Towing a 2008 Sea Ray 280 with Ford F150 Harley Davidson

Ralph vaughn

Member
Nov 14, 2018
259
Atlanta Ga
Boat Info
2007 Sea Ray 290 radar & GPS, triple axle trailer. 2006 Sea Ray 280 radar & GPS & triple axle tlr
Engines
5.0 MPI closed cooling Sea Core engines & Bravo III outdrives
4.3 MPI with alpha outdrives
I plan to tow a 2008 Sea Ray 280 that weighs 8500 lbs dry. My tow vehicle will be a 2012 F150 Harley Davidson, 6.2 Liter, 434 foot pounds to wheels with a towing capacity of 11,300 lbs. Will this truck be adequate to pull a Sea Ray 280?
 
Nope - OK longer answer....Short hop on flat land without having to pull it up a ramp, sure - highway at speed for 100s of miles up and down hills surrounded by idiot drivers, no way - I wouldn't worry about the power, but I would worry about the brakes, tires(load rating) and handling......
 
When you start to run up against the max towing capacity you have to consider the parts that are going to suffer from the additional wear and tear.

If you're only going to tow a short distance it's probably OK, like Ididn'tdoit said.

When I towed my 330DA, since I didn't own any tow vehicle, I would rent an F350 from Budget Truck Rental. Pretty cheap, and much cheaper than the repairs to your F150 if you blew something.
 
My 1992 290DA was 11,500 lbs, on with trailer, loaded for the lake. I pulled it with a Chevy Duramax 2500.

I suspect your 280DA is about the same weight with trailer.

It is more about the stopping than the pulling. You are approaching or at, the "tail wagging the dog" syndrome.
 
My 2014 f150 with a 3.5 eco boost is rated to tow 11,300 lbs. It pulls my 240da great. But I’m considering getting a 260 da. There’s no way that I’ll pull it with my f150 and no way in hell I would pull a 280 with an f150.
 
Sorry a 2500 is at its limit lowing a 280. I have done it.
 
No. You will definitely be over your limit once you account for the trailer, options, gas, water, batteries, gear. And, you have twins - which is heavier than the single engine. Do the math and you'll see. The fact that it's a Harely version doesn't matter ;) Plus, keep in mind that that 11,300 is likely a rating with just you in the truck. Besides, it's generally a bad idea to tow close to or at your limit.

As others mentioned, it's less about the power (although you do run a good chance of overworking the tranny/engine), and more about the stopping. The tow vehicle should comforatably be able to handle a panic stop/emergency avoidance maneuver. That truck will not do that.

You could pull it up a ramp - using 4lo if needed - and take it around the corner to your house. But that's about it. Anything else and you risk being that "idiot driver" mentioned above.

Don't forget that it's overwide so you should have permits - once you have another tow vehicle sourced.
 
I had a 280, tried to pull it with a Dodge Ram 2500 gas. Could hardly make it up the boat ramp. Went and bought a Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel, was like night and day.
 
So my 2006 Crownline 250CR has a listed dry weight of 6600lbs. I was figuring about 1500lbs for my 2016 tandem axle aluminum Venture trailer, which puts e at 8100lbs. Figure about 500-700lbs for 2 batteries and fuel. Maybe another 500 for misc? I'm guessing 9000-9500lbs total? Sound about right?

I tow it with my 2013 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Hemi with 3.55's and 6 spd trans. My truck is rated for about 8600lbs but it tows it great. I will add that I typically tow it about 15 miles from home to marina and back and from home to winter storage and back so total about 50 miles a year. I also take the flattest route with the least hills. I will be towing it next week to the canvas shop about 100 miles away but that is all flat too.

This brings me to my question...planning to buy a newer truck this fall. Considering a gasser 2500 (probably Dodge with the 6.4 Hemi). The other option is a newer 1500 that would have a tow rating of about 10500ish.

That being said I would think an F150 with about an 11000lb tow rating would struggle to tow a 280. I would think with trailer, batteries, fuel, etc you will at least 12,000lbs
 
I tow my 1995 290 DA with twins with my 2500 HD chev but its got the tow package and 410 gears in it also so its rated 12500 lbs with the 6.2 gas engine and it tows great even up the hills here in western Pa. On thing in Pa is any trailer over 10,000 lbs you need a CDL driver license. The local police and most of the state police will leave you alone but DOT won't and the fine isn't cheap.
 
I had a 280, tried to pull it with a Dodge Ram 2500 gas. Could hardly make it up the boat ramp. Went and bought a Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel, was like night and day.

Yeah, but the Mopar is not a Ford!
(Kidding)
 
I feel like you guys are being so negative only because he attached "Harley Davidson" to the name of his perfectly good truck :):)

I own a measly GMC 1500 with the 6.2L and there is noooooo wayyyy she'd want to pull 11k more than a few hundred feet.
 
We towed my friends 28 Mako CC from Key West to Center Moriches with a F250. The boat was loaded down with gear, fuel, and of course a freezer full of fish and ice. The F250 towed it with ease. About 10,000lbs. I do not think a F150 will be adequate to tow the 280.

Lenny
 
I've pulled my 280BR in town with half-ton trucks. (I estimate her to be 10k all told - lighter than a DA) The half-tonners do fine, but I don't want to hit highway speeds.

I used Enterprise Truck for longer highway hauls. I requested a diesel, but they gave me this 250 with a 6.2. It sucked down some serious fuel, but had plenty of pulling and stopping power. What I appreciated was the heftier suspension and brakes of the truck. It was brand new, clean, comfortable, my knuckles never turned white... Another vote for renting something bigger.

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I've pulled my 280BR in town with half-ton trucks. (I estimate her to be 10k all told - lighter than a DA) The half-tonners do fine, but I don't want to hit highway speeds.

I used Enterprise Truck for longer highway hauls. I requested a diesel, but they gave me this 250 with a 6.2. It sucked down some serious fuel, but had plenty of pulling and stopping power. What I appreciated was the heftier suspension and brakes of the truck. It was brand new, clean, comfortable, my knuckles never turned white... Another vote for renting something bigger.

y4mzhL5RR8V0P_IobPaV3tmGHP99aPxpg7-8Sz0G8f_vlWVoGBXGUvzN1s2937Ak_b5EWm_maLi7W6avGvU2uKZdSFXwZi9gPP4GfPDyoOm4gtMxq3EPkSC993AmiwyFLvms4HYLCWVSrAI0YEYQOWCwQxq0hCX-ibVOpTvf-rBPppQmNbQGKIqRRNJFHijzlkf
Out of curiosity. What does it cost to rent that truck?
 
Unlike when I rent cars, I checked all the insurance boxes for the truck rental, so it was just under $120/day IIRC. I exceeded the mileage allotment, which I think is 150 miles?
 
I would feel my truck extra manly if it had logo's of a top selling apparel company on it...

MM

Wellll........... then you will love the upcoming RAM 2500 Victoria's Secret edition. Its rumored it will have lace on the dash and around the headliner and a bright red knob on the gear shift.
 

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