Imgonnamissher Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 Total boat newb here. I have two four cylinder cars at my disposal, one of which has a thule rack. Works great for the canoe and the kayak, but if the stars align here in the next few months, I could be looking at getting a small aluminum boat when we move into Pennsylvania. I could get a ten foot jon and car top it, but after looking at the weights of the riveted jons on the tracker website, I wonder if a four cylinder could handle towing a 12-14' (125-160#) jon on a trailer with a battery (or two), and a trolling motor. I realize this is not ideal, but I have no intentions of heading down I-95 at 75 mph with a rig like this. I am looking more at towing it on country roads to area lakes and parks. Is this possible, or should I just get a car topper and wait until I have something more powerful to tow a rig like the one described? Quote
Super User flechero Posted June 10, 2009 Super User Posted June 10, 2009 Towing a light aluminum boat on a little trailer like you suggest, could be under 500 lbs total, even with gear... the car doesn't know if that 500 lbs is passengers or a trailer. (and the suspension probably would appreciate the trailer.) ...lol Quote
Imgonnamissher Posted June 10, 2009 Author Posted June 10, 2009 Excellent...I'd make a mother in law joke here but that might not be in good taste... ;D However, it finally occurred to me to check the specs on my vehicle, and it says that it has a 1000 pound towing capacity. Five or six hundred pounds doesn't seem like much of a stretch at all then. Quote
Olebiker Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 As Flechero said, towing won't be a problem. You mentioned traveling down the interstate at 75. Keep in mind that trailers to handle a boat this small will have very small wheels that turn at very high RPMs. Make sure your trailer bearings are in good shape before towing at that speed. Quote
Super User burleytog Posted June 11, 2009 Super User Posted June 11, 2009 Pulling isn't the problem, stopping is the problem. Quote
Bull Hurley Posted June 11, 2009 Posted June 11, 2009 You shouldn't have any problems at all trailering with either car. Even at 600 lbs. the braking wouldn't be that much of a concern as long as you remeber and start braking ahead of time and don't do what most people do and run up to a stop and slam on the brakes. What you really want to do is balance the load on the trailer and not have to much weight on the tongue pushing down on the ball and rear suspension and not to much to the rear of the trailer pulling up on the ball. I have put many hitches on small 4 cylinder cars most of the time the people were going to be pulling a motorcycle or two on a trailer that would range anywhere from 800-1500 lbs. Quote
bass or bass ? Posted June 12, 2009 Posted June 12, 2009 When I had an aluminum boat (16'), I towed it with my 1.8 liter 1988 Subaru wagon with no trouble at all. 60 mph down the highway like it wasn't even there. You'll have no problems. Happy fishing. Phoenix Arizona ~N.A.F.C.~B.A.S.S.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~ Quote
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