Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Post Reply
Message
Author
ToddDanger
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2020 1:47 am

Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#1 Post by ToddDanger » Sun May 16, 2021 7:06 am

Can you tell the difference between towing an 18 foot pontoon boat and a 20 foot? My truck is a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado diesel 4X4 with a towing package. Thanks Todd

User avatar
lakerunner
Site Moderator
Posts: 4820
Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:31 pm
Location: Live in McAlester, Ok Boat on Tenkiller
Contact:

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#2 Post by lakerunner » Sun May 16, 2021 9:09 am

I doubt you will know the difference. If your going from single axle to tandam I think you will see a difference in less sway
Loyd & Betty Meeks
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
Home lake is Tenkiller

ToddDanger
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2020 1:47 am

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#3 Post by ToddDanger » Sun May 16, 2021 1:08 pm

Thanks for the info

User avatar
Marc K
Posts: 742
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:35 am
Location: Eustace, TX

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#4 Post by Marc K » Sun May 16, 2021 2:14 pm

I agree with Lloyd. I suspect that any perceived difference will be more related to the trailer configuration and balance.

Marc
Big and ugly but we love our 1999/2000 Crest II DL with a Yamaha F115

ToddDanger
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2020 1:47 am

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#5 Post by ToddDanger » Mon May 17, 2021 1:50 am

Thanks for the info

BobL
Posts: 589
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:41 am
Location: Louisiana

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#6 Post by BobL » Mon May 17, 2021 7:13 am

I will add that it will back up a little different since it is longer but you will quickly get used to it.
SOLD - 2009 20' Bentley w/4 Stroke 90hp Mercury
SOLD - 2011 SouthBay 522CR w/115 4 Stroke Mercury
2014 Xcursion 23RF XS package w/150 4 Stroke Mercury

User avatar
guy48065
Posts: 554
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 4:32 am
Location: Atlanta, MI

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#7 Post by guy48065 » Sat May 22, 2021 7:10 am

Can I talk you out of the 18 foot?
That's what I have and I've found it very hard to find accessories like covers or even trailers that are made to fit 18 foot pontoons. They're just not a common size.
Twenty and 22 foot look to be most common.
I also just don't like the proportions of an 18-footer. All the seats, rails, etc are the same dimensions on all pontoons but when set on the 18 foot deck it ends up looking "chunky". Squat, squarish... Anything but lean & trim.

OTOH "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". YMMV
Mark
1996 Sweetwater 180EX + Johnson 40
Rush Lake, Atlanta, MI

User avatar
Marc K
Posts: 742
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:35 am
Location: Eustace, TX

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#8 Post by Marc K » Sat May 22, 2021 4:41 pm

Then there is the Banana Boat look of my 25' or my neighbor's 27' :lol3 :biggrin2
Big and ugly but we love our 1999/2000 Crest II DL with a Yamaha F115

User avatar
Budoff
Posts: 44
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 7:07 am

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#9 Post by Budoff » Sat May 22, 2021 7:10 pm

I tow a 24 ft Sweetwater with a 2016 gas powered Colorado 4x4 with no problems. And yes it does take a little time to learn to back a longer boat, but with practice not a problem.
2014 Sweetwater 220 DFS Tritoon
Yamaha 150 4 stroke
GPS 39 mph 4 adults full fuel
2016 Yamaha FX Cruiser HO
2016 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab 4X4
Lake Anna, VA

User avatar
ROLAND
Posts: 4248
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:29 am

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#10 Post by ROLAND » Sat May 22, 2021 11:33 pm

I doubt you would notice any significant difference between towing an 18 foot and 20 foot boat. We tow our 20 footer with an older Toyota 4 Runner.. it has a 4.0 six cyl. engine with a towing package max of 5000 lbs - my rig, boat, motor, trailer, fuel etc comes nowhere near 5K lbs.
Roland & Jo
2010 Bennington 20 Sfi
Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana

ToddDanger
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2020 1:47 am

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#11 Post by ToddDanger » Sun May 23, 2021 4:56 am

Thanks for all the replies. My reason for wanting an 18 foot is I'll be using it in HP restricted lakes and the river. I figured 18 foot was the largest size I could buy and still be practical with a 20 HP motor.

Kytoon
Posts: 100
Joined: Tue May 05, 2020 6:30 pm

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#12 Post by Kytoon » Sun Jul 04, 2021 5:28 pm

I use to tow a 20' with a dodge carvan only issues I ever had were on ramps that didn't have much traction.
1994 Godfrey Sweetwater 20' Fishin Cruise.
Deckmate Furniture (Burgandy/Ivory), 20 oz textured carpet, CCA Treated Plywood,
Toon for comfort & relaxing, Jetski's for speed= day of fun on lakes of KY.

jediger
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 8:24 am

Re: Difference between towing an 18 foot and a 20 foot pontoon boat

#13 Post by jediger » Mon Jul 05, 2021 11:43 am

ToddDanger wrote:
Sun May 23, 2021 4:56 am
Thanks for all the replies. My reason for wanting an 18 foot is I'll be using it in HP restricted lakes and the river. I figured 18 foot was the largest size I could buy and still be practical with a 20 HP motor.
Buy the 20' with a 115hp and put a 20hp kicker on it. :lol3
Pinawa Bay, Manitoba
2014 Premier Cast-a-way 231, PTX; 2014 Evinrude 250HO ETEC

Post Reply