Weight of a 196 on trailer

[slalomdude]

Wondering if I can occasional put my boat in the water with my daughters Explorer sport. The bumper says 3500# max. I dont really want to put a class 3 on for the occasional use. Do you think it would be ok, it will be just hooking it up at the lake and backing down the ramp.
Thanks

[pj]

RE: Weight of a 196 on trailer

I never weighed my 196 on the trailer. Maybe some other guys have just for fun. I think the trailer is around 1000 lbs alone. So, with a dry weight of around 2600 lbs for the boat, you are just over the limit. That's without fuel or gear. Probably would be OK. I know a guy that tows his boat down to the ramp every spring with his saab. However, a class 3 is not that expensive and are pretty easy to bolt up to the frame. Then that explorer should be plenty good for the occasional tow.

[Rick]

RE: Weight of a 196 on trailer

I have a 2000 196 with a dual axel trailer. It weights 4000 at the truck scale ready to go ( fuel, skis etc.) I towed it with a Dodge Caravan and Chevy Uplander both with class 2 hitches for 4 years with no ill effects. I would not advise a long haul, although I went 1000 miles with it twice. Just dropping it in the lake shouldn't be a problem at all.

[M3Fan]

Re: RE: Weight of a 196 on trailer

I have a 2000 196 with a dual axel trailer. It weights 4000 at the truck scale ready to go ( fuel, skis etc.) I towed it with a Dodge Caravan and Chevy Uplander both with class 2 hitches for 4 years with no ill effects. I would not advise a long haul, although I went 1000 miles with it twice. Just dropping it in the lake shouldn't be a problem at all.

I'm glad I wasn't in front of you during any of those trips- with one panic stop you'd be in my back seat!

[east tx skier]

I think it depends on the ramp. A good ramp that's not too slick and you could probably get away with it. My father-in-law pulled his Pro Star 205 about 30 minutes with an explorer sport. Getting it in and out of the water was the easy part. But it was quite an experience during the 20 mile trip to the lake.

[ClemsonDave]

Can't pull it out of the water with this, but it will pull it around the neighborhood and it certainly is not even a class 2 hitch. If all you want to do is back it in and out of the water, you should be just fine.

[slalomdude]

Thanks guys, just didnt want to pull the bumper off her truck. 18 yr old girls are already hard to live with !!!

[MHayes]

Thanks guys, just didnt want to pull the bumper off her truck. 18 yr old girls are already hard to live with !!!

At 18 years old, I'm guessing that you paid for the Explorer instead of her, so go for it!

Regardless, you'll have no problem launching it with the Explorer bumper.

[slalomdude]

Thanks guys, just didnt want to pull the bumper off her truck. 18 yr old girls are already hard to live with !!!

At 18 years old, I'm guessing that you paid for the Explorer instead of her, so go for it!

Regardless, you'll have no problem launching it with the Explorer bumper.

You bet, and still paying !!!. Dont even talk about the insurance :x

[M3Fan]

I've seen a Kubota rear-steer zero-turn lawn mower launch and retrieve just about every model of inboard imaginable, even MC X80's at Bennett's. They use that little tractor as a boat yard boat mover all day, every day. It's impossibly small relative to the task of launching and puling 6k lb boats up the ramp. It's quite amazing what a hydraulic drive can do. The point is, I'm sure the Explorer will be fine for merely launching at the ramp.

[jedgell]

I used to use a '98 Explorer Sport 2WD to launch my SN on a very steep ramp. Probably launched and retrieved over 100 times with minimal problems. Traction was the only problem if the ramp was really wet, someone standing on the bumper usually helped.

[jjackkrash]

If you can launch without slipping into the water, you've got an extra 330 HP to help you out of the water. Just goose it and go.

[CradGen2]

I'd do it. The boat floats anyway.

[DanielC]

I tow my 1997 Ski with a Ford Aerostar. My Aerostar currently has 152800 miles on it. I had to replace the head gasket at 121,820. I have to pay closer attention to the brakes, and get them serviced a little more often.
There should be a decal on the driver's side door post, with towing capacities on it, and maximum weights allowed.
I have towed 2002, and 2003 Classic Super Super Airs with my van, for local, not very hilly trips.
If you have ever taken your daughter out in your boat, she has no reason to complain about you wanting to use a vehicle you are paying the expenses for.

[bkhallpass]

Back in the early 80s, I had a buddy with a 17ft outboard and no tow vehicle. He parked it at the storage yard next to the ramp, drilled a hole in the bumper of his Ford Escort, inserted a ball, and used it to launch and retrieve the boat. Now that could get sketchy! BKH