I am thinking of buying a Hunter 26' water ballast but am concerned about my tow vehicle. I have a Honda Odyssey with a tow package and need to know if this vehicle will be able to satisfactorily pull the boat in and out of the water and trailer for hauls around the state. If you have any expertise in this area I would appreciate your input.
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Tom s/v Gaia
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Ray Bowles
Ray. Your Honda is probably a little under gunned
The Hunter 26 weighs 3000# dry and about 500 to 650# more with OB motor, fuel and tank, gear, goods, ice and beverage. That makes the total say 3500#. The trailer, if it is a 2 axle Hunter like mine, weighs about 1600#. Now your total package is 5100#. That is way more than your Honda. Even with the standard jam braking system on the trailer you will find that if you must rapidly stop the trailer it will simply push your Honda out of its way. The Honda will probably pull the boat fair enough and launch and recover in great fashion. Also with the short wheel base and high center of gravity of your SUV you will probably experence side sway of the entire rig and that is the kiss of death. The smallest rig that will safely pull a rig this size would be a full size pickup truck of either 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton size. A 4x4 package would be nice but not necesary by any means. I do have a very extensive background towing everything from farm equipment to drag racing rigs. If you moor or dock your H26 like we do for most of the season you might possibly be able to borrow or rent a truck large enough for the job. That would be safe and reasonable in cost. Ray S/V Speedy
The Hunter 26 weighs 3000# dry and about 500 to 650# more with OB motor, fuel and tank, gear, goods, ice and beverage. That makes the total say 3500#. The trailer, if it is a 2 axle Hunter like mine, weighs about 1600#. Now your total package is 5100#. That is way more than your Honda. Even with the standard jam braking system on the trailer you will find that if you must rapidly stop the trailer it will simply push your Honda out of its way. The Honda will probably pull the boat fair enough and launch and recover in great fashion. Also with the short wheel base and high center of gravity of your SUV you will probably experence side sway of the entire rig and that is the kiss of death. The smallest rig that will safely pull a rig this size would be a full size pickup truck of either 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton size. A 4x4 package would be nice but not necesary by any means. I do have a very extensive background towing everything from farm equipment to drag racing rigs. If you moor or dock your H26 like we do for most of the season you might possibly be able to borrow or rent a truck large enough for the job. That would be safe and reasonable in cost. Ray S/V Speedy
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Mike
Tow Vehicle
I agree with Ray, I just pulled my H260 from Birmingham, AL to the Gulf, approx 280 mi. I have a 1500 Dodge Ram . It rained most of the way and there were some very un easy stops where the boat push this vehicle on wet roads during a stop. Motor size and horsepower are not the most important factors. The more weight you have in a tow vehicle the better.
I agree with Ray, I just pulled my H260 from Birmingham, AL to the Gulf, approx 280 mi. I have a 1500 Dodge Ram . It rained most of the way and there were some very un easy stops where the boat push this vehicle on wet roads during a stop. Motor size and horsepower are not the most important factors. The more weight you have in a tow vehicle the better.
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Tom
Long wheelbase
I agree with what others have said, except that I would add that the longer the wheelbase of the tow vehicle, the better for on the road control. I pulled my 97 H26 to and from the marina (35 miles) once a year with a 88 Crown Vic wagon with a 302cui v8. Pulled very well but the trany/rearend ratio was under powered. I have a 89 F150 4x4 with a 300cui six with a towing rearend. Big dif in pulling out of the water, which is 5,500 pounds or more until you drop the water, and I hardly notice the boat on the road. Biger vehicles also mean bigger brakes, also very important! Get a truck...you will waste you Honda.
I agree with what others have said, except that I would add that the longer the wheelbase of the tow vehicle, the better for on the road control. I pulled my 97 H26 to and from the marina (35 miles) once a year with a 88 Crown Vic wagon with a 302cui v8. Pulled very well but the trany/rearend ratio was under powered. I have a 89 F150 4x4 with a 300cui six with a towing rearend. Big dif in pulling out of the water, which is 5,500 pounds or more until you drop the water, and I hardly notice the boat on the road. Biger vehicles also mean bigger brakes, also very important! Get a truck...you will waste you Honda.
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Rick Webb
Like They Said, Get the Truck
I tow my 23.5 with a Gran Marquis. It does fine but the boat does push the car if I have to stop quick. I towed a freinds 26 once and while the car had the power there is alot of surface area and a his boat pushed the car quite a bit on corners and when stoping. I think it would tear your Honda up.
I tow my 23.5 with a Gran Marquis. It does fine but the boat does push the car if I have to stop quick. I towed a freinds 26 once and while the car had the power there is alot of surface area and a his boat pushed the car quite a bit on corners and when stoping. I think it would tear your Honda up.
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Stan Rogacevicz
Wheelbase
As Tom said wheelbase is a big factor. Back in my towing days one of the reasons I got the extended cab version of the Chevy 1500 was the difference in towing capacity from regular to extended cab. Every foot or two helps. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
As Tom said wheelbase is a big factor. Back in my towing days one of the reasons I got the extended cab version of the Chevy 1500 was the difference in towing capacity from regular to extended cab. Every foot or two helps. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
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Bruce
F150
I have an H260 water ballast, and I tow mine with a 1997 F150 2 wheel drive. I have no problems pulling it off the ramp and taking it down the highway. I did buy the side mirror extensions at an RV shop - they help to see what's going on. Bruce
I have an H260 water ballast, and I tow mine with a 1997 F150 2 wheel drive. I have no problems pulling it off the ramp and taking it down the highway. I did buy the side mirror extensions at an RV shop - they help to see what's going on. Bruce
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