Conference vicki::boats

    	The Jun 87 issue of boating had what they consider their ideal
   towing rig. The boat was a Slickercraft 225 SC, the trailer was an
   Eagle C22 tandem axle, and the tow vehicle was a Chevy S-10 Blazer
   with a V6. The boat weighed 3200 lbs. (add another 500 lbs. for fuel)
   and the trailer 840 lbs..
    
    	A comment made was that the Chevy had adequeate power for this
    rig but any more weight and you should go to a V8.
    
    Hope this helps.................RAYJ

    re.0
    
    I used to have a 1980 242 DL, I used to pull a 15' bass boat with.
    I don't know what the total weight was of the boat, motor and trailer.
    The Volvo pulled it rather well, but you could definately feel
    the boat behind you. The boat I had isn't even close the the weight
    of a 21 footer, If you plan on doing a lot of towing that size boat
    I would suggest another tow vehicle. Also rear wheel drive car can
    be fun pulling the boat out of the water on a unpaved ramp, I know
    this from experience!
    
                                            Jeff
    

    re .0	I *HAD* a '74 Volvo 145.  I didn't have a boat at the
    time, but did pull a utility trailer with up to ~3,000 lbs in it
    from time to time.  Note, NO RAMPS !  I'd guess your traier to be
    ~800 - 900 lbs.
    
    	I now have a Suburban and a ~2,000 lb boat and trailer, which
    goes to > 3,000 lbs with all the vacation stuff loaded in it, no
    problem of course.   I s'pose we could work out a loan n' swap deal
    sometime, you get to use the 'burb for vacation while I use your
    Volvo to commute in, then I get to use the checkmate for my vacation
    while you use my little 17 ft runabout ?, such a deal:-^)

    	Reg
    

    
    RE: .1
    
    	An S10 Blazer towing over 4000 lbs? Weren't S10s rated 2000?
    Has that been increased with the 4.3l?
    
    Rick

    
    I have a 1988 Volvo 240 GL wagon. I think it's towing capacity is
    somewhere around 3000#. I talked to the dealer about towing a 2100#
    boat, motor and trailer and they said with a transmission cooler
    and possibly an oil cooler (?) it could easily be done. They did
    express concern about the car being so low to the ground. As far
    as pulling the boat out of the water on a non-paved ramp....I can't
    see where you would have a problem. I now tow with a rear wheel
    drive Aerostar van and have not experienced problems out of the
    hole.
    However, I am not saying that these two vehicles are better tow
    vehicles than a Blazer or Bronco....I would mush rather tow out
    of the hole with a four wheel drive. 
    Also....you may need air shocks for the Volvo....$$$$$$
                                                  Jim

    I just liquidated my '84 DL wagon. I towed my 19' 4 Winns I/O with
    it last year, no problem. I figured the entire rig to be around
    3300#. I ran it with 170# tongue weight. That's just like adding
    a passenger to the rear seat weight-wise, so I didn't think the
    car was overloaded, needing air shocks at all. I did add a large
    auto-tranny cooler and towed this bout 50 miles at highway speeds.
    The only pitfall was instability of the trailer; at 60MPH, it would
    begin oscillating from side to side. Now, I think that's the trailer's
    fault, because the exact same thing happens when towing the same
    boat behind my full sized Blazer :^(
    The '84 Volvo's Owners Manual stated that the max tow load was 3500#
    and 200# tongue weight. I used the factory class 3 reciever hitch.
    the engine was definitely bogged, but as long as you're patient,
    you'll get it there. Also, shift the tranny manually, by starting
    in "1", get it up to 20-25 MPH, let off the gas, shift to "2",
    accelerate, keep it in "2" 'till you hit 40-45 MPH, then shift to
    "3" and LEAVE IT THERE! Don't use overdrive! The Volvo's 4 wheel
    disk brakes are really quite handy in stopping a brake-less trailer.
    If you back down a fairly steep ramp, with that size boat, you don't
    want to do a panic-stop! My Volvo tended to skid the front wheels
    when backing down and trying to stop abruptly. Just push down harder,
    and the rear wheels will get you stopped, when backing down. 
    Never had any problem with traction coming up the ramp with the
    boat on the trailer, either. 
    To answer your question, though, I DID get rid of the Volvo, in
    order to have a better-suited tow vehicle, the Blazer, but the Volvo
    *can* get you by, depending on how far and how often you tow. (and
    the local terrain contour configuration too!) Now that I've got
    a good tow rig, I decide to rent a slip! ;^)
    
    Oh well.
    Mike

    re:4
    
    	The Blazer was a 2.8L V6. The section of the magazine indicating
    tow weight said as follows:
    
    	Note the ratings are valid only with specified optional equiptment.
    On our test 4-wheel drive S-10 Blazer, the max 4,000-lb. rating requires
    the V-6 engine, automatic transmission (with overdrive locked out
    while towing), power steering, heavier-duty transmission oil cooler,
    and a weight-distibuting hitch. Select the 2-wheel-drive version,
    add an engine oil cooler, and the rating jumps to 5,000 lbs.
    
    	Reprinted without permission from Boating Magazine.
    
    RAYJ
    

    AL
    
    According to Trailer Boats, the May issue, they have a article with
    10 years of tow vehicle ratings. For the Volvo they said, "All
    vehicles, tow ratings are 3300lbs. Volvo hitches recommended for
    all trailers over 2000lbs."
    
