Towing 20 hours from FL to TX

LAWRENCE Owen

Seaman
Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
61
Okay to tow? Here are the approx. numbers:
'77 Aquasport 22-2 inboard on a Continental alum. trailer.
1. naked boat weighs 1700 lbs (bare bones, no gear, top, or electronics)
2. fully dressed 350 SBC weighs 560 lbs
3. add new Mercruiser risers 60 lbs
4. add ZF63A gear 100 lbs
5. running gear (shaft, prop, rudder, fittings) 70 lbs
6. 1/4 tank of fuel 53 lbs
7. dual axle trailer with brakes 900 lbs.
Total estimated weight 3443 lbs.
2012 Land Rover LR2 says capacity is 3500 lbs
Am I missing something with my numbers?
I'm being told driven conservatively (no hills on route) I should be okay even if it totals 3700 lbs. LRover is 3.2 I6 with almost 300lbs torque and HP, and GWR is 5520 lbs. and curb weight is 4255 lbs. Thank you!
 

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
Weigh the rig before heading to Texas. You may be surprised how far off you are with your estimate.
 

JASinIL2006

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 10, 2012
Messages
5,673
Visit the scales. Likely you have more than you think.

Also, the payload (weight of everything in the tow vehicle, incl. passengers, plus trailer tongue weight) is usually exceeded before the towing capacity is.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,077
I’m guessing your #3700 estimate is closer although I suspect your closer to #4000 when all is said and done.

The vehicles 230 hp @6,300 rpm and 233 ft.ibs. @3200 rpm combine with the short wheel base is a big handy cap.

Does the vehicle have a tow package? The lack of HP will have the vehicle down shifting on every little grade.

From the sounds of it your going to need to refuel often. The 15 mpg city will translate into 8-9 mpg towing, if that.

Personably, I would find a friend with a truck. I did the under powered thing the first couple years of boat ownership. White knuckle driving gets old in a hurry
 
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LAWRENCE Owen

Seaman
Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
61
I’m guessing your #3700 estimate is closer although I suspect your closer to #4000 when all is said and done.

The vehicles 230 hp @6,300 rpm and 233 ft.ibs. @3200 rpm combine with the short wheel base is a big handy cap.

Does the vehicle have a tow package? The lack of HP will have the vehicle down shifting on every little grade.

From the sounds of it your going to need to refuel often. The 15 mpg city will translate into 8-9 mpg towing, if that.

Personably, I would find a friend with a truck. I did the under powered thing the first couple years of boat ownership. White knuckle driving gets old in a hurry
Everything you're saying makes perfectly good sense. Only thing positive I can think of is the entire route I'll be traveling is without hills or grades. But I know suffering the white knuckle experience is awful, especially for an 80-year old! I'm moving and have this 22' boat/trailer, the Land Rover, and a 15'- 20' U-Haul box truck to get to San Antonio. I think I'll consider driving the Rover there and leaving it, then flying back to Sarasota, rent the truck ... and tow the boat behind it. I would think the large truck with not a lot of heavy stuff could tow it okay. (?) I'll call and see what they say.
 

ahicks

Captain
Joined
Sep 16, 2013
Messages
3,957
When considering shipping, if you can afford to fly back after dropping the Rover, you may want to reconsider what you can afford and get some quotes. Don't forget to consider what driving that Rover yourself is going to cost. You wouldn't be spending that money if shipping.... Drive safely!
 

Harritwo

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Messages
586
I shipped a lexus RX 350 and a SeaRay 195 together from Seattle to San Angelo Tex for less than $2000 a year ago. Rough quote is $1.50/mile. I shipped a 64 Chevy Pickup from Dallas TX to Jacksonville FL for $700.00 about 2 years ago. Shop around for quotes and a lot of Hot Shots are looking for work now, they may give you a break
 

Sprig

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 2, 2016
Messages
607
That much weight, that long of a trip in summer heat you may likely fry your automatic transmission and that will be a hefty expense. Find another way to get your boat to Texas.
 

LAWRENCE Owen

Seaman
Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
61
That much weight, that long of a trip in summer heat you may likely fry your automatic transmission and that will be a hefty expense. Find another way to get your boat to Texas.
ALL of you trusted boaters just saved me over a thousand dollars, 40 hours of hauling and stress!! I found the Uship trucker group and they will come to my business in Venice, load it up and boogie it to San Antonio for $900! I can't thank you enough for your wisdom and advice. I'll be back ...!
 
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