I just pulled my 1992 26s 1,400 miles from Tuscaloosa to near Clearwater, FL and had a great time sailing in the Gulf and bays. My old 1991 Dodge Caravan with 205,000 miles is getting tired, what kind of vehicles are you using? I would like to get the most economical that I can.
Vehicle for pulling a 26s
- Thread starter Jansen
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While I can't say for sure about your gvw for the 26s boat/w trailer, I'd guess your swing keel is not much heavier than my Venture's(21). An uninformed guess would put your rig a couple of pounds(100-200?) heavier than mine(longer hull; longer mast; bigger trailer). I have a late'90's Chev Venture(how coincidental) that I use for towing my Venture 21. This model gets 18mpg while towing and on a couple hundred miles on it's own clocked in at22.5 mpg. Unless your caravan(I had one for a while too) has a Hemi, the power rating may be similar to my chevy. No, I'm not selling it - just putting in a good word about the Chevy minivans. I'm sure others will chime in for a heftier vehicle, and I look forward to seeing the results as my eventual plan includes a 26s a few years down the road....:stirthepot:
Jansen,
Figure your total towing weight at 33 to 3500 lbs depending on how much you put on board. Before I get flamed for saying 3500 lbs, I know people who use the boat as a trailer when on vacation.
The real issues to deal with are the ramps you plan to use (hall out with ballest full) and the roads you plan to travel. Generally, the 26C, S, and D can be towed with 6-cyl vehicles almost anywhere. Ours was being towed by a 4-cyl chevy PU by the previous owner in Clearwater, FL. He was within 2-miles of a long, not steep ramp. From memory in a past life, towing weight ratings are listed at a 15% grade as required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission. Less hills/mountains = less engine required.
Figure your total towing weight at 33 to 3500 lbs depending on how much you put on board. Before I get flamed for saying 3500 lbs, I know people who use the boat as a trailer when on vacation.
The real issues to deal with are the ramps you plan to use (hall out with ballest full) and the roads you plan to travel. Generally, the 26C, S, and D can be towed with 6-cyl vehicles almost anywhere. Ours was being towed by a 4-cyl chevy PU by the previous owner in Clearwater, FL. He was within 2-miles of a long, not steep ramp. From memory in a past life, towing weight ratings are listed at a 15% grade as required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission. Less hills/mountains = less engine required.
tow vehicle
I tow with a Pathfinder, not as economical as a mini van but better than some other choices. You should weigh your boat and trailer to see how much you are hauling. Then look at the tow weight rating for any vehicle you are considering. Insurance companies will look at this if you are ever in an accident while towing. The tow vehicle should be significantly heavier than the trailer. The RV industry recommend a 110" wheelbase on the tow vehicle for a 24 ft trailer plus 4" more for each additional foot. The other big consideration is how far you will tow, how flat is the route, how often will you do it. If you will be towing long distances through mountains in any weather you need a much more substantial tow vehicle.
good luck, Bob
I tow with a Pathfinder, not as economical as a mini van but better than some other choices. You should weigh your boat and trailer to see how much you are hauling. Then look at the tow weight rating for any vehicle you are considering. Insurance companies will look at this if you are ever in an accident while towing. The tow vehicle should be significantly heavier than the trailer. The RV industry recommend a 110" wheelbase on the tow vehicle for a 24 ft trailer plus 4" more for each additional foot. The other big consideration is how far you will tow, how flat is the route, how often will you do it. If you will be towing long distances through mountains in any weather you need a much more substantial tow vehicle.
good luck, Bob
Terry,
Sailed last week from our rental house on the end of Klosterman in Palm Harbor. Put in at a ramp at Crystal Beach. Wonder where your PO launched with a 4cyl? I have sailed with Jim Davis and he mentioned you as a good resource. Jim is really good at restoring and maintaining his boats, we race together in Mutineers.
Sailed last week from our rental house on the end of Klosterman in Palm Harbor. Put in at a ramp at Crystal Beach. Wonder where your PO launched with a 4cyl? I have sailed with Jim Davis and he mentioned you as a good resource. Jim is really good at restoring and maintaining his boats, we race together in Mutineers.