    The new S15 Jimmy (1988 1/2) with 4.3L V-6 is rated for 5500lbs.
    The Jimmy did not disappoint the author, he said that the engine
    had plenty of torque, or pulling power. 
    
    Also see the May issue of Trailer Boats.
    
    	GMC S-15 Jimmy
    
    Price		 $16,189
    Engine     		 4.3/ohv V-6
    Net torque @ rpm	 230 @ 2800
    Net horsepower @ rpm 160 @ 4000
    Transmission	 4-speed automatic
    Axle ratio		 3.42:1
    Tow rating		 5500 lbs
    Hitch		 Eaz-Lif  (class III * weight distributing)
    
    Towing optins	3.42:1 axle ratio
    			heavy-duty cooling, heavy-duty battery
    
    Trailer		Tandem-axle
    
    Test Results
    
    Boat tested with was a Four Winns Horizon 210
    Trailer/boat weight		4000 lbs
    Tongue weight		 450lbs
    
    0-55 mph 		17.3 sec
    40-60 mph           16.9 sec
    
    EPA City		17 mpg
    EPA Highway		23 mpg
    
    Overall fuel economy
    
    Non-towing		18-25 mpg
    towing		12-14 mpg
    
    Launch Ramp Test Rating
    
    2-WD	GOOD
    4-WD	EXCELLENT
    
    This information is in Trailer Boats June issue on page 70. 
    
    This information was entered into the file with out permission.
    
    
    Mike

    
    re. 6
    
    The instability you are experiencing is due to low tongue weight,
    it should be 10% of the trailer weight.

Al,

        I've got a similar weight situation, ie- boat + trailer
    comes to +- 2700 lbs..  I've been shopping for a new vehicle
    with the towing requirements in mind.  I decided not to touch
    anything less than a V8.  Yes, smaller vehicles/engines (like
    the S10 Blazer and/or the Bronco II) had "adequate" pulling     
    power but, the strain of towing at or near the vehicles capacity 
    will mean quick wear and mucho $$$ in maintenance and repairs in 
    the near future.  

        I'd think twice about going for it with the Volvo (especially
    if you're working with a manual transmission).  Good luck.


                           - Dean -


    P.S.  I went with a full size BRONCO, 302 V8.  Should be here in
          early July.

    
    
    re: .8
    
>     0-55 mph 		 17.3 sec
>    40-60 mph           16.9 sec

    	Is this a typo?

    
    	No typo, on my part, that is what was published in the article.
    
    	Mike
    

      Looks like quite a few of us are in the same "boat".No pun intended.
    I bought a 17' Sea Ray I/O ,weight about 1650 ,with the trailer
    talking about 2500 lbs. I tried pulling it up to Otis Res with my
    86 Voyager, 2.6 ,4cyl. and I won't be doing that again! Well, time
    to look for a better vehicle so I priced the S10 Blazer...about
    18k with similar options I have now. Wow. I should have bought a
    canoe. Anyway , does anyone have any info around the Grande Voyager
    with the V6 3.0 in it? I understand the factory tow package is another
    750 bucks. If this will do it, I can get a pretty good deal from
    a friend on an '89. 
                                                             Bob

RE: 48.13  An S10 Blazer for $18K


        I think you might want to do some research on that price.  The
    DCU can provide you with information on actual dealer cost for the
    base vehicle and all options (ask to see the Kelly Blue Book).  Get 
    this info and go to the dealer and I'll bet you see that price drop 
    10% - 15% or more.

        I took this route and got myself a full size Ford Bronco, fully
    loaded with V8, towing package, power everything, A/C, ... this,
    that and a few other things.  Sticker price came to $21K+.  I'm not
    paying much over $18K.

    	It sounds as if it would be cheaper just to buy another 2nd
    hand vehicle. I bought a 82 Chevy Caprice Estate wagon with a 305
    V8 and heavy duty suspension. It even came with a hitch already
    on it and I got it for $2500+ a junker trade in. This would probably
    tow a boat that size very nicely. I have since seen a similar wagon 
    (not sure of the year) in what seemed to be decent condition with no 
    rust for $1295 at the Ford dealer across the street from the Mall of 
    N.H.. Might be worth looking into.
    
    RAYJ

	Has anyone trailered a boat with a Ford Taurus Wagon (3.0L V6)? The
trailer/boat load is ~2K lbs. The Taurus doesn't have a trailering package.
Are aftermarket transmission/oil coolers available for installation & can you
add them yourselves?

	All comments are appreciated.

Thanks!
Bruce

Your best bet would be to call a ford dealer. Typically there not meant

to tow. But i know myself, when i trailered, i did some things most people

would advise against.  I would guess its the frewuency you intend.

If its back and forth once a yr. Why not, if its every week-end or more,

i would think the wear factor might apply here.


I'm also sure we have some trailering experts in here and they will advise.

JIm

    RE:-1
    
    I tow my ~2K lbs 19' Sea Nymph with a Pontiac Grand Prix SE (3.2 V6)
                    
    About 10 fishing trips last year 80 to 110 mile trips....one way ;-)
    
    No additional tow package put on cept tow hitch...works fine...so far. 
    
    But preparing for Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 this spring $$$ permitting 8-0
    
    -< Tuna Tail >-