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Tow a Montauk with a Ford Ranger?
CapnJs	#1  Posted on 08/11/07 - 7:35 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 135 Comments: 0 Joined: 04/21/07	Does anyone tow a Montauk with a Ford Ranger or similar medium sized pickup? Ford lists the towing specs for a Ford Ranger with a 3.73/4.10 axle as about 3,600 lbs with the small V6 (3.0L) and 5,600 lbs with the larger V6 (4.0L). But the truck isn't very big and I wonder if the truck drives the boat and trailer or the other way around? I think the Chevrolet S10 is the same size so I would be interested in whether anyone tows a Montauk for any distance with either truck. Also whether the truck can pull a loaded boat up a ramp easily. Thanks. Capn Js
CES	#2  Posted on 08/11/07 - 7:47 PM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	Man, back in the day I used to tow a tandom trailer with a 20 ft bow rider and a 115 HP Evinrude with a 1985 Nissan pickup with a 4 banger in it. I used to tow that thing from Key West Florida all the way to north of Atlanta Georgia to Lake Lanier. I did that several times with no problems ever.....even up and down the boat ramps. Even with towing my boat, I managed to get 88,000 miles out of the first clutch I had in that truck.....not bad for a 22 year old kid at the time.......we're talking 1988. How big is the Montuk? Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker
Jeff	#3  Posted on 08/11/07 - 8:54 PM
Member Posts: 1987 Comments: 34 Joined: 04/02/05	We towed our Montauk with: 1995 Chevy S10 4.3l V6 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8l non supercharged V6 1998 Chevy S10 ZR2 4x4 V6 with a 3.73 rear end 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8l non supercharged V6 2001 Saturn LW Wagon 3.0l V6 2003 Saturn LW Wagon 3.0l V6 (Yes my family works / worked for the General) Some of the trips were just up the road to the ramp for some wake boarding, then every weekend we towed it 180 miles round trip with gear to Port Huron to use as our tender, and at least once a year 1000+ miles (entire vacation) up and down the hills of Northern Michigan loaded with an extra 500 lbs of fishing, hiking, biking, what ever kind of gear needed for 14 days worth of vacation. All of the vehicle worked out just fine for hauling the boat and gear. Sure you knew something was back there but it was not bad at all. So I would hope your Ranger could do the job. Now when I towed it with my current 1996 GMC full size V8 you never knew it was back there. 1993 23' Walkaround Whaler Drive
arthureld	#4  Posted on 08/11/07 - 11:39 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 735 Comments: 7 Joined: 02/15/07	I pull my Outrage 20 out of the water and around town with a Ford Escape Hybrid. I wouldn't want to go over a mountain pass with it though.
CapnJs	#5  Posted on 08/12/07 - 12:22 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 135 Comments: 0 Joined: 04/21/07	CES I am told the 17 Montauk with motor, gas, gear and trailer probably weighs about 2,000 lbs or a little more. Jeff I don't have a Ranger yet but I am looking for a new vehicle to tow the new (for me - a 1989) boat that is being delivered on Tuesday. I don't need the vehicle right away because the boat will be in the water at a slip for the rest of the season. But I want to be on the lookout for a used truck. Sounds like the S10/Ranger will work fine. I only put about 6,000 miles a year on a vehicle so it doesn't make much sense to have a bigger, expensive full-size truck around if I don't need it. But if I'm going to get lower gas milage I at least want something that will tow the Montauk with relative ease the half dozen times a year I'll want to trailer it. I just traded a 4 cylinder Escape in for a newer Camry for my wife. The Escape couldn't get out of its own way even without a trailer. What was worse, the non-hybrid 4 cylinder Escape doesn't get much different gas mileage than the 6 cylinder Escape. I have a friend with full-size Chevy truck with a small V8 who gets about the same gas mileage on the highway as my 4 cylinder Escape did (or so he claims). In any event, my wife is happier with the newer car. What could be better than to have a happy wife and a new boat? Thanks all. Capn Js
classic77	#6  Posted on 08/12/07 - 7:00 AM
Member Posts: 2 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/23/06	Tow my dads 77 Montaulk with my 03 Ranger (4.0 V-6 automatic 4x4) no problems at all. I used our 95 Windstar mini van before that no problems either. Jim
CapnJs	#7  Posted on 08/15/07 - 4:27 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 135 Comments: 0 Joined: 04/21/07	Ok I'm convinced that a Montauk can be towed by a Ranger sized vehicle. Yesterday we splashed our new (to us) Montauk using a Ford F150 4x4. The ramp was very steep and we didn't have any trouble. But I got to wondering if the smaller trucks have problems with steep ramps?
