• Think Over Boat Tow Vehicle Features

• Drive Home a Boat Tow Vehicle

• Find Boat Tow Vehicles on eBay Motors

• Buy Boat Tow Vehicles With Confidence

Think Over Boat Tow Vehicle Features

Think Over Boat Tow Vehicle Features

The SUV or pickup truck you choose as your tow vehicle has to handle the job of towing your boat. First, consult your owner's manual or dealer to find the combined weight of your boat and boat trailer. Then compare it to the listed towing capacity of the vehicles that interest you. Remember, for safety the combined weight of your boat and boat trailer should be no more than 80% of the listed capacity.

Boat tow vehicle body style

Truck or SUV? Extended cab? Your lifestyle largely determines boat tow vehicle body style.

• Pickup trucks: Pickup trucks can handle larger loads, such as fifth-wheel trailers, so if you have a big boat, you'll likely need a pickup.

• Extended cab pickup trucks: Extended cab pickup trucks give you more passenger room, but can reduce payload capacity (because of a shorter bed).

• SUVs: SUVs generally provide softer rides and make it easier to lock your gear away safely at the launch ramp.

Boat tow vehicle drive type

Two-wheel drive vehicles can handle most towing situations, but most experienced tow types prefer either four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive for better traction on slick launch ramps. A two-wheel drive, however, will usually cost less, weigh less, and get better gas mileage than a four-wheel-drive model.

Boat tow vehicle side mirrors

Side mirrors should be as large as possible to deliver the widest possible field of vision. Also look for extending side mirrors, so you can better adjust them to give you a full view of both tow vehicle and boat trailer. Best of all are two-part mirrors that have a large, flat mirror and a smaller, convex mirror that can reduce or eliminate blind spots.

Boat tow vehicle torque vs. horsepower

You want as much torque and horsepower as you can get. However, boaters who have to start towing on inclines may find torque the more useful measure of an engine. Higher torque means more power to turn the crankshaft and get the truck and trailer moving from a dead stop. Focus on torque, then on horsepower.

Drive Home a Boat Tow Vehicle

Drive Home a Boat Tow Vehicle

Twelve 2005 tow vehicles can help you and your boat trailer get anywhere, in style.

Find Boat Tow Vehicles on eBay Motors

Find Boat Tow Vehicles on eBay Motors

Once you know what pickup truck or SUV you want, go to eBay Motors, click Passenger Vehicles, and start shopping on eBay!

• Categories: Use the Categories list on the left side of the page to narrow listings by car make or model.

• Passenger Vehicles Finder: The Passenger Vehicles Finder on the left navigation bar allows you to narrow listings by make, model, year, and transmission type.

• Search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words by entering keyword terms into eBay's Search box. You can also search using the Advanced Search feature on eBay Motors or search within categories by using the Search by eBay Motors Category option, which allows you to specify make, model, and year range as well as other options specific to vehicles, motorcycles, and parts. If location is important, try searching by distance in miles or ZIP code.

• Compare: Mark the checkbox next to each passenger vehicle item listing that interests you and click the Compare button to view and compare listing and product details side-by-side.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Boat Tow Vehicles With Confidence

Buy Boat Tow Vehicles With Confidence

Hundreds of pickup trucks and SUVs on eBay Motors will likely interest you. When trying to select the right one, get to know exactly what you're buying, research the seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal can help protect you.

As with all major decisions, in buying a passenger vehicle you will want to conduct your own due diligence to make sure you get full information and the best advice possible.

Know your purchase

Many sellers put a lot of time into creating their listings, making an effort to ensure they include all the information buyers need. Carefully read the details in listings for the vehicle(s) you consider buying and carefully review available photos. Before placing a bid or buying an item, be sure to:

• Have all your questions answered. If you still have questions after reading the listing and reviewing the photos, contact the seller using the Ask seller a question link in the “Seller information” box in the top right corner of every passenger vehicle listing. Also request additional photos if you want to see the vehicle from a particular angle that isn’t shown in the photos included in the listing. If you have more questions than you can address in email, ask for the seller’s phone number and call him or her. Some sellers even include their phone number so you can call them directly. Just remember that you need to actually bid and buy on eBay to be covered by eBay protection programs and pay with PayPal in order to be covered by PayPal protection programs (see "Buyer protection" below for more details).

