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Ok, so I know to some of you this is a stupid question, but where else would be a better place to get advice than here!
So, I have a car that is rated to tow 1,000 per the manual booklet. My tires are 97T. Well, according to tire ratings, the 97 means I can tow up to 1,609 pounds safely.
I'm looking to get a small aluminum boat. Nothing heavy or fancy. Your thoughts? Thanks! Oh, my car is a Chevy impala.
The rating of your vehicle tires has nothing to do with towing. That's how much weight they can handle holding up your car and passengers. You are at 1000lb max towing capacity.
I'm surprised the Impala rating is only 1000 pounds. What size engine does it have? As cars go these days, the Impala is a decent size vehicle. I would have expected it to be 2000 pounds.
While it is never good to exceed mfg ratings, there is a 'fudge factor' built in, knowing that humans being humans will push the limit. If your rig grossed out at 1200 pounds it probably would be safe for the occasional fishing trip. If you plan to tow long distances frequently, might need to consider a different car.
If you get a 14' tin boat, 20hp 4s and small trailer, you'll be fine. Look for the hull weight on the specs, same for the motor and trailer. Add 'em all up. Don't forget to add some weight for the gas tank, rods & reels, cooler, etc, whatever you will have in the boat when being towed.
A lot of times just towing/moving the boat isn't the problem. (you can pretty easily move a lot of boats by hand) The real problem comes in trying to stop it, especially in an emergency.
Could you overload and get away with it? Sure...but if you have an accident (especially if someone got hurt), the insurance companies would have a field day with your future.
Just not worth it.
Agree with crappiemax
Yeah, I was told by BassPro that I could easily do like a 12, even a 16 ft jon boat. The boat is only like 600 lbs. 3.7 engine. My car came with pre-drilled holes in the frame for a trailer hitch, and it looks like I'm stuck with it for a while. Was looking into getting like a Pelican boat. I may just give up on this idea. I been weighting on it for 2 years now. See, I can only fish in the Spring as I have no boat and all these local places around here, you can't find a spot deeper than 8ft from bank that isn't a snake reunion.
Have you considered a kayak or canoe. Hulls weigh 100# or less, some can be powered with electric TM, or even paddle power.
I will second the kayak or canoe option. I prefer the kayak, sits lower and more stable if you buy the right one. Now for a boat the old 14' Alumacraft semi V hulls are real light and great hulls team them up with a 18-25 hp boat motor and trolling motor and trailer and you would be well below your 1000 lb weight limit and a good rig in my opinion. A lot of people prefer the flat bottoms, but the semi V will ride a lot smoother and the person in the front will be a lot more comfortable when running in a chop.
A 16 ft 48" riveted jon boat with a 40lb trolling motor and 9.9 outboard is the most useful boat made with a reasonable weight for the money. Regardless of the rating given by the manufacturer some vehicles will tow better than others. The wheel base,brakes,frame, weight distribution,all play a factor with how surefooted a vehicle is with something in tow. Power is not the main problem...you can learn to tow even with a pretty underpowered engine. But...if the transmission does not have a cooler can be a problem on hot days or if the tranny is just not tough enough. And if you have a light rear end and two wheel drive you can get stuck on the ramp if the trailer drops off the end of a concrete ramp or the ramp is really slick and steep. Pickups can even do with some weight in back under certain conditions.
Yeah my buddy has an aluminum 16ft v hull. It's a smooth ride, but parking under a bridge fishing it can get uncomfortable easy for whoever is sitting in the "V" at the front. But it handles the chops very well. Thank you for your input on this guys. This isn't my first time asking this question, but new faces - new ideas! Have a great day guys. Oh, and the Kayak idea .... I'm not comfortable THAT low to the water.
I tow a 16' 1648 G3 fully rigged that weighs out maybe 1100 lbs with a Toyota RAV4 and before that a jeep wrangler as well and also with a mint restored 88 ford ranger 4 x 4 with no problems even in the rain. You will be alright with a car that heavy in my opinion. Just give yourself room to break, but I don't let no grass grow under me when beating it down the road. Be sure and get a trailer that has 13" or 14" tires and skip the smaller tired trailers if you can afford it.
when you are saying weight it can tow are you referring to gross weight or tongue weight. I have a 96 Mazda miata, a lot smaller than the impala and the book says it can pull 2000 lbs, but can only have 1000 lbs of tongue weight. Tongue weight being the weight at the ball on the hitch...
Better reread the manual. Tongue weight is usually 10-15% of the total weight of what is being towed. A 1000# total weight wold have a tongue weight of 100#. I can absolutely guarantee you a Maza Miata cannot handle 1000# tongue weight. Either you misread it or it is a typo in the manual.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamesdean
if it's wrong then it's a typo as it sure says 1000 lbs
My Impala states 1,000 lb towing w/350 lb TW.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamesdean
Easily can pull aluminum. Wouldn't be wise to tow FB or Glass.
Everyone thinks here in America that trucks or jeeps is what you need to pull boats. They can't sell their over priced trucks or SUVs if they tell you a car will do it.
Over in Europe, that is all they use is cars. Youtube it.
I'll get my boat soon enough. Not paying $3,000 for a Jon Boat. It'll come to me oneday. [emoji6]
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the way I look at is, yes you can pull a boat with what ever you want ; that said can you stop it that's what most people forget !!! its not all about pulling it a lot about control !!! for me its a TRUCK or Full Size SUV !!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiggah
Back when I didn't know it mattered I bought a new 1974 Steury Bass Boat with a 40 Johnson. It was a 16 foot fiberglass boat, got no idea what it weighed.
My tow car? A 1969 Volkswagen Squareback. There is a real possibly the boat weighed more than the car, but I towed it all over the state. Couple of steep ramps I wasn't sure I was going to make it but it always did.
Young, foolish, and broke!
if you want a boat get one,but pay attention to above post.you have a learning curve to go through.most important is stoping distance.good luck.
If the towing vehicle is too light , your brakes probably will not stop he trailer fast enough and you have got a case where it’s like the tail waging the dog. I’ve personally seen a small truck go out of control when the trailer he was pulling started to swing back and forth and sent him flying through a ditch.
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Cough, cough, wheeze! That’s this old thread coming back to life!:Rofl