hauling truck??

[Phishy]

I'm going to have to be in the market for a truck soon...real soon... I heard a terrible pop this afternoon and now my truck is listing to the left and pulling right, i have a bad exhaust getting worse, slight oil leak, rust spreading, and a clunk in the front dif when i put it into gear from park...I cringe every time i get in this pos, but it has a good engine, it is just rusting from the under side out...

so i'm looking for the insight (almost said advice) from some folks that haul bigger boats on a regular basis, bigger boat being 3,500 -4,500 plus pounds gross weight


will a F150 or GMC sierra 1500 series handle a boat of this nature on a regular basis?

other confinements, I need to buy used, i just cant afford new,


good news stereo still works as well as the 4 wheel drive, so i can ice fish.....

i found a nice boat locally, www.mroutboards.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?sid=01330225X9K8K2010J10I01I32JPMQ3639R0&veh=1706651 but i really need the truck first

[getchasome]

I truly believe you will be happier in the long run with a 3/4 ton for pulling boats of that size. A 1/2 ton will pull it ok, but it will go through much more extreme wear and tear. I have a lund 1850 tyee and wish I had a 3/4 ton. Hope that helps and good luck shopping!

[ejb]

I would go with a 3/4 ton.

[RedRider]

How far due you plan on towing and how often?

[KingKong]

a good buddy of mine works at Mr Outboard...he is the head mech there...if you want a serious opinion on the boat..let me know, im sure he will let me know

[net-working]

3/4 ton for sure.

i'm a Ford guy, but currently i own a GMC duramax. this truck is a POWERHOUSE!

researched new Ford diesels for 9 months and bought the GMC in 5 days.


hope this helps,
Jerry

[ChampionShip]

For your application, Algoma and back- a 1/2 ton will do the job without question. Cross winds on the highway aren't as bothersome with a 3/4 but on the other hand- how often do you drive the truck? Daily? Let me know what you have in mind and a budget and I can find you a truck- kinda my thing.

Also- that boat needs AT LEAST a 4.3!

[Deleted]

Check your PM, dude :-)

[jmac]

If I were you, I would get a truck that the clock worked.

While going fishing with James one morning I asked whats up with the clock. He said, it's 1 hour fast and 14 minutes slow. That explanation still makes me laugh.

p.s. how's that bump on your head.

[Phishy]

I thought the engine on that boat was a little small myself…..but that’s about the size of boat I’m thinking, there’s a sweet Lund at mr outboard as well, but major hours on the engine, 1300 hrs……

The truck….I just picked it up 15 minuets ago….I ended getting it fixed, it was a leaf spring shackle, and I had the hole in the exhaust “fixed” but I will be in the market soon,

I need to get to the bank and get the finance stuff all in place, I was hoping in some ways that this truck was heading off the cliff…but I have had it for long that the longer I keep it the more it pays for itself, I haven’t had a payment in 7 yrs…..get through the winter and past Christmas shopping and I think I’ll be buying….until then I’m doing a ton of research

I’m on the fence ¾ ton vs. ½ ton….diesel vs. flex fuel…..pros and cons of each

GMC really has me interested, but I drive a f250 for work and I am comfortable with the truck…….I’m not going to dive into this head first, I’ve done that too many times in my life and need to evaluate things from different perceptive

The clock in the truck works just fine…I know what time it is….kinda like my down rigger after a little mishap….. add seven feet to the counter then subtract another 2 for the ball to get to the water…simple

Wow how long is this guy going to type……

[wigglebutt]

I've also got a Lund Tyee 1850 and I pull it with either a 2003 1/2 ton Dodge crew cab 4x4 with 156,000 miles on her! or a 2009 Tahoe. Both pull my boat great. The Dodge truck actually pulls better as far as up and down hills (it's geared a little different than the Tahoe) but the Tahoe is much better overall due to built in engine breaking and automatic leveling system.

A lot of those miles on the Dodge have been pulling my boat. It's a 200 mile round trip to Milwaukee. I go app. 10 times a year giver or take. I was 6 hours North of the boarder in Canada this year and have been to Sturgeon Bay 4 times and Kentucky Lake once. I would not hesitate to buy a 1/2 ton truck to pull a 4,000 lb boat. But, if I was going to buy a 3/4 ton truck I would buy a 2007 -2010 chevy or GMC Duramax Diesel. Their great trucks. And get twice the gas mileage as the 2008-2010 Ford SD.

my .02

[ChampionShip]

How about a 2000 Chev reg cab stepside??

[Phishy]

I'm not opposed to a side step, but not so keen on a 2000.....that's already 10 yrs old, i have under carriage rust issues that are causing me nightmares,

on average, twice a year i'm having something replaced under the truck,

[wigglebutt]

Sept 9, 2010 17:29:06 GMT -5 ChampionShip said:

How about a 2000 Chev reg cab stepside??

Hey Champ. my Brother is looking for a single cab step side about that year. Send me the information on it if you want to sell it and I'll pass it along.

[e-mail]

[fishoil]

A 1/2 ton will work, but for a boat the size of the one you're looking at a 3/4 ton would be better and LOTS better if it has a diesel. I have two boats, one like the one at Mr Outboards, only 3 feet longer, and a 21' walleye boat. I usually pull with an '04 GMC 2500 crewcab with a Duramax and you hardly know the boat is behind you with either one. I also have a '09 Chevy 1500 worktruck that I've pulled the 21' boat with and I can't imagine trying to pull the Trophy with it. It works to pull my smaller boat way harder than I'd like and isn't near as stable on bumps and in wind.

I'd recommend going to a 3/4 ton with a diesel if you can. If you end up with a 1/2 ton it'll help if you have some good stiff load range E tires on it. It's unbelievable how much difference it will make over softer tires for towing. I got new tires on the Duramax truck once and they put the lighter ones on by mistake. It made pulling my 21' boat downright dangerous, I was swaying all over with every bump I hit. Needless to say they got changed out the very next day.