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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

F-150 or F-250?

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Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/30/2008 : 09:02:23

What kind of truck do you need to tow a C-25 on a trailer? I understand that you need a Ford F-250 or equivalant. How come a F-150 isn't sufficient? Is it lack of horsepower, lack of suspension, or something else?

Thanks,

Bruce Baker
Falls Church, VA
"Yee Ha" 3573
'83SR/SK

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 09:12:22

Bruce,

There are dozens of posts regarding tow vehicles. Give the search function a try.

In the interim, I think the consensus is that you need enough vehicle to truly control (not just pull) the weight of the boat and trailer in all circumstances. (You know, down hill, rapid stop, etc., etc.) Some F-150's will be adequately equipped for the task but most won't. My personal opinion (which is possibly worth about as much as you're paying for it

, is that more is better. I'm a belt and suspenders kind of guy.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 13:08:59

We tow a 250WK with a 1/2 ton GMC Yukon - not the extended "Suburban" model. It is only adequate and we would like to replace it. Getting going is no sweat but you need to think what vehicle will give you control if you need to do an emergency stop/manuever at 60MPH. I would go the 250 route but a 150 would be adequate if you get a long wheelbase model. The wheelbase length is important to maintain control. That is the chief drawback of our Yukon.

Needless to say, working brakes are essential on the trailer.

The longer you wait the cheaper these rigs are getting due to hgh fuel prices.

Edited by - on

Oksky
1st Mate

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Canada
40 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 14:01:06

Well I use a Ford 1 ton dually diesel for ours. More is definately better. We picked the boat up in Arizona a few months ago and had a trailer tire blow in the middle of the desert at highway speed and I believe the only thing that kept us on the road was the truck, and lucky there was no on coming traffic. I had to use both lanes and shoulder the keep it straight.

Edited by - on

skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 14:15:55

Ever been goin down the road pulling a heavy load and you go over some riffles in the road. Trailer starts to sway just a little bit. Then it gets goin side to side a little more each time and all of a sudden that anchor on the back which weighs as much or maybe a little more than the vehicle you are sitting in is pulling the back of the truck from side to side. As my friend would say "first you think it then you do it". That is not fun. So you need a vehicle up to the task.
But on a more serious note, I think there are several factors that go into a tow vehicle: powerful enough engine, big enough brakes, tough enough springs, correctly geared differential, transmission cooler, etc. Vehicles are rated on towing capacity by pounds. I doubt you will find a F-150 rated to pull 6000 lbs which is what you are pulling with a Cat 25 and its trailer. You will find, however, F-250s that will be rated to pull this much. Of course it also matters where and how far you are pulling this load. If you live in Iowa and are going 50 miles to a nearby lake you can get away with a lot less than if you live in Colorado and are pulling several hours to a reservoir up and down mountain roads. My personal choice is a F250 super duty with a diesel engine and a rear differential geared down for trailering. This has the guts, cooling, suspension, and brakes to handle this kind of load. Luckily, around here, a lot of people pull goose neck horse trailers with several horses. That easily adds up to more than 6000 lbs so there are vehicles to be had.

Edited by - on

larry drake
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 14:46:05

Hi, we have a 2007 WB250 that we pull with a 4x4 Dodge 2500, 3/4 ton. Was pulling it with 1/2 ton two wheel drive which just acquit. With the 4x4 we have no problems pulling the boat out of the water with a full tank of ballast. If you have a choose I would go with a 3/4 or 1 ton 4x4 for the water ballast model.
Larry

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 17:06:15

Define tow. My 2000 Mountaineer does a fine job twice a year, 35 miles per trip, 0 degrees incline.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 17:23:23

If you tow much distance at all an Equalizer hitch is a great thing to have. I spreads the load to all the tow vehicle wheels and acts to prevent/minimize sway. If your trailer starts to sway you will get nervous for good reason.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 17:52:04

Do the numbers if you want to stay within the manufacturer's recommendations. Check the tow vehicle's GVWR, GCWR, tow capacity, vehicle cargo capacity and go from there. Find the Catalina's GW (with trailer), tongue weight, etc.

