I have just purchased a new Hunter 260. I would like feedback on what other owners are towing theirs with? I want to buy a new Nissan Frontier but dont know if a 6 cylnder can do the job on a boat ramp. Would appreciate anyones input....Thanks in tampa.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
M
Mark
Discovery
We tow ours with a 1997 Discovery turbo diesel. It drags along at 80-95 kph without any problems. Could go faster but not recommended. The good thing about the Discovery is its weight and also when in low range it crawls out very slowly meaning a safe retrieval at the boat ramp.
We tow ours with a 1997 Discovery turbo diesel. It drags along at 80-95 kph without any problems. Could go faster but not recommended. The good thing about the Discovery is its weight and also when in low range it crawls out very slowly meaning a safe retrieval at the boat ramp.
S
Stan Chapman
You need somthing more
In West Texas there are quite a few 260 trailer sailors and everyone that I know pull theirs with a Chevy Suburban that is equipped with a towing package (transmission cooler). For steep ramps, hills, windy drives, or distance you need a V8 and a vehicle rated for serious towing. A V6 might handle an easy ramp and short distance, but I wouldn't be confident in it. Good luck!
In West Texas there are quite a few 260 trailer sailors and everyone that I know pull theirs with a Chevy Suburban that is equipped with a towing package (transmission cooler). For steep ramps, hills, windy drives, or distance you need a V8 and a vehicle rated for serious towing. A V6 might handle an easy ramp and short distance, but I wouldn't be confident in it. Good luck!
D
dan vereker
5.4 V-8 expedition
kevin, you didn't skimp when you purchased the biggest, baddest trailerable sailboat on the market. So why would you skimp now. MY expediton has the towing package and the stiffist monroe shocks available along with 4-wheel drive. i could tow it with a full ballast!! Not that i would... fair winds and V-8's forever daniel s/v stardust
kevin, you didn't skimp when you purchased the biggest, baddest trailerable sailboat on the market. So why would you skimp now. MY expediton has the towing package and the stiffist monroe shocks available along with 4-wheel drive. i could tow it with a full ballast!! Not that i would... fair winds and V-8's forever daniel s/v stardust
R
Ray Bowles
Kevin, I pull my 95 H26 with a 93 Ford 1/2 ton
4X4 pickup with a 5 speed trans. We have over 2000 miles on highways without any problems. The H26 boats are the same weight, size and use the same trailer. The Nissan would pull the package on flat ground at highway speeds of 55 to 60 MPH. With the 4X4 package it will launch and recover without problems. A manual gearbox would be best but an auto should work if it has the trans cooler package. Usually most 4X4 do have this set up out of the box. Stopping is the problem. The towed package is very close in weight to the truck so the trailer brakes must be in good working order. Have an approved hitch heavy enough to handle the tongue weight. We have cattle farmed for 30 years and pulled trailers of much more weight with similar rigs. Using your head and not the less intellegent appendages such as your foot will do much to help limit the need to go out and buy the biggest SUV around. Most of the SUV's I see people buying have better value as creek liners and water crossing filler. I just doubt they would have the sense to find the creek. How'd we get here? Hell I don't know, ask John Force. I'm a short timer and having a ball. Enjoy your boat! Your truck will pull it until you convince it otherwise. Get them babies and go sailing! Ray S/V Speedy
4X4 pickup with a 5 speed trans. We have over 2000 miles on highways without any problems. The H26 boats are the same weight, size and use the same trailer. The Nissan would pull the package on flat ground at highway speeds of 55 to 60 MPH. With the 4X4 package it will launch and recover without problems. A manual gearbox would be best but an auto should work if it has the trans cooler package. Usually most 4X4 do have this set up out of the box. Stopping is the problem. The towed package is very close in weight to the truck so the trailer brakes must be in good working order. Have an approved hitch heavy enough to handle the tongue weight. We have cattle farmed for 30 years and pulled trailers of much more weight with similar rigs. Using your head and not the less intellegent appendages such as your foot will do much to help limit the need to go out and buy the biggest SUV around. Most of the SUV's I see people buying have better value as creek liners and water crossing filler. I just doubt they would have the sense to find the creek. How'd we get here? Hell I don't know, ask John Force. I'm a short timer and having a ball. Enjoy your boat! Your truck will pull it until you convince it otherwise. Get them babies and go sailing! Ray S/V Speedy
