I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

[jabakerman]

Hello boating world.

I am looking at purchasing my first boat this weekend.... very excited.

It's a 1975 Galaxy 19 ft In / Out

Glavanized trailer 23 ft long

I have a Chrysler Town & Country Mini-Van with a 3L V-6.

Will I be able to pull this boat / trailer without messing up the transmission of my daily driver ?

I don't know what the weight is and I can't find any info.

The lake I will be wanting to tour is about 50 miles each way with hills.

I'm not sure if this is going to be a wise purchase or not.....

Should I continue my search for a much smaller boat = 16 ft maybe ?

Any help / suggestion / comments / facts - will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
jb

 

[robert graham]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

Sounds like you'll be pushing your luck with that 3L V-6 Van....it'll pull the boat but may have adverse effects on engine, transmission, etc.....maybe a smaller, lighter boat, or get your hands on a truck!

 

[capecodtodd]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

Ahoy JB
I'm no expert but a 1975 boat with a 4 or 6 cylinder I/O will be a heavy boat. Estimate the weight of it plus gear plus fuel then add in the weight of passengers and gear in your van. There should be a recommended towing capacity in your vans manual or maybe you can find it online or if the van is newer check with the dealer.
Does the trailer have brakes? Going up a hill you will need torque from your van and going down you will need braking force and trailer brakes will help.
Plus what type of hitch do you have on the van and is it rated for a 200 or 300 pound tongue weight? the tongue weight should be stamped near the tongue of the trailer. You wouldn't want to exceed your capacity. If you have a reese type hitch does it have a 1 1/2 square or a 2" square receiver? Most minivans and cars have the smaller. Trucks and large SUVs have the 2" due to frame strength etc..
Of course things in the US are different then in Europe. My wifes brother bought a sweet 26' cruiser over here and had it shipped back to Ireland and he towed it with his Volkswagon Touregg, a smallish SUV. Over there I have seen big horse trailers being pulled by small station wagon type cars while in the USA the tow vehicle would be at least a 3/4 ton pickup.
Don't be dissuaded but do a bit more research, you want to be above all safe on the roads.
Good luck.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

That engine is a very good engine... Will run forever with halfway decent power. That transmission on the other hand... Just pulling a minivan around is too much for it. Hang what is possibly a boat that exceeds that tow rating, and then drive 50 miles... Yeah, budget for a new trans or two.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

Of course things in the US are different then in Europe. My wifes brother bought a sweet 26' cruiser over here and had it shipped back to Ireland and he towed it with his Volkswagon Touregg, a smallish SUV. Over there I have seen big horse trailers being pulled by small station wagon type cars while in the USA the tow vehicle would be at least a 3/4 ton pickup.

Couple differences.. They get all the cool diesel's that we don't. Their driver education costs thousands and is actually worth something, and they don't quite have the lawsuit friendly nanny state culture we live in when it comes to vehicles.

 

[jkust]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

Couple differences.. They get all the cool diesel's that we don't. Their driver education costs thousands and is actually worth something, and they don't quite have the lawsuit friendly nanny state culture we live in when it comes to vehicles.

It's funny how we think diesel's are cool because of the novelty of not having the choice and the Euros hate them for their drawbacks for daily driving or at least the many I know.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

The transmissions in those vans are not know for their rugedness. I think you will be asking for trouble.

 

[Husker-Q]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

^ what he said! I say no go.

 

[NYBo]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

Welcome to iboats!

The transmissions in those vans are not know for their rugedness. I think you will be asking for trouble.

That depends on whether it's the 3-speed or the 4-speed. Both were offered behind the 3.0 at various times. The 3-speed is actually more sturdy.

But that boat will still be too much for the van regardless of transaxle, IMO.

 

[Shark_bait99]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

I was using an x5 to tow a 5000 lb boat w trailer. She could do it (rated at 6k lbs with 4.4l v8) but she did not like it. It was too much for the tranny and frame, even though it had enough power. I ended up getting a 1/2 ton Ram. You can use a smaller tow vehicle, but it's a lot of weight and imo ur asking for it.