drandlett	#8  Posted on 08/15/07 - 5:13 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 146 Comments: 0 Joined: 03/01/06	Valid concern. Steep, slippery ramps, and low tides all make launching a pain. If you have a single ramp in mind and can work around tides than its not such an issue but if you end up at less than familiar ramps at low tide you'll want a 4x4. I've had my rear tires below the ramp on small boulders and muck, not a great place to be stuck especially with a trailer. Luckly never had an issue. I tow my 17' Whaler with a '98 Jeep 6cyl 4X4 manual rated for 5000lbs with no issues. I've heard the safe tow weight for a vehicle is 85% of rated capacity, although I know my jeep could tow more than its rated 5000lbs in a real pinch. As for the Ranger we use to tow our 22' grady with a 6cyl, 4x4, manual ranger. It struggled even in 4low in certain situations.... got used the smell of burning clutch. Get a little more than you know you'll need, you'll be happier than if you end up with a little less or just enough. Just my thoughts. Enjoy the boat! Late summer and fall I believe is the best time for boating here in NewEngland!!!
Royboy	#9  Posted on 08/15/07 - 7:39 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 127 Comments: 2 Joined: 04/23/07	I towed my 17 Outrage last year with a 2 X 4 Ranger with the 3.0L engine and I found it to be less then adequate, although I put roughly 3,000 miles on the rig. I was not able to tow over 62 MPH or the boat would wag my truck the way a dog wags his tail. There were a couple of very steep ramps that had me worried, but in the end the Ranger pulled her out without help. Bear in mind that the Outrage weighs some 3400 pounds as towed, so you may find that a Ranger will be adequate for the lighter Montauk.
Its hers But I Drive	#10  Posted on 08/15/07 - 10:23 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 25 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/27/07	I tow My girls with her Toyota 4 runnner and that thing only has 180hp.
blakesanborn	#11  Posted on 08/15/07 - 11:49 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 82 Comments: 2 Joined: 05/29/07	Guys’ pulling the boat is one thing, STOPPING the boat is the question. I have been in vehicles underrated and literally had a sea-pro bay boat push an Isuzu rodeo through a stop sign. My advice is to consider braking. Especially around hills and valleys. You get that boat packed with beer, ice, fish, rods, tank of gas, anchors, you get the idea.
Its hers But I Drive	#12  Posted on 08/15/07 - 12:41 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 25 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/27/07	blakesanborn wrote: Guys’ pulling the boat is one thing, STOPPING the boat is the question. I have been in vehicles underrated and literally had a sea-pro bay boat push an Isuzu rodeo through a stop sign. My advice is to consider braking. Especially around hills and valleys. You get that boat packed with beer, ice, fish, rods, tank of gas, anchors, you get the idea. Braking should not be an issue with a trailer that has a surge brake or electric brakes. Once the truck slows the surge brake should begin to function almost sometimes helping to slow the truck itself. Of course this is with properly maintained brakes. Electric brakes are the best route but costly for a trailer that a montauk would use. The standard Surge brake should do just fine.
Royboy	#13  Posted on 08/15/07 - 6:11 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 127 Comments: 2 Joined: 04/23/07	Good point on stopping the load. When I towed the Outrage behind a Ranger, stopping was definately a problem, and one of the chief reasons I replaced it with a full sized pickup (F-150). Also, I'd guess that the Montauk trailer has no brakes. If you do decide to tow with a small truck, make sure the brakes are in tip-top condition and pay extra close attention to your stopping distance. The first red light I came to, I blew right through. Thankfully, there was nobody coming.
kamie	#14  Posted on 08/15/07 - 6:21 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	I tow an 18 Outrage with a Toyota Highlander Hybrid, not problem stopping or going. Not sure I would want to tow up thru the western mountains but on the east coast it just just fine.
blakesanborn	#15  Posted on 08/17/07 - 2:47 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 82 Comments: 2 Joined: 05/29/07	I don’t believe I read anything that suggested he had trailer brakes. You can literally pull that boat with a golf cart. But you will not stop it with one. Just be safe. Accidents happen and a little good ole fashion common sense will save you lots of money in the grand scheme of things. blakesanborn attached the following image: [11.18Kb]