I am considering a move from a CC to a walkaround. Looking at walkarounds (228, 232, 248) but need something that can be trailed about 4-8 times per year on flat land about 2 hrs away. Most of the time the boat will be in a slip/lift. I like the 228 since it is much lighter and seems like a no brainer for a half ton but the two bigger models offer more room and perhaps a better ride due to the length in the water. I believe all 3 can be powered by a single powerplant. I'd be looking at used. Your thoughts?
Is the 232 too big to trail with half ton truck?
- Thread starter snicker
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most 1/2 ton trucks can now handle between 6-8k pounds.....need to calculate your total loaded trailer weight to see where she tips the scales.
I was talking to my Grady dealer today about towing the Gulfstream and learned a few tidbits I didn't know. For example, we all know that the Gulfstream is over-width and requires a permit to be towed on the road. What I didn't know is that in VA and NC, you can't tow during at night, on holidays or on weekends. I haven't verified this but it, along with some other Gulfstream factors like weight is making me reevaluate my ideas.
With an F-150 for a tow vehicle, I think you're limited to the 228 which will weigh in excess of 5000 lbs wet and more after you get all your stuff aboard. Add in the trailer weight and you'll be close to max capacity. Don't know anything about a 248 but I'm guessing it will be over the truck's capability.
Gary 89 Overnighter
With an F-150 for a tow vehicle, I think you're limited to the 228 which will weigh in excess of 5000 lbs wet and more after you get all your stuff aboard. Add in the trailer weight and you'll be close to max capacity. Don't know anything about a 248 but I'm guessing it will be over the truck's capability.
Gary 89 Overnighter
9-3 on a 232....that's an interesting ratio for that sized boat....my sailfish is 9-6 and that's wider than most 25 footers...I guess some red flags and a chase car are in order!
It is a GREAT combo..beam/length..Great ride and very stable at drift.
In answer to the question, I went from a 3/4 454CID Chev to a Dodge Cummins Dual Wheel when I got my 232.
keep in mind, I tow full fuel, fully loaded, ice in the coolers, etc. Plus, the trailer weighs 2000+
My scaled weight is 10,100 lbs. Yours most likely will be less, but in any case, a 1/2 ton is too light for the 232.
In answer to the question, I went from a 3/4 454CID Chev to a Dodge Cummins Dual Wheel when I got my 232.
keep in mind, I tow full fuel, fully loaded, ice in the coolers, etc. Plus, the trailer weighs 2000+
My scaled weight is 10,100 lbs. Yours most likely will be less, but in any case, a 1/2 ton is too light for the 232.
Double check your oversize regs. In CA, as long as you're under 10' there are no restrictions, just the flags and oversize banner required. Oh, and the $90 permit. Wouldn't want to try it on busy freeways though. You could always just pretend it's at legal width - the trailer is under, only the rub-rail is over and it's 6' high. Lot of liability if you have an accident though, may not be worth it. "Gee officer, I didn't realize it was over legal width." Or worse, "Gee your honor..."
You might tow a heavy boat a few times with a light truck before it pukes the trans or diff. I see boats with under weight rigs all the time out here, like 40' Scarab behind a half ton truck. There are some steal deals on diesel pickups right now, good time to trade. I'm a duramax diehard. :wink:
You might tow a heavy boat a few times with a light truck before it pukes the trans or diff. I see boats with under weight rigs all the time out here, like 40' Scarab behind a half ton truck. There are some steal deals on diesel pickups right now, good time to trade. I'm a duramax diehard. :wink:
I trailer my 330 express in florida and the limits are 1/2 hour before sunrise til 1/2 hour after sunset, sat and sun til noon, and no movement on holidays, permit cost 10. per trip. I also pulled an 87 trophy pro with a tower with a half ton suburban regularly with no problems the beam on the trophy was 9'6" I think anyway that was the biggest boat I pulled on a regular basis with a halfton, hope this helps
The laws in NC have changed. You can now tow up to a 10' wide boat woithout a special permit. They do howver have some reqirements for safety markings on the boat such as marker lights at the widest point at night.
BTW --- I tow my 232 with a 1/2 ton Suburban just fine. I only wish I had more then a 5.3 engine. A 6.0 engine with 3:73 gears in a 3/4 ton would be PERFECT!
The 3/4 also comes with 17' wheels and a much higher trailer load rating.
Remember --- The tow vehicle is only as safe as the person driving it. Try to get a trailer with 4 wheel disk brakes --- Makes a HUGE difference in stopping ability. Some states require brakes on all wheels, so check the local codes.
BTW --- I tow my 232 with a 1/2 ton Suburban just fine. I only wish I had more then a 5.3 engine. A 6.0 engine with 3:73 gears in a 3/4 ton would be PERFECT!
The 3/4 also comes with 17' wheels and a much higher trailer load rating.
Remember --- The tow vehicle is only as safe as the person driving it. Try to get a trailer with 4 wheel disk brakes --- Makes a HUGE difference in stopping ability. Some states require brakes on all wheels, so check the local codes.
All good posts with good tips. I trailer my Gulfstream about 2,000 miles per year out of Atlanta (9'3" beam). Typical trip to Destin and Hilton Head is 5-7 hours depending on destination. I bought the new Tundra specifically for this type of haul with 10,400 trailering capacity. Other 1/2 tons were not adequate or borderline. For the short trips you are doing, your wear will be minimal even if you are borderline capacity on your 1/2 ton choice of vehicle. The new Sequoia, not cheap, has similar trailering capacity with same engine/ chassis as Tundra. If you don't opt for the Gulfstream.....your choice of vehicles dramatically increases. Good luck on your decision and keep us posted!
