my take is 6 cyl minimum
I'm towing my 20' Seafari with a 6 cyl Jeep Grand Cherokee, and it works ok, but not great - it's pretty hilly up here in New Hampshire, going up to some of the big lakes - and I have the extra duty towing package, class 3 hitch, extra coolers, extra heavy duty radiator, 4 wheel disc brakes, and 7500 lb towing capacity. Not towing, I get something like 20 mpg - but then my commute is mostly highway - oh yeah, I also have 235,000 miles on this jeep - the straight 6 jeep motor is fabulous for good life, with reasonable care.
I'm not sure I'd want to try, up here anyways, with less motor. Maybe ok in the flatlands of Florida or somewhere like that.
In my past experience, I had a Ford pickup, 8' bed, with a 300 in 6 cyl, and a Ford full size Bronco with a 302 v8, at the same time, and used both to pull the same boat, a 19' Sunbird. Neither vehicle particularly felt that boat, but it was clear the V8 was working easier - on the flip side, the longer wheelbase of the pickup made the towing much easier if it was windy out, or coasting down long hills, where the boat used to push the short wheelbase Bronco around some.
Bill
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