LeBron_Hill Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 I just recently sold my 2006 Dodge 3500 dually...just couldnt deal with those huge payments anymore. Now I am stuck without a truck which means no way to get the boat to the water. I want to find something cheap on gas that will also tow my boat. I have a 1997 Stratos 268 boat. I think its a 16 ft boat. I have found a truck that I can pick up for a pretty good deal and will also get some decent fuel mileage for everyday commuting. The truck is a 2000 GMC Sierra with a 4.3L v6. It is a regular cab, short bed, automatic. It is also 2wd. I dont know if it has a tow package and I also dont know what it is rated to tow. What do you guys think? I think it should tow it fine...at least for about 1.5 years, then I am going to break down and buy a Tundra with a 5.7l. Thanks in advance. Quote
Super User Grey Wolf Posted July 4, 2011 Super User Posted July 4, 2011 You are going to do what you want to but you will be living on the edge with that underpowered truck . I personally wouldn't buy it. Quote
LoneWolf Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 find a used Toyota Tacoma with a 4.0 litre v-6 best small truck on the planet....i have one and it tows my 17ft Tracker with ease Quote
scrutch Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 You're in GA... Do you tow it over a lot of hills? I think that truck would be fine on flat land if you're careful and smart about it. I wouldn't recommend it in the hilly country. Also, I think your boat weighs a bit more than a 17 ft Tracker. Use the internet to tell you. Look up the weight of your boat. Look up the towing capacity of the truck you plan to tow it with. Quote
LeBron_Hill Posted July 4, 2011 Author Posted July 4, 2011 nah I wont be pulling thru any hills...I have about a 45 min pull to West Point lake from my house...no hills, just flat land. I want to buy a smaller vehicle for my everyday commute and I will buy a bigger v8 truck in about a year or so...just thought I could kill 2 birds with one stone with this particular truck... Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 4, 2011 Super User Posted July 4, 2011 It'll be fine. Max trailering is 4800 lbs. with 3.23 rear axle. Quote
LeBron_Hill Posted July 4, 2011 Author Posted July 4, 2011 thanks alot man...that is what I was wanting to hear. I know i got a few buddies that pull their boats with ford explorers with 4.0 v6 engines. One of them has a 21 ft triton and the other has a 18.5 ft skeeter. I thought that this one might pull my little small one. Quote
bass or bass ? Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 I've been towing my 16' boat with a 1987 S-10 Blazer with the tow package and the small 2.8 V-6 for 5 years. It's slow up hill ( I don't have to deal with a lot of hills) but otherwise get's the job done without any problems. I don't run air conditioning when I'm towing to reduce engine load, but hey, there's no air conditioning while fishing anyhow! I also installed a BIG transmission cooler rated at 3600 pounds. Runs nice and cool even on our 115 degree days. Quote
Super User Catt Posted July 5, 2011 Super User Posted July 5, 2011 I have a ’96 Stratos 258V & I’ve pulled many times with my nephew’s Dodge V6 with absolutely no problems, it’s a 2 ½ hr drive to Toledo with plenty uphill curvy roads. Stratos boats trailer easier than most Quote
Super User Hooligan Posted July 5, 2011 Super User Posted July 5, 2011 Should be fine. I used to pull my Triton 20 with a 4 door Chevy Blazer with a 4.3 and 3.73 rear. No issues at all, and I pulled that thing a LOT of miles. Quote
jdw174 Posted July 6, 2011 Posted July 6, 2011 find a used Toyota Tacoma with a 4.0 litre v-6 best small truck on the planet....i have one and it tows my 17ft Tracker with ease I tow a TR20 Triton with mine and it does a very admirable job. Quote
Super User skunked_again Posted July 10, 2011 Super User Posted July 10, 2011 i had for the most part the same truck and pulled my 18' bass boat all over with the thing. i also ran the a/c and never once had a problem. Quote
newcreation Posted July 16, 2011 Posted July 16, 2011 Anthing has to be better than the guy i saw today.. 2011 21 ft triton yanked by a 89 lincoln town car. nice wish i could have got a pic. Quote
northern basser Posted July 17, 2011 Posted July 17, 2011 Like mentioned earlier, big hills might be hard on the tranny. If you baby it when you know its working hard it will be fine. When the tranny starts shifting up, down and back up again is when its working hard. I've owned some nice boats thru the years, but the economy has me currently using a old 1970 fiberglass tri-hull w/ a evinrude 60hp. Its old and HEAVY. Actually, its works pretty decent for fishing because it is nice and stable. I pull this with my plumbing van which is a 99 Astro w/ a 4.3. It handles it pretty well considering I have the van loaded down w/ fittings and tools. Neither the boat or vehicle are ideal, but they're paid for. Quote
northern basser Posted July 17, 2011 Posted July 17, 2011 Anthing has to be better than the guy i saw today.. 2011 21 ft triton yanked by a 89 lincoln town car. nice wish i could have got a pic. Thats funny. More than once I've saw people up here in MN heading up north w/ a big deep/wide walleye boat behind a minivan. The bumper of the van almost dragging on the road. Quote
Chaz Hickcox Posted July 17, 2011 Posted July 17, 2011 I just recently sold my 2006 Dodge 3500 dually...just couldnt deal with those huge payments anymore. Now I am stuck without a truck which means no way to get the boat to the water. I want to find something cheap on gas that will also tow my boat. I have a 1997 Stratos 268 boat. I think its a 16 ft boat. I have found a truck that I can pick up for a pretty good deal and will also get some decent fuel mileage for everyday commuting. The truck is a 2000 GMC Sierra with a 4.3L v6. It is a regular cab, short bed, automatic. It is also 2wd. I dont know if it has a tow package and I also dont know what it is rated to tow. What do you guys think? I think it should tow it fine...at least for about 1.5 years, then I am going to break down and buy a Tundra with a 5.7l. Thanks in advance. You'd be fine. I had a 2004 Siverado with the same motor that I used to haul bigger loads than your boat in the hills of Az and Ca. It wasn't as easy as it is now in my 6.0L Silverado, but it was doable and not really under powered. Quote
scrutch Posted July 18, 2011 Posted July 18, 2011 Anthing has to be better than the guy i saw today.. 2011 21 ft triton yanked by a 89 lincoln town car. nice wish i could have got a pic. At least he has his priorities in order! Quote
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