• Run a vehicle history report: By running a vehicle history report on a used vehicle you intend to purchase, you can learn about the history of the vehicle, including accident reports or title brands such as "flooded" or "salvage."

• Get the vehicle inspected: An independent third-party inspection can validate a seller's claims about a vehicle's condition. eBay Motors recommends arranging a 150-point vehicle inspection through SGS Automotive.

• Consider additional costs: Remember to consider other potential costs such as title, registration, and state taxes. Once you purchase the vehicle, be sure to complete all of the title paperwork and pay any required taxes on the vehicle. Please note that this information varies by state and vehicle type. Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office for more information on taxes, title transfer, and registration.

• Get delivery details. Calculate and include delivery costs into your final price. This may simply be the cost of driving across the city or state if the vehicle is close-by or it may mean working with a shipping company that can transport the vehicle from anywhere in the country. To learn more about shipping costs, ask the seller or contact DAS, an eBay Motors-approved vehicle shipping service.

• Track items with eBay Toolbar. Use the free eBay Toolbar to track items you bid on and watch. It includes Account Guard, a feature that indicates when you're visiting a verified eBay or PayPal website and warns you when you enter your eBay password into an unverified site, even if it looks like eBay or PayPal.

Know your payment options

Always complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay and PayPal protection programs (see "Buyer protection" below for more details).

Never pay for an item using instant cash wire transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know. Instead, pay with PayPal for amounts less than $2,000 (including deposits), a money order, or direct bank-to-bank fund transfer.

• Provide eBay with your credit card information: You are required to have a credit card on file with eBay if you bid more than $15,000 for an item. You will be notified that you need to provide this information when you bid. Allow yourself some extra time if you are bidding during the last minutes of an auction. Your credit card will not be charged; instead, eBay uses it to confirm your identity—a safety measure to help protect both you and the seller.

• Apply for financing: eBay, together with several top lenders, can help you get the financing that you need. Visit the eBay Financing Center to arrange financing before you bid or after you buy or to calculate monthly payments.

Know your seller

Just as important as researching your passenger vehicle purchase is getting to know the seller. Take time to research the seller so that you can feel positive and secure about every transaction. Key things to look for when evaluating a seller are:

• Positive Feedback. What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have? What do buyers and sellers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Sales history. Find out how long the seller has been a registered eBay user and look at the types of items a seller typically sells. It’s okay to buy a car from a seller who hasn’t sold one before — many of the car listings on eBay are from individuals selling their own car. If the seller’s feedback seems low, take the time to look at the Feedback details; sometimes a seller's Feedback looks low until you realize that they’re a car dealer and their Feedback count comes entirely from vehicle sales.

• Terms and conditions. What are the terms and conditions of the sale? Are the terms agreeable to you? Sellers typically set terms and conditions, but you should make sure you agree with them. If not, find another seller/vehicle or contact the seller to find out if he/she is open to your suggestions.

• Good communication. Once you’ve initiated communications with the seller, how is he/she communicating with you? Is the seller courteous and professional? Is the seller responsive? Once you bid on a big-ticket item such as a passenger vehicle, communicate with the seller through My Messages in My eBay. All legitimate Second Chance Offer messages will come through My Messages and not to your email address alone. Always contact the seller before accepting a Second Chance Offer, and never respond to any request to send money via Western Union or other instant cash transfer service.

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event a problem arises during your transaction, you can typically work it out with the seller. However, if you can’t, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection up to $20,000: Most vehicles purchased through eBay are automatically covered against fraud and material misrepresentation up to the cost of the vehicle or $20,000 (whichever is lower) with eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection. To qualify for this safety program, complete your transaction on eBay with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer and see additional terms of the eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection.

• Put down a deposit with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay up to $2,000 without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. Also, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. While $2,000 may not be a high enough limit for the full purchase price of most vehicles, it's great for deposits (many sellers require a deposit on a passenger vehicle within several days of the close of a listing).

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the eBay Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.