M
Mike McVay
Tow Vehicle
I use a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 w/ 360 Cu in and a tow package. When coming out of a steep ramp w water ballast still draining in is a strain. I agree w/Stan, the heavier the shocks and the more vehicle weight you have the less you will be thrown around on the hiway. The boat and trailer ride fine, but on a concrete interstate the boat can throw the tow vehicle araound quite a lot. My Ram weighs approx 6500 lbs and I had to upgrade the shocks considerably to avoid this. Be careful the Jeep dealer told me that the "Liberty" would haul 5000 lbs. While technically it may, I wouldn't want to drive it. Good Luck on your pursuits. Mike
I use a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 w/ 360 Cu in and a tow package. When coming out of a steep ramp w water ballast still draining in is a strain. I agree w/Stan, the heavier the shocks and the more vehicle weight you have the less you will be thrown around on the hiway. The boat and trailer ride fine, but on a concrete interstate the boat can throw the tow vehicle araound quite a lot. My Ram weighs approx 6500 lbs and I had to upgrade the shocks considerably to avoid this. Be careful the Jeep dealer told me that the "Liberty" would haul 5000 lbs. While technically it may, I wouldn't want to drive it. Good Luck on your pursuits. Mike
A
AC
4x4 recommended
We pull ours with Suburban 1500 w/ tow package. I would strongly recommend 4x4 for those slimy slippery ramps !!
We pull ours with Suburban 1500 w/ tow package. I would strongly recommend 4x4 for those slimy slippery ramps !!
S
Sam Morgan
Chevrolet Trailblazer
I just towed a Hunter 260 from Tulsa, OK to Las Vegas, NV with a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. I made it okay but, as soon as I got home I traded the Trailblazer in on an Avalanche. The specs on the Trailblazer said it was rated to pull 5,700 pounds while the same information for the Avalanche is closer to 8,000 pounds. The Trailblazer made the trip but it was not always a comfortable trip.
I just towed a Hunter 260 from Tulsa, OK to Las Vegas, NV with a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. I made it okay but, as soon as I got home I traded the Trailblazer in on an Avalanche. The specs on the Trailblazer said it was rated to pull 5,700 pounds while the same information for the Avalanche is closer to 8,000 pounds. The Trailblazer made the trip but it was not always a comfortable trip.
J
John C. Baumgartner
V-8 are great
OK, I went overboard. After buying a 1999 260 Hunter, I went out to junk yards and bought a 1969 Chevy C-10 pickup, put a 1994 step side bed, 400+ HP 350 CiD engine, TH 350 Tranny, with shift kit, three trans coolers, double size radator, changed rear alxe ratio, updated the charging system, removed front drum brakes, installed disk front brakes, added power steering, heavy duty class 4 trailor hitch, redid the body and instruments pannel, painted (red) the body I figured I was ready! I have pulled the boat from the dealer home and back twice, one trip to the lake and back, and at highway speed it handles great, pulling the boat out of the water has not been a problem.So I guess you can say I bought the boat to support my truck work. As a retired Sub sailor what can I say. Fair winds and following seas. "Baums Rush"
OK, I went overboard. After buying a 1999 260 Hunter, I went out to junk yards and bought a 1969 Chevy C-10 pickup, put a 1994 step side bed, 400+ HP 350 CiD engine, TH 350 Tranny, with shift kit, three trans coolers, double size radator, changed rear alxe ratio, updated the charging system, removed front drum brakes, installed disk front brakes, added power steering, heavy duty class 4 trailor hitch, redid the body and instruments pannel, painted (red) the body I figured I was ready! I have pulled the boat from the dealer home and back twice, one trip to the lake and back, and at highway speed it handles great, pulling the boat out of the water has not been a problem.So I guess you can say I bought the boat to support my truck work. As a retired Sub sailor what can I say. Fair winds and following seas. "Baums Rush"
F
Frank Sears
A F150 with a 320 down shifts on small hills
I have a 91 F150, and its fine for short distances, but I'd never take it for even day trips.
