Just in the process of purchasing a 228 seafarer was curious about towing. Is a half ton truck going to be enough truck to pull this boat around?
Towing
- Thread starter JIMMY BALL
- Start date
Just bought a 228 on Tuesday, and towed it 75 miles at 65-70, with a 1500 Silverado 5.3. Perfectly flat, no hills east of I95 ride. Pulled easily, but the trailer had no brakes, so I had to watch my spacing. Good luck with your new boat.
I tow mine nearly 1,000 miles one way from North Carolina to Florida keys with my Tundra. It's a V8. Does a solid job .
Bloodweiser
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Crunch the numbers:
1.) The max tow rating for your truck.
2.) The estimated weight of the boat, trailer, fuel & gear. Figure on the high side when adding up these numbers to give you a cushion. My Seafarer weighed around 6K w/trailer.
When you determine the above numbers, if your on the edge of your trucks capability, what Blood stated above comes into play.
1.) Distance? Is it a ten minute pull to the ramp? If so, a marginal truck will probably be alright. If you tow long distances, like Smoky & KY Grady do with their Seafarer's, a heavier duty rig would be advisable.
2.) Hilly terrain or flat land?
3.) Ramp angle: if it's a mini Mt Everest, 4WD would be your best friend. You never need it 'till you REALLY need it.
The newer 1/2 tons can pull 9K or more. Your Seafarer will come in way under that. The older ones are rated for less.
Two more things that matter:
Make sure you have a hitch, drawbar, and hitch ball that is rated for the capacity of your Seafarer. I say this because I have a Dodge Dually with the Cummins Diesel. That truck, believe it or not, came with a 3500 lb hitch and the truck could tow 11K. What good is that?? I spent hundreds having it upgraded to the proper hitch assembly. Don't assume your hitch is sufficient for the task without checking. You are only as strong as your weakest link.
The other is your trailer. I talk about this 'till I'm blue in the face..Don't get stuck with a trailer that is undersized for the Seafarer. At minimum, it should be equipped with tandem, 3500 lb axles giving it a capacity of 7K. So many get marginal trailers and they have bearing problems, and a host of other glitches. It should also have electric brakes and heavy duty tires. Several on here have had good luck with Goodyear Endurance tires.
The Seafarer is a really cool package. Seaworthy, tow-friendly and it just plain looks cool.
I have rambled on here, which I often do. I got going, and just thought I'd cover everything I could think of that you may encounter. Good luck with your boat.
1.) The max tow rating for your truck.
2.) The estimated weight of the boat, trailer, fuel & gear. Figure on the high side when adding up these numbers to give you a cushion. My Seafarer weighed around 6K w/trailer.
When you determine the above numbers, if your on the edge of your trucks capability, what Blood stated above comes into play.
1.) Distance? Is it a ten minute pull to the ramp? If so, a marginal truck will probably be alright. If you tow long distances, like Smoky & KY Grady do with their Seafarer's, a heavier duty rig would be advisable.
2.) Hilly terrain or flat land?
3.) Ramp angle: if it's a mini Mt Everest, 4WD would be your best friend. You never need it 'till you REALLY need it.
The newer 1/2 tons can pull 9K or more. Your Seafarer will come in way under that. The older ones are rated for less.
Two more things that matter:
Make sure you have a hitch, drawbar, and hitch ball that is rated for the capacity of your Seafarer. I say this because I have a Dodge Dually with the Cummins Diesel. That truck, believe it or not, came with a 3500 lb hitch and the truck could tow 11K. What good is that?? I spent hundreds having it upgraded to the proper hitch assembly. Don't assume your hitch is sufficient for the task without checking. You are only as strong as your weakest link.
The other is your trailer. I talk about this 'till I'm blue in the face..Don't get stuck with a trailer that is undersized for the Seafarer. At minimum, it should be equipped with tandem, 3500 lb axles giving it a capacity of 7K. So many get marginal trailers and they have bearing problems, and a host of other glitches. It should also have electric brakes and heavy duty tires. Several on here have had good luck with Goodyear Endurance tires.
The Seafarer is a really cool package. Seaworthy, tow-friendly and it just plain looks cool.
I have rambled on here, which I often do. I got going, and just thought I'd cover everything I could think of that you may encounter. Good luck with your boat.
I tow with a half ton in high altitude mountain peaks no problems. Having a good braking system is more of a concern.
wrxhoon
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Probably irrelevant to you but I tow mine with a Landcruiser TTDiesel V8, no problem at all, of course a heavier truck will tow easier .
