Enough Truck?

[derviskhan]

Reaching out for some help here. No kids of my own, but have 2 Nephews. Ages 5 and 7, long story short these kids dont do outside. It is not by their choice however, they are video game kids with parents that are video game parents as well. Not a HUGE deal but I bought the kids a fishing game a few months back. Next thing I know they have the fishing bug. I have taken them fishing a few times in my little boat (14ft john boat) and they loved it. Nothing fancy just some bream and catfish. Now I am going to be teaching/taking 2 grown adults and 2 small kids fishing along with my wife. 14ft john boat is not going to cut it. I am going to buy a 18ft or 22ft pontoon, which I feel will fit my needs better at this point in time to get some family out of the house.Of course still keeping my little boat for me to sneak away in.

Now the real question, I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 but with the V6. I know NOTHING about cars/trucks I bought this one because it was big and yet still ok on gas. I have read the owners manual, online, everything. The weight of the pontoon is within the towing capicity. However I am worried about steep boat docks and some of the mountains around here (Huntsville AL) to get to the fishing area.

Do I need a bigger truck?

Any help is greatly apperciated.

On a side note after 3 trips with the older nephew, watching him teach his younger brother on his first trip out how to do things was probably the best time I have ever had on the water! Might have to get me one of these kid things.

[Fishing Rhino]

Is your truck four wheel drive? Some ramps are steep, some can get slick. Most of the time, a four wheel drive isn't needed. But the one time you do need it, and don't have it will be a real headache.

In any trailering situation, braking power is the number one priority. A small vehicle may struggle, but it will eventually get to a speed where its brakes are not adequate. Your 1500 should have sufficient braking power. But, when you do get a boat, try to find one with a trailer that has surge brakes. They make a huge difference.

[derviskhan]

Truck is not 4 -wheel drive which is one of the concerns I have. I WILL be getting the trailer with brakes.

[Way2slow]

I've never not owned a 4WD drive vehicle since 1967 so I can't help you there, but in 2005, my dad bought a new Dodge PU with a V-6 (salesman told him would would do fine towing his 17.5' Stratos, 2,800 lb tow weight). About two months after getting it, me made one of our trips from middle GA to the St. Johns river in Walaka Fl. When we got back, he took the truck back to the dealer and traded it for a V-8, and that was almost all fairly flat roads. I would think, as long as you're on paved ramps, 2WD would do OK.

Personally, I've never felt I had a need for a truck that was not 4WD. Many times I've lauched boats in rivers, lakes, and ponds that don't even have roads to them, much much less a ramp. I've been in rivers I've had to use the winch to lower truck and boat far enough down the bank to get the boat in the water. I've alway be a firm believer, never walk where you can drive, especially if it's too thick to walk through, be surprised at just how big of a saplin truck can push down and drive over.

[Rant]

you'll be fine

[Fishing Rhino]

I've never not owned a 4WD drive vehicle since 1967 so I can't help you there, but in 2005, my dad bought a new Dodge PU with a V-6 (salesman told him would would do fine towing his 17.5' Stratos, 2,800 lb tow weight). About two months after getting it, me made one of our trips from middle GA to the St. Johns river in Walaka Fl. When we got back, he took the truck back to the dealer and traded it for a V-8, and that was almost all fairly flat roads. I would think, as long as you're on paved ramps, 2WD would do OK.

Personally, I've never felt I had a need for a truck that was not 4WD. Many times I've lauched boats in rivers, lakes, and ponds that don't even have roads to them, much much less a ramp. I've been in rivers I've had to use the winch to lower truck and boat far enough down the bank to get the boat in the water. I've alway be a firm believer, never walk where you can drive, especially if it's too thick to walk through, be surprised at just how big of a saplin truck can push down and drive over.

LOL. I can only imagine what the finish must look like. In my mind, I envision a vehicle that just went through one of those car washes with the spinning drums, and they replace the cloth strips with abrasive strips. Actually I don't have to imagine. I've seen farm trucks around here where they go in the same type of environment. But, ya gotta do what ya gotta do to get where ya wanna go.

One long skid plate beneath so those saplings don't rip off any hoses.

[MichBassMan]

My neighbor and fishing partner had the same truck as you. He finally traded for a V8. You'll probley be "OK" with your 6cyl unless you have any steep or long hills. Be prepared to hear your motor screeming as it downshifts. Also you will burn as much or more gas than you would with a small V8.

[boystcroix]

You should be fine launching the boat, you may be somewhatt underpowered towing on road with steep inclines . I too have found that trucks and SUV with 6 cylinders get around the same gas mileage as v-8, especially if they are 4X4.

[FD.]

You will probably be fine as long as you are not going that far and are not in a hurry to get there. My son has a 1500 with the V6. Fine with a john boat but granpa's pontoon is a little much to take far. Not so much because of the weight, but the wind resistance over 55 mph.

[Big Al23]

I'm guessing the towing weight is under 2000 lbs. Your Ram will tow fine. Personally, I would not buy another truck just to pull a boat. As long as you are within the recommendations, you'll be safe. I remember Chevy's S10 pick up with the 2.0 four cyl. I knew a guy who pulled a bass boat with it for years.

[Diablos]

We've all been to the boat ramp 100's of times and we all know we've seen some head-scratchers. People towing bass boats with sedans and very light trucks.

Just try to stay around the tow capacity of the vehicle and you'll be okay.

I tow my boat 1200lbs with my Subaru Forester 4cyl and never felt the vehicle struggling going uphill or down

Good luck