What is your half ton truck pulling

I used to trailer my 260DA with my 1500 Suburban twice a year only to store for the winter and launch in the spring.

Was it able to handle it - yes. Would I want to do it regularly - no. It was slow and careful and I kept a close eye on transmission temps. On the other hand we brought the boat from NJ to NY after purchase with his Ford 350 diesel and you barely knew it was back there.

-Kevin
 
I pulled my friends 26’ Regulator up a ramp with his 2003 GMC Yukon two years ago, then we trailered it a couple of miles at low speed locally.
The truck did the job, but it was noticeable enough that I wouldn’t want to do that on a regular basis or on a Highway.
He uses the truck to put the boat in the water once a year and pull it back out at the end of the season, and it’s his sort of beater truck anyway so he isn’t too concerned about it.
 
The distance you're towing the boat is important. So is the type of roads and speeds, where stopping is the key variable, IMO. Also important is the type of ramps you'll be using and how steep they are. For this part of the equation the tire grip and whether the truck is 4x4 or not, is important. Pulling up a steep and wet ramp is easier with good gripping tires and 4x4.

Whatever package of truck/trailer/boat you decide upon, check with your insurance agent to see if they will cover it. Better to do that in advance. It's one thing to get the setup that we at CSR think is what's wise. It's another to call your insurance agent after an accident and find out what they will cover.
 
Lazy Daze said:
Pontiaco... what's the maxt trailering rating for your specific truck, making sure to pay attention to axle ratio? Take that number and multiply it by 80% - that gives you a good number as to your max for normal trailering.

Next, take the boat's dry weight and add... full gas tank, options, full water, full holding tank, batteries, trailer and gear. Compare the two numbers and you have your answer.

Wagner, this thread is really about Pontiaco's situation, but if you're talking about a 2005-2009 260DA... you're way out of your league with the Lexus. That boat, wet, comes in between 11,000 and 12,000 pounds. If you have to stop fast and try to swerve... the boat will toss the truck around like a rag doll.
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Lazy Daze, i appreciate your opinion.....and sorry for jump on Pontiaco subject, i found myself on similar situation...
 
Guys, something to keep in mind is just because your truck can tow your boat doesn't always mean you should. Like Wyrman said above, a lot depends on how far you are towing and at what speeds.

Even then if your load is anywhere close to the rated towing capacity of your truck, if you have an accident when towing, a good attorney will chew you up and spit you out when you're getting sued by the other party to the accident. It just ain't worth the risk.
 
Good point about insurance. That's why, irrespective of the tow package and tow rating of the truck, verifying with your insurance company that they'll insure you, and stand by you, should that attorney come after you. I had in writing from our insurance company, not just the agent, that we were covered -- with all the particulars of the boat, trailer and truck. That was an insurance policy on the insurance policy.
 
pontiaco1 said:
Hello guys I'm getting ready to buy a boat , but for now I can only afford to buy a truck or a boat, can't do both now.
With that said I have a really power train healthy and brakes 2007 ram 1500 with the 5.7 hemi, what's the biggest both u have pull in pounds with a half ton, I'm in Florida so barely any hills here, We like the 310, but I know it a little bit pass my truck, may be the 290 sundancer, also some people have said that 310 and up are not really trailable,thanks
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I'll tell you what boats I've towed but I'm a GM guy so don't know anything about what your Ram can do.

I towed my 280DA with a 6.0, 2500HD Chev, 4.10 rear, tri-axle trailer w/disc brakes, trailer set up correctly. By GM specs I was well overweight at around 13k but the truck handled as good as you'd want, no weakness in the suspension and handling area. Where it lacked showed up in hills, not enough engine...flat towing was no problem at any speed. For best overall results I'd say my 280DA was too heavy for my truck, it should have been a diesel.

I towed my 270Sundeck with my 5.3 Yukon, tri-axle trailer w/disc brakes, proper setup. The boat dry is 5,800#. I never weighed it but with trailer probably around 8,000#. Same results as the other example, it towed well in flat country, it's weakness was not enough engine. I do think I was at max or over for what was right for the Yukon although I don't remember what it was rated for.

I wouldn't use a 1/2 ton to pull a 290DA.
 
Gofirstclass said:
Guys, something to keep in mind is just because your truck can tow your boat doesn't always mean you should. Like Wyrman said above, a lot depends on how far you are towing and at what speeds.

Even then if your load is anywhere close to the rated towing capacity of your truck, if you have an accident when towing, a good attorney will chew you up and spit you out when you're getting sued by the other party to the accident. It just ain't worth the risk.
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Thank you guys, picking up you guys brain and experience to make sure i do it right......appreciate all input.... starting changing boat, but found myself on the need to change trailer and now the vehicle as well....
 
