Wouldn't call this a great beach truck, but when I got into the Hobie 18 in 1980, Mary and I trailed it with a VW Rabbit PU Diesel, with a cap.
Kept all our gear back there in the bed, and when at the site off-loaded the gear and slept in the back, with our Golden Retriever, Nugget. Good old days.
Not pulling a trailer we got 62 mile per gallon.
However, when pulling the boat I could only keep it in high gear with a tail-wind, or drafting a truck.
I first met Jim and Deb Fredericks at the Indiana State Hobie Championships at Eagle Lake, IN. When I heard they were from Port Clinton, OH (as were we) I asked if I draft him home.
It worked.
Rick