I''ve towed a M17 with a Chevy S10, GMC 3/4 Ton Suburban and now a Toyota Tundra. S10 (or Ford Ranger) has the ooomph to get it going and keep it up to speed, but getting it stopped in a panic situation would be a different manner. If you go that route, make sure you have trailer brakes. With vehicles this light, the boat has enough weight to push the truck around if you are having to rely on the truck brakes and tire friction. A Dakota is a step up and probably adequate. A 1/2 ton pickup or one of the bigger SUV types is probably better. 3/4 Ton anything is overkill (you are now into M23 territory). The 2006 Tundra is more than enough, and I suspect the Tacoma would be too as it is now about the same size as the earlier model Tundra. Leaving a 50 pound motor on the stern is a good way to cause some damage. That is a lot of weight with some leverage to it, and bouncing around as they do is a good way to crack stuff. Don't know about the newer models, but on the older boats, with transom cutout, you have transom sandwich consisting of the hull, a plywood backing plate (which stops around the level of the cockpit sole, and the cockpit liner. Right where the plywood stops is a fulcrum point for a heavy weight hanging above and flexing the hull. I'd say don't do it. I had a special bracket welded to my trailer (along with front mast support arm) to hand the motor on. Howard On Jul 25, 2009, at 7:34 PM, Bill Wickett wrote:
We are looking at an M17 and thinking about tow vehicles.
Any M-boat owners tow an M17 with a Ford Ranger or Dodge Dakota?
Ranger with a 4 liter engine is rated at 4000 lbs tow capacity. Dakota is not as clearly defined in the manuals, but says it is up to 7,000 with correct equipment. I think that would be the 4.7L V-8 and tow package. I see that the Dakota has an overdrive override for towing hauling.
I think the Ranger might be a bit narrow, but have not compared the width of the 2 vehicles. Need to do a bit of on-line research. I think the M17 on the Pacific trailer is probably 7' 6".
The mission would be for towing 1 hour from home to launch and return, with two to four longer trips each summer of 3-6 hours distance. 6 hours would get us to the North Channel of Lake Huron.
Any experiences you have to share would be appreciated.
One last question, does anyone trailer with the O/B mounted on the boat (adjustable bracket) or do you stow the motor in your vehicle? Stowing in the rear of an SUV does not seem all that safe to me, unless it is strapped down. That is why we are looking at the pickup option.
Thanks much to all.
Bill Wickett, Ontario _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
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