I'm looking to get my first ziki.  What I plan to use the car for is a commuter and to tow a 14ft boat around during summer.  Going to upgrade tires to 31'' add a small turbo for low end torque and a lift kit.  Will the tranny handle the abuse or should I opt for a 5pd?  I like to get an auto for ease of driving but I like the power to hook up if you know what I mean.

Is that boat fairly light?  The tow rating on a Tracker or Sidekick is only 1000lb. 

If it is an aluminum fishing boat it can probably handle it, but a fiberglass runabout would probably be too much even for a 5spd.

I tow a small pop-up camper with my '96 16V 5spd Tracker that is probably about 1100 lbs with all the gear.  It does ok on the prairie, but it struggles on the hills.  I haven't towed with an automatic, so I really don't have any basis to compare, but based upon the performance of the 5spd, I would guess an automatic would really struggle to pull a boat.  I think the 5spd would be less likely to fail due to the extra load, but that is just my opinion.  I like the 5spd for its simplicity.  It really isn't all that inconvenient to use as a commuter.  I used my Tracker to commute 23 miles each way in the Chicago suburbs for years.  You just get used to it... 

Is that boat fairly light?  The tow rating on a Tracker or Sidekick is only 1000lb. 

If it is an aluminum fishing boat it can probably handle it, but a fiberglass runabout would probably be too much even for a 5spd.

I tow a small pop-up camper with my '96 16V 5spd Tracker that is probably about 1100 lbs with all the gear.  It does ok on the prairie, but it struggles on the hills.  I haven't towed with an automatic, so I really don't have any basis to compare, but based upon the performance of the 5spd, I would guess an automatic would really struggle to pull a boat.  I think the 5spd would be less likely to fail due to the extra load, but that is just my opinion.  I like the 5spd for its simplicity.  It really isn't all that inconvenient to use as a commuter.  I used my Tracker to commute 23 miles each way in the Chicago suburbs for years.  You just get used to it... 

I agree. I have a 96 Tracker with the 5 speed. I haul 1000# of deer feed on a small trailer with the vehicle. It stuggles on hills, but have had no problem with it!

are they ratted to pull 1000 lbs or haul 1000lbs?

are they ratted to pull 1000 lbs or haul 1000lbs?

there rated to pull 1000lbs,   I don't think you could haul 1000lbs in one

there rated to pull 1000lbs,   I don't think you could haul 1000lbs in one
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I ask because I just put a hitch on my kick and I want to know how much weight I can put on it.

My titan can pull up to 9400 but I wont. Its good to stay 20 to 25% less than the max. If you can that is.

I ask because I just put a hitch on my kick and I want to know how much weight I can put on it.

You know about trailer tongue weight, right?  If your loaded trailer weighs 1000lbs, not all of that weight is on the tongue/hitch (or at least it is not supposed to be).
If you are using one of those slide in cargo carriers on your hitch, then you definitely can't put anywhere near 1000lbs on it......or at least I wouldn't.

speaking of those carriers my dad was the man who started that. he first made one for the Sami, then one for a Duahatsu Rocky. about a year after he made his they started selling them at Costco and other places.