Towing a 2002 Sea Ray Sundancer with Ford Excursion

[AzFamily5]

Hi. Could I getting input on the safety of towing a 2002 Sea Ray 280 Sundancer with a diesel Ford Excursion? The boat is 8000lbs not sure about the trailer weight. It is a Majic Loader 3 axles steel trailer. My Excurion manual states that I can pull 12000lb. I realized I need wideload permits. Thanks for any help!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Towing a 2002 Sea Ray Sundancer with Ford Excursion

for an 8k boat.... no problem at all if your receiver, insert, and tires are up to it.... That truck should have D or better yet E load range tires..

Working trailer brakes are mandatory. How far are you going... If you are able to stay off of state and interstate highways you won't need permits.....

While I would never recommend that someone do anything illegal, I have towed three 11' wide boats each over 1000 miles one way and one of them every nice summer weekend a few miles for a few years and haven't ever bought a permit.... just FYI


Which sundancer is it.... 26' or 40' makes a HUGE difference... I'm guessing it'a a 28 based on the weight

 

[AzFamily5]

Re: Towing a 2002 Sea Ray Sundancer with Ford Excursion

It is a 280 Sundancer. The boat is near Jacksonville, Flordia and I need to get it to Phoenix, Arizona. Long trip. I thought about having it shipped, but the quotes I'm getting are ranging between $8 and $10k. Crazy expensive. We have family in Florida so not a big deal going there. Concerned about the long haul back with my kids in the truck. Is it safe to assume that I will be driving 55mph?

for an 8k boat.... no problem at all if your receiver, insert, and tires are up to it.... That truck should have D or better yet E load range tires..

Working trailer brakes are mandatory. How far are you going... If you are able to stay off of state and interstate highways you won't need permits.....

While I would never recommend that someone do anything illegal, I have towed three 11' wide boats each over 1000 miles one way and one of them every nice summer weekend a few miles for a few years and haven't ever bought a permit.... just FYI


Which sundancer is it.... 26' or 40' makes a HUGE difference... I'm guessing it'a a 28 based on the weight

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Towing a 2002 Sea Ray Sundancer with Ford Excursion

The biggest unknown in your plan is going to be your trailer. That's a long ride and lots can go wrong.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Towing a 2002 Sea Ray Sundancer with Ford Excursion

I towed my 28' monte carlo without engines (so probably 8000 lbs including the trailer) with a suburban 2500 6.5 diesel...... about 3/4 of the truck you have.... and I had the cruise set on 73 mph on flat ground and 60-65 in the little mountains...... with my powerstroke dually I can hardly tell it's back there..... could pull it at 90 all day no prob if I could afford fuel and tickets......

As long as you are proficient at towing big stuff and as I said tires and hitch are up to it you'll be fine.... I would HIGHLY recommend load range E tires.... Your truck is a heavy pig to start with before you hook it to a boat...

DEFINITELY look at the weight CARRYING capacity of your receiver..... It is very possibly only 5000 lbs ... That's what my dually had on it... I now have a $450 reese titan hitch rated for 18,000 lbs.... You don't need one THAT big but you likely do need to step up a little.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Towing a 2002 Sea Ray Sundancer with Ford Excursion

Should be no issue for the truck as long as the trucks maintenance (brakes etc) are good to go. The weight shouldn'tbe an issue. I'm assuming the trailer probably is setup with electric brakes, you will need a control module to operate the trailer brakes. The module will be adjustable so you can set the trailer to do most the stopping. Check over the trailer carefully before hauling that far though. Good luck and nice boat.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Towing a 2002 Sea Ray Sundancer with Ford Excursion

The biggest unknown in your plan is going to be your trailer. That's a long ride and lots can go wrong.

Yep... definitely allot enough time to go through the bearings and brakes on the trailer and make sure they're gtg.

Also When I hit the highway with a big boat I STRAP it down... Pick up 4 of the 2" yellow straps commonly used on semi's... one over the stern in front of the cleats.. one over the drive(s) one over the bow in front of the cleats and one more just in case.

WHEN the sheet hits the fan it's nice to just grumble at the idiot driver who ran you off the road and drive away instead of calling the big wreckers.

 

[Quit It]

Re: Towing a 2002 Sea Ray Sundancer with Ford Excursion

I have a friend with the same boat here in Jax. Very nice, must be a heck of a deal to spend a few grand on diesel.

I'm guessing you're going to be close on weight because of that steel triple axle trailer and the boat's weight (probably it's empty weight). There's a scale about 15 miles away - slip me a note and I'll get it weighed

 

[AzFamily5]

Re: Towing a 2002 Sea Ray Sundancer with Ford Excursion

Thank you all! Appreciate all the answers and will definitely take advise. It's cheaper to buy upgraded tires and pay for all the gas than to have it shipped. So Florida here we come!

Should be no issue for the truck as long as the trucks maintenance (brakes etc) are good to go. The weight shouldn'tbe an issue. I'm assuming the trailer probably is setup with electric brakes, you will need a control module to operate the trailer brakes. The module will be adjustable so you can set the trailer to do most the stopping. Check over the trailer carefully before hauling that far though. Good luck and nice boat.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Towing a 2002 Sea Ray Sundancer with Ford Excursion

Thank you all! Appreciate all the answers and will definitely take advise. It's cheaper to buy upgraded tires and pay for all the gas than to have it shipped. So Florida here we come!

And pick up a couple spares for the trailer while you are at it.