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What's everyone towing with?

59K views 406 replies 149 participants last post by  JC Designs 
#1 ·
Post up your tow vehicle and the pros and cons if you don't mind. I am shopping for a new vehicle and can't decide what to get. Somewhere between a 4Runner and Explorer...and Armada and others.
 
#169 ·
If I am towing, it is with my GMC Sierra 1500 SLT Z71 4x4. The truck doesn't really feel my East Cape Vantage back there. Usually the boat is towed up and down by a Boat Lift Distributors cradle and boat lift... :)
 
#175 ·
2005 6.6 Turbo diesel 2500 GMC Sierra SLE with 8' bed and extended cab, Allison Tansmission. Wife Bought it new, in August 05, Paid the sales tax and fees cash, then 36 x $1000 payments 0% interest. While it is not parking friendly, it is easy to load with plenty of room. No fancy packing needed there. Room and Power to spare. I was showing Dad, shortly after I bought it. Went to pick up his 30' fifth wheel at a park campground, as he had just had his stroke. I snapped her up to about 85mph to show him the pulling power it had. He said, "if you don't slow down, your going to rip the front end off my camper". With the old 350 gas, I was always under feet, especially on the interstate. With that diesel, I was passing everyone, with camper in tow. Today, she is getting a little rusty. I would suggest anyone that buys something of that value to undercoat it immediately, especially if you live near salt water or are North of the Mason Dixon line.
 

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#176 ·
2005 F-150 Supercab XLT 4x4.
My truck is a tool (and luckily as a family doctor I am not in the business of impressing anyone)... and it works amazing for that role. I will get another one when it starts having problems.
 
#180 ·
I like the hull design. Curious, who makes that hull? The bottom of the boat extends back beyond the motor to act as designed in trim tabs. I see you have also Added a set of tabs....Did you see a further improvement as to porpoising? or was she good in that respect already? I bet she is up and out of the hole fast.
 
#186 ·
Great thread - as a bunch of you guys mentioned, the importance isn't horsepower, it's the stopping.

I've towed my 2001 HB 17.8 Whip with a bunch of stuff (Hummer H3, Hemi Grand Cherokee, 4Runner), but my current tow vehicle is a Subaru Crosstrek with Manual Transmission. Bought the car to tow behind the RV and fell in love with it (cheap and does just about everything I need). Actually putting my 2016 4Runner up for sale because it never gets used. The only downside is that you definitely know the skiff is back there when you go over bumps (waggles the tail a bit), but that's first world problems. Speed wise, I don't have problems - I've towed my skiff as well as two separate HB Marquesas without any real issues. I think the manual transmission helps - not sure how the CVT transmission would tow. Stopping is good as well - I've had to make a few emergency stops and I've been happy.

In an effort to win the "tows with the least horsepower" award here, I occasionally tow with a 1979 VW Bus with 64 hp (6hp less than the skiff). The issue here is not necessarily the towing (I only tow at about 55mph (rarely exceed 60 not towing for fear of putting too much strain on the air cooled motor)), but the stopping. When I tow with it, I take the back roads to Flamingo....

Finally, sometimes I tow with the RV - but have never used the RV to launch the skiff. Talk about not knowing the skiff is back there; the water in my freshwater tanks weighs more than the skiff and trailer...
Land vehicle Vehicle Car Subaru Subaru

2017 Crosstrek
Vehicle Motor vehicle Car Transport Tree
1979 VW Westfalia.
Transport Vehicle Motor vehicle Mode of transport Truck
 
#188 ·
Great thread - as a bunch of you guys mentioned, the importance isn't horsepower, it's the stopping.

I've towed my 2001 HB 17.8 Whip with a bunch of stuff (Hummer H3, Hemi Grand Cherokee, 4Runner), but my current tow vehicle is a Subaru Crosstrek with Manual Transmission. Bought the car to tow behind the RV and fell in love with it (cheap and does just about everything I need). Actually putting my 2016 4Runner up for sale because it never gets used. The only downside is that you definitely know the skiff is back there when you go over bumps (waggles the tail a bit), but that's first world problems. Speed wise, I don't have problems - I've towed my skiff as well as two separate HB Marquesas without any real issues. I think the manual transmission helps - not sure how the CVT transmission would tow. Stopping is good as well - I've had to make a few emergency stops and I've been happy.

In an effort to win the "tows with the least horsepower" award here, I occasionally tow with a 1979 VW Bus with 64 hp (6hp less than the skiff). The issue here is not necessarily the towing (I only tow at about 55mph (rarely exceed 60 not towing for fear of putting too much strain on the air cooled motor)), but the stopping. When I tow with it, I take the back roads to Flamingo....

Finally, sometimes I tow with the RV - but have never used the RV to launch the skiff. Talk about not knowing the skiff is back there; the water in my freshwater tanks weighs more than the skiff and trailer... View attachment 26762
2017 Crosstrek View attachment 26763 1979 VW Westfalia.
View attachment 26764
The photo of the Whip behind the VW looks straight out of one of my dreams -- it doesn't get much cooler than that! Last VW bus I "owned" was a shell in the gated yard of our old shop with a 3' hole cut in the side of it. It was the living quarters for our shop dogs, two big Akitas.
 
#189 ·
There's a 2.8 Cummins out that a lot of people are swapping into old Cruisers, Wranglers etc.... 2 door wranglers get about 31 mpg on the highway, but it is also about $9k. Ugghhh
 
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#193 ·
So I just found out there's a company that specializes in diesel conversions for Toyota trucks, and in my case, FJ Cruisers. Guess I'll die poor...
Watch out it's a slippery slope! Been there and now $65k later it is really a great truck, but can never get that money back on trade or sale. However that is not the reason to do it anyway. The body, frame, and axles are stock. Everything else tweaked a little... Heard it said that a hearse does not have a UHaul trailer attached for a reason. =)
 
#194 ·
So I just found out there's a company that specializes in diesel conversions for Toyota trucks, and in my case, FJ Cruisers. Guess I'll die poor...
I've wanted to do this with my Tundra for a while now. Amazing truck, best I've ever owned but the mileage sucks huge, for long trips I'll use my Ram 3500 to tow my 2k lbs total rig just for the fuel savings. What outfit is doing this swap?
 
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#200 ·
I was going to get a used Ford F250 but I began to think about bullet proof, rain getting on stuff, my dog box getting wet, my rods...
so I settled on a 2012 Ford Expidition, King Ranch
I'll post a picture next week after I pick it up
this one has a backup camera that should help backing the boat up
 
#204 ·
2015 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax crew cab, 4 wheel drive. No lift or anything like that, just a tool. Tow a 38 foot fifth wheel when I'm on the road working, a 36 foot goose neck hauling hay for my father-in-law when I'm home. Towed my 22' Pathfinder easily before I sold it. I'm sure that when I finally get a skiff I will not even know its there.
The back seat is a good thing to pile stuff in when the weather gets bad or to pull things out of the boat if you stop at a restaurant or somewhere that you need to keep an honest man honest.
 
#211 ·
View attachment 31404 When my Outback retires, I think I’ll be looking hard at the Duramax Canyon or Colorado. @sjrobin why did you choose the Canyon?
Several reasons for choosing the Duramax Canyon.

1) I drive a lot ($3000 diesel option) At 55,000 miles compared to Tacoma/FourRunner V-6 mpg the diesel option is close to paid
2) Smooth, quiet ride. 2wd version/exhaust brake
3) Value at 37K
4) Technology, ATT WiFi hotspot / Engine design/diagnostics

I had also considered Tacoma/FourRunner and Audi Q7 TDI before the TDI emissions scandal.
 
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