Boat transport truck choices

[phiferpharm]

I pull my 22' Center console from Miami to here and over to Melbourne several times a year. It handled okay on the back of my Avalanche, but travels very nicely on my Ram 4X4. It's about a 340 mile trip from Miami to here one way. That trailer should track pretty well with the tri-wheel setup. Am I right in assuming it has working trailer brakes?

 

[deerefan]

I pull my 22' Center console from Miami to here and over to Melbourne several times a year. It handled okay on the back of my Avalanche, but travels very nicely on my Ram 4X4. It's about a 340 mile trip from Miami to here one way. That trailer should track pretty well with the tri-wheel setup. Am I right in assuming it has working trailer brakes?

Yes they work. We are going to use the 3/4 ton. I just feel safer that way. I am confident my 1/2 ton can pull it but do not want to be pushed around by it.

 

[LeadPoison]

Glad to see another Lousiananian in here!

I used to have a Chevy 2500 4X2 with the 6.0 and 4.10 rear end. I would occasionally pull my tractor with trailer that weighed in at 9500 lbs or so. The truck is designed to pull that much weight WITH a weight distribution hitch. That load of 9500 pounds made my Chevy SQUAT big time. I would seriously hook it up and give it a test run before you set off to Florida. I wound up selling the Chevy and bought a Dodge 2500 with the Cummins. Truck doesn't squat at all now. Much beefier suspension.

 

[deerefan]

Glad to see another Lousiananian in here!

I used to have a Chevy 2500 4X2 with the 6.0 and 4.10 rear end. I would occasionally pull my tractor with trailer that weighed in at 9500 lbs or so. The truck is designed to pull that much weight WITH a weight distribution hitch. That load of 9500 pounds made my Chevy SQUAT big time. I would seriously hook it up and give it a test run before you set off to Florida. I wound up selling the Chevy and bought a Dodge 2500 with the Cummins. Truck doesn't squat at all now. Much beefier suspension.

Yea, just found out an hour ago trip is cancelled. Good thing because i also figured out the truck does not have a wd hitch. Have a feeling i dodged a bullet here. Nice to see a fellow louisianan here too. Not many of us.

 

[capt_met]

Keep in mind I-12 and I-10 are about as smooth as a rollercoaster in Louisiana. Good choice on taking the 3/4 ton, keep your speed down till you get into mississippi. Straightest, flattest 300 mile run in the south. It will be an easy tow.

 

[deerefan]

Keep in mind I-12 and I-10 are about as smooth as a rollercoaster in Louisiana. Good choice on taking the 3/4 ton, keep your speed down till you get into mississippi. Straightest, flattest 300 mile run in the south. It will be an easy tow.

The relatively flat ride made me a little more comfortable. I know of 2 steep bridges, one in Pass Christian and one in Mobile, that had me a little concerned.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Your 4x4 1500 in low range would be the obvious choice for the ramp but not on a long haul. The 6L 2500 GM is a pretty good pulling machine upto about 12K, so that boat would be well within its range.

Back in about 05 we put my 15,600# boat in with a 4x4 2500 when I was between trucks. I had sold my truck and was taking delivery of my 06 F-350 but there was a week between the two so a buddy offered to help out. It put it in no problems but it would no pull it out even in 4 Low. Its tach was showing nearly 5,000 rpm but would not move. A small tug with a Suburban got it up the ramp and once it started rolling it was fine. I had the same thing happen with a 9,000# boat and a F-150 a few years before in 4 high but 4 Low got it out of the drink and the next day I bought my a diesel.

The 2500 was still the obvious choice for that job. Its motor and tranny are much better suited to tow that boat. I just would not want to use it on the ramp. The ramps I use there is no way I could get either one of my boats up without 4 wheel drive.

Chris

 

[case245]

i pulled a 32 foot speed boat it wieghted 10k with 2 502 in it my 2011 3500 6.0L 4.11 GEARS srw pulled it fine I WOULD SAY THE 2500 WOULD BE THE BETTER CHOICE I PULLED AS HEAVY AS 13K ON THE HILLS I KNOW IT WAS BACK THERE

 

[schoolsout]

Towed a 26' Boston Whaler Outrage that was about ~8-9k with 200 gallons of fuel with an Expedition, Tahoe and Suburban no problem for about 10 years. No hills around here, though, but we do have a bridge or two.