Tow Vehicle

DaveTDIpassat

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Location
Missouri Ozarks
TDI
1997 Passat
After living within walking distance of a lake for many years, I have decided to get a boat. Well actually my father, who lives over 100 miles away, has decided to get a boat. It will primarily be used where I live. Part of the stipulation was he buys the boat, I buy the vehicle. I think I got the good part of that deal! And since the old trusty Passat can't tow the boat I am looking for another vehicle.

Currently he is looking for a bass boat between 17 and 23 feet.

My only stipulation is I do not want an American made truck. Everyone and their brother has one here and while that may be convenient for maintenance, I like driving different vehicles than the norm (hence the Passat in the middle of the Missouri Ozarks).

A current prospect is an older 4 runner with a manual transmission. I don't want it to be a small vehicle because it is difficult enough pulling a boat out on a slippery ramp. I saw a highlander the other day almost loose everything, and highlanders have grown in size in recent years.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Well, may not be what you are looking for but I have a really nice (for its age) 1990 Econoline Club Wagon you can just about have for nothing. 5.8L V8, E4OD trans, 3.55 rear end, already has a nice big hitch on it, good Michelin tires, etc. It'll pull just about anything.

One owner since 1992.
 

DaveTDIpassat

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Location
Missouri Ozarks
TDI
1997 Passat
What are the mpgs? And I do not know anything about Fords but is the 5.8L a good engine? And what are you doing with a Ford, LOL? It will spend most of its life in transit between where I live, which is in Camden County, and St. Louis to pick up the boat, so about 200 miles round trip. Do you have any opinions on 4 runners?

One good thing about a van is the longer wheel base, which is easier for towing. Still wish it was a manual Oilhammer.

My goal here is to get a relatively inexpensive vehicle so gas prices won't matter. No sense buying a $25,000 newer vehicle to gain 5 mpg. I will save my $20,000 and spend a little more on fuel.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
It probably gets around 12 to 19, depending on load. It is the old stone-age '351 Windsor' engine, just with the added EEC-4 port EFI. Probably not as reliable as an old 4Runner, but would easily tow better.
 

DaveTDIpassat

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Location
Missouri Ozarks
TDI
1997 Passat
I will consider. Not the ideal vehicle but if it is recommended by a TDIclub member it has to be at least decent. PM me the price if you do not mind. Thanks.
 

Honeydew

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 28, 2006
Location
Florida
TDI
13 Passat DSG
If slippery ramps are an issue add 4 wheel drive to your list of criteria. Pretty much the only time I engage 4wd is on some ramps and I've seen 2wd trucks of all types struggle. There was an old caprice and trailer completely submerged when we launched a few months back. Those highlanders might have been 2wd, many of them are.
 

Jim W

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2011
Location
Oswego Il
TDI
2011 Jetta TDI
Buy an order model Ram Diesel truck such as a 1994 to 1999 with a 4X4 and a manual transmission. These trucks have been reported to get 20+ MPG and can easily haul your bass boat.
Jim W.
 

WindsorFox

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2012
Location
Louisiana
TDI
2012 Jetta
If you'd posted this the first part of March I could have made you a sweet deal on an 05 Titan.
 

DaveTDIpassat

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Location
Missouri Ozarks
TDI
1997 Passat
I personally have never launched a vehicle using 4 wheel drive but it completely makes sense that it is advantageous. I used to launch my father's pontoon back in the 90s with a 1988 GMC Vandura. I had to have the tires well into the water because otherwise the water wouldn't even touch the boat, making launch impossible. MPGs towing sat around 7, and not towing around 13ish. But gas was also around a dollar a gallon, and the Chevy 350s were reliable and cheap to repair. Plus it was an Explorer edition, so it was one luxurious ride.

I have considered dodge rams, not sure why 99 was your cutoff Jim W, but I like their styling. It is probably my favorite looking truck. I am just not sure of the reliability of a cheap dodge ram. I can pick up a 4 runner for 4 or 5 grand and know I can make the long hauls many many times without issue or even much maintenance.

I thought about a Dodge Sprinter or Mercedes Benz Sprinter after I posted this. I think it would work but realized that people in my neck of the woods would make fun of me more than anything else for driving one.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
The price is $500, which is a steal. I'd keep it for myself but I just do not need it.

FWIW, it has been used over the years primarily for towing a boat and camping. It has never had an issue getting anything out of the water... it is quite a heavy vehicle.

Don't have any pictures, but it looks like this one:



Just is all one color (maroon) with a gray cloth interior. It is NOT a crappy conversion van, it is a factory window van... it only has one back seat though (it was actually born that way), so it only seats five. XLT trim (the fancier one).

BTW, most of its use has been in your area, and northern Arkansas, so I know it has never had a problem with those hills.
 

MonsterTDI09

TDIClub Enthusiast, Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2009
Location
NoVa/NJ
TDI
2010 Jetta DSG/ up keep on 2009 Jetta DSG 2006 Jetta Pag 2 in North SEA Green
Dave were do you live? I let you know if I see one out there

Tom
 

RabbitGTI

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 20, 1997
Location
Wisconsin
TDI
B4 Passat Sedan
Excursion diesel. You can haul many people and all your stuff in comfort and it will tow anything.
 