I tow a 14k 5th wheel with a diesel dually...you can never have too much truck.

Edited by - At Ease on 05/30/2008 17:52:41

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 21:08:51

the only spec that matters, is the ability to stop.

I've towed, launched and retrieved mine with a Chev 1500 2 whl drive,and had no problems because it was country roads, and my speed never exceeded 50 MPH (80KMH) and the ramp was concrete.

I've towed over the Rockies with a Chev Gas 2500 4X4 and not had any issues, and I've had a blown trailer tire that made the trailer fish tail.

The ability to stop is more important than anything else.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2008 : 22:07:57

We tow our C-250 WK with an F-250 diesel. The truck weighs roughly 7000 lbs, has the tow package, and had it's trial by fire no more than 15 minutes after leaving the PO's house with the "new" boat. We were doing around 55 mph behind another guy towing a tent trailer on 26 in Oregon. He had been weaving around on the road like he was talking on a cellphone while looking for something in his glove box or something. I'd given him plenty of space between us and as we headed into the next town, he put on his left blinker, moved left into the dual-turn lane in the center of the road, slowed down (and I consequently caught up), then he made a right turn into a parking lot, crossing three lanes of traffic, right in front of me! I slammed on the brakes, the truck drifted into the dual-turn lane which is probably what saved us, as the rear end of his trailer flashed right by Rita's door. Had we had a smaller truck, the trailer would have been pushing us wherever it wanted to go, as it was, I sprayed brake fluid from the trailer's brake actuator all over the rear of my truck, and nearly sprayed other fluids all over my seat. More is better.

Edited by - delliottg on 05/30/2008 22:08:37

BFTEagles
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2008 : 08:22:36

Your biggest issue is that you are considering a Ford. Go Chevy and you won't have any problems...

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2008 : 09:03:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">We were doing around 55 mph behind another guy towing a tent trailer on 26 in Oregon.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

For you non PNWers highway 26 is a two lane state highway that goes over the Cascade mountains in Oregon. Fast and steep. Scary story, Dave, but very to the point.

We towed our C250 from the PO's home in Iowa to Oregon and crossed the Rockies and the Cascades. Our Yukon had the engine, transmission, rear axle etc to handle the terrain but I still wouldn't recommend this vehicle and I intend to replace it. It is not about power - it is about control and braking. Heavier is better and longer is better. We plan to buy a 3/4 ton full-length pickup. This is, in my opinion, a good vehicle for towing a 25/250. The Admiral wants a 1 ton dually.

Edited by - on

quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2008 : 13:43:10

I use my friends Yukon, and Ive used my Toyota 4 Runner, both were plenty, the Yukon is a V8 and the 4 runner a 6

Edited by - on

quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2008 : 13:45:46

better yet, have someone else tow it,,,,,

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2008 : 15:23:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by quilombo
 ...Ive used my Toyota 4 Runner, both were plenty...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Maybe to go around the parking lot--otherwise, no. Too short. A small surprise could make the C-25 push it around like a toy, especially if the trailer brakes lock up. See David's story above.

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At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2008 : 16:29:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stampeder
 the only spec that matters, is the ability to stop.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Anybody who has done any serious towing, knows ALL the numbers matter. Get on one of the RV forums and ask what happens when over loaded, in an accident, and are at fault. The liability issues are huge...not to mention personal and family safety.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2008 : 17:09:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Frank Hopper
 Define tow. My 2000 Mountaineer does a fine job twice a year, 35 miles per trip, 0 degrees incline.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
and I have electric brakes on the trailer to keep the rig in line. My wheelbase is too short, my brakes are too small, my weight is too low, but all together I have a functional rig for my needs.

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