Yup, that seems to be how it works. First the bigger boat and trailer, then the bigger truck, then the....
 
boatman37 said:
250ish is about the limits with a 1500. Like said above, if you are towing 5 miles from your house to the ramp a couple times a year then you can probably get away with it as long as their aren't any big hills. We had a 1986 250DA that had a dry weight of 4500 that we towed with a 1500 Ram Hemi easy. Bought a 2006 Crownline 250 that has a dry weight of 6500lbs. The 1500 pulled it fairly easy but I could tell it was heavier. Weighed it and with the tanks empty the boat and trailer were 8750lbs. My 1500 was only rated to tow 8600lbs so I bought a 2500. My 2500 is rated to tow 16,600 IIRC and from what I recall a 310 with trailer is right about there so not sure I would even want to tow that with my 2500 and no way with a 1500. Dock neighbor had a 2015 310 and a 2015 2500 6.0 gasser Chevy and upgraded to a 2017 2500 Duramax because the 6.0 struggled to tow it. I'm not sure a 1500 would even pull a 310 up the ramp
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This was mid March when I picked the boat from storage with my 2500.


This was last year (same truck same boat but better pic?


Here is the only one I have with the 1500 towing it. Boat/trailer is about 9000lbs in these pics
 
KevinC said:
I used to trailer my 260DA with my 1500 Suburban twice a year only to store for the winter and launch in the spring.

Was it able to handle it - yes. Would I want to do it regularly - no. It was slow and careful and I kept a close eye on transmission temps. On the other hand we brought the boat from NJ to NY after purchase with his Ford 350 diesel and you barely knew it was back there.

-Kevin
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do you trailer your 340 Sundancer ?
 
Wagner said:
lol.... not too sure if this should be the right order.... do you have any suggestion on which truck would do the job without break the bank at this point?
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My answer is going to be a bit biased because I've always like Ford trucks best so if I was looking for a truck that would tow but not break the bank I'd probably be looking for an F-250 gasser or an F-350 diesel rig. The 7.3L diesels haven't been around for awhile but if I was looking for a truck that would tow a building that would be what I'd be looking for.
 
I pulled my old 300 dancer with a 3/4 ton duramax. I did have to up my insurance to be able to do it. The trailer makes all the difference. I had a tri-axle with electric brakes so stopping was never an issue. Plenty of power. I bought the boat in Cincinnati and brought it back to north central ohio, made the trip without any issues...other than the construction I did not know about with the narrow lanes. That beam can be really wide really quick!

I would not pull anything above about 27' with a 1/2 ton gasser...
 
thank you guys, the wife say screw it and we getting the dodge 3500, now the big question is the sundancer 310 or the 340, I really like the looks of the 310 and space of the 340, have to stick to the year 2008 cause of the budged, now please keep in mind I have to drive either or 1 and half hour each way, my driving skills are pretty good , been driving a semi for the last 15 years, just know that we going to use the boat a lot, cause at this point marinas will be definitely out of the budget, thanks guys, also know I been a diesel mechanic for 20 years so I think I should be able to handle must of the maintenance
 
Something to think about is the beam. Being a truck driver I'm sure you are familiar with this but depending on the state you are in or will be going through a 340 may require a pilot car where a 310 might just require a permit. Before you make a decision I would definitely look into that.
 
boatman37 said:
Something to think about is the beam. Being a truck driver I'm sure you are familiar with this but depending on the state you are in or will be going through a 340 may require a pilot car where a 310 might just require a permit. Before you make a decision I would definitely look into that.
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copy that!!
 
pontiaco1 said:
thank you guys, the wife say screw it and we getting the dodge 3500, now the big question is the sundancer 310 or the 340, I really like the looks of the 310 and space of the 340, have to stick to the year 2008 cause of the budged, now please keep in mind I have to drive either or 1 and half hour each way, my driving skills are pretty good , been driving a semi for the last 15 years, just know that we going to use the boat a lot, cause at this point marinas will be definitely out of the budget, thanks guys, also know I been a diesel mechanic for 20 years so I think I should be able to handle must of the maintenance
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Man alive...I can't even imagine folks contemplating trailering a boat this size "regularly". Ughh. I recall the feeling of relief when launching my 24' Baja back in the day. Get her in the water, nothing more to worry about. A 340 is massive out of the water. I'd need a whisky before, during and after every trip to keep my blood pressure in a manageable range :)
 
Wagner said:
lol.... not too sure if this should be the right order.... do you have any suggestion on which truck would do the job without break the bank at this point?
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This will definitely break the bank but today I drove from Melbourne to Tallahassee and on I-95 I passed a Ford dually powerstroke towing a newish 300 w twin IO’s.

I barely passed him, he was in center lane, I was close to 80 mph!
 
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