Towing help!!!

Sublime318i · 06-08-2007, 12:03 AM

Ok I am a newbie to these forums but I have a question.

I am about to buy a pontoon boat about 28 ft and 3600 lbs (may be a bit off). My problem is I need something to tow it with. This vehicle is basically only going to be used for towing.

I found a 1996 GMC Jimmy 4wd power everything 119k miles for about 3k. Will this do the job as far as towing the boat goes? What are some known problems? Should I get it or look for something else? I really need to know ASAP as this offer won't last.

BLK85 · 06-08-2007, 09:14 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Sublime318i

I found a 1996 GMC Jimmy 4wd power everything 119k miles for about 3k. Will this do the job as far as towing the boat goes? What are some known problems? Should I get it or look for something else? I really need to know ASAP as this offer won't last.

I would not buy a S Series truck for towing a boat that big. My friend had a Bravada and we pulled a boat at least that big if not bigger. That thing was huge compared to the truck. It was a big boat on a tandem axle trailer. You could really tell that thing was back there.

I would not buy a Jimmy for towing a boat that big. But that depends on how far you are towing it.

Holeshot · 06-17-2007, 04:01 PM

You would fine towing it with that Jimmy. That boat is not even near the capacity of it's load for towing.

As far as weak points go..........the transmission is a big one - just make sure you get an aux. transmission cooler installed and change the tranny fluid before any towing is done.

Some helper air bags would be a good idea in for the rear suspension also.

Scott01 · 06-17-2007, 10:46 PM

I would buy a half ton p/u.something better suited to towing equiped with a good load leveling hitch platform and trailer brakes.

01blueblazer · 06-21-2007, 03:22 AM

i got an 01 2door 2wd 5 speed blazer and i tow my bass boat around all the time it weighs about 3500 pounds and its not that bad but i towed a 4 door blazer on a 2000+ pound car trailer and drove it on the freeway but it was very hard to pick up speed fast also never upgraded any springs and the back never sags. it all depends on how far you are going and how fast you need to go

Holeshot · 06-24-2007, 11:28 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Scott01

I would buy a half ton p/u.something better suited to towing equiped with a good load leveling hitch platform and trailer brakes.

His Jimmy has the the same towing capacity of a half ton pickup of the same year.

Scott01 · 06-24-2007, 12:58 PM

Maybe so.But at 3600 lbs a V8 would be better for job than V6.And at that weight you want trailer brakes.And with p/u you dont need to beef up rear end.

Holeshot · 06-24-2007, 10:11 PM

Sure, more power is always nicer - but the 4.3L is a torquey little bugger and can handle it fine.

I've been towing my 4100lbs RV trailer for 4 years now with no hassle at all.

It's a bit of a whore on fuel when it has the trailer behind it but I don't mind.

BLK85 · 06-25-2007, 02:54 AM

Just buy a Duramax.

95 S_Trucker · 06-25-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by BLK85

Just buy a Duramax.

yea its that easy

everyone has 20-50 grand laying around to spend on a truck

anyway, the Jimmy would have no problem towing 3600, just turn the O/D off when you tow with it

BLK85 · 06-26-2007, 02:37 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

yea its that easy

everyone has 20-50 grand laying around to spend on a truck

What people dont? Im amazed....

06-08-2007, 12:03 AM	#1
Sublime318i Registered User Age: 26 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1 Location: User is: OffLine	Towing help!!! Ok I am a newbie to these forums but I have a question. I am about to buy a pontoon boat about 28 ft and 3600 lbs (may be a bit off). My problem is I need something to tow it with. This vehicle is basically only going to be used for towing. I found a 1996 GMC Jimmy 4wd power everything 119k miles for about 3k. Will this do the job as far as towing the boat goes? What are some known problems? Should I get it or look for something else? I really need to know ASAP as this offer won't last.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-08-2007, 09:14 AM	#2
BLK85 Insert Witty Comment Here Age: 24 Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 32 Location: South Dakota User is: OffLine	Re: Towing help!!! Quote: Originally Posted by Sublime318i I found a 1996 GMC Jimmy 4wd power everything 119k miles for about 3k. Will this do the job as far as towing the boat goes? What are some known problems? Should I get it or look for something else? I really need to know ASAP as this offer won't last. I would not buy a S Series truck for towing a boat that big. My friend had a Bravada and we pulled a boat at least that big if not bigger. That thing was huge compared to the truck. It was a big boat on a tandem axle trailer. You could really tell that thing was back there. I would not buy a Jimmy for towing a boat that big. But that depends on how far you are towing it.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-17-2007, 04:01 PM	#3
Holeshot Canadian Dictatorship Age: 34 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 233 Location: Chilliwack, BC, Canada User is: OffLine	Re: Towing help!!! You would fine towing it with that Jimmy. That boat is not even near the capacity of it's load for towing. As far as weak points go..........the transmission is a big one - just make sure you get an aux. transmission cooler installed and change the tranny fluid before any towing is done. Some helper air bags would be a good idea in for the rear suspension also.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-17-2007, 10:46 PM	#4
Scott01 ZR2 member Age: 37 Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,903 Location: Northeast Ky User is: OffLine	Re: Towing help!!! I would buy a half ton p/u.something better suited to towing equiped with a good load leveling hitch platform and trailer brakes.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-21-2007, 03:22 AM	#5
01blueblazer Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 12 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Towing help!!! i got an 01 2door 2wd 5 speed blazer and i tow my bass boat around all the time it weighs about 3500 pounds and its not that bad but i towed a 4 door blazer on a 2000+ pound car trailer and drove it on the freeway but it was very hard to pick up speed fast also never upgraded any springs and the back never sags. it all depends on how far you are going and how fast you need to go
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-24-2007, 11:28 AM	#6
Holeshot Canadian Dictatorship Age: 34 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 233 Location: Chilliwack, BC, Canada User is: OffLine	Re: Towing help!!! Quote: Originally Posted by Scott01 I would buy a half ton p/u.something better suited to towing equiped with a good load leveling hitch platform and trailer brakes. His Jimmy has the the same towing capacity of a half ton pickup of the same year.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-24-2007, 12:58 PM	#7
Scott01 ZR2 member Age: 37 Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,903 Location: Northeast Ky User is: OffLine	Re: Towing help!!! Maybe so.But at 3600 lbs a V8 would be better for job than V6.And at that weight you want trailer brakes.And with p/u you dont need to beef up rear end.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-24-2007, 10:11 PM	#8
Holeshot Canadian Dictatorship Age: 34 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 233 Location: Chilliwack, BC, Canada User is: OffLine	Re: Towing help!!! Sure, more power is always nicer - but the 4.3L is a torquey little bugger and can handle it fine. I've been towing my 4100lbs RV trailer for 4 years now with no hassle at all. It's a bit of a whore on fuel when it has the trailer behind it but I don't mind.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-25-2007, 02:54 AM	#9
BLK85 Insert Witty Comment Here Age: 24 Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 32 Location: South Dakota User is: OffLine	Re: Towing help!!! Just buy a Duramax.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-25-2007, 08:23 AM	#10
95 S_Trucker no longer has a 95 Age: 20 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,715 Location: Lancaster, PA User is: OffLine	Re: Towing help!!! Quote: Originally Posted by BLK85 Just buy a Duramax. yea its that easy everyone has 20-50 grand laying around to spend on a truck anyway, the Jimmy would have no problem towing 3600, just turn the O/D off when you tow with it
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-26-2007, 02:37 AM	#11
BLK85 Insert Witty Comment Here Age: 24 Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 32 Location: South Dakota User is: OffLine	Re: Towing help!!! Quote: Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker yea its that easy everyone has 20-50 grand laying around to spend on a truck What people dont? Im amazed....
	[Reply w/Quote]