2006 Monte Carlo -- Lake Block Away

[slinkeey]

Hello,

Do you think that a 2006 Monto Carlo could tow a 18ft bass boat to the lake a block away? I figured it maybe a good way to mess around with a boat next summer and get used to it.

I plan on buying a truck, but the Monte has gone 100k miles without putting a dime in it yet including brakes.. I hate to get rid of the car just yet.. It seams like such a waste. I see people in Toyota Siennas pulling out larger boat then an 18ft bass boat.

Pro:
Short Distance
Nice Boat Ramp
Better gas mileage then a truck.

Con:
Car is rated to tow 1k lbs.
Trailer doesn't have brakes
Front Wheel Drive
Abusive to a car that has treated me well.

Trust me I do want to get a truck eventually. I hate borrowing my Brother's or Father In laws every time I do a home project. Plus I can load my snow thrower up in it to do my grandparents driveway and etc.. The wife and I go camping so it would be nice for that. Although I enjoy the looks I get from people in PickUp trucks when they see us exploring the logging roads in northern Wisconsin.. hehehehehehe It is classic!!

The Gas just gets me because I drive 80 miles a day for work. I could keep the Monte, but I don't want three vehicles sitting around. The Wife is not interested in driving a larger vehicle for towing.. That would be great since she only drives like 2 miles to work.

[slinkeey]

Logging/Fire Road Fun..

Yes, I know it wasn't the smartest thing to do, but we were interested in sight seeing!

[thebassoutlaw]

I would say it would be no problem,just don't get crazy and head off to the lake 100 miles away. Good luck!

[slinkeey]

Yeah..

It would just be to haul it to the ramp up the road.. Do it until I want to give up the monte.. hehe

The good thing is that it is close to home if it broke down..
Bad thing would be having the boat pull it into the water.

[sarmst100]

I remember growing up in the 70's, everyone had a hitch on there cars and pulled their boats with them. But on the other had those cars had as much power as todays trucks.

The first time, I would make sure someone was with you on a seperate vehicle to pull you out in case there isn't enough weight at the rear tires to get sufficient traction.

[big_b16]

Did you get way lost? Racine isn't near Goodman...not even 11 miles from it.

[slinkeey]

Huh?

Are you looking at the road sign?
That was around Crivitz, WI.

[big_b16]

Yep...road sign says "Goodman 11mi" from what I can tell. Goodman is up by the UP...a bit SW of Iron Mtn. Your profile says you're from Racine. I'm originally from Superior...but it's too f'in cold there anymore. Used to grouse hunt out of the window of a pickup on logging roads like that growing up. Fun times. 12ga is very loud if you have to shoot out of the passenger window.

[slinkeey]

You are right...

I was in Marinette County.. very close to Iron Mtn...
Piers Gorge was pretty sweet!! Ever go to that?

[artcarney_agr]

You should be fine. The only issue you might have is weight - that car will be a good bit lighter and may struggle with traction if the ramp is steep...usually right at the top just as soon as the front tires get over the "hump"

A buddy pulled his 17' ft Aries with a single cab ford ranger 4x4, about a 1990 model. It had a 4 cyl. and struggled right at the top like I said above. Sometimes he'd have to drop it into 4 wheel drive to get over the hump.

Dad pulled our 18 ft aluminum boat with a Ford Crown Victoria and it never missed a lick, but it was a V8 though and fairly heavy.

[slinkeey]

I talked to my friend that has a 18" boat It's a bayliner but he said the price was right used for a first boat so end of that story.

He told me thathe towed it with a car at first.

Different car.. A Dodge Intrepid. He told me that used to just pull it out with ease.. He said he wouldn't get too adventerous with bad ramps but he said he actually has had a harder time getting the boat out with his 2WD Dodge Ram on the ramp close to his house because of the slime on the ramp.

He said the best thing he used to tow his boat was a Suberban. He said the weight in the rear compared to just a truck bed must be the difference.

The Monte is around 3500lb curb weight.