Here's my $.02. When you get right down to it, how much towing do you really do? If it's not often and you need to replace your daily driver, I would get a car that fits your every day needs and beg, borrow or steal aka rent a truck on those rare towing occasions.
For myself, we always have 3 vehicles to eliminate downtime. Whether it's so we don't miss work and/or so I don't feel pressured to get soaked by a repair shop. I have a Seville STS that my wife loves and a Ford Escort wagon daily driver for myself that we will use to haul stuff to the lake. My 4.0 Aerostar does the seasonal towing in and out of the lake. The Aero is a marginal commuter at 16MPG and a marginal tow vehicle. It is going to be replaced by a stronger truck someday to fit its role in our family.
In other words, it's about managing your needs from a priority standpoint. Does this help?
For myself, we always have 3 vehicles to eliminate downtime. Whether it's so we don't miss work and/or so I don't feel pressured to get soaked by a repair shop. I have a Seville STS that my wife loves and a Ford Escort wagon daily driver for myself that we will use to haul stuff to the lake. My 4.0 Aerostar does the seasonal towing in and out of the lake. The Aero is a marginal commuter at 16MPG and a marginal tow vehicle. It is going to be replaced by a stronger truck someday to fit its role in our family.
In other words, it's about managing your needs from a priority standpoint. Does this help?
tiny tow truck
In 1989 I towed my 1988 26d to Fla from New Orleans. I was the end of a line of 13 Mac. This was the Venture Club of NO. I never made the speed limit, but I did make it to the water. The two truck was a 1980 VW Rabbit pick up truck with 49 hp engine.
I now tow with my 1999 GMC 1500 Sierra which has 220,000 miles on it. Slow going when we go to Dillon (other side of Continental Divide).
In 1989 I towed my 1988 26d to Fla from New Orleans. I was the end of a line of 13 Mac. This was the Venture Club of NO. I never made the speed limit, but I did make it to the water. The two truck was a 1980 VW Rabbit pick up truck with 49 hp engine.
I now tow with my 1999 GMC 1500 Sierra which has 220,000 miles on it. Slow going when we go to Dillon (other side of Continental Divide).
For the average tow duty a 6 cylinder is fine as long as it is rated a Class 3 tow rating which is 3500-5000 lbs. A long wheel base helps to prevent the tail from wagging the dog. There are a good selection of light trucks and SUVs that qualify in this range but you will find that they are slightly heavier built to qualify as class 3 rating. I would get something built for the job rather than something you can get by with, you never know what kind of situation you could find yourself in.
quote=Jansen; "Is your Pathfinder a 4x4?"
Yes it is a 4x4, I live in Canada that is the only model they sell up here. It is rated to tow up to 5500 lbs. I weighed my boat and I have 350 lbs on the ball, 3800 lbs on the axle. I had to add another axle this summer because of uneven tire wear due to flex in the original MacGregor 3200lb axle. The Pathfinder tows the boat effortlessly. I towed it to Florida last January in a blinding snow storm through New York State with no problems. If I had not had four-wheel drive I would have had to stop for a couple of days to let the front pass through. As it was I was able to drive through it in about 4 hours and continued on in the rain to the North Carolina state line the first day and had the boat in the water in Florida the next day. I did wait a week at home for a weather window and then got caught in the bad weather on the way down. I am thinking about a new vehicle and will probably buy a 4x4 pickup truck with a 7000 lb rating as I would like to eventually buy a heavier sailboat. As the others are saying the vehicle choice is based on the amount and type of towing you do and what other jobs it must perform.
Bob
Yes it is a 4x4, I live in Canada that is the only model they sell up here. It is rated to tow up to 5500 lbs. I weighed my boat and I have 350 lbs on the ball, 3800 lbs on the axle. I had to add another axle this summer because of uneven tire wear due to flex in the original MacGregor 3200lb axle. The Pathfinder tows the boat effortlessly. I towed it to Florida last January in a blinding snow storm through New York State with no problems. If I had not had four-wheel drive I would have had to stop for a couple of days to let the front pass through. As it was I was able to drive through it in about 4 hours and continued on in the rain to the North Carolina state line the first day and had the boat in the water in Florida the next day. I did wait a week at home for a weather window and then got caught in the bad weather on the way down. I am thinking about a new vehicle and will probably buy a 4x4 pickup truck with a 7000 lb rating as I would like to eventually buy a heavier sailboat. As the others are saying the vehicle choice is based on the amount and type of towing you do and what other jobs it must perform.
