good pick ups for pulling a boat

[crappie master 23]

i am a 16 year old looking for a a good small pick up to pull a 14 foot crestliner. what kind of pickup do you recomend ranger? s-10? etc. one with 4 wheel drive because i live in mn. i am looking for a good dependable truck need recominddations. thanks the crappie master

[Phil T.]

If it's a simple utility boat, anything will pull it. I even pulled one with a Chevy Vega (now there's a car that won't be missed) years ago.
The S-10 4X4 presents a couple service problems. The starter is very hard to replace, and should the rear engine seal leak, there's a frame cross brace in the way. The whole engine has to be moved.
I think consumer Reports rates the Ford Ranger highly, as well as the Toyota Tacoma. My coworker just ordered a 4 door Tacoma. He's had both S-10 and Toyota before. Check Consumer Reports' durability ratings for the last few years, and remember that the quality of any individual vehicle outweighs statistics.

[eek]

Picking out a tow vehicle is a function of needs and price with enough compromise thrown in to be reasonable. Since you are obviously a beginning driver, I would stick with an automatic transmission, for simplicities sake, with a 4 cylinder, and if you can stand the extra money, a 4X4. I have stuck with GM trucks for many years, and have gotten very good service from all of them. The GM vortec V-6 is really quite powerful and has been available since 1996, so there should be some available in the used market. I would at least make sure it has a transmission cooler and a receiver hitch, and check carefully for rust, especially since you live in the snow belt. Other then that, let common sense be your guide. Towing is a complicated process, and don't try to run before you can walk, practice makes perfect, but overconfidence can kill you.

Good luck with the decision process and good fishing!

[Box]

I had a 87 Ranger, 3.0l V-6, 4x4 until I got a 98 Chev full size. At about 80,000 it started to nickel and dime me to death. Had to put a new tranny in and I sold it to dealer with another bad tranny at 170,000 miles. I did use it like a full size trick, though, so it was fairly tough.

My Dad has had S-10 Blazers for about the same time, and his seemed to be less expensive on repairs, and the 4.3 l Chev engine is pretty bullet proof and powerful.

Buddies have had Toyotas that just last forever, except the body which goes to heck pretty soon.

Good luck, and if you get 4x4, I'd have the front end looked at by a mechanic before you buy. They can be spendy when they go.

Box

[cmb]

Ok, I am a FORD guy, but have had 2wd rangers since 1987 (4cyl auto supercab) till 2000 (3.0 L v6, auto supercab) with every 2 wheel drive configuration in betwene. the 87 was a dog and we blew the trany at about 75,000 miles (but we beat the sh@t out of the thing~no one told us a wimpy 4-cyl ranger coulden't do everything an f-250 could!) so, there is/was no complaint on that one.....ANY 93 or newer ranger will provide you with a great lil truck. I would recoment a 4.0l v6, but get what you can even a 4 banger will tow that boat just fine. (I have a friend that tows one with his escort~just fine as long as there are no big hills that would make the car struggle without a load) I have had a 93,97, 99, and 2000..my brother has had a 93, two 97's, 2 99's, and a 2001. plus there have been a few others in the family within the same time period, all said about 12 trucks and no problems whatsoever, well on my 97 the check engine light came on becuase of a loose sensor wire, and my wife (then girlfriend) broke the armrest in the 93. all of these trucks were used hard! not just as 2 seat cars, but as trucks!

This is my opinion, but I don't think the GM, TOYota, Nisan, izuzu..even compair. the ford is built like a truck, beefy doors, solid beefy tailgate, deeper bed, heavier suspension...

[BlackSilver]

Just about any small truck (S10, Ranger, Tacoma, etc.) will pull that 14-footer just fine.

I don't think you need 4WD, but I'd consider getting a V6 instead of a 4-banger. The 4-banger will probably pull it, but gas mileage will really suck, especially if you find a larger boat like a 16-footer or so, and the little engine will always be struggling.

I pulled a 17 footer for a few years just great with a 93 S10, 4.3L V6 engine.

Hans

[Fishingdog]

Give me a break CMB. By what you have said, you have never owned any of the "other" trucks besides Ford so you really cannot be someone to comment. I have owned Chevy's all my life, beat the ##### out of them, and never had a serious problem with any of them. I had an 86 S-10 blazer that towed a 2000lb boat package and put 220,000 miles on the underpowered dog and never had a stitch of engine or tranny problems. I am sure Ford is good but all the "others" make solid products as well.

By the way, I don't want to get into a fight about who makes the best truck, but if you look at resale value, one does stand above the rest...Chevy. Must be because of lots of people use them for a 2 seat car....:)

[RD]

I have had 2 chevy s-10 pick-ups, 1 s-10 blazer, & 1 ford ranger; model years 87, 90, 85, 95 respectively. All were fine vehicles, but I preferred the ford. Never had any major problems with any of them, the ford just felt more solid. The chevy's all had a "hollow" feel to them. The ford had a 4 cyl 2wd, and towed my 14' jon boat just fine. To be honest, I now pull my 16' pro v with a 4 cyl jeep wrangler and unless you want the truck for work purposes, take a look at the soft top jeeps. They are a lot of fun.

RD

[mp3553]

The only advise this dude can offer is:
Which ever truck you choose make sure it will do everything you need a truck to do. Made the mistake of getting a small truck which covered everything from haulin the first boat to moving people. Got a wild hair and purchased a 2100 lb boat and the 4 cyl really struggled. Stepped up to a midsize truck w/6 cyl. That truck did pull the boat well as long as you were on flat roads. After 7 years got fed up w/it and went to a V8 and couldn't be happier. Laugh at myself now, for thinking I could get by with less.
Moral of the story: If you EVER plan in the future to get a larger boat go with a V8! Been there... done that!
4X4 vs 4X2... matter of prefrence. In the snow belt I wouldn't be without my 4X4!
Best of luck in what ever you choose..

[cmb]

easy there, I don't think I bashed any other products! AND I qualifid my OPINION on the fact that I AM A FORD guy! GM and the rest of the competing manufactures make good if not excelent products. however it is MY opinion (as well as MANY others~after all there is a reason the ranger is the best selling compact truck) is that the Ranger is the best all around vehicle in that category. I offered my experiences and opinion, forgive me for that.....NOT!!

[cmb]

oh, wait....maby YOU can't comment!!

"you have never owned any of the "other"
trucks besides Ford so you really cannot be someone to comment. I have owned Chevy's all
my life, beat the ##### out of them, and never had a serious problem with any of them."

GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!
are your opinions and experiences any more valid than mine? I think not!


shut up and fish ;-)

[CD]

I was once in your predicament. I bought a '92 Ranger ext. cab, 4x4 XLT, 4.0 Liter, Auto OD. I put 80,000 miles of pulling trailers all over the place. I finally sold the truck with 140,000 miles and she was as good as new. The best truck I have ever seen! I babied it and did my own maintanance and fluid changes, and this truck could not be stopped. I pushed it to the max year round as I am an avid hunter, fisherman, etc..

Ford had issues with the 2.9, 3.0 liter trucks. Get a 4.0 liter and you will be good to go. One of the best engine, drivetrain combos I have seen...in my opinion. I never had a mechanic touch my truck. I even pulled my Alumacraft Tournament Pro all over and it pulled very well with a 2,000-3,000 load. I had to eventually update to a full size as I kept hauling more toys!
Good luck.