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How much does it weigh?

K

kixky

Member
Any guesses appreciated.

I have a Panther 18x8 with 454. I never tow it more than about 15 miles. I have always pulled it with a Suburban and never thought about the weight.

Now I am shopping for a new car and want to know ROUGHLY how much the Panther and trailer weigh. Any guesses?

Will a tow capacity of 5,000 lbs. be enough? I want to downsize from the Suburban.

I guess I can call Panther, but that would be too easy.

Thanks
 
You don't have to worry about it. With airboats, even big airboats, it's not weight so much as drag that's the problem. Dragging that cage is like dragging a parachute.

You're only going 15 miles. What's the difference in time if you're towing at 45 mph compared to 55? Not much.

I've towed my boat with a Nissan Pathfinder (2000 model, not as big as the newer ones), no problem at all.

BTW, my boat (deckover being 490 lbs more than open) weighs around 2,400 with 30 gallons of fuel. I would guess your boat and trailer combined comes in at well under 5,000. Also, the weight is towards the back of the trailer, and, the distance from the centerline of the trailer axle(s) to the hitch will be relatively long meaning stability won't be an issue.

Again, for you, it's more about drag than weight.
 
Thanks very much for the thoughts.

Airduds, I am going with your advice and getting a puny Highlander. If I have trouble I will just have to borrow my wife's pickup.

Thanks again.
 
If your only towing 15 miles, like airduds said drag is the problem on the highway. I used to tow my offshore boat with a 2004 f-150 with a 4.2 litre, and that 25ft. boat was heaaavy.
 
you Guy's are right towing an Airboat is like towing a parachute especially when you have three super wide prop blades on it like I do
 
Kixky,

Unless I'm mistaken Highlander is a front wheel drive veh., I towed a 14 X 7.5 Diamondback with a Nissan Murano, FWD, without a problem. I now have a 2007 Pathfinder and the rear wheel drive seems to tow better. Like everyone else said it's not the weight, it's the drag.
 
Fatboy, you always get to the bottom line better than any of the rest of us. :lol:
They do pull hard, so I'd get at least a 3/4 ton just because you might decide to make a road trip with it someday.

One of the things that stops me from making some of the rides down South (or out to Nebraska?) is that the pickup I have now is too light. It tries, but my boat pulls it's guts out. My next GMC will be a 2500 diesel.
 
I've got a duramax diesel 04 model and it doesnt like my 18x8 Panther with a big block. The wind drag is unreal. I get 9-10 mpg and thats it. I've pulled numerous loads that were heavier but didnt have that much wind drag with a lot less effort. An 18 foot boat is heavy and will take a truck with good brakes to stop it. Yes a 3/4 ton truck will cost more up front but look at the long run, no problems with the transmission, no rear end problems and you can stop it and not be worried about plowing through a mini van full of kids.
 
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