SeanC
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It all depends on the particular 1/2 ton truck... model year, how it's equipped (engine/transmission/axle ratio, etc), your expeience, etc. Some trucks will be just fine, some will struggle.
The best answer is as mentioned above - do the math. Yes... you have to do some math!
The best answer is as mentioned above - do the math. Yes... you have to do some math!
Parthery
GreatGrady Captain
I towed my 228, and 226 with a 5.3 Tahoe and a 6.2 Yukon. Both did fine.
Towing my 225 with an F-150 now. No issues.
Towing my 225 with an F-150 now. No issues.
It all depends on the particular 1/2 ton truck... model year, how it's equipped (engine/transmission/axle ratio, etc), your expeience, etc. Some trucks will be just fine, some will struggle.
The best answer is as mentioned above - do the math. Yes... you have to do some math!
This!
The only truck that matters is the one you own and will be using.
blindmullet
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I tow the 244 all over the state. It's been from Pensacola to the Keys pulled by a Tundra with the smaller v8. I get a cool 10mpg.
Lt.Mike
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Even if its a marginal set up, 2wd, no trailer brakes, and your towing locally give yourself lots of braking distance and keep the speed down you'll be ok.
I tow with a Jeep Commander AWD/4wd and a '99 Chevy K1500 4WD pickup. Towed my 204C Overnighter for years with the old Loadrite trailer w/o working brakes and got away with it but that's not saying you should. Rolled the dice with every out of town trip.
Last fall I bought a new dual axle Loadrite with brakes on both axles and the feel when stopping is night and day.
A half ton truck is size enough that the boat/trailer won't muscle it around. Your good.
A smaller tow vehicle might have the power to pull it but without the weight it will be pushed around especially on a wet road.
If I had to choose between towing with a small powerful truck and a big heavy under powered truck I'd choose the big heavy truck hands down !
On the ramp does the truck have 4wd or at least a posi rear? Green algae at the bottom of a ramp has accounted for a number of embarrassing youtube videos for 2wd tow vehicles. Straps, always use straps! Last remember that your towing, you can't drive like your not !
Sounds like a no brainer but a lot of people don't seem to get it.
Keep the speed down.
In NJ the Motor Vehicle code states towing vehicles are limited to 55mph and theres a reason for that. I'll tow a little above on the parkway, maybe 60 but we see folks towing 70+. Their just asking for it.
Your Seafarer has 2' on my Overnighter with the same beam (1' more deckspace, 1' more in the cabin).
I tow with a Jeep Commander AWD/4wd and a '99 Chevy K1500 4WD pickup. Towed my 204C Overnighter for years with the old Loadrite trailer w/o working brakes and got away with it but that's not saying you should. Rolled the dice with every out of town trip.
Last fall I bought a new dual axle Loadrite with brakes on both axles and the feel when stopping is night and day.
A half ton truck is size enough that the boat/trailer won't muscle it around. Your good.
A smaller tow vehicle might have the power to pull it but without the weight it will be pushed around especially on a wet road.
If I had to choose between towing with a small powerful truck and a big heavy under powered truck I'd choose the big heavy truck hands down !
On the ramp does the truck have 4wd or at least a posi rear? Green algae at the bottom of a ramp has accounted for a number of embarrassing youtube videos for 2wd tow vehicles. Straps, always use straps! Last remember that your towing, you can't drive like your not !
Sounds like a no brainer but a lot of people don't seem to get it.
Keep the speed down.
In NJ the Motor Vehicle code states towing vehicles are limited to 55mph and theres a reason for that. I'll tow a little above on the parkway, maybe 60 but we see folks towing 70+. Their just asking for it.
Your Seafarer has 2' on my Overnighter with the same beam (1' more deckspace, 1' more in the cabin).
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I towed my 2011 275 with my father's 2016 Tundra ext cab 4WD with the smaller 4.6L V8 and it was... marginal at best. The frame can handle the boat but that engine cannot. Basically I validated the very different tow ratings that Toyota gives the 4.6 (6500 lbs) and the 5.7 (9900 lbs).
when I bought a new trailer for my Adventure I bought a Loadrite model that would fit a 20 or 22 foot Grady. i had a choice between the 5000 pound or 5400 pound carrying capacity. price difference was a whopping 104 dollars. I opted for thre 5400 pound model. I got size bigger tire and some extra rollers...seemed like a no brainer investment