Towing 26ft boat - weight questions -help!

sarasotaboater · 10-23-2005, 08:58 AM

Hi all,

I'm new to this thread, so hello and glad I found it!
My question relates to towing. I'm looking at purchasing a 26ft boat (weight w/ twin outboards = 4800lbs + estimating 1700 for aluminum trailer) + 1000 lbs for misc, gear, etc. Total = 7500 to 8500lbs to be safe.

Does anyone have experience towing this kind of load with the Titan and what have been your results? I live in FL where it is all flat. Most of the towing will be local, ie from storage to ramp about 10 miles 1 way, but also a few long distance trips a year to the Keys - about a 250 mile trip one-way.

I know this is within the capacity range, but I just want to make sure the truck won't have to overwork itself. I've thrown this question out on a boating website and have gotten a lot of the "bigger is better" answers (and you'll be unsafe with that much weight behind the Titan, etc) like buying an older bigger diesel from Detroit just to tow this set-up with. Otherwise, I'm wondering why I bought a truck rated for 9200lbs that can't cabably and safely tow 8000lbs? ?????

Thanks all for your help!
Brian

Petesflht · 10-23-2005, 09:02 AM

I tow a 23' Four Winns with a 5lt i/o 4600#'s plus tandem trailer and gear. Probably top out at 7000 #'s and no problem.

grunge311 · 10-23-2005, 09:05 AM

Put it in tow mode, 4th gear only, pull out your BT mirrors and hit the water.

Old Speed · 10-23-2005, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grunge311

Put it in tow mode, 4th gear only, pull out your BT mirrors and hit the water.

i agree you will have no problems at all! i tow my 7500lbs toy hauler and i have no problems at all even in all the hills of the sierra nevada and the very very very large clumbs(over 1000 foot climbs straight up then straight down) in the oregan by the state line of california! it worked perfect i was keeping up with all the traffic and pulling away from everyone else that was towing up thoes climbs, it was nice!

Clint · 10-23-2005, 09:57 AM

I really can't imagine the trailer weighs nearly that much. I'd get definate answers on the weight of it and then the boat so you know factually where you are at. You may be much lower and will feel better about what you're pulling.

Clint

KL99SEA · 10-23-2005, 10:02 AM

You won't have any problems as long as the trailer brakes are in GOOD WORKING ORDER. In Fla. count on having to repair/replace them every other year even if you rinse them. Also remember that a 26' twin outboard boat may hold 200 gallons fuel and that alone may be 1400lbs.

Towing it will be no problem, stopping it could be.

Vyrus · 10-23-2005, 10:03 AM

There are people on this board who have towed 10000+ lbs and many people who tow near the limit. Make sure to keep an eye on your diff fluid, that is the main concern. Use Tow Mode and you're set.
-Cyrus

Clint · 10-23-2005, 10:06 AM

Check out this site http://www.shorelandr.com/ you can look at trailers made of aluminum and different weight capacities. One rated to hold 8000 pounds weighs in at 1380 pounds. You may be saving a few hundred pounds from your estimate.

Clint

92TripleBlack · 10-23-2005, 10:13 AM

Makers rate trucks 9200 lbs not because they are stretching to hit the limit, but because they want to put a conservative safe limit for the truck. The last thing they want is someone towing in their specified range having a problem and sueing them as a result. I know many are towing over 10k with no problems.

HudsonValleyTitan · 10-23-2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarasotaboater

Hi all,

I'm new to this thread, so hello and glad I found it!
My question relates to towing. I'm looking at purchasing a 26ft boat (weight w/ twin outboards = 4800lbs + estimating 1700 for aluminum trailer) + 1000 lbs for misc, gear, etc. Total = 7500 to 8500lbs to be safe.

Does anyone have experience towing this kind of load with the Titan and what have been your results? I live in FL where it is all flat. Most of the towing will be local, ie from storage to ramp about 10 miles 1 way, but also a few long distance trips a year to the Keys - about a 250 mile trip one-way.

I know this is within the capacity range, but I just want to make sure the truck won't have to overwork itself. I've thrown this question out on a boating website and have gotten a lot of the "bigger is better" answers (and you'll be unsafe with that much weight behind the Titan, etc) like buying an older bigger diesel from Detroit just to tow this set-up with. Otherwise, I'm wondering why I bought a truck rated for 9200lbs that can't cabably and safely tow 8000lbs? ?????

Thanks all for your help!
Brian

I tow a 28' Travel Trailer with a max. weight around 8700 LBS and have had no problems whatsoever. At times I forget it's back there...even on hills. The chassis is built for that kind of load and the engine?.....overkill for that load IMHO. The Dodge 2500 can tow around 12k LBS with the HEMI engine and it's not as powerful....regardless of what Dodge claims (it's down on torque compared to the Titan as well). Have fun and be sure to tow in 4th gear and in TOW MODE.

ptgarcia · 10-23-2005, 11:35 AM

My travel trailer is 8000+ lbs and I don't have a problem, even with 3 adults, 1 child, and one large dog in the cab.

Helinut1970 · 10-23-2005, 12:29 PM

I think the only problem will be pullin it back out. If you stay at the tenth street dock off of 41 or the one over at the new Mote Marine ramp you should have no problems pulling it out. They have the deep groves in the pavement. ARe you going to use the ramps in Bradenton or Sarasota?

fklentz · 10-23-2005, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vyrus

There are people on this board who have towed 10000+ lbs and many people who tow near the limit. Make sure to keep an eye on your diff fluid, that is the main concern. Use Tow Mode and you're set.
-Cyrus

I agree with what Vyrus said. I don't know what year your truck is, if it's an 04 with the old diff cover you should change it to the finned aluminum type. Also change out the fluid to synthetic oil.

When towing on long trips I stop every 100 miles os so and climb under to feel the differential for heat, never had a problem.

sarasotaboater · 10-23-2005, 02:19 PM

Thanks fklentz. I do have an 04 and don't know what dff cover I have? Is the change covered under warranty?

KL99SEA · 10-23-2005, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarasotaboater

Thanks fklentz. I do have an 04 and don't know what dff cover I have? Is the change covered under warranty?

original 04 cover is stamped steel and the 05 is finned aluminum. Alot of people have purchased the newer one and installed it. I should keep oil cooler. I believe you could do it for a little over $100 and warranty wont do it.