I have a 91 F150, and its fine for short distances, but I'd never take it for even day trips.
T
T J Furstenau
Durango here....
I've used two Durangos, (5.2L V8, 5.9L V8), as well as my wife's full size Dodge conversion van (5.2L V8) to pull our '94 H26. I bought it in NJ, towed it back to IL, and make one trip a year to OH, and several trips to MI. Never had a problem, pulls like a champ. Never had a problem with sway, but I believe a lot of that has to do with how the trailer is loaded/balanced, and I keep between 55-65 when driving, depending on local limits. This reminds me, did anyone ever see the in-showroom ad awhile back with a Grand Caravan/Town and Country that had a boat hooked up behind? 2 interesting things about it. One is that I looked real close and could have sword that it was a 26 being pulled which seems like a strain for that vehicle. Second was that the van was a hunter green color, and the boat was painted with the same hull color. Looked very cool, but I've never seen a 26 other that factory colors.
I've used two Durangos, (5.2L V8, 5.9L V8), as well as my wife's full size Dodge conversion van (5.2L V8) to pull our '94 H26. I bought it in NJ, towed it back to IL, and make one trip a year to OH, and several trips to MI. Never had a problem, pulls like a champ. Never had a problem with sway, but I believe a lot of that has to do with how the trailer is loaded/balanced, and I keep between 55-65 when driving, depending on local limits. This reminds me, did anyone ever see the in-showroom ad awhile back with a Grand Caravan/Town and Country that had a boat hooked up behind? 2 interesting things about it. One is that I looked real close and could have sword that it was a 26 being pulled which seems like a strain for that vehicle. Second was that the van was a hunter green color, and the boat was painted with the same hull color. Looked very cool, but I've never seen a 26 other that factory colors.
T
Tom
We use a 89 F150
with a 302 6 cyl and 4x4 with a 5 speed manual trans. I wouldn't go any smaller. The bigger the better!!
with a 302 6 cyl and 4x4 with a 5 speed manual trans. I wouldn't go any smaller. The bigger the better!!
J
Jeff
350 V-8
Kevin, We have a '99 GMC Savana 1500 with the 350 V-8. I have the towing package and lower gears in the rear end. No problems except when being passed by semi's. I don't exceed 60 mph. This is not a time to skimp on a smaller vehicle. Jeff "Festivity" 1996 H26
Kevin, We have a '99 GMC Savana 1500 with the 350 V-8. I have the towing package and lower gears in the rear end. No problems except when being passed by semi's. I don't exceed 60 mph. This is not a time to skimp on a smaller vehicle. Jeff "Festivity" 1996 H26
T
Tom Boles
Engine is one thing. Wheelbase is the other!
