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Recommendations for towing vehicles

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/20/2006 : 02:13:42

My wife and I are considering a C250 WK, and we're trying to figure out what's the best vehicle for towing the boat & trailer. I'm reasonably sure that my 12 year old Toyota PU isn't up to the task of pulling two tons of boat & trailer down the road, much less up a ramp. I'd be grateful for any advice on the subject.

Thanks,

David & Rita

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2006 : 07:05:57

David & Rita,
welcome to the forum.

There has been much discussion on this subject, so a search of the forum will turn up plenty of posts, and I know the members will chime in today.

We have a 2005 C250WB, I think you are looking at a lot more than 2tons.(Boat, Trailer, Engine, and all the stuff you'll put in the boat.)

Initially we towed 'Joint Decision' (JD) with our 1995 chevy blazer suv. We had a cooler jacket installed, beefed up the suspension and full towing package installed including a 4,000 towing hitch.
Our first trip was to pull the boat from Myrtle beach florida to just south of palm beach florida, about 160 miles. We knew the boat was behind us all the time, max speed of 54mph and felt big vehicles pass us so I would grip the wheel and hold a steady course rather than try to compensate (wiggled a bit!)

We continued to use the chevy for 6 months (june - nov) towing 60 miles to the ramp. The chevy was showing a degree of reluctance, it really felt overloaded.
Don't even ask about mpg!

So in nov 2005 we got a 2005 Ford F150 Pickup 5.9hp (sweet)
What a difference! The Ford pulls the boat+trailer up the ramp with virtually no strain whatsoever. (The chevy would grunt and groan and on steep ramps we would need extra weight in the back.)

In light traffic I have to look back often to ensure the boat is still there. The Ford mpg is really affected by traffic conditions, so we get between 9mpg and 13mpg on tow.

I think the two main factors that help with the decision are.. frequency of towing and distance.
We tow a minium of 60 miles each sail (JD sits on her trailer at the side of the house between trips.)

From our experience, go big!

Paul.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2006 : 07:49:59

5.9hp and only 9-13mpg. I do better than that on my lawn mower and it is 15hp. That must be some kind of new motor to pull 2.5 tons with ease. Just couldn't resist, I am sure you meant 5.9L which is a big motor for an F150.

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2006 : 09:46:49

I note you are talking about a wing keel, not a water ballast. The wing keel trailer by itself is 1500lbs. With the boat, and some gear on board, 6500lbs is a more realistic figure for a wing keel.

I pull with a 5.9L Dodge Durango and equalizing hitch, works great. No trouble with ramps.

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At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2006 : 16:26:23

britinusa...I assume you mean you have a 5.4L engine, Ford does not make a 5.9L. As noted above, most receiver hitches require a weight distribution system above 5000 lbs gross weight. A WK is over that for sure, and a WB is close. As sailors we sometimes ignore our tow vehicles and spend all our time, money and effort on our boats...be careful out there.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2006 : 16:30:21

I pull my Wk with a 150 4x4 crew cab. Gulp!Gulp!

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2006 : 18:59:02

Thanks for the recommendations. We'll have to figure out how to get the boat up to our lake where it can sit in a marina for the summer while we try to sell our San Juan 21. Anyone in the market for an older SJ 21 with trailer?

David

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2006 : 22:58:05

Ok, 50+ hours of work this week is taking it's toll.
5.4L Lariat Super Crew 4x4

Paul.

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GaryW
Deckhand

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12 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2006 : 02:00:30

Just to add from my limited experiences, I have towed Alpenglow (wing keel) over Donner Summit (7200 ft elevation) once each way with my 5.4L 2004 F150 very satisfactorily. I had no swaying problems from big trucks passing me. There were two highway grades in excess of 8% for a couple of miles where I slowed to 40 MPH. I also have no trouble going slowly up the 1/4mile 15% grade of our street. I believe the redesigned-in-2004 F150 is much stronger than the previous years. From all I hear, a 3/4 ton (F250, Chevy 2500) will always pull easier, but the mileage is even worse, and the ride is horrendous. If you go for a 1/2 ton pickup, get the best tow rating you can - for towing the wing keel, at least.

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britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2006 : 08:07:29

BTW, I believe the F150 5.4L 4x4 (2005) is rated to pull 9000lbs. So you should have no problems pulling that baby!

Paul

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2006 : 10:32:39

Just to jump in here, I pull my 250WK with a 2004 150 ford also. Crew cab 4 x 4. Do not have any problems at all. I had a dodge ram before this and it just wasn't the truck that the Ford is.