Oh.....one more thing. Anyone towing over their trailer capacity involved in an accident usually lands in a heap of trouble if insurance or police investigate. Common sense, but, something to consider when loaded up with fuel and gear that all factors into final weight.
The 4.10's really help the Suburban. If you're going 2 hours each way 4-8 times a year, I'd get a used 3/4 ton. You can pick one up relatively cheap and will be more capable than any 1/2 ton.
Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota can all do 10K (the rear in the Nissan isn't designed for that much) but they aren't designed to be doing 10K for long periods.
Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota can all do 10K (the rear in the Nissan isn't designed for that much) but they aren't designed to be doing 10K for long periods.
Thanks. I sort of thought the 232 would require a bigger tow vehicle to be legal and safe. The 226/228 seem to be the better fit since I like to take an adventure every once in awhile when I get bored with my local fishing grounds. If I went CC, the 247 is legal but at 4045 dry weight it will be probably pushing the limit for most half tons as well........w/exception of tundra which could be my next vehicle.
Half Ton Truck?
I routinely pull my 254 Sailfish (about every other weekend) from Chattahoochee FL to Appalachicola FL a distance of 97 miles one way. My Sailfish weighs about 5500 pounds plus 125 gallons of fuel (another 750 pounds) 25 gallons of fresh water(another 200 pounds) 10 to 15 rods, and several hundred pounds of ice and other supplies. The boat is on a galvanized trailer which is fairly heavy. When I got the boat my plan was to upgrade to a least a 3/4 ton diesel, I decided that I would try it with my 1/2 ton Dodge just to see if it would pull it. I was suprized at how well the 1/2 ton truck handled this boat. I was convinced that I would never be able to pull it back up the steep boat ramp on Lake Seminole where I launched the first time. Wrong, that little Dodge came up that ramp like a tiger. There were other guys there pulling pontoon boats with one ton dualies who were sick to see that they had too much truck and that I had just enough. To each his own. My Grady White friend (GW VOYAGER) just up the road pulls his 248 Voyager with a half ton Ford similar distances to the Gulf. We both have big engines and towing packages on our trucks. If you want a bigger truck, by all means get one but, that half ton will surely pull that Boat with no problem!
I routinely pull my 254 Sailfish (about every other weekend) from Chattahoochee FL to Appalachicola FL a distance of 97 miles one way. My Sailfish weighs about 5500 pounds plus 125 gallons of fuel (another 750 pounds) 25 gallons of fresh water(another 200 pounds) 10 to 15 rods, and several hundred pounds of ice and other supplies. The boat is on a galvanized trailer which is fairly heavy. When I got the boat my plan was to upgrade to a least a 3/4 ton diesel, I decided that I would try it with my 1/2 ton Dodge just to see if it would pull it. I was suprized at how well the 1/2 ton truck handled this boat. I was convinced that I would never be able to pull it back up the steep boat ramp on Lake Seminole where I launched the first time. Wrong, that little Dodge came up that ramp like a tiger. There were other guys there pulling pontoon boats with one ton dualies who were sick to see that they had too much truck and that I had just enough. To each his own. My Grady White friend (GW VOYAGER) just up the road pulls his 248 Voyager with a half ton Ford similar distances to the Gulf. We both have big engines and towing packages on our trucks. If you want a bigger truck, by all means get one but, that half ton will surely pull that Boat with no problem!
232
I trailered my 2000 gulfstream about an hour and a half through MA without a problem. With the 9'3" beam I was supposed to have a "wide load" permit but I had one of my buddies follow me and didnt have a problem.....plus i doubt any cops even know that rule, nevermind would know that a boat 23' long would be close to 9' wide. I pulled it with a 2003 chevy regular cab 1500 and it had NO problem. So take that for what it's worth.....
I trailered my 2000 gulfstream about an hour and a half through MA without a problem. With the 9'3" beam I was supposed to have a "wide load" permit but I had one of my buddies follow me and didnt have a problem.....plus i doubt any cops even know that rule, nevermind would know that a boat 23' long would be close to 9' wide. I pulled it with a 2003 chevy regular cab 1500 and it had NO problem. So take that for what it's worth.....
I pulled mine 232D with my Tahoe, 5.3/3.73s. It would do the job, but on secondary roads with hills it was not fun. Did ok on the interstates, but really marginal truck for a loaded 232.
I had rear air bags which helped. A Suburban would have been much better, or a long WB pickup. The Tahoe got pushed around.
232 is wide, but really not that big of a deal, except toll booths were a little tense. I did not use the trailer guides though. The stuck out another 4 inches past the fenders and I was worried I'd rip off a mailbox in my neighborhood.
I had rear air bags which helped. A Suburban would have been much better, or a long WB pickup. The Tahoe got pushed around.
232 is wide, but really not that big of a deal, except toll booths were a little tense. I did not use the trailer guides though. The stuck out another 4 inches past the fenders and I was worried I'd rip off a mailbox in my neighborhood.
I tow mine with an '09 Silverado half ton and it works great. Towing every weekend 30 miles one way and once a month 90 miles. Get a good trailer with disc brakes and make sure the boat is balanced and it won't pull the truck around at all. Guys always think they need to flex their muscles on how big their truck is or say how unsafe everyone is without a semi towing a 232 but if you know what you are doing there is no difference with a 232 behind you or not. I had the same question when I bought my 232 and everyone tried to say you need more truck. Extremely glad I didn't listen. If it is your everyday truck that tows on weekends it is a no brainer.
