towing--mid-sized trucks

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As the son of a former mechanic, I can tell that stopping with the smaller truck is a priority. But, do not forget the transmission. If you tow anything for long amounts of time you should install a transmission cooler. Today's automatic overdrive transmissions are not the greatest at resisting heat. When the fluid gets too hot it will break down and your transmission will follow. I always use synthetic tranny fluid to help withstand the added heat of towing.

Freebird
 
Yup and don't forget the brakes they need changing much more often too. Tires,did I mention tires, they wear out faster when pulling a big load on a regular basis.
 
Seems like I was reading that the differential ratio in the smaller trucks runs about 4.1 to 1, while on larger trucks the ratio is 3.5 or less per 1. Four turns of the drive shaft per one turn of the wheels, I assume. Why do they do this in trucks (like the frontier) that have a V-6 making practically as much horsepower as a small-block V-8 on a large truck (which would have the lower ratio)? Is there that much difference in the torque the engine turns out? Wonder if you could get away with changing the differential gear. I would be towing about 3000 lbs, maximum.

I wish someone would put diesels in standard full-size trucks. But I suppose that would probably make too much sense for GM, Ford, and Dodge to figure out. I'm well acquainted with the virtues of diesel power, but I don't have (and won't have) $40,000 to drop on a truck.

AWS
 
Cubic inches and stroke is the simplest way to make torque and that`s what you need to move mass. Trannies can make a big difference when pulling up the ramp and a 6 speed should have superlow granny but I don`t know about Japanese stuff...maybe it does.
Another thing to think about ...pulling and stopping all works good with most planned maneuvers in most any vehicles...when you`ve got the time to plan ahead.
But you`ve got to remember... even with surge breaks ...you`ve already started to make you move before the surge brake is actuated...so it`s behind before it starts to works...especially in a emergency action. It would be nice if all trailers had electrical actuated breaks but most don`t.
A couple of years ago after a club TX on the Chic...I was pulling up I-75 about Athens running about 70MPH when a 18-wheeler whipped it over on me and I mean WHIPPED it. His rear trailer axle was even with my front axle and was about 1 1/2 feet off my fender before I could react. I had no choice but to jerk mine over hard to keep from gettin slammed. I`ve pulled trailers since I was 16 and hauled some pretty strange equipment with some strange rigs all over the mountains of TN and KY working for a heavy equipment shop and had some serious trailer whip lash before. But this incident scared me like none before. I could read the BULLET and JOHNSON signs on the side of my boat and engine about 3 times on each side of the truck in the mirrors before I finally got it straightened up and off the side of the road. It dragged the rear tires of the truck about 3-4 feet to the side each time it swapped sides.
My Bullet is a 20 footer with a V-6 Johnson and fairly light rig as bassboats go. I was pulling it with F-150 SuperCab LWB with Offroad 4WD suspension.. with nearly new Michelin Cross Terrains (just put a new set on today after 63k on the old ones...great tires).... I believe with anything less I would probably have totally wiped out my rig and maybe rolled the truck.
I learned a long time ago there are a few things you don`t really want to take a chance on and one of them not to be undersize in you tow vehicle...no matter how far your going......my .02.....well maybe a .05
 
adamwstewart - 8/21/2007 7:04 PM
...I wish someone would put diesels in standard full-size trucks. But I suppose that would probably make too much sense for GM, Ford, and Dodge to figure out. I'm well acquainted with the virtues of diesel power, but I don't have (and won't have) $40,000 to drop on a truck.
Click to expand...

Agreed!!!!

Although not quite full-sized Manhindra is suppossedly bring 1 and 2-door diesel pickup in early 2009 (S10/Ranger sized from what I can tell). Should be adequate to pull a smaller boat. Early pricing reports are the in the 16-18k range.
 
I've been towing a boat for 2 years I have a 2000 tundra V8 I absolutly unequvickly love my toyota and will never drive anything else. I'ts like many on here said when makeing this desicion. I got my truck long before I got my boat by 5 years. But i knew I would get a boat eventually. So I reccomend you get a truck that has some guts. Your gonna need it for saftey if nothing else. Good luck and hope we have helped ya some.
 
I had a nissan frontier at one time. It pulled the boat just fine when I was towing an 18 footer and traveling on flat ground. It struggled pulling to the lakes in mid-Tennssee because of the incline at Monteagle Mtn. Also, didn't care for the stopping power when towing. I switched to a Ranger Z20, and upgraded the truck at the same time to a Dodge Ram Quad Cab. Plenty of truck !!!!
 