I pulled my 250 from Witchita Kansas to Ohio (1000 miles) when I bought her with no problems at all other than the 9 MPG! Crew cab Ford is very stable. I did get the towing option on the truck when I bought it which adds a radiator for the transmission fluid. I would add this to any truck you buy that doesn't have one. Transmissions are pretty expensive to fix these days.

Edited by - Turk on 07/21/2006 10:33:44

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2006 : 18:06:57

Wow, we're impressed with the amount of help a single post can get. Thanks for all the advice.

Does anyone tow with a Toyota Tundra V8 and if so would they recommend it? This is what I was planning on replacing my current Toyota V6 with sometime in the not too distant future. I'm not adverse to a Ford though. What about diesel vs gas? Any considerations there?

Is it kosher to ask what the fair market value on a 2002 WK is in your opinions? I searched the site and found one thread on it from earlier this year, but he didn't have a trailer, and this boat does. I've researched prices on NADA & BUC, but they don't seem to jive very well with what's being asked on Yachtworld, etc. (the asking prices are -not surprisingly- higher), and I wonder at the large disparity. The ads seem to be asking about 30% more than what the various sites are valuing them at. Also there seems to be some question of whether the trailer and engine is included in the price (from BUC/NADA), or are they to be figured separately? This isn't my first boat I've bought, but this is the first time I've gone through a broker.

Thanks for any insight you can offer.

Rita & David

Edited by - on

BAJAMAN
Deckhand

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USA
19 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2006 : 22:49:04

my $.03!!

In my opinion for any regular towing of considerable weight (6000# +) over considerable distances (100 miles or so RT) or over considerable grades (10%+) in any heat (80 degrees +), a 3/4 ton is in order. Most 1/2 tons with a V8 will tow, but it is the trans that will take a beating and the brakes don't have the stopping power of a 3/4 ton. IMHO braking is a TOP priority when towing. I own a Dodge with a cummins turbo diesel and get around 16mpg when towing 10,000# over conditions stated above. Near 20mpg when empty. Not too bad for a 3500 one ton truck. And oh so comfortable for everyday driving. You have to enjoy driving trucks to say that I guess!!

If you are only traveling short distances with little to no grades, a 1/2 ton will do the trick. be sure you get the tow package (trans cooler, higher amp alternator and battery, hitch, and wiring).

At any rate, a diesel should last a few hundred thousand miles and they get great mileage. The diesel will set you back an additional $5000 and that buys a lot of gas. For me, I also tow a travel trailer (10,000#) so a 3/4 - 1 ton is required.

I hope this helps!

Edited by - BAJAMAN on 07/21/2006 22:50:12

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2006 : 23:29:10

"I own a Dodge with a cummins turbo diesel and get around 16mpg when towing "

Ditto on my '95 Powerstroke. Not towing it gets 17 mpg around town, 20+ on the highway. Tons of torque for pulling grades. Has enough acelleration that it will out drag many cars if you put your foot into it (and short-shift).

IMHO: If you have any 'serious' towing in your future, bite the bullet and get a diesel. $5.00 a gallon gas is on it's way. You'll get the purchase premium back at resale time... but will have paid yourself back in fuel savings by then anyway.

You'll find lots of Ford/Chevy/Dodge arguments... I think the latest generations are all very well engineered. Drive 'em all and pick the one you like best.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2006 : 13:19:03

britinusa...You are correct that some F150s with the 5.4 and are 4x4 can tow 9000. The key word being 'some,' but not all. Ford has a heavy duty 1/2 ton (similar to Chevy's 1500HD) that has that capability, but the majority of F150s cannot tow that much.

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DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2006 : 13:11:53

I will say be careful when a manufacturer throws out a tow rating... IE: "Ford F150 can tow 9000 lbs."

Yes, it can...but that is the limit.... and anyone who's ever towed anything for very long know you never want to tow something at the limit. You're just asking for trouble. That being said I think the new F-150 would be able to handle the boat for most runs to the water providing you're not going up (or more importantly, DOWN) steep grades and not in stop and go traffic in the heat.

I chose to go with an F-350 dually 6.0L turbo diesel 4x4. It might be overkill, but I can relax in comfort since there is not a noticable difference between driving the truck with a boat back there or not. Also, when I park my boat beside my house I have to back it through a ~3-foot deep drainage ditch, and in 4x4 low it bascially can do it at idle. At the boat ramp when I pull the boat out I don't even have to press the gas,just hold my foot on the brake and it idles right up the ramp. To me, that extra security is more than worth the extra cost of the truck.

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At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2006 : 17:00:03

DaveC25...I have a 2007 Silverado dually, Duramax diesel, crew cab on order, ETA August. It's for a 14,000 lb 5th wheel.

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