towing a boat...good or bad idea???

M

mrscullini

Member
need a little insight, please. looking at getting a boat and towing it with the scout. good or bad idea?

the scout is a '79, 345, t-18, dana 44's, 4" rc lift, 31 tires, class III hitch.

the boat would be about a 20' open bow, figure boat and trailer will weigh about 5000#. i know this is the rated limit on the hitch.

i figure the drive train can handle it. i know the brakes are a weak point. the trailer will either have surge brakes or e-brakes. i'll just be towing locally, maybe a 10-15 mile drive at most with slight decents.

can the scout do it?
 
That's a lot of weight and length for any short wheelbase vehicle to handle. Sure, the hitch and the drive train can handle it, but you'd be likely to experience light steering sensation, if not full blown tail wagging the dog syndrome. Stock Scout curb weight is less than 5k.
 
Scoutboy74 said:
That's a lot of weight and length for any short wheelbase vehicle to handle. Sure, the hitch and the drive train can handle it, but you'd be likely to experience light steering sensation, if not full blown tail wagging the dog syndrome. Stock Scout curb weight is less than 5k.
Click to expand...

thanks scoutboy. i figured i'd be pushing it. the thing that makes me think that the risks are less is that to get to the lake(s), it is literally driving through town. speeds are really not more than 35 mph, and for a short distance.

i mentioned 10-15 miles in the first post. this is not the closest lake. the closest lakes are a few miles.
 
Speed really kills when overloaded, so that would help. Might get away with it fine under those circumstances. The Scout's biggest limitations where towing is concerned is the 100" wheel base and the narrow track.
 
If at all possible, I'd want to see how things looked with the trailer hooked up before I committed to it. If the ass squats like its taking a dump in the woods, then the nose is in the air. I wouldn't want to herd that situation around any other vehicles at any speed.
 
Scoutboy74 said:
If at all possible, I'd want to see how things looked with the trailer hooked up before I committed to it. If the ass squats like its taking a dump in the woods, then the nose is in the air. I wouldn't want to herd that situation around any other vehicles at any speed.
Click to expand...

good call. i could probably hook up a friends boat/trailer and have a look.
 
Towed lots of boats with my Scout with no problem. Use a good receiver hitch and that your suspension and tire pressures are up to snuff.
 
FDChappie said:
Towed lots of boats with my Scout with no problem. Use a good receiver hitch and that your suspension and tire pressures are up to snuff.
Click to expand...

thanks chappie. new frame mount class III hitch. suspension is only a couple years old. new rc lift springs, cpt shackles and new bushings. new 31" tires. brakes are in good condition.

after some weekend research, looks like the boat trailer combo will be about 4000 lbs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top