We all have "Shoot, I towed an (insert boat) with a (insert foolish vehicle) all over (area of choice) and never had a problem!" story. My own involves a shoal draft Laguna 18 (which sat VERY high up on the trailer), a tired Taurus wagon with a V6 and Northern California. We towed the laguna for 3 years and then turned into a camping family about 5 years ago (but we're closing in on a Hunter Vision 32!) and we now sucessfuly tow a 32' 9,000# travel trailer with a Ford E350 Super Duty Chateau Van with the Triton V10 (6.8l) and a 3.73 rear end. I had some very scary times with the taurus/laguna set-up, but none of them were on launch ramps. They almost always involved poor weight distribution choices on my part (except for the time the axle on the trailer broke...). What I've learned: 1-Fools can tow anything with anything at least once. 2-The tongue weight of the trailer must be around 10-12% of boat & trailer weight (loaded!) 3-Frontal area of the boat matters. 4-Short wheelbase tow vehicles are tools of the devil (old Ford broncos are VERY BAD) 5-A 4x4 short wheelbase vehicle is still not a good tow vehicle. 6-What the manufacturer rates the tow vehicle for is FAR more valid then what the salesman, the guy at the tow-hitch place or your "buddy who knows about this stuff" says. 7- Having a V8 engine & stiff shocks does not automaticaly mean your vehicle is a good tow vehicle. 8- Long wheelbase vehicles, all things equal, are the only way to go. 9-Launching & retriving a sailboat requires planning, time & patience. 10- Most launch-ramp problems are due to backing the vehicle down too far, not shifting into low, not using a VERY light touch on the throttle and trying to do everything too quickly. It can be done with far less than the optimal gear, but it's important to know what really matters. A great book from 1991 "Boat Trailers and Tow Vehicles: A User's Guide" by Steve Henkel (see amazon link below) has a tremendous amount of info. While some of it is dated, the basic ideas are timeless. Happy Towing!
We all have "Shoot, I towed an (insert boat) with a (insert foolish vehicle) all over (area of choice) and never had a problem!" story. My own involves a shoal draft Laguna 18 (which sat VERY high up on the trailer), a tired Taurus wagon with a V6 and Northern California. We towed the laguna for 3 years and then turned into a camping family about 5 years ago (but we're closing in on a Hunter Vision 32!) and we now sucessfuly tow a 32' 9,000# travel trailer with a Ford E350 Super Duty Chateau Van with the Triton V10 (6.8l) and a 3.73 rear end. I had some very scary times with the taurus/laguna set-up, but none of them were on launch ramps. They almost always involved poor weight distribution choices on my part (except for the time the axle on the trailer broke...). What I've learned: 1-Fools can tow anything with anything at least once. 2-The tongue weight of the trailer must be around 10-12% of boat & trailer weight (loaded!) 3-Frontal area of the boat matters. 4-Short wheelbase tow vehicles are tools of the devil (old Ford broncos are VERY BAD) 5-A 4x4 short wheelbase vehicle is still not a good tow vehicle. 6-What the manufacturer rates the tow vehicle for is FAR more valid then what the salesman, the guy at the tow-hitch place or your "buddy who knows about this stuff" says. 7- Having a V8 engine & stiff shocks does not automaticaly mean your vehicle is a good tow vehicle. 8- Long wheelbase vehicles, all things equal, are the only way to go. 9-Launching & retriving a sailboat requires planning, time & patience. 10- Most launch-ramp problems are due to backing the vehicle down too far, not shifting into low, not using a VERY light touch on the throttle and trying to do everything too quickly. It can be done with far less than the optimal gear, but it's important to know what really matters. A great book from 1991 "Boat Trailers and Tow Vehicles: A User's Guide" by Steve Henkel (see amazon link below) has a tremendous amount of info. While some of it is dated, the basic ideas are timeless. Happy Towing!
K
Kevin
Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 w/Tow Package
I bought a new H260 last August and a new Jeep last April. Moving from an Audi to a tow vehicle I wanted something small but with power. The Jeep has plenty of power especially to climb some big hills in NW NJ. It is rated to tow 6500lbs. The Jeep has a very short wheelbase and begins to wiggle when approaching 60mph on the highway. Sailboats shouldn't go that fast anyway.
I bought a new H260 last August and a new Jeep last April. Moving from an Audi to a tow vehicle I wanted something small but with power. The Jeep has plenty of power especially to climb some big hills in NW NJ. It is rated to tow 6500lbs. The Jeep has a very short wheelbase and begins to wiggle when approaching 60mph on the highway. Sailboats shouldn't go that fast anyway.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.