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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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boat trailering 101

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2008 : 19:42:09

IMHO towing a C25 or a C250 Wing with anything less than a full sized 1/2 ton pickup truck is not wise. Prudent drivers will use a 3/4 ton. We tow our C250 Wing (6800lbs on the trailer) with a full size GMC Yukon - and a weight distribution hitch - and it is not really adequate. Anything can get the trailer up to speed. Controlling that 6800lbs in an emergency is beyond the capacity of anything less than a full size 3/4 ton pickup. I'm with Dave on this one.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 10/18/2008 19:42:56

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2008 : 22:40:53

Dave Bristle thinks he is the towing nazi? I once read an article that said you should never exceed 50% of your vehicle's capacity - that's a towing nazi. I guess what really bothers me is the constant refrain that anything less that a particular person drives is categorically unsafe. Sure a longer wheelbase is more stable, but I don't believe manufacturers are careless in assigning limits. My measured weight is about 15% below my limit, I'm cautious when towing, and I haven't had a serious issue in 40 years of towing various boats with various vehicles. Know you new driving limits and stay under the rated capacity. Pick the vehicle you like from those with adequate capacity.

Edited by - on

BengeB
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2008 : 06:50:15

Wheel base and weight are king. I wouldn't travel a long distance with anything less than a 1/2 ton extended cab or regular cab short box. A suburban or long expedition would also work. If you do go with a 1/2 ton a weight distribution hitch would make things much safer and more pleasant for the driver. A 3/4 ton or 1 ton don't need the hitch. I think I would like one and I drive a crew cab 3/4 ton ford. I definitely would not use a mid size SUV. The wheel base is to short. That being said if I was going 10 miles to the lake I would use one, I would not go highway speeds. I pull a c-25 wing. Maybe the water ballast loses enough weight you could get buy with some mid-size suv's but probably not as small as a grand Cherokee. When a trailer starts wagging on the interstate you would spend $20,000 in a hart beat to have a bigger rig. I have been there.

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Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2008 : 09:03:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have to say it sure is funny reading what you guys have to say about something you don't have all the facts about. It is a lot like listening to politics.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Just like this <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">A 3/4 ton or 1 ton don't need the hitch. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Got any facts to back up this statement?
A WD hitch is rated by the laod not the tow vehicle.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2008 : 10:17:16

First, this isn't nearly as bad as the political campaigns!

I'll submit that searching for "facts" here is probably a futile exercise. Everything is relative. Better is simply better.

A load distribution hitch transfers tongue weight into increased downward force on the tow vehicle's front wheels and the trailer's rear axle, both of which are otherwise unloaded by a portion of the tongue weight). Distributing between the trailer axles is worthwhile. (Several people here have noted the difference in tire wear.) Distributing to the front of the tow vehicle might not be so important with a really big tow vehicle. But again, better is better.

As the Nazi here, I only hope that everyone who doesn't believe the half-ton and 3/4-ton proponents never finds out why we are proponents.

Edited by - on

BengeB
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2008 : 07:52:17

Ok I will bite. Like I said I drive a F-250 and have towed my c-25 enough to know that you don't need the weight distribution hitch. Yes it would be better to have one. I think I implied that when I said I would like one, they do improve handling. A 3/4 ton or better handles the weight much better than a 1/2 ton do to the increased spring capacity. Have you tried both? I have. I am not going to look up the numbers because they are different for every year make and model but yes a 3/4 ton has a greater trailer tow rating than a 1/2 ton and a 1ton has greater tow capacity than a 3/4 ton. I believe I was talking about tow vehicles not weight distribution hitches. But they are great, they make a bumper pull handle much like a 5th wheel. Again I use both.
My first comment was made about the driving to fast, no trailer tie downs, to light of a tow vehicle etc. Sorry if I was to harsh.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.