Chad and all you others: A belated thanks for all your useful comments on tow vehicles. My conclusion is that anything that can pull a boat from the water and amble up the hills can pull an M17, provided the trailer has surge brakes for descending grades and making emergency stops. Honestly, for fuel economy and shear manliness, you can't beat a 3/4 ton Dodge Ram Diesel 4x4, that can't even feel a boat at its rear. Unfortunately, they won't fit in a normal garage, and they look fuelish to the unknowing. Tom Jenkins M17 Scintilla -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chad Parrish Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 10:29 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: towing Hi Tom. We have been towing our M17 with a 4 cylinder jeep wrangler. I wouldn't recommend it unless your trailer has trailer brakes because of the short wheelbase on the jeep but it has done reasonably well. We have been shopping for a new tow vehicle and plan on buying a jeep cherokee. There are a bunch of these around and used ones sell for pretty cheap at least here in the midwest. They have 4 wheel drive and are available in either a 4 cylinder or a 6 cylinder and expect 18-22 mpg. Thats at least our plan anyway. --Chad On Nov 17, 2007, at 12:19 PM, Tom Jenkins wrote:

While the subject of towing is fresh in people’s minds, I weighed my M17 with full electrical package, Pacific trailer, 5 HP Honda with full fuel tank, sails, running rigging, etc., and it came out at 2950 pounds. Filled with reasonable personal gear for a boat this size, I would guess less than 3500 tow weight. My question: what is the lightest and most fuel efficient vehicle (with 3500 lb or better tow rating) that would pull an M17 without white knuckles and serious slowing on hills? I am using my ¾ ton 4x4 truck at present, but it is vast overkill, and a real gas guzzler.

Thanks,

Tom Jenkins

M17 Scintilla

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My '06 Tundra gets about 18 on highway but more like 13 while towing the Monty 17... but here's the deal... i have no idea what it would get at speed limit as my foot tends to ignore the speed limit and the Tundra is so damned quiet i don't even know i am doing 70ish...(80ish when not towing).When we make the trip to Havasu in Feb i will try and keep it at 60ish as gas will surely be going at $4/gal by then!!!!!!! William Larson <deuce3window@sbcglobal.net> wrote: Hi Tom: Our M17's are identically equipped including the Honda motor. My wife and I were up your way in August as you may recall. Our '06 GMC Sierra with the 4.8L V-8 and 3.42 rear end ratio works very well. It routinely gets 20+ MPG solo and 16-18 MPG towing our 17. If one drives a Prius, they would possibly consider it a guzzler. However, to feel safe and forget your M17 is back there, I think it's just fine. Hope you can make it down our way sometime. Later, Bill Larson M17 #632 "JoEllen" Tom Jenkins wrote: While the subject of towing is fresh in people’s minds, I weighed my M17 with full electrical package, Pacific trailer, 5 HP Honda with full fuel tank, sails, running rigging, etc., and it came out at 2950 pounds. Filled with reasonable personal gear for a boat this size, I would guess less than 3500 tow weight. My question: what is the lightest and most fuel efficient vehicle (with 3500 lb or better tow rating) that would pull an M17 without white knuckles and serious slowing on hills? I am using my ¾ ton 4x4 truck at present, but it is vast overkill, and a real gas guzzler. Thanks, Tom Jenkins M17 Scintilla _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats

Hi Tom: Well, it's actually a 1500 Crew Cab, (four doors) 4x2. The reasonably good mileage is due to the higher, (numerical lower) differential ratio of 3.42. It is also a "smaller" V-8 at 4.8L, close in size to most V-6's offered. This is my first truck that handles and rides more like a car and as mentioned before, handles the M17 like a dream. Sunny warm days await to enjoy sailing in SoCal. Later, Bill Larson M17 #632 Tom Jenkins <tjenk@gte.net> wrote: Bill, Of course I remember your visit last summer; not every day one sees a beautiful Montgomery at Crowley Lake. Incidently, Diamond Lake is still on my agenda, and poking south from San Diego would be great. I am not surprised that a full size GMC with a V8 is an adequate tow vehicle, but I am surprised that your mileage is as good as a V6 Tacoma. Do you have a 4x4 or the lighter 4x2? Tom Jenkins Scintilla M17 -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of William Larson Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 4:09 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: towing Hi Tom: Our M17's are identically equipped including the Honda motor. My wife and I were up your way in August as you may recall. Our '06 GMC Sierra with the 4.8L V-8 and 3.42 rear end ratio works very well. It routinely gets 20+ MPG solo and 16-18 MPG towing our 17. If one drives a Prius, they would possibly consider it a guzzler. However, to feel safe and forget your M17 is back there, I think it's just fine. Hope you can make it down our way sometime. Later, Bill Larson M17 #632 "JoEllen" Tom Jenkins wrote: While the subject of towing is fresh in people’s minds, I weighed my M17 with full electrical package, Pacific trailer, 5 HP Honda with full fuel tank, sails, running rigging, etc., and it came out at 2950 pounds. Filled with reasonable personal gear for a boat this size, I would guess less than 3500 tow weight. My question: what is the lightest and most fuel efficient vehicle (with 3500 lb or better tow rating) that would pull an M17 without white knuckles and serious slowing on hills? I am using my ¾ ton 4x4 truck at present, but it is vast overkill, and a real gas guzzler. Thanks, Tom Jenkins M17 Scintilla _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats