My wife decided this weekend that she wants a boat. In some ways I do as well. I have a lot of friends with house boats that hang out at the lake, but only one of us has a power boat to take out on the lake to ski, tube, or wake board with.
So, we are looking at bow riders with at least a V6 (around 200hp) seating about 6 or 8.
Only problem is something to tow it with. Which means letting go of my 5.0 that I never really got to start restoring because of buying a house to get a truck instead. I love the 5.0s and I had always wanted a convertible... but I grew up with a boat in the family and man... I miss it badly. This past 4th made it even worse going out tubing and hanging out on the lake with everyone.
So, how do you make this decision. I love the convertible, its not that nice, but I drive it every day and love cruising with the top off listening to the V8 (no radio).
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2006 Mustang GT in Torch Red
C&L Intake, Evolution Performance Tune, Borla Axle Backs, Hurst Shifter, 4.10's, JBA Long Tubes, Prothane Engine Mounts, Steeda UDPs, FRPP Charge Motion Delete Plates
I'm a bad example of not being able to get rid of things. Is it a space issue or do you need the money from selling the Stang to get the boat and something to tow it with? If you have the space then keep the Stang as you probably wouldn't get what you wanted for it anyway. If you need the cash then make sure you get what you want out of it and make sure it goes to a good home. Seeing some yahoo driving away in it will instantly make you regret your decision.
I say keep it AND get the boat.
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66 Coupe Tahoe Turq - 200, Pertronix & Flamethrower, 3 Row Rad, Cliff. 6/2 96 GT Vert Laser Red - FMS pulleys, Bullet ProM, BBK CAI, Prof. Prod. Elbow and 70mm TB, MAC Off-Road H, Borla side exhaust, Tokicos, B&M Ripper, 18x10 & 18x9 DD Bulletts 06 GT Tungsten, UIP, Red Leather, Stick, 18" blades, Steeda CAI, SCT XCal 2 w/ MC Racing 91 tune, MACs, BMR SP010 springs, BMR Adj Panhard, CDC ducktail & quarter louvers, Rear louver, painted black stripes
Space is alwasy an issue for me. I want a covered trailer for my Stang (for long distance shows) and I want a set of Sea-Doos; I can easily afford both and I already have the truck to tow them, but the show car (the Stang) and the project car (MGB V8) takes up sthe available space in the garage, the truck & daily driver (Dit-Dot) take up the available space in the driveway, and my side yard is not large enough for a RV (or any trailer) parking. So I feel ya on this on Kyle.
Like you've never seen a trailer hitch on a Mustang...
I'm sure that if you fasten the hitch correctly, either one of your Stangs would tow damn near anything.
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1992 Deep Emerald Green Mustang GT Hatch, 5 speed, 2.73s, Mac fenderwell cold air intake, '93 Cobra MAF, Mac 70mm throttle body & spacer, Explorer intakes, Mac unequal headers & offroad pipe, Magnaflow catback, Walbro 110lph fuel pump, Jet adjustable FPR, MSD Blaster coil, Accel 8mm wires, FRPP aluminum quadrant, UPR firewall adjuster, stock cable, Granatelli upper control arms.
Waiting to go on: Granatelli lower control arms, and GT40 Iron heads!
I'm with MeanGreen on this one. Surely the 5.0 has enough torque to tow the boat as long as you don't get one that weighs over 4000 pounds or so and the trailer has brakes you should be just fine.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
I'm with MeanGreen on this one. Surely the 5.0 has enough torque to tow the boat as long as you don't get one that weighs over 4000 pounds or so and the trailer has brakes you should be just fine.
Me too. I agree.
Just don't attach the hitch to the rear bumper cover. I've seen idiots do that before and it doesn't seem to work. Ever.
I'm a boater myself, so I understand where you're coming from. We also always had a boat in the family. I think I rather agree with the others. Based on what you and the others have said, as much as I hate to agree with it, your 5.0 should haul it. The big thing is tongue weight. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've seen improperly balance trailers going down the highway. As long as the trailer is properly balanced, and the gross weight within spec, there's no reason you can't have the best of both worlds.
