Fish-Hawk.Net

hey all... im looking for a cheep tow vehicle... i only have a small bot so i dont need a monster to pull it.... i am also a young male so anything sporty is way to $$$ to insure... i realyl wanted a ranger or an s10 but they seem a lil pricey is u dont want one with 200 000 km on it.... it has to be reliable enough to get me to and from school as well.... a bottomless gas tank is bad too... im poor

well enough complaning any sugestions guys. id love to come across a decent small pickup... but im starting to open up to sugestions (oh ya id prefer a stick shift)

thx
jebby

Hi Jebby, well I guess the first question would be what is the combined weight you will be towing? and of course your budget to purchase a tow vehicle.

Something else is where you typically launch your boat? Cement ramp, gravel, etc

This may or may not warrant a 4x4. This is all depending on weight and typical use and travel.

Some vehicles already have a trailer hitch saving you $$ look for that before you buy, and some have a hole in the bumper that you can install a ball to hitch your boat right on there...(make sure it has a built in trailer hitch system with the proper capacity before doing that.)

I have seen a guy in Carleton Place launching a standard 17' or so Bayliner type of boat with a 90hp on the back with a Suzuki Sidekick or Rav 4.

They have 2 or 4 wheel drive and that can make all the difference on a wet ramp when you are taking your boat out (keep that in mind when looking). I have seen many ads in the auto trader for a vehicle like that.

Good luck
BBD

i used to sell cars and one vehicle i used to recommend on a tight budget would be a jeep tj, a base with a 6 cyl, fairly good on gas, 4X4 and can tow. Also an older dakota can do it too.

not too worried about 4x4 (mind u it would be nice) my current boat is only a 14 foot tinney with a 10 horse (can be pulled with anything i carry it up and down the driveway) i am looking at moving into something that can pull a skiier in the 16-18 foot range so im not going to bother with some lil neon or something. mind u it is funny watching people try to launch with underpowered cars id rather not be 1 of them. i looked at older dekotas as well as rangers B3000's S10's and the like. i would love to get 1 however they all seem to be either very old with very high milage or more than i can spend. I would also love a tj but again hard to come by. i live in the windsor area and am always watching autotrader and teh newpaper. As for me i launch on concrete ramps that are well maintained localy and when traveling ( we spend a few weeks up north each summer) my whole famely goes and many ahve trailers. There is always a powerful 4x4 there that could be used to put in/take out. Mainly it has to pull in and out on good ramps localy, make a few long trips but not launch, and get me to and from school. Any idea what fair asking price on a light duty pickup or a tj is in the say 95-99 range under 200 000 km

Hi Jebby,
If I can suggest 3 things to you it would be the following...
If you don't think kids are in your future, go for a regular cab
truck. To save money, instead of getting a 4wd consider getting one with a limited slip type rear axle (somtimes they could only be ordered with a six cyl.). It's no 4x4, but it can help you in situations on slippery ramps. If you go with this option, consider snow tires in the winter though as I find that they can sometimes kick sideways in slippery conditions in certain situations. Also, try to get one with as few options as can be not only to save $ but also to reduce your chances of having to repair them later on. I had a few little Rangers and a Dekota and I believe they could pull around 2000 lbs. with a 4 cyl., but check the stats before you buy. Hope this can help.

I pull my 14ft aluminum with a 9.9hp merc with a 94 nissan hardbody pickup 2wd I picked this truck up for $700 and I bought two running parts trucks for $50 each I would definately recommend one of these trucks. I have never gotten stuck even at the scary adulphuston launch on quinte.

Jebby avoid S-10's they are crap

porthopesteel wrote: I have never gotten stuck even at the scary adulphuston launch on quinte.

Hehe. A few years back, I pulled a full-sized 2WD van, with boat and trailer, out of the bay after the driver slipped off that ramp. My "tow vehicle" was a '97 Suzuki Sidekick -- small but mighty.

thx for the opinions guys.