]

My little alumacraft [14' crappy jon] sits on a 1000# max capacity trailer with a stripped boat weight of a little over 300# so I feel the whole towed weight, loaded up, is around 1000#.

 

My Silverado Crew 4x4 doesn't notice it back there with the small V* and I'm looking at a Tacoma crew 4x4 when I replace it.

 

I used to see an older couple with a small aluminum boat and a Scion they said that was the max towing weight for the little car and they had no problems on the ramp at Assinpink, front wheel drive keeps the drive wheels on the drier part of the ramp

[MN Fisher]

  On 7/22/2020 at 5:22 PM, wis bang said:

My little alumacraft [14' crappy jon] sits on a 1000# max capacity trailer with a stripped boat weight of a little over 300# so I feel the whole towed weight, loaded up, is around 1000#.

 

My Silverado Crew 4x4 doesn't notice it back there with the small V* and I'm looking at a Tacoma crew 4x4 when I replace it.

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I know how you feel. 14' square-stern canoe on a modified PWC trailer - all total with the battery and TM on it, weighs maybe 400#.

 

Towing with a Silverado extended cab 4x4, 5.3l V-8 with the towing package (11,000lb max-tow capacity). My truck also doesn't notice that it's towing anything.

[PourMyOwn]

One thing to consider when towing with a smaller vehicle, like that Scion mentioned above- is how well the vehicle will stop the boat going downhill in a panic situation.

 

I used to pull an 18' 150hp Nitro up my driveway with a 10hp Simplicity 3410. Power isn't the issue. When I had to jam on the brakes in my new (1998) Grand Cherokee to miss a deer it was scary. The brakes heated up, got soft, and the suspension made steering very unpredictable. The boat pushed me down the hill. I went half ton shortly thereafter and haven't looked back.

 

 

[jbmaine]

I tow my 16" Lund Fury XL Sport with a Ford Edge with factory tow package. Does just fine.

[papajoe222]

If you're looking to stay with a passenger vehicle, any of the midsize SUVs with 4WD should fit the bill nicely.. I have a 10yr old Honda Pilot that has pulled my Tracker without problems since I bought it. 

[RoLo]

 

My former tow car was a Subaru which served us well for many years.

Today, I own a 2011 'Honda Pilot' which is my all-time favorite tow car.

The Pilot is now on its 3rd boat, and still doesn't realize that it's not brand new.

 

Roger

 

[Skunked again]

I have a 2018 Nissan Frontier, V6, 4x4, Crew cab, short bed. I love it. I had a G3 1756DLX, it didn't know it was there. Had a 2011 Ford escape V6 before that, it was kinda scary, especially with stopping that boat. Before that, had a Chevy trailblazer, pulled that boat as good as the frontier did. 

Towed a buddies 21' ranger with a 250hp Yamaha, with the frontier, It did fine. 

If I ever get done working on this 17' Skeeter, I'll let you know how it tows it!

 

[Teal]

Any V6, should be plenty for a 16 ft aluminum with all your gear.  I have towed a 19'10" boat with 200hp motor, packed up with a 2004 explorer by and now with a 2017 Tacoma V6.   If I was going to be travelling great distances I would have gotten a full size truck.   If you dont want a full size, the tacoma, 4 runners, frontiers, Coloradosand ect. Will be plenty no more that you are trying to haul.  

But that is a greeeeat budget so you can really find whatever you want.  My next is gonna be a bignhonkin DIESEL BEAST.

[Junk Fisherman]

The newer Tacomas get better MPGs and a similar towing capacity compared to the older model Tacomas.  Some Tacoma enthusiasts complain because the 3.4 L Tacoma is not as peppy as the older model 4.0 L.  I have a 2008 Tacoma V6 and I can tell you that its mileage sucks and I would take the tradeoff to the 3.4 L.  Overall, it has been a great truck  It has a 6500 lb towing capacity and my boat is around 3500 lbs.  It does fine towing but I definitely feel it back there.

 

Something to keep in mind about the Tacoma is that their resale value is incredibly high.  So while you would pay more upfront, you will get a higher percentage of that back when you sell it and it will be an in-demand vehicle.  I can see that you are concerned about keeping the price in a certain range.  Think about how long you are going to keep the vehicle.  If you are gonna keep it 10 years, then the additional cost now will not be as great when you average it over the life of the vehicle.  Several times, I have bought big ticket items and wished later I had spent more.  You get that vehicle or boat paid off in a couple years and wish you had bought more initially.  Just a thought.  Good luck.  

[Shimano_1]

I gave right around 32k for my 4x4 4 door ram new in 2017 with the hemi. Id go with something capable of towing any boat unless you know for certain you'll never get a bigger boat. If you prefer an suv then as stated any of v6 should pull that boat. My buddy pulls a 21ft bullet all over the state in a 4x4 v6 tacoma and it seems to do fine. I want more power and handling than I need. Been in a few near misses with smaller lighter vehicles and its no fun.