Moving a Boat

[Harold_J]

My friend's Aquasport 225 (I/O Family Fisherman) has been sitting in my yard for a few years. He would like me to move it to his house (50 miles).

The boat is on a tandem axle trailer which is in solid shape and has good wheels and tires. The problem is it has no brakes. Would I be OK to tow it the 50 miles with my 2008 Chevy K 3500. The route is flat multi-lane roads with a dozen or so traffic lights. I estimate the boat and trailer weighs mid to high 4000 lbs, but not too sure about that.

 

[Hematite]

I used to pull a 3200lb boat and trailer with my 1984 Dodge W150 and had no problem other than a lack of power. The truck brakes were adequate but then I never allowed myself to get into a tight situation.
I can't possibly see how you would have a problem with your 3500 as long as you're careful, which I'm sure you will be since you were concerned enough to ask this question. This presumes that your State laws allow a load of that weight without brakes.

 

[Deaf]

I would be more worried about tires (dry rot and cracking) and wheel bearings then brakes. Keep the speeds down and the 3500 will have no issues. I would repack bearings and dble check all the tires. These are the life lines for any trailer.

Deaf

 

[Diamondpilot]

I agree. You will be lucky if you get 10 miles with the old tires and bearings. I once towed a 10,000# boat with my F-250 PSD 4x4 from the Ohio River to my home in Norther Indiana, about 100 miles, when the brakes failed due to a ruptured brake line from hitting road debris. Not fun but take your time.

Chris

 

[20 20]

Is this the type of trailer you can pump some grease into the bearings without taking it apart? I'd say you're good to go as long as the tires aren't rotten.

 

[jayste]

I agree with others. Truck=OK, tires and bearings=?

 

[biggerten]

I picture in my minds eye the need to stop rather quickly. You apply the brakes, the truck tends to nosedive because the front brakes grab first, the trailer/boat keep coming, the back of the pickup gets lifted in the air and voila' - jacknife.

Now, I know that probably won't happen. You'll probably make it OK. Probably.

 

[Harold_J]

The tires and wheels were both new when he brought the boat here 5 years ago. They are load range C, 13" tires. It has the buddy type bearing caps. What I would usually do is tow a few miles and then get out and feel the hubs to see if any one of them is heating up.

At the time he brought it here he towed it with a 2000 GMC 1-ton similar to my 2008. He said it pushed the truck pretty hard when stopping; but those years GMC/Chev didn't have very good brakes, in my opinion. The 4-wheel disk brakes on my current truck seem to have very good stopping power. We'll take it easy and see how it goes. Thanks.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Trailer tires are lucky to make it 4 years. Those tires are 6 years old if he bought the boat 5 years ago. Good luck.

Chris

 

[RobertN]

I googled for that model boat, but could only find similar models. Looks like ~3000lb 22.5' boat? That should be an easy to behind any full size truck. I am guesing it is pretty light, or else that trailer would have brakes. Especially 13" wheels... That is pretty light weight stuff.

Do you have any more specific model info? Or weight info?

As other have mentioned, I would be worried about the tires; weather and sun trashes RV and boat trailer tires. Then I would look at those bearings. Even if the tires "look" good, I would make sure I had a spare before towing it.