Towing boat with car

[Andy3]

ok, I know that my car is not the most ideal towing vehicle for my boat, but I'm planning on attempting a launch & retrieval this weekend, and wanted to hear about some other experiences out there. Boat is a 1988 Bayliner Cobra, 18 foot, Force 125 motor, single axle trailer. Car is a 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, front wheel drive, 3.8 V-6 engine. Planning on buying a pick-up truck next year, but promised daughter we would splash the boat this weekend, and all I have to use is the car. The car has a class II hitch installed that I use for towing a small utility trailer. So, has anybody towed more with less? :redface:

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Towing boat with car

You should actually be just fine towing that boat with the monty carlo. Front wheel drive and engine weight forward is a good thing. It would probably out perform some two wheel drive trucks. I would recommend taking a rubber wheel choke with you just in case the ramp is slippery. The tires on your car would be my biggest concern. When I was younger,my dad always towed our old mako with a chevy impala and never had an issue.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Towing boat with car

whether it is a car or a truck be gentle with the accelerator, stay out of overdrive and use common sense and you should be fine.

 

[Leardriver]

Re: Towing boat with car

I towed a 1989 version of that boat for years with a Nissan Altima. It did great, and got 22 mpg on the highway while towing. My friends think it takes a diesel dually to tow a single jet ski.

 

[Andy3]

Re: Towing boat with car

I'm so glad to hear all this. Definitely didn't want to disappoint my daughter. Yes, gentle on the accelerator and no overdrive. Got it.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Towing boat with car

I've towed that same boat (think it was an '85 though) with my subaru car... Only thing is if the ramp is steep or worse yet, gravel.

 

[jkust]

Re: Towing boat with car

Looks like it weighs 1400lbs plus the trailer, gas, battery, equipment etc. That 3.8 will tow it just fine. Stopping in an emergency may be a different story. With our smallish boats, it never seems to be the will it tow or even retrieve since it takes very little torque in the big picture. The issues, ignoring a lot here, are safety on the road and stopping the load. If you do tow this load, I'll bet you are suprised how effortlessly it does everything when there are no problems.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Towing boat with car

Don't do it, Andy. If you tow that boat with anything other than an F350 hundreds will die.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Towing boat with car

Don't do it, Andy. If you tow that boat with anything other than an F350 hundreds will die.

You guys are something else.... Tell someone not to tow a 5000 lb boat with a wrangler rated for 1000 lbs and the "can't haul a canoe without a semi" crap goes on for years

O/P you should be fine but as always the BEST advice is look up the tow capacity and weigh the load..... simple as can be and leaves nothing to guessing

 

[Angrywasp]

Re: Towing boat with car

I wouldn't tow a lot with the MC. I have a 01 Monte SS and the trans on these cars aren't the best. I just replaced mine at the tune of $1800. It'll probably be okay for short tows but the valve body/shift solenoids are the most common failure points.

 

[Andy3]

Re: Towing boat with car

Don't do it, Andy. If you tow that boat with anything other than an F350 hundreds will die.

Now THAT's funny. Ok guys, I feel much better about it now. Easy on the accelerator, no overdrive, and give myself plenty of stopping room, and DON'T get in a hurry. I'm very excited. First time ever to launch a boat that is MINE.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Towing boat with car

You guys are something else.... Tell someone not to tow a 5000 lb boat with a wrangler rated for 1000 lbs and the "can't haul a canoe without a semi" crap goes on for years

O/P you should be fine but as always the BEST advice is look up the tow capacity and weigh the load..... simple as can be and leaves nothing to guessing

That was a joke, smoke. (Hey, that rhymes.) Guess I should have added an emoticon since sarcasm doesn't always translate.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Towing boat with car

I was JUST coming back cause I forgot to add a smiley wiley.........

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Towing boat with car

one other thing to be aware of when using a low-slung car instead of a higher one is not to swamp your tailpipe, trunk, etc. A lot of people nowadays like to float the boat on and off and submerge the whole rig to do it. Stay dry, use the winch, do a little pushing. Roller and tilt trailers were popular back when folks kept the axle dry.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Towing boat with car

I am still concidering buying a freightliner with a 400 hp cat to tow my 100 pound john boat.

 

[drrpm]

Re: Towing boat with car

You should be fine, though you may want to scout the ramp conditions if you haven't been there before.

 

[Andy3]

Re: Towing boat with car

Definitely going to watch about backing too close to the water. Also will do a walk around the ramp before I launch.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Towing boat with car

With today's cold front and rain coming through, you must want to go boating very badly.

The next few days are supposed to be winter like temperatures. Winds have also been high in the South. Only boaters I've seen are the hard core bass fishermen--catching bass that are fattening themselves up for a long Winter.

Have fun, if you go. If not, winterize the engine and wait for a pickup truck to tow in the Spring.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Towing boat with car

I am still concidering buying a freightliner with a 400 hp cat to tow my 100 pound john boat.

That wouldn't be safe without trailer brakes.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Towing boat with car

one other thing to be aware of when using a low-slung car instead of a higher one is not to swamp your tailpipe, trunk, etc. A lot of people nowadays like to float the boat on and off and submerge the whole rig to do it. Stay dry, use the winch, do a little pushing. Roller and tilt trailers were popular back when folks kept the axle dry.

exhaust isn't a problem, i've submerged mine quite a few times. There is WAY more than enough pressure to keep water from going very far into the pipe, and if you shut the engine off, the water will make zero difference when you start it back up...

If you have a RWD/AWD vehicle though, watch the rear diff on very shallow ramps. It is possible to get the rear diff wet if you aren't careful at just the right angle of ramp.