i am concerned with towing a 1994 hunter 26 with my 1994 toyota pickup truck 4x4 4 cylinder. does the hunter trailer well and do i have enough vehicle to tow this boat. i am only transporting 2x a year out of a local dock. any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Jon Bastien
Hmmmm...
Check the owner's manual for your truck- It should be able to tell you how to determine your maximum towing capacity. My general rule of thumb is to tow heavy loads with a vehicle that can pull twice the weight of the load (for example, if the load [boat] weighs 2000 pounds, I need a vehicle that can tow 4000). Your truck may not have enough power to pull a boat that large. Having said that- If it's ONLY twice a year, and you're ONLY going a short distance (one or two miles, tops), on lightly travelled roads... you'll probably be OK. Pay close attention to the temp and oil guages in the truck when you're towing it, though. --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
Check the owner's manual for your truck- It should be able to tell you how to determine your maximum towing capacity. My general rule of thumb is to tow heavy loads with a vehicle that can pull twice the weight of the load (for example, if the load [boat] weighs 2000 pounds, I need a vehicle that can tow 4000). Your truck may not have enough power to pull a boat that large. Having said that- If it's ONLY twice a year, and you're ONLY going a short distance (one or two miles, tops), on lightly travelled roads... you'll probably be OK. Pay close attention to the temp and oil guages in the truck when you're towing it, though. --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
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Rick Webb
I'll Agree
Your truck is probably only rated at 3500# and you will probably rip the bumper off before you do any real damage to the truck. If you are only moving it from here to there on occasion and not going very far it is probably OK. Remember that for $19.95 you can rent one from U-Haul and not have to worry about the truck at all, just a thought.
Your truck is probably only rated at 3500# and you will probably rip the bumper off before you do any real damage to the truck. If you are only moving it from here to there on occasion and not going very far it is probably OK. Remember that for $19.95 you can rent one from U-Haul and not have to worry about the truck at all, just a thought.
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Michael Bell
OverDrive
And if you are going a VERY short distance (which is all I would do with that), and your rig is an automatic, make sure it’s out of overdrive. Could save your transmission. I know first hand.
And if you are going a VERY short distance (which is all I would do with that), and your rig is an automatic, make sure it’s out of overdrive. Could save your transmission. I know first hand.
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Ray Bowles
Tracy, We tow our 95 H26 a lot. Having owned
late model Toyota 4x4's, a 4cyl and v6, I think you would be way under powered. To launch and recover you will need to use low range in 4wd to pull almost and ramp. If you only hauled very short distances on flat ground you might get away with it, but, starting from a dead stop going up hill you will almost surely need low range and there is the problem. Toy's don't shift on the fly. Tongue weight can be balanced by moving the o/b and tank to the truck etc. Stopping is a very big problem. Even with the jam braking system on the Hunter trailers you will probably find that the weight of the boat and trailer exceeds that of the truck and it will simply push your truck anywhere it wants. When the towed vehicle wt. exceeds the puller, then the trailers have a big desire to sway violently from side to side. Sorry, but I have found that a full size 1/2 ton truck is about the smallest you can go. I do know that lots of Hunter 26's have been pulled with full size passenger cars (the tried and true land yachts) and this might be a way for you to go. Ray S/V Speedy
late model Toyota 4x4's, a 4cyl and v6, I think you would be way under powered. To launch and recover you will need to use low range in 4wd to pull almost and ramp. If you only hauled very short distances on flat ground you might get away with it, but, starting from a dead stop going up hill you will almost surely need low range and there is the problem. Toy's don't shift on the fly. Tongue weight can be balanced by moving the o/b and tank to the truck etc. Stopping is a very big problem. Even with the jam braking system on the Hunter trailers you will probably find that the weight of the boat and trailer exceeds that of the truck and it will simply push your truck anywhere it wants. When the towed vehicle wt. exceeds the puller, then the trailers have a big desire to sway violently from side to side. Sorry, but I have found that a full size 1/2 ton truck is about the smallest you can go. I do know that lots of Hunter 26's have been pulled with full size passenger cars (the tried and true land yachts) and this might be a way for you to go. Ray S/V Speedy
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Ron
Hitch Issue
Don't forget you would need a hitch that is rated to pull about 5000 lbs. My vote would be the Toyota is too small and renting a truck or borrowing a bigger vehicle is the best approach.
