Anybody use wagon or van to pull drift boat?

HT Buzzo · 01-14-2002, 03:07 PM

In the last three years my family has grown from just myself to a wife and three kids (plus two dogs) and my two door explorer isn't big enough for three carseats and two adults. I wanted to get an extended cab truck, but for gasoline conservation I was wondering if anyone uses an all-wheel drive wagon or minivan, and what kind of limitations you've had. I used to have an awd aerostar that never got stuck, but we had a few mechanical problems with it and it didn't have much ground clearance.

HT

rcl187 · 01-14-2002, 03:13 PM

for a number of years my family used a full size ford econoline van (very big, 2 wheel drive). There are a few things that are hard such as launching in sand or mud but that's about it. If the launch was steep a piece of firewood behind the tires never hurt and newer tires also helped. I'd imagine it would be even easier with 4wd and you could do about the same as a small truck. The only thing you need to watch out for is the towing capacity. A large boat with a wagon is hard, especially picking it up on a steep, slippery ramp. If your using a drift boat or something light then it shouldn't be a problem.

hookem · 01-14-2002, 04:17 PM

I used to pull a 14' wooden drift boat with
a 1980 audi fox, and had no problems.

Gizmo Man · 01-14-2002, 06:27 PM

HT: Just got rid of my 1986 4 wheel drive Nissan Stanza and got a 1997 awd aerostar. What type of problems did you have with the aerostar and what year. Mine is the long wheel base and I am concerned about the clearance. Was it a big problem?

Giz...

Fishin Magician · 01-14-2002, 07:23 PM

Any 4WD suv would work nicely and you wont be embarassed to have your buddies see you in it........ :grin: :grin: :grin:

Big TULE · 01-14-2002, 08:16 PM

Try the subaru outback... i have one and it is great. As for a full size van and fuel conservation, wouldn't it be about the same as an extended cab truck.

rcl187 · 01-14-2002, 08:38 PM

The full size van was horrible as far as milage is concerned but the seats folded down and there was even a bed in the back so it more than made up for it

Captn · 01-14-2002, 09:42 PM

For many years I pulled my drift boat all over the northwest with my ASTRO VAN. I had no problem at all. It was when we bought the 20 ft Koffler Sled and the 150 Merc jet that the van got to swaying on the HWY at times. But something in the same range as the Astro Van will do very nicely for your drift boat. Big hint, keep your wet fishing gear out of the back, and keep your fish in the boat!!

Smily · 01-14-2002, 09:49 PM

We have a Ford Aerostar here. 93' model and had it for about 3 years and put 40 thousand miles on it now and has about 100k. Still seems good for what it is. It pulls the boat nicely. Has the 3.0 liter motor and gets up over them hills pretty good still. NO major work yet. Pretty good on gas too.

:smile: Smily :smile:

blackdog · 01-15-2002, 06:02 AM

The infamous Buzz Ramsey of Luhr Jensen fame was sighted repeatedly on the Wilson after Christmas, pulling his drifter with a minivan (brand unknown). He was also stuck clear to the axles at Donaldson's, effectively blocking anybody else from launching for quite a while one morning. Somebody finally sacrificed a few scratches on their rig and drove through the brush to get around and pull him free. Many of the launches and takeouts at the coast can be a little much for a two wheel drive when they get either muddy or frozen. How many rigs have ended up in the river at Sollie Smith the last couple of years?

HT Buzzo · 01-15-2002, 09:44 AM

Thanks alot for the info, everybody. I might eventually be getting a 19 foot sled, too, but I've got my 3/4 ton ford to tow the big things with.

Gizmo- I had a 1991 aerostar long-wheel base, and most of the problems I had were electrical-related. I kept having check engine and rear-anti lock sensor problems which would cost at least a $100 each time it was checked out. I also had a faulty starter relay and a bunk heater core. I've heard the toyota minivans are very reliable, but I don't know if they make an awd model. The clearance was never actually a problem, but I worried about it a couple times.

Tule- Does your outback have three seatbelts in the back seat or jumper seats in the back? How does it do towing up big hills, or in the mud?

HT

Tilla · 01-15-2002, 03:00 PM

I used my Dodge Caravan (Actually a Co.car) to haul my Alumaweld DB, no problem. I did stick with paved launching ramps.

Big TULE · 01-16-2002, 06:33 PM

Outback, has 3 seat belts in the back, and towing up hills or mud has been no problem thus far, who knows what the future holds.