IF YOUR NOT SATISFIED WITH YOUR TRUCKS ABILTY TO PULL, ITS MOST LIKELY BECAUSE OF THE REAR END GEAR.
, THE LOWER THE BETTER LIKE A 4:11 REAR GEAR THE BETTER THE PULL A GOOD CHEV 6 CIN WILL PULL A HOUSE DOWN, BUT HERE IS WHERE YOU LOSE GAS MILAGE, SO EVERY ONE LOOKS FOR A GOOD CROSS BETWEEEN THE 2, BEFORE YOU BUY A NEW TRUCK CKECK THE REAR END GEAR YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID. HORSEPOWER IS GREAT BUT IT NOT EVERYTHING , THE GEAR MAKES THE TRUCK.
 
A mahindra diesel truck? That would be interesting. Do they have any preliminary information out?

Out of curiosity, do diesels normally come with a lower rear-end gear ratio (under 4 to 1) than the same size truck with a gasoline motor? It would seem to me that a diesel could crank out the torque to overcome a lower ratio rear-end gearing (hence, some of the better fuel mileage aside from the more efficient burn). My dad had an old '83 GMC diesel for a long time, and that thing could flat out pull. But it was older than Methuselah (my old 88 volvo) and the brakes on it...well, they weren't very good. But it could move a load.

AWS
 
I believe that the gear ratio is optimized not for pulling but for limiting the upper rpms, as diesel operate in a narrow rpm band. I believe truck diesels are closer to 4.1:1 than say 3.0:1. For a smaller engine size, the diesel will generate gobs more torque.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/0...offer-diesel-small-trucks-suvs-and-sedans-in/
http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/news/16-08-07_5
http://blogs.motortrend.com/6214169/car-news/mahindras-us-launch-plans-beginning-to-firm-up/

and new in Chile (might be the same thing coming here): http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...ick-up_truck_in_Chile/articleshow/2260133.cms
 
I pull a 20ft bullet with a nissan titan. It is plenty of truck for the boat. 5.6 v8 Gas mileage in tow 14 avg. not in tow 16avg. It also depends on how you drive.
 
Hmmm. I saw some pictures of that Mahindra. I didn't realize that Mahindra was an Indian company. I wonder if that's good or bad? I'm not much for American-built cars, although I would probably buy an American truck when it came right down to it. That Mahindra looked awfully small, and there's no way it would have enough HP to suit. I figure you need about 250, minimum, on a full-size truck.

Anybody heard what the Ford small-block V-8 diesel's numbers will be? I'm reading that it will be a 4.4 liter, twin-turbo model. From what I've read, it looks as though they're really going to try it.
 
With two teenage boys a new truck ain't in my future. You guys must be Doctors and Lawyers. I will have to keep my 1992 Dakota. But on the good side, guess what my payments are........... Zero :)
 
I'm with you on the zero payments philosophy. That's why I'm still driving my little five-speed volvo--it's paid for. But it will be time for something new soon, and now that I'm done with school (for a while) I hope I'll be able to afford a new(er) vehicle. I've been debating about getting something more car-like (a subaru) and becoming a kayak angler. I figure that in the long run it will be cheaper, and I don't fish much from a boat in the winter. Somehow, I don't think I'll be able to give up the powerboating, and a truck could get me to more interesting places. We'll see.
 
adamwstewart - 8/24/2007 6:42 PM
That Mahindra looked awfully small, and there's no way it would have enough HP to suit. I figure you need about 250, minimum, on a full-size truck.
Click to expand...
Yeah but I don't know what HP it will be. I do know that my wife's european diesel station wagon (136 hp) is rated to tow about 5,500 lb in europe (only 2,500 in the states though). It has 246 ft/lbs of torque, which is very close to my GMC Envoy's 252 ft/lbs of torque (inline 6). It could be very possible that the Mahindra could have enough umph to pull a moderate sized boat. I would love to have my wife's motor in say a trooper sized SUV/pickup, it would work great for my 17' Skiff (only 40 hp), plus should get close to 30 mpg when not towing.
 
Yeah the L's will pull for sure ! my last one was putting over 600 to the rear wheels ! People give you that strange look when you go to pass them on a 2 lane pulling a boat hehe . I've had 3 , 2 with the DR's and your right , they DO NOT like wet ramps !!

SC
 
yeah me and a buddy of mine were at a red light when a honda pull up revs it then it turns green and we leave him with the boat behinde us pretty funny the look in his eyes
 

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