Truck recommendation for TC and pulling bass boat

leftcoastal

Member
Ay guys,

Just got back from a great camping trip where I wish I'd had my boat. Looking for a used truck that can pull double duty and trying to figure out how much to budget for.

TC is an '88 Cascade that's around 3300lbs dry

Bass boat is around 2800-3000lbs

This truck would not be a daily driver and just used for towing a few times a year. Maybe 200-500 mile trips.

I'm at the mercy of the used market so if you guys can make a few recommendations that'd be great.

Budget is TBD as I'm not sure it's worth financing something that'll only get used a few times a year.

Thank you.
 
D

Deleted member 9101

Guest
This is just me...but I'd wait a year or two before buying anything. Used truck prices are grossly inflatable right now.
 

billiebob

Well-known member
Bass Boat says ya like speed so.....

2004_dodge_ram_srt-10_16229976668a42a7ce408DSC_3509.jpg

or

2001_ford_f-150_16172088042650f85ffb1e2Heister-Lighting-5000.jpg

or

1990_chevrolet_silverado_1500_454_ss_1594161994e50e7703d6f0e7709454-41.jpg

then theres crazy money

2005_chevrolet_ssr_1627324387ca181ba82f34987988DSC_4684.jpg

any one of these would be a blast to drive to the beach
why go camping
 
Last edited:

dbhost

Well-known member
Just a thought, but if you are going with a dedicated truck + truck camper, why not just go with a class C motorhome based on say an E450 chassis? Just thinking out loud here, but you are going to need a LOT of truck to haul that 3300lb dry, probably 3800+ lbs loaded TC.
 

Jupiter58

Well-known member
If you want to carry a camper and tow a boat you may have to go up to the domestic 3/4 or 1 tons. Maybe a HD 1/2 ton. Definitely no Toyota.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
D

Deleted member 9101

Guest
Sounds to me like a half ton with a naturally aspirated V6 is gonna be the ideal ticket for you. Won't pay the horsepower tax/V8 tax when you buy it, decent MPG, easily tow your expected burdens, maintenance cost on NA V6's is typically great. Avoid the Chrysler 3.7 though that thing is not a good machine. The later 3.6 is excellent. Ford's recent NA V6's are great, any of the 6+ speed transmissions in modern trucks really make today's NA V6 outperform yesteryear's 4-speed+V8 combo in any measure but exhaust rumble. GM's still bent on running a version of the 4.3 which is about as old as the pyramids but the fact is that engine's got its kinks worked out by now and if you keep its sauces clean it'll run till we're fighting wars with sticks again.

Half ton chassis will easily and safely control a ~5000lb burden long term with some reserve for cargo + people in your box and cab. Parts and service availability on a Ford/Chevy/Dodge(Ram) are widespread throughout the Americas and if you find their stock ground clearance insufficient all of them respond well to prudent modification with no shortage of aftermarket to supply you.

It's a little more difficult to achieve instagram superstardom in a pragmatically maintained big-3 half ton.. sorry I cannot offer advice there if that's a priority.


Soooo..I have a 2020 F150 with the 3.3 V6 for a work truck. There is no way on earth that it can haul a 3,300lb truck camper and tow a 3,000 boat at the same time. It can barely keep 70mph up a hill empty.... Adding 6k of weight and it'll struggle just to get rolling.

Also... No 1/2 ton V6 is rated to haul a truck camper. Mine has a payload rating of something like 1680lbs.... Not even 1/2 of what the OP needs.

As for fuel economy, the bone stock and gutless 3.3 in my work trucks gets 2-4 mpg less than my leveled 2.7 F150 on 33" tires. Both are 2wd SuperCrews.
 

ricoisme26

Active member
Just my opinion but you are in 1 ton territory and probably dually territory with a 3300lb camper. Trucks are insane right now so if you don't need it this year wait, hopefully the market corrects itself sooner rather than later and we can all go out and buy our dream trucks ?
 

Buddha.

Finally in expo white.
3800 loaded? And if you want to tow the boat at the same time add 300 for tongue weight.
You’ll need a one ton for that kind of payload. Pick whatever make or engine you like but remember Diesel engine trucks have less payload.
 
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Jupiter58

Well-known member
It's a little more difficult to achieve instagram superstardom in a pragmatically maintained big-3 half ton.. sorry I cannot offer advice there if that's a priority.

This is the best line I have read on this forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

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