Don't forget you would need a hitch that is rated to pull about 5000 lbs. My vote would be the Toyota is too small and renting a truck or borrowing a bigger vehicle is the best approach.
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Ken Koons
Towing and small vehicles
Tracy, I pull a 1998 H240 at 2800 lbs with my v-6 3.0 liter Ford Ranger extended cab. The towing capacity of my truck is 4000 lbs. I keep the boat on the trailer with the mast up at a secured dry dock and mostly trailer the boat 100yds down to the water and 100yds up the hill to my parking spot. My Ranger does OK in this capacity. I get some wheel spin occasionally (2wd truck) but I've never had much of a problem at my home ramp (although I always have a tow strap in the bed of the truck in case I lose traction and need an assist from a fisherman). I've also trailered the boat a couple times through some hilly ground (from Indy to Lake Monroe in southern Indiana)at highway speeds. My truck just barely meets my needs in this capacity. I run high octane gas when towing distances and I've also added some heavy duty shocks to the back end of the truck and this did a great job of eliminating sway at speed. With my experiences in mind I'd say with a big heavy boat like a 26, you should definitely rent the UHaul truck. Better safe than sorry! Ken
Tracy, I pull a 1998 H240 at 2800 lbs with my v-6 3.0 liter Ford Ranger extended cab. The towing capacity of my truck is 4000 lbs. I keep the boat on the trailer with the mast up at a secured dry dock and mostly trailer the boat 100yds down to the water and 100yds up the hill to my parking spot. My Ranger does OK in this capacity. I get some wheel spin occasionally (2wd truck) but I've never had much of a problem at my home ramp (although I always have a tow strap in the bed of the truck in case I lose traction and need an assist from a fisherman). I've also trailered the boat a couple times through some hilly ground (from Indy to Lake Monroe in southern Indiana)at highway speeds. My truck just barely meets my needs in this capacity. I run high octane gas when towing distances and I've also added some heavy duty shocks to the back end of the truck and this did a great job of eliminating sway at speed. With my experiences in mind I'd say with a big heavy boat like a 26, you should definitely rent the UHaul truck. Better safe than sorry! Ken
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Neil King
towing a 1994 H26
I use an Astro Van rated at 5000 lbs. to tow my 1994 Hunter 26. Make sure the surge breaks work well. I've had no trouble towing, including pulling up the ramp. But trailering any distance at all, the boat is all I care to tow. When pulling the boat out of the launch ramp, you've got 5,000 lbs. behind you bacuse the water will not have drained yet. I wouldn't try to tow more than a few miles with a small 4-cylinder.
I use an Astro Van rated at 5000 lbs. to tow my 1994 Hunter 26. Make sure the surge breaks work well. I've had no trouble towing, including pulling up the ramp. But trailering any distance at all, the boat is all I care to tow. When pulling the boat out of the launch ramp, you've got 5,000 lbs. behind you bacuse the water will not have drained yet. I wouldn't try to tow more than a few miles with a small 4-cylinder.
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Jim Foreman
Call Me!
There are 4 26's @ Alum Creek State park just North of Columbus. If any of us can be of assistance, my work # is 800 345 0278.
There are 4 26's @ Alum Creek State park just North of Columbus. If any of us can be of assistance, my work # is 800 345 0278.
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John Revenboer
Towing my 260
I have towed my H260 from Nebraska to Canada, to Cape Cod and back to Canada even in the winter. All of this with a 6 cyl. pick up truck. 50 mph was always the average speed but the 260 sure trailers well.
I have towed my H260 from Nebraska to Canada, to Cape Cod and back to Canada even in the winter. All of this with a 6 cyl. pick up truck. 50 mph was always the average speed but the 260 sure trailers well.
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