Well this weekend me and my brother went fishing. And to make a long story short... My 14ft jon boat went under as in it sank. we got the boat out (sank at the ramp with my brother in it) but now I have decided that im upgrading to a bigger boat. I will either get a 16+ft jon boat. Or I will go ahead and bite the bullet and buy a 20ft center console.

My toyota is in great shape and towed the 14 footer as if it wasnt even back there. Me and my brother can pick up the trailer with the boat on it (without the outboard on it) so it is realy light.

Will I have to get another truck (meaning trading or getting rid of my beloved 4runner) or will towing a boat as big as a 20ft fiberglass boat be ok with this litte truck?

 

How much would a 16 or 20ft fiberglass weigh? My buddy tows a 14ft aluminum with his Subaru Legacy... How long of a drive to the ramp? Wishing I could fish now without freezing my tail off.

 

well im guessing around 2200-2800 pounds and usualy about 50 min drive to the ramp.

 

I pull my kubota l3400 with loader and beater on a 16ft trailer with my 90 v6, 456 gears,,31 inch tires and 5spd. Tractor and implements weight is 3500 plus trailer. Pulling it is not the trouble, I think it would pull it to the moon. Stopping without trailer brakes is the bigger issue. I just pull it around town at low speed and get by fine. Is yours a 5 spd? These trucks can pull a lot more then they can control or stop. Go down to your boat dealer and hook on to one and see how you get along.........Rick

 

My main concern is being safe. I want to know that its can handle the load.

And rick i just looked up the kubota model u just metioned lol that thing is huge lol.

Mine is a 5 speed.

I just hate to go back to a huge truck that i sold to get my runner. i might have to though just for the peace of mind.

Ill let everyone know if my runner goes up for sale its so clean i wana cry

 

way back yonder when i was young, my grandpa took me fishing. he had a good sized bass boat (16'+, console, carpet floor, big-ol' outboard, troller, etc...) and he pulled it with a little s-10. i dunno what engine it had, but he had no trouble with the boat. and that was after filling up both fuel tanks. hope that helps

as for john-boats, you should have no trouble getting a bigger one. i worked with them all summer, and even the biggest one we have is still reasonably light. unless you buy a lead one, i think you'll be fine with a larger john-boat. you might be pushing it with a fiberglass one, though

 

Well its not what I would call huge, but its a load thats for sure. If I had a bigger truck I would use it but this is what I have. If I needed a bigger truck, I would buy one, this truck is not for sale, at all. Thats what I would do, everyones different. If I can buy a tractor, I can buy a truck......Rick

 

I think you would get more accurate answers if we knew the model of boat and which trailer your gonna use.

 

I've pulled our 94 bayliner capri behind my truck. Towed it just fine.
If you can, get electric brakes on the trailer, then find an electric brake tow package aNd go from there. It'll be plenty. If its only a 15 minute drive, I wouldn't worry about it. Over 30 and id want a way to stop the trailer.

 

as long as the total weight of your boat/motor/load and trailer is not over 3500 lbs (factory tow rating) and your 4runner brakes are in good shape you will be fine.

Get too big of tow get a bigger truck. My wife bought a 25 foot camp trailer...I don't have my tricked out '05 Tacoma anymore...should have made her trade in her camry and buy the Chevy

 

don't forget the weight of the fuel in the boat either. I have seen some 20ft Center console boats take up to 85 gallons of fuel. @ avg 6 lb/gallon that's an additional 510 lb.

this one for example:



Dry Weight : 2,800 lbs.
Fuel Capacity : 82 gal. = 492 lbs

total weight without cargo/fishing gear : 3292 lbs

If ocdropzone is right and I am sure he is then that leaves roughly 300 lbs of room for the trailer weight not including fishing gear/cargo. And that trailer has to be able to carry a 3300 lb.

http://www.shorelandr.com/pages/t_sp...&productID=841 take this trailer for example.

single axle w/ disc brake
Capacity: 3400 lbs.
Ship Weight: 705 lbs.
GVWR: 4240 lbs.
GAWR: 4240 lbs.

shipping weight = 705 lb 405 lbs over the allotted 300lb for that boat and over the trucks 3500 lb towing capacity.

 

good point. i shoulda asked that to start

 

I had an '86 4Runner I bought new off the lot, 3500 pounds sticks in my head...I know it can't be much more than that..

 

i know any load will take a hit on the rear suspension. kinda funny how these rigs are rated to about their own gvw

 

I think you'll be fine. Do as others have said and get the electric brake set up for the trailer. You also might consider upgrading your master cylinder to a 1" bore cylinder for added braking. As far as the rear suspension goes you could always add coils in the rear (shorter ones that don't actually lift the rig) like the ZUK mod so that the rear end is better able to handle the weight.

Just some ideas.

 

I know my trucks a 2wd but my truck towed a 20 ft ski boat up parley's canyon on I80 several times to go boating it is a long steep climb but she towed it alright. and its got an automatic. but the biggest thing i can say about towing things is to just take your time and not go too fast. i've seen too many rolled suburbans that were towing trailers due to speed.
thats my advice i bet it'll tow it just fine you just can't drive like the indy 500

 

 

Pulling a trailer is easy, it's the stopping part that becomes an issue.
Exactly like driving in 4wd on ice, easy to go fast, hard to stop.

 

20 footer is the largest i will get.

I am looking at 18 footer right now and this one prolly weighs around 3000 pounds loaded with everything.

Its amazing how many responses i got and I am a little more confident now that the 4runner will do the trick.

I just need a bigger boat because it was not fun sinking my little jon and then getting it out.

I will prolly make sure that the trailer has the electric brakes set up and i already have a little bit of a lift and a sturdy back end i think.

Im glad im not the only one trying this there are others like me

 

Frodo let me tell you that 1st gen 4runners are the "do all" rig around here. Some guys use them for work and haul crazy sized loads in the back, others use them for DD's and enjoy them, some make them into dedicated trail rigs.

Hauling boats, hauling gear, hauling work supplies or just plain hauling the family to the camping area that little rig will do everything you want it to with a few minor mods and some upkeep. 20+ years old and still running like a champ.