towing a boat

[pops13]

I have a 97 2.3 5 speed that I bought last fall, have not tried to tow my 14 foot alum. boat yet, it is no more than 1000 pounds. is this guy up to the task? I have not towed with a 5 speed b4, I am a little nervous about this. can I tow it on the freeway? most of the time it will be local though.

 

[Sprag-O]

I tow with my 2wd 2.3 5spd all the time... sometimes heavier loads.

14ft aluminum boat should be a good match for a little ranger. Just make sure you have appropriate tongue weight and you should be good to go.

I'm not a fan of bumper towing, but even if you don't have a hitch, you should be able to pull that no issues

 

[pops13]

I have a hitch on it, will give it a try hopefully next weekend, thanks.

 

[fastpakr]

It'll do just fine - you're not anywhere near a towing limit.

 

[jcolgan_42]

Tongue weight on my '94 Ranger is 200 lbs. My 15' Smokercraft Alaskan tongue weight is approx. 120 lbs. You should be OK. But it wouldn't hurt to invest in a nice receiver hitch. They use 3 bolts per side of the frame, and connect 18" back.
Holes are pre-drilled at the factory. Just my 12 cents worth (2 cents adjusted for inflation).

 

[bluebombersfan]

depends how well your engine runs

My 96 ranger will only do 135km/hr top speed, when I tried towing my 14 foot aluminum boat my top speed shrunk to 105km/hr. It didn't stand a chance in OD.
I did all the tune-ups, passed emissions, codes clear, I'm guessing maybe just bad carbon build-up, only get 18-20mpgs.
I doubt your 14 aluminum boat weighs 1000lbs unless its the super full size kind with wood floors and a big heavy 4 stroke outbourd.
I own a 14' Misty river with 25 hp 2 stroke. The boat by itself only feels like 200-250lbs. Outboard 104lbs, and trailer maybe 300lbs.

 

[Sprag-O]

I tow my 16ft fiberglass switzer all over the place... and that things solid.... boat / trailer easily around 2,500lbs... No issues with the 2.3 5spd. I do have 4.10s, but also turning 31's.

 

[pops13]

the book says the boat weighs 300, the trailer is 300 to 350, motor is 95# and gear is maybe 100# with a full tank of gas, plus 100# of weight in the front to keep the bow down, looks like 900#.

 

[Will]

You can tow 900# behind a bicycle--there's a guy in Sweden that has no car and tows his boat with his bike. It's a sailboat he cruises in with his wife.

 

[pops13]

well took the boat out twice, the truck pulls it with ease, even pulls up the ramp no problem.

 

[bluebombersfan]

how was it on the highway?

can you use OD?

 

[FordMan016]

no OD with load ... you should have no prob if you take your time towing it i just got back from hauling/towing 700-800lbs thats including my boat/motor all camping essentials

 

[bluebombersfan]

I can make it to about 125kmhr

I can make it to about 125km/hr towing my 14 aluminum(25hp) It just takes a half hour of full throttle to get there, I think It can even handle 100km/hr if I really want but usually go around 94km/hr to make it easier on the engine. Od is impossible but I'm assuming that may also be linked to the fact that I have the 3:45 gear. In my manual it says I'm not even supposed to tow anything but my truck gets the job done.

 

[Will]

no OD with load ...

You can use OD--if your truck will let you.

Rule of thumb--if you can't accelerate you are in too high of a gear.

 

[pops13]

re

got a bigger heavier boat, 2500 lbs. to heavy for 4 banger stick, so I bought a 01 3.0 auto, handles it good with a new hitch, the truck probably would have pulled it but not up the launch ramp.