Need opinions.
I’ve got a KW 1720 I’m currently towing with a Subaru Forester. I haven’t launched it yet so I don’t know how it will do on the ramp. I think it will pull the boat out no problem with the AWD. It does great in town towing but doesn’t like the highway too much (over 65); tends to heat up the tranny and the brakes are insufficient for a high speed emergency stop. I really want something safer for road trips.
I’m considering a few different vehicles as an additional tow vehicle. I’m curious what the thoughts are on a mid 2000 6 cylinder Jeep Wrangler. The others I’m sure are ok; Frontier, Tacoma, F150, all in 6 cyl and 4x4; I’ve just wanted another Jeep for a long time.
All Day I Dream About Fishing
Malibu eXtreme
Key West 1720
It really kind of depends on the distance and terrain you tow in. All should do fine if relatively flat and not too long. I tow a 22 ft 6000lb boat in the mountains. It does fine with the v10 ford at 55 but interstates at 65 plus eat it up from the wind. I loos e 3 mpg at 70 mph over 62mph, I pull a 1000olb dump trailer that’s easier at 70 than the boat because it has no height.
A Subaru Forester’s towing capacity is listed as 1500 lbs. A Jeep Wrangler’s standard towing capacity is 2000 lb. I don’t think your gaining anything by going from a Forester to a Wrangler other than maybe having a car you’ve been wanting. Listed weight on a KW 1720 CC is 1150 lbs. Thats most likely hull weight w/o the outboard. Add your motor to that and your empty boat most likely weighs between 1407 & 1516 lbs. Then add the weight of your trailer which is between 300 & 500 lbs. Your close to, if not over the 2000 lb mark without fishing gear & equipment. I wouldn’t feel comfortable carrying that around in either vehicle. Its always nice to have a little something something left over for those unforeseen circumstances. My boat, motor, & trailer weigh a combined around 2000 lbs, maybe slightly less. My 08’ Nissan Frontier 4x4, rated for 6300 lbs., pulls that just fine. If I was to get a larger boat and frequent the highways I would probably move up to a full size truck for peace of mind and comfort. My suggestion is you find a small truck or suv with a little capacity. It’ll save your vehicle in the long run and may help you avoid an accident. Thats just my 2 cents. I am by no means a physics expert and don’t claim to be a know it all.
Not an expert either, but I will add this: I have a 2007 Tacoma PreRunner 2wd and I love it as a daily driver. My boat weighs a lot less than a 1720, but the Tacoma pulls it just fine, and it is rated for 6500# so it should work just fine for towing a 1720. I’d want trailer brakes though.
13ft Whaler with 25hp Johnson
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
think about what you plan to do most of the time
if its local towing, and not to frequent, you should be fine with either the jeep or the Subaru
if you plan on frequent highway trips, you NEED more truck
4x4 isn’t a requirement at all for a boat that size, but it wont hurt
I towed a 17ft scout with an 05 rubicon for a few years. The brakes and short wheel base were the biggest issues. I love wranglers but would’nt recommend one for a tow vehicle…
Size matters. Size your tow vehicle to support your boat. Too much boat will be like the tail wagging the dog. You could get in trouble with a small tow vehicle. Take my advise from experience. Be able to power out of an issue.
Sorry Jeep lovers, but if you want a safe road trip tow vehicle, Wrangler is not on my list.
Buy the Tacoma with the V6. 4 wheel drive is not required (our ramps are in pretty good shape) unless you need it for something else. Trucks are actually designed to tow things, the other vehicles offer towing as an option incase you wanted to pull the shopping cart home. Get the V6 as you stated. This will help with highway speeds.
With an automatic, dont use “D”. Use 4th or 5th or what ever gear is under Drive. Overdrive will constantly shift in and out and overheat your tranny.
Stop trying to go 70 with a fully loaded boat trailer. 60-65 Max and stay in the right lane.
Since I’m on here telling you what to do, double check your transom straps. Yesterday I watched a guy bounce a Key West all the way down Noissette. The transom straps were just hanging there as the outboard, boat, and trailer all bounced to their own rhythms. Air between the boat and bunks is not recommended. When your towing your boat and some maniac is behind you honking and waving their arms out the window, it might be time to stop and check your load.
Be smart, be safe.
I wanted to buy a Wrangler to tow my boat but read a lot of horror stories that will keep me away. What I read mostly related to the short wheel base that a Wrangler has and if I recall, said that it was not all that great handling at high speeds.
I am going off memory though, so I could be way off…
I’d say if you’re going to do any highway towing, get a capable tow vehicle. One that is advertised/designed/intended to pull the kind of weight, shape, and tongue weight you’ll be towing. If you’re going to tow 2000lbs, I wouldn’t buy anything capable of less than 3500 lbs.
I drive a 01’s10 with a vortec v6. I was pulling an older 1720 according to Key West, some people said it was a 1700. According to owners manual you had to use 3rd gear when pulling or hauling a load. Not sure what the weight was but I knew it was back there.
I had a 2000 Tacoma pre runner with the v6. It did decent pulling my 1720. Traded it in on a F150 with the 5.4 V8. Huge difference. I could tell the Tacoma was pulling something. The yota had a tow button for the transmission. The F150 does not even know its towing something as far as feel goes. The newer Toyotas are bigger and have a beefier V6. Probably will work just fine.
I have a Explorer sport and a old 17 foot key west I’ve towed it over pretty much every bridge around the Charleston area and on 1 1/2 hr trips 70 mph with a full car of heavy weights and never really felt much of a difference in terms of strain on the vehicle. It is a v6 rated at 5800# towing capacity so you should be fine with a v6 with around 5000# towing capacity.