Bob
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My 2 cents
I've towed my 26s with a Nissan Maxima(6 cyl) and a Volvo station wagon(5 cyl) on the highway just fine. But they are both front wheel drive and the front wheels spun when pulling it out of the water on my steep ramp. I now have a Honda Pilot with awd and it has no problem at the ramp.
I've towed my 26s with a Nissan Maxima(6 cyl) and a Volvo station wagon(5 cyl) on the highway just fine. But they are both front wheel drive and the front wheels spun when pulling it out of the water on my steep ramp. I now have a Honda Pilot with awd and it has no problem at the ramp.
Re: tiny tow truck
I have a 1991 VW Eco Diesel 69hp but can't see it pulling my 26s. I guess it would on the level and have someone else pull it out. Did you launch and pull out with it too?
I have a 1991 VW Eco Diesel 69hp but can't see it pulling my 26s. I guess it would on the level and have someone else pull it out. Did you launch and pull out with it too?
I pulled my 1980 mac 25 with a tacoma 4x4 v6. It felt a little small. Plenty of power 4 low on the ramp. Stopping was my concern. I had another kid and needed a bigger truck. So I got a tundra 4x4. Only pulled it once short distance felt better stopping. Are you guys all running brakes on your trailer?
Yes to brakes. The original Mac trailer has surge brakes which I had to replace the wheel cylinders and shoes and even some brake lines and they work good now. Before the brakes were fixed the boat would push the van up in the back, you could feel the pushing effect, now the boat and van stop as one, nice and feel safe.
tow vehicle
two excellent vehicles that are VERY AFFORDABLE.. and have additional uses plus decent mpg..
Chevy astro. real wheel drive van, 4.3 v-6. I have one and it tows the 26 s just fine. you can buy a nice one with 90k for 3500$
A 4dr dakota, 4.7 v8. Wish I had one of these.. decent mpg. you can buy one for about 4500 in good shape.
Both are available in 4wd/awd.
both are heavy duty enough to do the job.
earl
two excellent vehicles that are VERY AFFORDABLE.. and have additional uses plus decent mpg..
Chevy astro. real wheel drive van, 4.3 v-6. I have one and it tows the 26 s just fine. you can buy a nice one with 90k for 3500$
A 4dr dakota, 4.7 v8. Wish I had one of these.. decent mpg. you can buy one for about 4500 in good shape.
Both are available in 4wd/awd.
both are heavy duty enough to do the job.
earl
Re: tow vehicle
Almost got a 2003 Astro AWD but sold before I got there. Looking at a 1997 Explorer 4.0 AWD, what do you think?
Almost got a 2003 Astro AWD but sold before I got there. Looking at a 1997 Explorer 4.0 AWD, what do you think?
tow vehicle..
IMHO, any medium suv or truck will pull one just fine.
Personally, Id not use a mini van or a mini truck like an s10.
6 cyl Jeep cherokees would pull one, IMHO and they are DIRT CHEAP..
Ive pulled mine a little bit with a 92 v-6 5spd 2wd dakota.. Pulls it sort of OK, but the dang thing never had GREAT brakes...
Im not a huge fan of antilock brakes.. but feel they are good for a tow vehicle.
My 99 2wd Astro does Just fine. I did add a transmission cooler as Insurance.
earl
IMHO, any medium suv or truck will pull one just fine.
Personally, Id not use a mini van or a mini truck like an s10.
6 cyl Jeep cherokees would pull one, IMHO and they are DIRT CHEAP..
Ive pulled mine a little bit with a 92 v-6 5spd 2wd dakota.. Pulls it sort of OK, but the dang thing never had GREAT brakes...
Im not a huge fan of antilock brakes.. but feel they are good for a tow vehicle.
My 99 2wd Astro does Just fine. I did add a transmission cooler as Insurance.
earl
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