need different truck.

[onemorecast56]

I a question for you guys that pull the big 20 ft bassboats. I got a 89 Stratos 201 Pro which is a pretty heavy boat. I`m driving a 2000 Durango with that little 4.7 V8. It pulled the 18ft Champion ok,,,didn`t like it but pulled it. What would be a good truck to look for to pull this boat. Gas milage doesn`t matter,,they all **** when it comes to pulling a boat but want a truck with pulling power..I`m going to be towing this thing north,,which is about 950mile to where I`m going to...going to keep the Durango for around here

[jwatts1]

I pull a 21 foot Triton with a quad cab Dodge with a Hemi with no problem. No problem stopping either which is also real important.

[sglass]

Cant go wrong with diesel trucks. I own a 2006 F-150 STX with a small V-8 and pull a 19 foot Gambler around KY but would be iffy pulling it that far. I know sveral guys who have diesel trucks and they have ALOT of power and get better mileage than my truck.

[floatman]

I have a 05 Silverrado, it has a 5.3 liter v8,4x4, it gets about 15 .5 pulling my 19ft Ranger, got a lot of power and will stop when you want it too. I like it very much!!

Gary

[The Fish Whisperer]

I think if you are buying new,
all the normal size trucks would work
F 150 and alike, I would look at the total weight of the boat and bring that with you
look at the material on each make

I have a diesel F 350, But I pull 11,000 pounds
I think with the fuel cost, Gas is the way to go. V 8 is the answer

I like a truck with 4 wheel drive, Some don't think it is worth the money
but when you trade it back you always get that money back.

I have always drove Chevy, but now I'm a ford person.
Last two truck were ford, been happy with them.
miles per gallon might be better in chevy but it is because of the gear ratio
Ford has a lower gear ratio, which the trans will hold up better.
Just my opinion

[kydonky]

I have a GMC sierra 4x4 V8. I think its rated for 8000 lbs. Funny it has the Z71 off road decal on the side but it really has the Z85 towing suspension. I can't tell my boat is back there without looking. My tandem trailer with the Ford 4000 tractor you notice a little but no problem with acceleration (trailer has brakes) The tow mode button on the shift lever changes the shift pattern for heavy loads. Usually shifts around 1800-2000 rpm but in tow mode it will wind out to 2500-2800 rpm.

Wish it was Flex Fuel though. When you burn E85 fuel towing capacity is increased as well as HP. But then I would have to drive to St Louis to fill up.

The decal issue is a little strange. The Z71 package is rather expensive with the full undercarraige skid plate, springs and shocks for off road. The Z85 towing suspension is more as well but not as much as the Z71. This dealer did not even know this truck did not have the Z71 package. I had him crawl under the truck with me and showed him there was no skid plate. Running the VIN showed it reallly had the Z85 package (I would rather have the towing package). Anyway I beat him up on it and he cut the price by a lot of $$$$$.

I sometimes wondered if you actually got some options on cars or just paid hundreds for a decal. They said this was just an honest mistake, but I will check every option from here out.

[TyroneBiggums]

I pull my big aluminum rig with a 78 Ford that I bought brand new! Yeah its not super heavy boat but that truck is one strong mother! It has to be cause im a big feller and need lots of room, its a 4x4 too so i never get stuck in the mud when i go after the chickens on my land.

[walkeraviator]

I have been lookin at trucks for a while. It seems that the V-8 1/2 ton offerings from all teh big three are more than capable of pulling a nice load. So I started looking at which models would give me more bang for my dollar. GM trucks have the best resale value and cost the most compared to the other two. Ford is usually the cheapest around here, simply because of supply and demand. There are a load of F-150's around. Dodge is close to being as cheap as ford but not quite there.

If you want to go back and buy a 90's model truck, Ford is teh way to go. An F-150 w/ the 351, not the 302. 96-98 Chevy/GMC trucks are ridiculously high in value. Couldnt tell you why. My dad has a 98 GMC Sierra Z71 and pulls a 24ft RV that weighs over 5000lbs with no problems at all, so i could see a 21 foot boat being easy to tow with that.

[HURRICANEBOB]

I pull the 3800 pound Raider rig with a Ford E-150 Van with the 5.4 liter V8. It pulls great, ebven up the ramp at Jamestown, and even with the AC on full tilt. Get about 12-14 mpg towing. I like the van because it has plenty of seating to tak friends, pack luggage inside to keep it secure and dry, and plenty of room inside for tackle boxes and rods to keep that stuff secure to and from a trip. And the bonus is, if you want to go overnight and safe a motel room, the van has a ton of space to stretch out full-lenght if you take the back seat out and leave it home. Not sexy, but for me, its darn practical.

[kydonky]

I had the Gmc Saffari Van a 2000 moldel the the vortec V6. That truck was a billy goat. I pulled the old pontoon with it without any trouble with trips as far as Huntsville Al. Rode as smooth as my wife's cadillac.

I AGREEE!!!!. Vans are awsome with plenty of room, resonable gas milage, had rear heat and AC, camped in it many a night, was a great road trip vehicle. Everyone had a comfortable seat to Florida.

It was a great truck till the idiot broadsided it running a red light. Bent the frame and was all over.

Got a nice truck (also still have my 85 K1500 4x4) but I do miss that van.

GM stopped making the Safarri and Astro vans. I don't know why. They were really good vans built on a truck frame. Look at all of them as service vehicles.

[raincheck]

GMC but Chevy will do...............

[09Z7SC]

Wish it was Flex Fuel though. When you burn E85 fuel towing capacity is increased as well as HP. But then I would have to drive to St Louis to fill up.

There is E85 at some Thorntons in Louisville