Truck advice, please.

[jwp]

I have owned Japanese trucks since 1986. At the moment, I'm pulling my 17 foot tracker with a 1995 Nissan 4 x 4 powered by a V6 and a 5 speed. It's a perfect setup, both have been extremely reliable and pretty fuel efficient but I'm getting hungry for a larger boat (18-19' fiberglass) that will be easier to fish out of esp. in the wind.

Lately I've seen a few nice boats advertised at very reasonable prices, but I need a good used truck first. Looking at the ads, it appears late 90's to early 2000's American-made trucks are pretty common and decently priced. What I would like to know is what you guys are using to pull your rigs and what you would recommend for me. The only thing I know for sure is it will be an extended cab and a 4 wheel drive.

So what do you think???/

Ford? Chevy? Dodge? Toyota Tundra?

Gas? Diesel?

1/2 ton? 3/4 ton?

Auto? 5-speed?

Thanks in advance.

John

[BarkelyPup]

I used to pull a 19' pro craft fish and ski with a nissan frontier. It did fine. Just had to leave a little more room to stop but I would do that with any truck. Gas milage was pretty bad. Got about 11 mpg but I have a Chevy 5.3 now and it only gets about 14 pulling my boat. I would buy the boat and then see if I needed a new truck.

bP

[zx150]

I pull with a 99 Chevy 4X4 extended cab 1500 with a v-8 and it pulls a 21' Skeeter great. I also had a 90 Toyota 4X4 v-6 and pulled a 18' Skeeter, it was OK but, it needed a little more truck.

I like the Chevy in the years you are talking about better than any other truck. Ryan.

[CMIDD]

Working at a automotive dealership, I see quite a bit of crazy things, and I generally make it a point to ask what type of fuel mileage people get pulling boats. I own a 2003 Trailblazer, and it pulls boats just fine. The fuel mileage is not the greatest. I personally would not buy a diesel unless I were pulling a pretty heavy boat. Diesel fuel is a bit more expensive than gas, yes, they get a little better mileage, but not enough to justify 50 cent more per gallon in my mind. The cost of repair is much greater on a diesel as opposed to a gas engine. Mind you, I work in a Chevy store, so my opinion is biased. If I were not satisfied with the way my truck pulled the new boat, I would lean toward a used K1500, automatic with the 5.3. Many people have said they get pretty good fuel mileage with them. I would also recommend the 3.73 gears instead of the 3.42 ratio. Again, just my opinion, and it is highly biased. But if I were you, I would try your current truck with the new boat, and you never know, it may be just fine.
Hope this helps,
Craig

[pastorbass]

It all depends on the boat you end up buying. Each brand is different, some weigh more than others. If you were going to get a 19 or 20 foot Ranger or Nitro, which are both great boats, but on the heavy side - then you may need to step up in a tow vehicle.

For 3 years I pulled a 15 foot Javelin with a V6 Ford Explorer. I recently traded boats and pull a 19 foot Sprint with it. You can't even tell its back there. Of course Sprints weigh close to nothing.

Of course it is important to test drive a boat - so when you look for your new boat, use your tow vehicle as opposed to the dealerships if they will allow and see how it does. You may come out not needing a tow truck and save some money or use that money to upgrade the boat or add some accessories.

Let us know when and what you buy.

[jwp]

Thanks for the good advice. I would really like to keep this truck (I've put 100,000 miles on it) but I've used it to pull some very heavy loads on a 16 foot trailer and I've learned it's limitiations. The biggest issue is the kinds of roads I drive on in the vicinity of my farm... which are narrow, curvy, and often steep and sometimes wet. The Nissan will pull about anything, but stopping is another story.

What about a long wheelbase versus a short one?

Keep those opinions coming, please.

Thanks,

John

[CMIDD]

I would have to say extended cab short bed.

[TrackerMike]

The Nissan will pull about anything, but stopping is another story.

John,
Have you considered brakes on the new trailer? If you are satisfied with your truck, it would be cheaper to go this route than trade trucks.
Mike

[Col Forbin]

I guess it all depends on how far and how often you will be trailering. I have a triton tr-20 that I pull with a Ford Explorer (v6), however, I only tow, on average 10 miles one way. Every once in a while I will make a longer trip. It does fine. I have trailer brakes, and that will make a huge difference. I do turn the overdrive off - and I live in western KY where it is flat for the most part.
I do wish I had a larger truck, and may eventually (next several years) get one, but because of luxury not necessity. If I were making longer trips more often (hour or more each way) I would probably want a little more power and larger set up. But I am more than pleased with my set up now. If you are comfortable launching with a standard, and don't feel the need to drive like Jeff Gordon while towing - I would try yours out. But once again, trailer brakes will make a huge difference.

In terms of fuel effeciency, I don't do so well on gas mileage. A larger V8 would get better gas mileage than mine, it would have to work a little less.

[mattbay]

If you want comfort and good fuel mileage pulling a bass boat I recommend a chevy silverado extended cab with a 5.3 engine. I pull a 17' bayliner bass boat and get about 15 mpg.

[tglass]

I have a 03 suburban right now and it does great towing my big center console boat. I have towed my friends ranger with it and you can't even tell it is back there. i have the 5.3 in it and it is 4 wheel drive. i had a 98 extended cab Z-71 before this and it towed my boat great too but it suffered on wind drag because my boat is like a parachute. It catches a lot of wind but the only way you can tell is the gas mileage. I also have trailer brakes and with my big heavy truck and my big heavy boat i have no problem stopping in either truck. My center console is a nitro bay 1900 boat so like one of the other guys said rangers and nitros are heavy and both of my chevys did great. With you buying a bass boat you will do great with a short bed extended cab chevy with a 5.7 or 5.3. With trailer brakes you should not have a problem stopping. without them it will take a little more effort. I probably drive too fast when towing but what i got for gas mileage with my trucks were on the Z-71 i got 17 or better not towing and only around 10 of so towing. When i went to my burb i get 15 or 16 not towing and 12-13 towing. So i got the burb because it knocked some of the wind off my boat. i would probably need a diesel to get better gas mileage.

[kyjake]

Does anyone tow with a 4.3 or 4.8 Chevy?I am looking also.
Jake