Brennan-MN

Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2011
Location
Minneapolis, MN
TDI
GMC Duramax
Sounds to me like you already have your heart set on a 4 runner. I personally think a 4 runner is too small if you plan on towing a 23 foot boat any distance.

Find out what size boat first, then find the vehicle that is properly equipped to tow it.

Really any V8 with 4x4 and a decent wheel base will work fine. You will have to worry about transmissions if you are pulling heavy on a smaller vehicle.

I don't know your plan, but fuel economy doesn't really matter if you live so close to the lake, and you have your TDI for everything else.
 

Jim W

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2011
Location
Oswego Il
TDI
2011 Jetta TDI
I have considered dodge rams, not sure why 99 was your cutoff Jim W, but I like their styling. It is probably my favorite looking truck. I am just not sure of the reliability of a cheap dodge ram. I can pick up a 4 runner for 4 or 5 grand and know I can make the long hauls many many times without issue or even much maintenance.
I went with your requirement of a low cost vehicle. The 94 to 98 trucks are 12 valve trucks with the P-7100 fuel pump otherwise known as the P-Pump. The trucks are very easy to mod and get better fuel economy than stock when moded. The mid 98.5 and 99 trucks are the first 24 valve 5.9L Cummins and they do not have very much electronics on them as the later models do. You could also look into models as late as 2002 also but they may required more money to buy.
Jim W.

 

DaveTDIpassat

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Location
Missouri Ozarks
TDI
1997 Passat
I went with your requirement of a low cost vehicle. The 94 to 98 trucks are 12 valve trucks with the P-7100 fuel pump otherwise known as the P-Pump. The trucks are very easy to mod and get better fuel economy than stock when moded. The mid 98.5 and 99 trucks are the first 24 valve 5.9L Cummins and they do not have very much electronics on them as the later models do. You could also look into models as late as 2002 also but they may required more money to buy.
Jim W.

Oh sorry. I did not know you were referring to the Cummins.

I don't know your plan, but fuel economy doesn't really matter if you live so close to the lake, and you have your TDI for everything else.
Plan is to have the boat primarily in St. Louis at my Father's house. I live on a very small lot so no room to store the boat, I dont have a dock and I do not think I can have a dock given certain regulations and the positioning of my lot. The vehicle will be stored in St. Louis at my Father's house and when he comes to visit he will bring the boat.


The Passat can tow the boat, its just that it is not safe nor able to handle a boat ramp. A 21 foot bass boat isn't the biggest boat but certainly not the smallest. It puts enough strain on the vehicle to warrant one capable of towing.

I am in Sunrise Beach, MO close to the Hurricane Deck Bridge, FWIW.

Oilhammer I will consider your van. For $500 I cannot go wrong!
 
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BadMonKey

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2007
Location
Colorado
TDI
2013 Focus ST
Currently he is looking for a bass boat between 17 and 23 feet.

My only stipulation is I do not want an American made truck. Everyone and their brother has one here and while that may be convenient for maintenance, I like driving different vehicles than the norm (hence the Passat in the middle of the Missouri Ozarks).

A current prospect is an older 4 runner with a manual transmission. I don't want it to be a small vehicle because it is difficult enough pulling a boat out on a slippery ramp. I saw a highlander the other day almost loose everything, and highlanders have grown in size in recent years.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
I've owned several boats around that size and weight and the last thing you want is a 4-runner sized vehicle. If your going with a fiber glass hull they are a lot heavier then they look especially the bass boat style with all their gadgets and massive engines. Personally i would look at the newer aluminum hull boats as once i went to a Lund you couldn't pay me enough to go back to the fiberglass boats but I'm in a different area so maybe their is positive side to fiberglass in your area.

I used my smaller Tacoma a couple times just to see if it could do it. Made for a long day especially on the highway with a max speed of 50mph in the flats. I had to use 4-low to pull it out on a moderate steep ramp.

The full size domestic vans actually work great as you get tons of covered storage area for your gear and a sleeping spot for lakes outside of your normal area. I also liked the space to hang out in when mother nature was ruining my day by making a launch impossible. The only issue we had with our old dodge van was pulling boats out on steep concrete ramps.

I like my fathers 06 Tundra for pulling boats as its smaller with decent mpg's and comfortable for long trips. I would take his truck over my half ton GMC any day of the week. The Titan is a complete POS and one of the worst trucks to pull anything with, the torque, tranny, and gearing is all wrong IMO.
 

Brennan-MN

Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2011
Location
Minneapolis, MN
TDI
GMC Duramax
Bass boats are usually among the heaviest fishing boats. The fiberglass ones even more so. They are also strapped with massive engines.

A 20 foot fiberglass bass boat with a trailer would be pushing 4-5000 lbs. You are going to want a half-ton truck or something equivalent.

Better to have something that can do the job safely and not break down then to have something under powered and not built for towing.
 

