Towing a boat with a ford tarus

Thajeffski · Jul 15, 2011

yea, it does work!

more of a SILLY thing to do, but whatever... Now I'm wondering if I can tow my boat with my lexus IS

metalwizard · Jul 15, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

so is the problem that it's a car? or just that it's a Ford?

Sorry could not resist.. if the car weighs more that the boat and trailer it should not really be an issue. although there are WAY better ways to tow a boat.

zagger · Jul 15, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

:so is the problem that it's a car? or just that it's a Ford?

Think he meant both

:redface:

JB · Jul 15, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

You did mean Ford Taurus, didn't you? Really, really dumb thing to do. That boat probably weighs 3X the car's tow rating and the trailer probably has no brakes.

zagger · Jul 15, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

At first I thought it was no real like this one.

yabuoy · Jul 16, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

That actually looks like the same type of boat I am going to attempt to restore, an old 17 ft Dorsett. I was worried how my Explorer would haul it but now I am assured it will probably be fine. Thanks to these brainiacs and your photography skills!

Thajeffski · Jul 16, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

yeah, oops, spelled it wrong, and I was taking the picture and walking (trying not to be obvious)

ziggy · Jul 16, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

nice looking boat..

i kinda used to do that. when i got my first boat, well, my first watercraft, a sts 750 kawasaki pwc. i towed with it with a '87 chevy nova (5 speed manual). a corolla in disguise. i figured my load was about 1k lbs +. man, it was heck holding 75 on the interstate.... pedal to the metal, about 65 up hill, 75 downhill. figured if i wrecked i was just plain dead meat any way i looked at it... still here to talk about it though..

jigngrub · Jul 16, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

Looks like an accident fixin' to happen to me.

Mark42 · Jul 17, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

As long as the Taurus tow capacity can handle that boat (and I doubt it does), then all is fine. I have had a few comments about towing my boat with my Firebird, but that just goes to show that "know it all" types do not know it all!! My boat and trailer weigh less than the limit of the firebird. Might look funny, but it works and tows well. Probably rear wheel drive has a lot to do with it. Especially when the rules of towing are followed, including speed limits when towing.

Although i have to admit, the photo of the Taurus looks like an accident waiting to happen.

Thajeffski · Jul 17, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

Hmm, I have a 2002 SS camaro, u think it could tow my bayliner 195 bow rider 1200 miles?

Mark42 · Jul 17, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

Thajeffski said:
Hmm, I have a 2002 SS camaro, u think it could tow my bayliner 195 bow rider 1200 miles?

Well, certainly not for a lack of horse power! But I bet the 195 is a tad over the SS's weight limit.

Just to make things easier on the Firebird, I added a B&M axillary transmission cooler, and changed the rear to 3.73 gears and an Eaton Trutrack posi also had the computer re-programmed for a few more horses, and performance shift points. Works for me.

82Collectors · Jul 18, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

How about an 82 Vette pulling a 82 Mastercraft?

Before you say "what the heck?" consider this.........The Vette has 355 HP, 405 #?s of torque, transmission rebuilt to level 2, stiff sport suspension, positive traction rear end, 11.75 inch rotors with 4 piston calipers all the way around. Although the Vette only pulls the boat a short distance it has always done fine. Pulls and launches the boat better than a V8 all wheel drive Explorer I have. I Never could find the tow capacity for a 1982 Corvette.

zagger · Jul 18, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

Nice Vette, I also own couple vetts and pull a small trailer with my Z06 but the total weight is under 1K. There is more to towing than the HP of the motor or the size of brakes. You also have to consider the trans and axle (independent axle would probably be the weakest point in the Vette

) Older cars had frames which were great for towing, with new unibody construction I would recommend against towing any substantial weight, say over 2500 lbs. Puling what I estimate is 5K total weight in a Torus is more than daring.

float2 · Jul 18, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

I've seen a Vette towing a 18 ft Glastron/Carlson cvx before.

jigngrub · Jul 18, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

You can tow just about anything with almost anything.

The boat dealership/shop that I use tow the boats around the yard with a little John Deere garden tractor.

... and there's this:

... and this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inSFAL47xd8

... and what about this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qruHiOjIFOY&feature=related

I personally prefer overkill on the towing vehicle with my F250 FX4 towing my 17' Tracker.

Mark42 · Jul 18, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

Its pretty common in Europe to tow large trailers with what we would consider undersized vehicles. There is a lot to be said about going slow, and that gets these mis-matched rigs where they are going safe and sound.

That Mako is funny though, there is a huge difference between pulling the 8000 lbs mako up a ramp and towing it down the highway with that xterra. I tow my boats around the yard with a garden tractor, and it will pull them up my steep driveway, always at a walking speed. The bigger boat probably weighs 3 to 4 times the tractor's weight. But bring the tractor up to its top speed (about 8 mph) and things get hairy fast.

Love the vette rig!

32_d3gr33s · Jul 18, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

I tow this

with this

last year

Don S · Jul 19, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

of course it's Photoshop

boat1010 · Jul 19, 2011

Re: Towing a boat with a ford tarus

People always use to tow with cars. As long as it is within the limits of the car there should be no problems.

Towing a boat with a ford tarus

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