Towing a big boat...need advise.

[herb10]

I am looking to buy a 270 Sundancer. The dry weight is 7500 lbs. Does anyone know what the actual weight will be with the engines and outfitted w/ standard equip? This boat has a 7.4 Bravo III. It is sitting on a 2300 lb Prestige trailer. I have a Chevy 2500HD w/ the 6.0 which manual says will pull 10,100 lbs. I am worried I do not have enough to pull it. However, I am curious as to why my same truck with either the 8100 V-8 or the Dura Max diesel is rated to pull 12,000 lbs. The bigger motors are only a few more hp's bigger with more torque. Is the larger rating given due to this? Sorry so long, but I want to do this right. Thanks

 

[JB]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

Hi, Herb.<br /><br />I suspect that the difference in tow rating has nothing to do with the engines, but with transmission and differential.<br /><br />That said, I think you will be alright towing that boat with your Chebby, as long as you think like an old woman about speed and braking distance.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

I second JB. You should be fine, especialy if it is on an aluminum trailer. That will ease your overall weight just a little.

 

[RC Hammer]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

I tow a 5300 lb rid with a GMC Yukon with the 5.3 Ltr and 3.73 rear end. It pulls like a champ. I assume that you have the tow/haul option that gives you a few extra revs prior to shifting - huge help. My trailer brakes don't work either but the 4 wheel disk brakes really do a nice job, but am repairing my trailer brakes this spring as it makes me a little nervous.<br /><br />You should have no problem with the 6.0 and the heavier suspension.

 

[DJ]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

Can you pull it, YES. Can you stop it-who knows.<br /><br />Make sure the trailer has brakes on BOTH axles.<br /><br />Look at your weight this way.<br /><br />Boat: 7500 lb.<br /><br />Boat equipped (fuel gear, fluids, etc 9000 lbs.<br /><br />Add a trailer and your over 10K. Remember, your vehicles tow rating is based upon ONE person in the vehicle.<br /><br />You are at the MAX. If you do decide to do this, I would be VERY careful. Drive sensibly, allow lots of room and hope for the best. You are REALLY stressing that truck.

 

[elcamino12sec]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

The reason your vehicle is not rated to tow as much as the others whith different motors is because your 6.0 is designed to make peak power at around 5000 rpm, and not designed to do this on a day to day basis, your biger motors are designed to make peak power at a lower rpm, what they are designed to do, all in all, your truck should do a good job for pulling your boat, but if your going to pull a tractor to a job site 5 days a week, than invest in a low reving, large cubic inch gas hog, also, make sure your trailer has breaks on both axles.

 

[herb10]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

Thanks for all the advice. I only plan to tow 1-2 times a year, the rest of the time she will be slipped at the marina. Sounds like I should be O.K. as long as I take my time. Looking forward getting her. Thanks Again.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

If you are concerned, which I wouldn't be, Trailer it over at 2am when there is little or no traffic. This way you won't feel compelled to match traffic speeds and can drive at your own comfort level. If the ramp is closed, hell sleep in the boat.

 

[herb10]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

One more thing, what do think about weight distributing hitches and sway control. Any reccomendations?

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

I would be more concerned with a proper tongue wt. and wt. distribution. With this properly set you won't need the sway or wt. distribution setups. This, considering you are only trailering twice a year. Getting this set up on your rig will be greater that $1000.00. <br /><br />I don't see any real upside to the additional costs with regards to the safety of a properly loaded rig used twice a year. The additional cost would make renting a larger, dually style diesel truck for the couple of hours a year you are talking about a better idea.

 

[BrianTindall]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

Your 2500HD 6.0L will be fine. My parents tow a 33' travel trailer from Florida to Jersey every year with a 2001 2500HD 6.0L. The loaded trailer is right at the rating. The 6.0L handles it fine. Would the 8.0L be better at it, YES. For 2 or 3 round trips a year, keep $35,000 in your pocket and drive carefully!

 

[Arnold96]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

Based on the specs. you quoted, I don't really see how you could do this without a weight dist. hitch. Not sure if I-boats sells or not, but if not, JC whitney has them for under $500. With that much weight I would get the anti-sway for about $80 more. It makes a huge difference in how well it pulls. I had one on a 7000# camper and it made a big difference. I seriously doubt your receiver is rated for 10000#'s without this type of setup anyway.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

He doesn't need a weight distribution hitch, it won't do a thing for him. Its not a question of having to redistribute tongue weight, he's way within limits for that. Besides that, how is he supposed to run anything other than electric brakes if he were to switch to a weight distribution hitch?<br /><br />Anyway on the weight, I think you might be estimating a bit low. I had mine weighed one time when the boat was completely empty of anything, just the boat and the trailer. It came in at 6,600 pounds while hooked to the truck (truck off the scale of course). That put it right at 7,000 pounds empth with the tongue weight, add fuel, ice, bait, and gear and we are easily rolling down the road a lot closer to 9,000 pounds. This is with a 23' walkaround with an 8.5' beam. So you might see what I mean when I say your estimate for that considerably larger boat might be a bit low.<br /><br />I pull mine with a Ford SuperDuty, Power Stroke Deisel. It is adequate even in the mountains. No gas powered trucks need apply around here anymore.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

Hey, some of you blokes are getting a bit ahead of yourselves. Check the dates on your computers. It's still only the 16th here & we're a day ahead.

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: Towing a big boat...need advise.

Opps, I've done it again. The posts were nearly a month old - not a couple of days early<br /><br />Joe