It can pull........can it launch a boat?

Hi all---I've replaced my 2009 Tacoma with a 2017 so that it'll pull my new boat. The 2017 Tacoma will pull 6500 pounds, I believe, maybe 6800 pounds (I've read both). I bought my boat last weekend in Austin, TX. The boat is 4000 pounds and i figure the tandom trailer at 1500 pounds so I'm pulling about 5500 pounds with no fuel in the boat. It pulled the boat pretty well at 60-70 mph EXCEPT for one hill coming out of Austin. I was at a speed of about 40 mph, in two wheel drive, and it almost didn't make it up a steep, but small, hill. So I put it in 4 wheel drive to get out of the hilly lake region around Austin and it did well.

I got home, 200 miles away, and a guy looked at the rig and said 'is that boat gonna pull your truck into the water when you launch your boat?' Frankly, I don't know and I don't want to find out the hard way. Advice?

 

4wheel low on the ramp..?

Sounds like you need a full size pickup.

 

Electric Brakes present on the boat trailer?

 

I don't think you should be driving in four wheel drive on pavement like you did around Austin.

 

Didn't make it up because it was spinning, or because of a lack of power? Because I'd be surprised if it was a power issue, but 4x4 wouldn't have helped with that anyway.

On a boat ramp, tough to tell. Your truck should have plenty of grunt to do it, especially if you dropped it to low range. But if you're experiencing traction issues that's a horse of a different color.

 

Dude...

I can tell you I would not feel safe stopping that load let alone launching/pulling out. I tow a 19ft bass boat with mine (4000lbs w/trailer) and I can say that I would not be comfortable pulling anymore. Buy a full size if you want to tow this much.

 

Gee, that answers nothing..
Boggled much?

 

Welcome to TW.

The ramps around lake Travis can be steep and slippery. You need good brakes on the trailer, and perhaps an experienced person to guide you on launching boats if you arent comfortable doing so. The truck can launch a boat just fine. Towing a boat on the highway, eh, Id recommend going to a full size.

The part about switching to 4WD to climb a hill is going to concern a lot of people. 4WD is for gaining traction, which is different than gaining hill climbing ability. If you are on dry pavement, you are actually better off without it. With that much weight, if you keep the tacoma, tow it in S4 and ECT on. and realize that its going to struggle in the hills, so take it slow.

Good luck.

 

Gotcha, my bad.

 

Not sure why you put it in 4 low, use s4 and the skinny pedal.
Use your ebrake on the boat ramp.
I'd also want trailer brakes on something that heavy.

I tow a smaller boat but have had no issues when loaded down with gear for duck season.

 

I follow a rule of halfs or close. Truck rated to pull 6800? Then 3400 should be the target. Your truck will do it but it will not be happy and I doubt you will be too.

Here's a question: You have rode elevators correct? Ever notice the capacity? You want to ride with that many people? Just because it's rated for it does not mean that is what you use as a guide.

I predict you will be muttering "lesson learned" in a few months when you have a new full size truck or a smaller boat. Good luck though.

 

I see SUVs and mid-size trucks at boat ramps often launching boats that are much larger than their vehicles. I'll be honest, the people there, me included, shake our heads and watch in horror and wonder if the person launching is the next YouTube boat launch failure star. Fortunately, I've yet to witness the vehicle being pulled in mishap.

With that said, I'd never do it but I've seen many get away with it. I do wager though that it is just a matter of time, ramp angle and conditions that I will see that mishap.

You may know this but it's worth repeating. When launching, always check your ramp conditions. Always put your vehicle in 4wd and if you have axle lock, put that on as well. Always go slow, always put that e-brake on and turn off the vehicle before you open that door. Oh, forgot to mention, chock your vehicle too with a size / weight difference like you have.

 

Thanks everyone.......as for towing, yies, I tow it in S4 and ECT on. and realize that its going to struggle in the hills, so I do take it slow.

I've heard here it should be able to launch the boat and pull it out of the water given good traction, but I've also heard best not to do so. In the end, it's always the drivers decision...right? thanks all.

 

Don't ever do that again. #1, putting it in 4X4 hi doesn't give you anymore power. Lo range will reduce the gearing by about 2.5X which will substantially improve torque, but is only useful at very slow speeds. Usually closer to 3-5 mph. You can use 4lo to get the boat out of the water.

#2 operating in 4X4 on dry pavement will break expensive parts. You can get away with it for short distances as long as you are traveling in a staight line. By short distance I'm talking about 10-15'. Getting a boat up a slick boat ramp is fine as is snow covered roads. Other than that 4X4 is for off road use only, and even then should not be used on dry hard dirt, only something like gravel, loose dirt, mud or sand.

As to towing, realistically these trucks are best with 4500-5000 lb max weight on a trailer. You can tow more, and I would for occasional towing for short distances. But not as a normal practice. This isn't just a Tacoma issue. Even 3/4 ton trucks can only tow the max amount they are rated for under perfect conditions, and only when there is nothing else in the truck but a 150 lb driver.

Personally I think you have too much boat for your Tacoma. The real issue is the limited payload on the truck. Once you get fuel and other gear in the boat you're going to be well over 6000 lbs. That along with the required weight distribution hitch is going to put 900-1000 lbs on your truck. That would only leave you about 200-300 lbs for yourself, passengers, and other gear in the truck.

 

Just cause on paper it says it will pull it, don't mean it will do it well. You need more truck to pull that boat comfortably. I know others will disagree, but your really asking a lot of a midsize truck when you get north of 4000lbs.

 

I launched a 25' 7K# boat/trailer all over Austin with a '90s Dakota. You won't lose your truck.

Stopping fast is your biggest Achilles Heel.

 

You get your back tires in the water on that very slippery slim at most boat launches .

 

Tow ratings in the US are pretty conservative, I don't think you're overloading the truck. You might need 4lo to get up the boat ramp though.

 

Let's have a peek at that new boat.

 

I have no trouble towing and launching my 20’ boat.

The rig gets lighter as the trailer enters the water because the boat starts to float.