GENERAL TOWING RECOMMENDATIONS/EXPERIENCES

[dpmil]

New to the forum. I recently purchased a 1994 252 Sailfish. The boat did not come with a trailer and I presently do not own a vehicle capable of towing it. I would like to get any and all recommendations/experiences with trailers (I can figure out weight requirements, width, length, etc.) and tow vehicles (1/2 ton or 3/4 pickup, etc)
Thanks ahead and Happy New Year to all

 

[Grog]

1. Get a good trailer (10K capacity)
2. If it's a short level low speed not too often haul, a 1500/150 (with highest tow options) will do. Otherwise get a 2500/250 HD/SD and a diesel if you're going to tow a lot.

 

[my retreat]

tow vehicle

I have a Nissan Armada and love it!! It is rated at 9700lbs tow capacity and is very comfortable for my wife to drive as well. I tow a 27' islander.

Good luck

 

[jekyl]

I bought an All American, bunk/alloy trailer, tandem axle for my 265 Express and it tows really well behind my Toyota V8 Auto Landcruiser.

We launch at various ramps and always power the boat onto the trailer with no issues.It took us about 4-5 launches to get the bunks set up right.

The Light BMT weight is right on the limit for the Cruiser but as long as you don't want to go any faster than 80kmh or 50 mph it does it easily.

I have towed it as far as 1000 miles in one stretch with no probs.

My Cruiser is 4 years old has 220,000 k's on the clock and has had no problems at all ever!

 

[TBone]

Triple axle aluminum I-beam trailer, Chevy 2500 Duramax/Allison.

 

[Kenlahr]

Loadmaster pulled with a Dodge 2500 6.7Cummings Mega Cab. Contact Gary for a custom design! Best trailer I have owned!
Ken

Gary R. Straw II
Assistant General Manager
www.loadmastertrailerco.com
loadmaster@cros.net
phone 800-258-6115
fax 419-732-2183

 

[gw204]

'93 Sailfish 252G on an '06 Hi-Tech 10,200 lb GVWR (8,700 lb. carrying capacity) tandem. Kodiak discs on both axles.

Tow vehicle was an '03 Ram 2500 quad cab 4x4. 5.7 HEMI, 5-speed auto and 4.10 gears.

If you're not planning on distance pulling all the time, there is no need to for a diesel truck. My HEMI had plenty of power for everything I asked it to do. Triple axle is overkill in my opinion as well.

I pulled 400 miles one way on the above setup and it was a piece of cake.

 

[dpmil]

Thanks all for the good information. Looking at a used Dodge Ram 2500 on Wednesday.

The trailer information has been great as well, but I have learned there are many more "options" available. I sent an e-mail to Grady, and although they would not recommend a particular trailer, they did recommend choosing a NMMA certified dealer.

The research continues.

 

[CJBROWN]

What Grog and Tbone said.
Towing that much weight with a half ton truck or SUV is inviting trans and diff failure, if not immediate, certainly down the road. They are not built heavy duty enough to handle that much weight. As mentioned, for down the block to launch, may be ok, but over the road a 3/4 truck is the way to go.

Aluminum bunk trailers are very popular and save quite a bit of weight over a galvanized steel. The Kodiak brakes are far superior to Tie-Down, I have the latter, I know. Magic-Tilt are a big name, I have a Road King, they are also good trailers. There are several brands out there, get one from a local dealer that can set it up for your boat - will save you some headache.

The diesel trucks get much better fuel economy than gas, and have a lot more torque for pulling. But they cost more to buy. With the economy values are way down. You can get a nice Duramax right now for well under $20G's, and they have the Allison trans which is the best available. The only thing good on the Dodge is the motor, it's great, the rest of the truck sucks (did I really say that? :shock: )and the values are way low. The older big-block Powerstrokes are also good. There are some steal-deals on 3/4 ton 'burbs right now too, make a great cheap tow rig.