What Size truck for a 24'er?

guess0900 · Jun 6, 2010

I'm looking at buying a 24' pontoon boat that will most likely have a bunk trailer. I will be driving through mountains long distances with this boat and am wondering if i should upgrade from a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton pickup. Is it necessary? Will this boat be to much for the 1/2 ton...even with a towing package?

xxxflhrci · Jun 6, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

We had a 24' Harris Flote Bote. We pulled it with a half ton.

fyrfightr · Jun 6, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

We have a 25' Crest with a 3.0L I/O. Pull it with a GMC Yukon with a 5.3L
Our pontoon is lighter than our 23' bowrider, but does catch more side wind, when it's windy...

weltiro · Jun 6, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

I pull my 22' Sweetwater pontoon with a C1500 350ci. It handles great. However in the mountains, I wish it was a diesel. But it does the job pretty well. I am thinking of putting a high torque cam in the truck. I think that will make it easier to pull through the hills. My previous boat was 17' bowrider. I've found the pontoon easier to pull than the bowrider.

Kitchen363 · Jun 7, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

The boat shouldn't weigh that much so a 3/4 ton is sort of pointless. What you need is a well tuned high hp V8 motor. A tranny cooler may be a good investment to have instaled too, for the mountains

If you've never pulled a large pontoon, its sort of like pulling an open parachute. So much wind resistance!

EGlideRider · Jun 7, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

1/2 ton is very adequate.

lncoop · Jun 7, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

As others have said, half ton is fine. A towing package with a tranny cooler (included w/ GMC Z71 and comparable Detroit trucks) would be helpful.

lmuss53 · Jun 7, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

One more vote that the 1/2 ton is good for that boat. The trans cooler is an absolute must, I have a towing package with the factory cooler and a second cooler that I added myself. I always turn the overdrive off when towing, unless I am on the flat open road.

papasage · Jun 7, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

i have a 1500 chevy it pulls my 24 ft great haven`t had it in the mountains . when i bought it i has a GMC caballero with a 307 and tried a ford F100 new 302 automatic it ran hot pulling it 50 miles . like they say it has a lot of wend resistant.if you going to do a lot of moutains iwould go with a biger engin than a 350 1500.

shaeleblanc · Jun 7, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

a 1500 will do fine i pull mine like its not back there with a few mods to the truck and a tow package but when the wind picks up get ready a pontoon sits up like a travel trailer camper and it is very compareable when towing. but when i hook the pontoon to the diesel i make it crap. lol

Mr Crabbs · Jun 8, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

We pulled a 3600# trailer with DW's Sienna minivan. I pull our Roo21ss (6300# travel trailer) and our 21' toon with a Tundra Crewmax with no problems.

As was mentioned earlier, pulling the 'toon is like pulling an open parachute, my Roo pulls easier.

ecru028 · Jun 8, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

I have a 1994 Monark sunspa 240 (24FT) and my 2004 z71 pull it fine. I am going to add an extra trans cooler and probly stiffer springs/shocks in the rear but other than that no problems except keeping gas in the thing. A 3/4 ton would be more fuel efficeint but not enough to justify a new truck, unless your just itching for a new set of wheels

shaeleblanc · Jun 8, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

here is a few of my 1500 with my 24 sundancer tritoon...it pulls it well just my diesel pulls it better. srry guys i am picture monkey lol

PGFISHER · Jun 8, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

302 Mustang with c4 auto pulls my 5200 lb 1958 ford f100 and 2500 lbs of boat and trailer just fine.

Mr Crabbs · Jun 9, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

shaeleblanc said:
here is a few of my 1500 with my 24 sundancer tritoon...it pulls it well just my diesel pulls it better. srry guys i am picture monkey lol

LOL, I HATE digital photography!

You can take waaaaaay too many pictures!

staydry · Jun 9, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

I pull my Sedona 25 with this...

also use it to pull my 14,000 lb 5th wheel...back to OP...1/2 ton would be adequate but I'd go with 3/4 ton to handle the mountains...GL

skargo · Jun 9, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

Why not figure it out via weight ratings? Instead of everyone saying you'll be fine, use your GVWR on your truck and your boat, trailer, and gear weight to make a truly informed decision.

lmuss53 · Jun 9, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

http://palmcityyachts.com/new_vehic...907R0&veh=157134&CatDesc=Boats&ModelYear=2010

If I'm reading this right, this Tracker 24 foot Party Barge with 40 ELPT 4S weighs less that 2100# with the trailer. I think it would be hard to find a 24 footer that isn't within the towing capacity of most 1500 pickups.

My old Ram is rated for 64 or 6500 pounds and tows my 6000 pound camper sufficiently, although I think the 5.2L V8 is underpowered for that job. It tows my 19 foot heavily loaded fishing rig with ease.

shaeleblanc · Jun 10, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

took the words pretty much out my mouth. no need to find all the gvcw and all that for a boat that shouldnt be anywheres close to a z71 towing rating.

dbrew · Jun 10, 2010

Re: What Size truck for a 24'er?

a 1/2 ton will haul it fine the question is how mutch are you going to be hauling i have a f250 with the 6.4L diesel and a fl70 for long heavy hauls. if you are in the market or need an excuse to buy a new truck it wont be worth it if you plan to haul a few times a year. if you do get a new truck i would go for a 3/4 ton at least because it is made more for hauling and will be smoother. i have hauled with a 1/2 ton and it did great i just like more truck than i will ever use for that just in case.

What Size truck for a 24'er?

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