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'05 Sonic Blue GT w/ '07 V8 engine, 5-sp, IUP, Beige leather interior, nothing else -
just the way I wanted it. (1 of 113)
OK, so I've added a few things to it. Check my Profile - too many to list here.
My 5.0 puling a 3500lb boat up a wet ramp? I would think there would be some serious traction issues.
It is a space and money issue both. Once the Trailor is here the 06 will have to set in the garage, the Truck (or fill in the blank tow mule) will take over DD duties and sit in front of the Garage door (yes single car garage for now) in one drive way. Then the Trailor will sit beside my wifes car in the other driveway that is for two cars, but ends into the house, not a garage.
Money wise, I could ust go buy a older used truck and take a loan out on a used boat... but then forget spending th emoney to restore the 5.0 for a few years. Then personally, I hate financing things for a long time and paing a lot of interest. I think that once I own a boat, I am going to spend more time/money on it that restoring a car... especially when I have the 06 to modify.
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2006 Mustang GT in Torch Red
C&L Intake, Evolution Performance Tune, Borla Axle Backs, Hurst Shifter, 4.10's, JBA Long Tubes, Prothane Engine Mounts, Steeda UDPs, FRPP Charge Motion Delete Plates
I wouldnt jump right out and say you could tow a boat with a Mustang unless you know the gross trailer wt of what you want to tow and the towing conditions (light/moderate/severe).
For a Mustang I would limit the gross trailer wt to about 1250 - 1500 lbs and whatever you think the weight is add a few hundred extra pounds for the fuel and coolers and stuff you will stuffing into the boat.
Its not so much the engine capability that determines if you can do light or medium duty towing as the subframe and other safety factors that I would take into consideration. Should you decide on using the Mustang to tow (you have an automatic and a stick correct?) I would think about an auxillary cooler for the automatic if you use that one.
Then again you might be better served to part with the 5.0 and get a reliable truck equipped with a tow package.
Right, I wouldn;t do it with the new one... It would be the 5.0.
Plus we are looking at a 18-22' boat. Ranging in dry weight from 2200-3000lbs. I think the Mustang would have a hard time handling that over the hills and curves that I have to drive to get to my favorite lake.
Plus I might want to take it home to Ohio to visit family and boat on the Ohio River.
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2006 Mustang GT in Torch Red
C&L Intake, Evolution Performance Tune, Borla Axle Backs, Hurst Shifter, 4.10's, JBA Long Tubes, Prothane Engine Mounts, Steeda UDPs, FRPP Charge Motion Delete Plates
Personally I would consult someone with experience in towing applications because the Mustang is rated for light towing and the weight you mentioned exceeds the range. You might have to do some suspension (air bag) mods in addition to wiring and hitch mods. Even the Fox body Crown Vic isnt rated to handle the gross trailer weight range you mention.
Also, I read in the other post that space is a concern. Do you have secure and accessible RV storage rental nearby?
Like it was already mentioned, but the Saleen truck. You can even get one with a s/c on it!
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07 GT. Exterior mods n/a. Engine mods, see profile.
One of the more powerful cars around.
One of the slower cars around.
Makes me feel like a kid every time.
Sounds like you need a 4.0 Ranger. Of course, if that Ranger also happened to be 4WD and had at least the factory offroad setup (probably wouldn't want too much lift if you are going to tow with it), we could have some fun on some of the easy trails around here!
I towed a pontoon boat (can't remember the exact length - think it was 21 or 22 feet) loaded with fishing gear, coolers, etc. with the Ranger I had. It was 4WD, had the factory offroad setup (tires that are roughly the equivalent of 31s) and I used a drop hitch. Had to get used to the changes in handling (nothing extreme) and braking was, of course, different (could have used trailer brakes, but not necessary) but the 4.0 pulled it with no problems. Just had to remember to turn off O/D since it was an auto. As a daily driver, I got about the same mileage out of it as I get from my Mustang - somewhere in the neighborhood of 22-24 miles per gallon.
How do you let a loved one go? 
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