It had to be done...

Message

#1 Post by **mike** » Thu May 24, 2007 6:29 am

Well, this weekend we are going up to lake cascade and we need to take both the travel trailer and the pontoon boat... With only one truck, what do you do??

Use the minivan of course!!

#2 Post by **mike** » Thu May 24, 2007 6:30 am

She actually pulls really nice, with 240 hp & 240ft-lb's I dont think it will be a problem getting up those hills... I pulled out the middle and back seats (probably 150lbs) and it wont have anything else in it (everything goes in the truck) so it will be just me and the two front seats! I figure the boat is right around 3000lbs so I am still under my tow rating but I am going to try to get it weighed to make sure...

#3 Post by **mike** » Thu May 24, 2007 6:31 am

dang, Everytime I see a picture of my trailer it reminds me I need to get a new fender!

Lindsay90 · #4 Post by **Lindsay90** » Thu May 24, 2007 7:17 am

Wow looks good, but a 4 banger can pull a pontoon it is all up to the trans and the braking system. Be safe out there and happy tooning

#5 Post by **mike** » Thu May 24, 2007 9:21 am

well, I had my doubts too but it sits pretty level (even with the back seats in still) and stops very well so I figure the one or two times a year shouldnt be too bad!

I won't be launching it with the van, I will unhook it when I get there and use the truck!

Lindsay90 · #6 Post by **Lindsay90** » Fri May 25, 2007 7:27 am

Is it more drive flat or do you go up hills and stuff? Here were I live we have some step grades with my GMC 1500 my butt puckers

#7 Post by **mike** » Fri May 25, 2007 9:07 am

There are a few hills but its more just twisty roads up there...

I think my boat is much lighter than most because with my old 1500 (in the picture up top) and my new F150 never even broke a sweat, you barely can tell its back there even going up very steep hills!

I would think that at 21' and with the front half of my boat empty (fishing deck) and the all aluminum construction (no heavy plywood decking) it has to be pretty light... I will be stopping at the first place I find to get it weighed though! My best guess is its under 3000 lbs...

This review of a very similar boat to mine with a bigger engine weighed in at 1900 lbs so I am figuring with a trailer and extra stuff it should still be around 2750?

http://www.boatinglife.com/article_cont ... goryID=122

Lindsay90 · #8 Post by **Lindsay90** » Fri May 25, 2007 12:38 pm

Mike the best way to find out is head to a truck stop use the scale and really find out. Some reason I never trust what they claim dry weight is. That is a Honda van right? I would think it would be fine heck it might out pull my truck.

#9 Post by **mike** » Sun May 27, 2007 5:10 pm

Well, the trip was a success! It actually pulled better than my truck did pulling my travel trailer... Plenty of power, plenty of brakes, no sway!

I wouldnt want to use it every day but a couple of times a year it gets the job done just fine...

Damn we had a fun time out there!!

Lindsay90 · #10 Post by **Lindsay90** » Tue May 29, 2007 7:28 am

Looks like you had a fun time! I get my pontoon back this week so I hope I may get it on the water this weekend. Also good to hear that the van pulled it with no problem.

#11 Post by **HandymanHerb** » Tue May 29, 2007 4:43 pm

Glad you had a good time, I just worked should have taken it out seems like nobody was out Saturday at the ramps I went by, but I got a 3000 sq ft house to paint over the weekend and my help left me high and dry so I got to put two coats of paint on sat and Sunday.

But the love bugs are running late this year , so the toon would have been covered as well as the truck and them sucker will eat the paint right off your paint job and are a bitch to get off