Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

I am thinking of buying a 20' potter built and want to make sure that the 5000LBS is enough? The specs on this forum says 1600 LBS for a 20'. After adding 1500LBS motor, gas, ice and gear I will be looking at 3100LBS. Since this would be my first boat, I'm not sure if this is realistic.

Any feedback would be great.

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

I see people pulling 27 ft boats down I-95 with
Jeep CJ7's! :eek:
Pulling is one thing. Stopping is another.
Personally, 1/2 ton minimun for safely pulling a 20 SF.
Capt. Chuck pulled his 23 SF with a full size Bronco,
but had the death grip on the wheel while under way.

See ya, Ken

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

You'll be fine if the Toy is a five speed and your trailer is a single axle or aluminum. But if its an automatic and a steel tandem trailer, you'll be beating up your transmission. I use a T100 to pull my 20' Seafari and I feel it more than I care to. Keep in mind if your hitch is rated for 5K lbs, you should limit yourself to 4K lbs. Don't forget to add the trailer weight if its not already in the 1500 lbs figure...

No Bones' point about stopping is the biggest concern.

Great first boat choice! go get it and worry about pulling it later :D

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

I pull my 74' 20 with my 01' Tacoma Prerunner 2.7L I4 (3500lb tow rating) and I have no trouble around town. Not a very "hilly" city, and I don't break any land speed records but gets up and down the ramp with no issues. Overdrive off and take it easy and haven't had a problem.

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

I pulled my 20' Seafari with a 2004 V6 Tacoma Pre-Runner and it performed beautifully, good acceleration, good stopping (no brakes on trailer) and OK economy. I always towed in TOW and had a heavy hitch (class 3 or 4, can't remember) from U-Haul.

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

I used to pull my Seafari with a '95 4Runner 3.0 V6, no problem. I pulled it to the Keys and back several times, a round trip of 994 miles each time.

However, I agree that pulling it isn't the problem, stopping it is. Make sure you've got working brakes on your trailer whenever the tow is more than 50% of the tractoring vehicle's weight.

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

I tow my 20ma with a 2002 Xterra V6. I generally tow for about an hour each way and have taken the rig 800+ miles to fish in NC.

I have no problems with it.

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

Yes it would be enough. I would pull my 23' with a '99 Tacoma Prerunner 2wd. Would pull it up the ramp and down the road. Now i would never have to get on any major highway, only maybe 35mph, but it did fine as long as you paid attention to other drivers.I have about 200,000 miles on it now and tranny still shifts smooth. But later on bought a Tahoe to do the towing.

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

I tow my 20 and 18sf with a 1992 Jeep Comanche 4.0L 2wd w/232,000 miles. The 20 SeaFari came cross country 3300 miles loaded with 1500+lbs of extra crap. 4 runner will handle the boat . . . no problem.

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

Thanks for the imput fellas. BigShripin, which one to you like better the 18cc or 20cc? 18 is my second choice. Any difference in the ride or issues with storage on the 18?

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...072_medium.jpg http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...073_medium.jpg
j/k I don't use the wrangler for towing more than a mile or so to my buddy's shop or boat ramp...Between my motor, low range (4-1) and gears (4.88), and having a 5 speed its great for sliding the boat on and off the trailer .....Anyone ever move trailers around on a wrangler/cj with a front hitch....WoW. When I was a kid the marina I worked at had a old beat cj7 with a 401/3speed/gear to gear transfer case , it had a front ball and man talk about packing the boats in tight for the winter.

When I use the Cherokee its very interesting being it's a single axle trailer but my no means scary, full on fuel towing a heavy goofy overdone trailer I can get up to 65 and hold it through a moderate grade, over 70 It falls on it's face and burns fuel like a space shuttle...

With tandem and brakes in good working order on the trailer and vehicle you should be fine with the 4runner. IMO t-tops and tongue weight are huge factors on lighter duty tow rigs, and again brakes

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

3/17-3/21 pulled a '76 20' SF from south FL to upstate NY with a '98 4Runner 2.7 I4 5spd. Too soon old, too late smart. I wouldn't recommend it. Short hops to the ramp OK. Interstate? Nope. My .02.

Tim

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

I like the 18 better than the 20 b/c of the layout. It's also lighter and easier to trailer. The ride is almost identical . . . except the 18 is drier ride.

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

:D
Gotta love those 18's

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

Yes I do!! :D

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

Not to pick fight or anything, but that statement makes no sense to me, maybe aside from the trailering. OTOH, if a hundred or so pounds makes a noticeable difference towing, you might need a better vehicle.

I can't see how almost 2 feet less floor space with a similar layout to my 20 is "better." Same with the ride. FWIW, I've been in enough crap seas that I've never wished for less boat under me - quite the opposite.

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

Hey Roger -
Don't get me wrong . . . I like both the 18 and 20 very much . . . I'm just trying to compare the 2 . . . b/c I was asked which I liked better.

There's no question that I could use a better tow vehicle, but we are talking about a v6 4 runner (similar to a cherokee/comanche). My 20 MA was a good deal heavier than this 18sf (probably close to 1000lbs difference) . . . My 20MA also had a custom 75 gallon tank, large console, two golf cart gel batteries, Yamaha 8hp four stroke kicker, heavier dual axel trailer, so my original statement was not well thought out and misleading.

The 18 is drier in certain conditions compared to my 20MA and 20 seafari. I suspect the little reverse chine knocks down some of the spray . . . not sure but there is considerably less spray over the side in a beam sea( i.e. crossing buzzards bay in SW wind).

Layout.

18 has 2pc construction with 3 piece look and feel (molded Gunnel caps) with better rod storage, taller cockpit floor, and a liner in the bow without snags. The bow is particularly nice for throwing a castnet or using a fly rod.

Re: Is a V6 4runner enough to pull a 20 foot seacraft?
 

I love my 18 and having been on both I have to say i agree with Mr. Potters statement "A 18 will do anything a 20 will do". The 18 has rod racks under the gunnels which a 20 does not have, unless its a MA, and the sheerline looks funny on the MA, (my opinion). In all its a great boat. I Usually tow with a Chevrolet Suburban for distance towing, but we have no problem towing it with my Jeep cherokee. As stated many times, stopping is much more important than starting and going down the highway. I have a bud that fishes with me at times that has a 1994? I think Toyota V6 prerunner? Do not know the engine displacement of HP but It tows as good as the 4.0 liter Jeep. I do know that limiting speed to 60 is much easier than trying to set speed records. Maintaining 70 in either the Jeep or the Suburban makes fuel consumption go up on par with the space shuttle.I do not see where Your vehicle would present a problem, so long as you are careful and realize that there are a lot of morons trying to make your trip difficult.