 

[jabakerman]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

**** Response to my first ever Post *****

Hello again future fellow boaters....

Just wanted to say THANK YOU for all the helpful advice and suggestions.

I was pleasantly surprised with the rapid replys and all the gracious assistance offered.

I have decided to unfortunately pass on that Boat due to the potential damage it seems my vehicle would undertake.

I definitely appreciate all the quick responses, this site is AWESOME - I am really glad I stumbled upon it.

I will now continue the search for a more suitable first boat, one that won't cause me to replace my transmission.

I will miss that Galaxy it was a real Beauty of a vessel.

Thanks again everyone, I will be back and hopefully floating with you soon.

~~ Blessings ~~
jb

 

[four winns 214]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

I have learned a lot from this forum as well. I hate to break this to you, but a Chrysler mini-van just isn't a good tow vehicle. I have owned two of the Chrysler family products and had trouble with the transmission in both. One was the 3-speed and one was the 3-speed with OD. I'm pretty sure your Town & Country has the 3-speed OD, probably one of the most troublesome transmissions ever put in a popular vehicle. If you haven't yet had transmission problems, you will- even without towing a boat. A colleague of mine trashed his mini-van transmission towing a boat. I would certainly get in your owner's manual to determine your vehicle's towing limitations and not exceed them.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

That engine is a very good engine... Will run forever with halfway decent power. That transmission on the other hand... Just pulling a minivan around is too much for it. Hang what is possibly a boat that exceeds that tow rating, and then drive 50 miles... Yeah, budget for a new trans or two.

It's also a uni-body.

 

[leakywire]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

I have had several caravans, I always add a trans cooler cause I have 9 kids trying to minimize breakdowns, never had a 3.0 engine, a few 4cyl and more 3.3 with lock/OD, I have taken my 16ft from CLE to New York with 4 kids no problem v-6 but the 4cyl hates the trip, I now have a 19.5 around 1800lbs - I doubt if I would make the trip as local ramps are hard to pull out from with the kids out of the car. Depends on your loading and patience - a trans cooler has helped my transmissions but teenage boys always find a way to smoke them.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

Couple differences.. They get all the cool diesel's that we don't. Their driver education costs thousands and is actually worth something, and they don't quite have the lawsuit friendly nanny state culture we live in when it comes to vehicles.

And just what speeds and distances are you talking about? We hear this all the time and I've seen done. In this country you will get run off the road if you a poking along holding up traffic. On your side of the pond vehicles tend to be geared lower and run manual transmissions so there is little chance of damaging those components. Except for the tiny economy cars, manual transmissions are rare, even in many work trucks. Peoples idea of safe towing is as varied as the topic of which oil is best. To the point of this discussion, people very often buy a camper or boat without giving thought to their current vehicle. In this case this is simply too much boat for the vehicle. The transmission, from experience, is not up to the task. The engine, primarily because of gearing, is also a bit on the light side. So there are two choices. 1) buy a smaller and ligher boat that is within the tow ratings for the vehicle, or 2) buy a tow vehicle rated for the job at hand.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

If I remember correctly, the 2002 Town and Country that my in-laws have is only rated for 1500lbs towing. Don't know what year yours is, but it's probably pretty close.

 

[jkust]

Re: I need help with a towing question - I'm a potential new boat owner

Well if you aren't open or able to buy a tow appropriate vehicle, and if your tow rating is as low as folks are saying, you may be a candidate for an aluminum boat. Prior to owning three v8, 4x4, trucks, I towed my over 4,000lbs sig boat and trailer with a crappy old minivan with a 180hp, 3.4 liter. It did better than expected but had a 3500lb tow package and most helpful the automatic, load leveling suspension. I wouldn't do it again now being older and wiser. Amazingly the old GM, Oldsmobile Silhouette never skipped a beat and still sits in the driveway no worse for wear. Glad I had a GM and not a Chrysler product given the tranny issues they are widely know to have.