DaveTDIpassat

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Location
Missouri Ozarks
TDI
1997 Passat
Yes we are looking at fiberglass boats. I have lived on this lake for many years and can remember times driving up and down the lake and not seeing a boat in sight. The lake is in my blood, I just haven't had a boat in a few years. I used to love the aluminum boats because I could drive them all the way into the coves and not worry about scratching the hull. But the lake here has changed a lot in recent years as large yachts have moved in. And the fiberglass boats can handle the choppy water much better. I am aware they are heavy, hence the Passat is out of the question. I like the idea of a Tundra but you can't pick one up for cheap like you can a old Chevy or Dodge.

Oilhammer, I am still considering the Van. Not totally out of the question as the price is incredible but it is a vehicle I have not considered before. What is the story behind the boat, how did you acquire it (assuming you are not the "one owner since 1992"), and did you have to do major repairs to it to get it road worthy?
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
It belongs to a good friend of mine who has essentially 'given' it to me to sell for him, or keep if I want. He recently purchased a used Sprinter, as after a decade of driving TDIs he realized diesel is the way to go. And with fuel prices being what they are, this Ford has become a bit of a white elephant. It has not been driven much at all in recent years.

It has 216k miles on it (odo only shows 16k as it does not have the 6th digit space). The engine was replaced with a Jasper remanufactured unit at around 180k miles, as the original developed low oil pressure when the timing chain plastic gear came apart and clogged the oil pickup. I installed the engine myself.

We also retroffitted the A/C system to R134a at the time, and it worked great but has since lost its charge (like I said, it has been sitting a bunch).

Only other issues: the voltage stabilizer in the cluster died and the replacement shows all the gauges reading ever so slightly to the left of normal as it was a non-OEM stabilizer. The original wiper switch was messed up so a toggle switch was installed instead (owner is an electrician for Boeing.. he likes to tinker). It also has a bit of a lumpy idle and won't fast idle when cold, may just be an idle air motor and a good tune up is all it needs. It runs perfect down the road.

The interior is as close to new as you can expect, especially for something with over 2 decades of age.

I have an Odyssey and a Vanagon, so my 'big box' needs are met, and any time I would need to tow something my Vanagon cannot handle, I just use my dad's F150. Otherwise, I'd keep this van.
 

Honeydew

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 28, 2006
Location
Florida
TDI
13 Passat DSG
Another plus for the econoline is all the weight the body puts over the rear axle. Should be fine on most ramps and way better than a 2X4 pickup truck.
 

MrMopar

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Location
Bloomington, IL
TDI
none
If you truly are going to do very little mileage in driving you can skip buying a Cummins Ram pickup. The purchase price and maintenance will cost more than you care to spend. Get as gently used a Ram as you can find that still has the old 318 or 360 V-8 engines. You will probably want the 360 for the extra torque in towing, but they are reliable engine designs that don't often break.
 

slamhouse

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Location
Stanwood, WA
TDI
2006 Jetta TDI SE
X2 on the Dodge Ram with the Cummins diesel.

All of the family has bought Dodge Cummins diesels because they get excellent fuel economy(25mpg) and can could tow anything you hooked to it...
 

TomJD

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2010
Location
St. Louis
TDI
2000 Jetta TDI GLS, 2015 Golf TDI
I would say try and find a Tundra if you are set on a non-american car. My neighbor has one and it has a tow package that came from the factory. They are not bad looking trucks either.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
The Tundra is pretty much American. One driving down the street in Tokyo would result in panic, and people shouting "Godzilla! Godzilla!" :p

One of our trainers at Lexus was part of the first-gen Tundra design team. He was 100% American, I assure you, LOL. Some of the things he said.... :D
 

Rbet

Member
Joined
May 3, 2011
Location
Northeast Mass.
TDI
2011 Golf TDI 2dr DSG
To all those saying a 4Runner can't handle a 20' bass boat I would have to disagree. My father tows his 22' Chris Craft Cadet 120 miles from his backyard to our lake house and launches it with his 6 Cyl 4Runner. He also preswells the boat before the season starts, so he's towing a 22' wooden boat with a hull full of water.

You've received plenty of good suggestions, but don't dismiss the 4Runner as a towing vehicle.
 

BadMonKey

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2007
Location
Colorado
TDI
2013 Focus ST
And the fiberglass boats can handle the choppy water much better. I am aware they are heavy, hence the Passat is out of the question. I like the idea of a Tundra but you can't pick one up for cheap like you can a old Chevy or Dodge.
high end aluminum boats aren't what they use to be, and if you haven't checked them out i highly recommend you look into it. the hull design is what takes the wave abuse not the material.

The horrific resale value of American makes does make them attractive used vehicles:D But you know the old saying "you get what.........".

I just helped a friend find a used 1st gen Tundra here and the 99-02's are easily found for $7-10K for a good 4x4 access cab. I like the 05-06's because of some the slight changes they did in those last years but your going to pay around $15-17K for a 4x4 access cab. I have zero interest in the 2nd generation titanic model.

They actually bring about the same value as a 4-runner would.
 
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