Towing at near max for your truck

W

William White

New Member
May 13, 2022
14
Boat Info
2010 SeaRay 260 Sundeck Tow with 2018 Ram 1500
Engines
350 Mag Bravo 3
I tow my SeaRay 260 Sundeck with a 2018 Ram 1500 with 5.7 Hemi with a tow rating of about 8800 lbs. I guess the boat weighs about 5600 with a near full tank of gas, plus the trailer is about 2000lbs? It tows it ok but it does not want any more weight than that. If I have to go a longer distance I am on pins and needles hoping that I don't get a flat tire, or other problem. Along the way if I get a chance, I check the wheel hubs for heat. I keep them greased but there is always a potential for a problem.
 
When I towed, I always carried a trailer spare with the appropriate jacking tools. My dual axle trailers I used a ramp to roll the good tire on and the flat would be up in the air. Bearing buddies and you should be good to go. Now you don't indicate your location which would determine if you have enough truck.
 
A digital temp gun is your friend for the hubs (or the old standby, grab a hold of it). I usually check at every stop and check if all the hubs are same temp.
Keep the tires inflated to what it calls for on the sidewall. Carry a spare and tools to do a tire change. I carry a floor jack when towing.
 
William White said:
I tow my SeaRay 260 Sundeck with a 2018 Ram 1500 with 5.7 Hemi with a tow rating of about 8800 lbs. I guess the boat weighs about 5600 with a near full tank of gas, plus the trailer is about 2000lbs? It tows it ok but it does not want any more weight than that. If I have to go a longer distance I am on pins and needles hoping that I don't get a flat tire, or other problem. Along the way if I get a chance, I check the wheel hubs for heat. I keep them greased but there is always a potential for a problem.
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You Guess? at your tow weight? Why would you do that?
Everyone underestimates weight unless just off the scale. The tow number is max. under perfect conditions. If you exceed that your insurance may be void.
 
5168 dry weight for your model
65gal gas about 422
20gal water about 160
So 5750 before personal gear
Trailer empty weight should be on label on the tongue
 
If you have a Pilot nearby you can weigh your boat and trailer. I think you are well within spec. I towed a 230 bowrider with a 97 Ram 1500 with the old 5.2 (318) in the hills of WV. I was within 200 lbs of my max tow capicty.
 
I am probably 1000 lbs under my max tow weight and only tow for 1 1/2 from my security lot to the dam of the lake I use. Just saying if the rare occasion comes up that I would tow any distance it can be nerve racking somewhat. I know people pull campers all over the U.S. but I always worry about the what if's. This just came up because I just towed to my house for a spring cleanup, changing the outdrive lube, etc. (30 miles each way. Not a big deal really. Some people go bonkers when you post anything)
 
Our 2006 Crownline 250CR lists a dry weight t about 6600lbs. I weighed it on the CAT scaled and was at about 8900lbs. Trailer weighs 1300 so boat was 7600lbs but it was loaded as it would be in the water but only had about 25 gallons of gas in it. So I'd figure about 500-1000lbs heavier than dry weight for a ballpark estimate but head to a CAT scale and weigh just your truck then the truck and trailer then you will know exactly what you are towing.
Here is mine with just the truck and then with the boat and trailer. And remember to add that 680ish lbs of tongue weight back to the trailer to get your actual trailer weight


 
Yes, your boat weighs about 1000lbs more than mine. I am over estimating my trailer weight also if yours is only 1300lbs. I am well under my max tow weight. I am just saying I would not want to tow a heavy boat or even a camping trailer for much distance on a regular basis because of all the problems that can come up. Reading camping forums I see they have tons of issues with towing. Also, they have lots of mechanical issues with both motorhomes and tow type campers. My boat dry weight is only about 5165. As a boater for over 50 years, I have replaced wheel bearings on the side of the road. It is not fun.
 
Last edited:
Juliery said:
You Guess? at your tow weight? Why would you do that?
Everyone underestimates weight unless just off the scale. The tow number is max. under perfect conditions. If you exceed that your insurance may be void.
Click to expand...
Why would you say that insurance may be void? If that was true the insurance industry could get out of most claims. Stupidity is insured.
 
Shenanigans77 said:
3500 Chevy Duramax and you never have to worry about what is attached to the hitch. :D
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The direction the cost of owning/operating a diesel is headed, the worries may start to lean more towards what's in front of the hitch.
Love the Dmax in my tow vehicle though. Also run a 6.7 powerstoke daily in the service truck.
 
William White said:
Yes, your boat weighs about 1000lbs more than mine. I am over estimating my trailer weight also if yours is only 1300lbs. I am well under my max tow weight. I am just saying I would not want to tow a heavy boat or even a camping trailer for much distance on a regular basis because of all the problems that can come up. Reading camping forums I see they have tons of issues with towing. Also, they have lots of mechanical issues with both motorhomes and tow type campers. My boat dry weight is only about 5165. As a boater for over 50 years, I have replaced wheel bearings on the side of the road. It is not fun.
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My trailer is an aluminum tandem axle Venture so if yours is steel it may weigh closer to 2000lbs
 
MonacoMike said:
Why would you say that insurance may be void? If that was true the insurance industry could get out of most claims. Stupidity is insured.
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Insurers "get out of" any claim where the insured is in breach. All insurance policies demand that you must comply with the laws and the contract conditions. Trucks and trailers have maximum load limits dictated by the manufacturers. Law in all jurisdictions and the insurance contract requires you to conform to these limits. If you exceeded them without issue, no harm, no foul.

However, you have an accident, oops. You broke the law and breached the conditions for insurance. No coverage for you and you will likely suffer in court, especially if your negligence caused injury. The insurance company will not defend you. Is that clear enough, Mike?
 
Juliery said:
Insurers "get out of" any claim where the insured is in breach. All insurance policies demand that you must comply with the laws and the contract conditions. Trucks and trailers have maximum load limits dictated by the manufacturers. Law in all jurisdictions and the insurance contract requires you to conform to these limits. If you exceeded them without issue, no harm, no foul.

However, you have an accident, oops. You broke the law and breached the conditions for insurance. No coverage for you and you will likely suffer in court, especially if your negligence caused injury. The insurance company will not defend you. Is that clear enough, Mike?
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Got any proof of this in the US? Never heard of this ever being done. Is that clear enough for you?
 
William White said:
Yes, your boat weighs about 1000lbs more than mine. I am over estimating my trailer weight also if yours is only 1300lbs. I am well under my max tow weight. I am just saying I would not want to tow a heavy boat or even a camping trailer for much distance on a regular basis because of all the problems that can come up. Reading camping forums I see they have tons of issues with towing. Also, they have lots of mechanical issues with both motorhomes and tow type campers. My boat dry weight is only about 5165. As a boater for over 50 years, I have replaced wheel bearings on the side of the road. It is not fun.
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I agree there are a lot of problems towing, but most of what I see are with blown out cheap Chinese trailer tires. They sit for years, rarely get used, are cheap, non-DOT passenger rated tires and come apart. I only use Goodyear Endurance tires of one load range higher than factory spec on all my trailers. Lost a few on the road until I got that figured out.

Next are wheel bearings because the owners don’t PMI them by pulling the hubs, packing with fresh grease, and replacing the seals on a regular basis. Hot wheel hub doused in cold water at the launch. I had to change a few on the side of the road also before I finally got into my thick skull to keep up with maintenance.
 
DWABoat said:
I agree there are a lot of problems towing, but most of what I see are with blown out cheap Chinese trailer tires. They sit for years, rarely get used, are cheap, non-DOT passenger rated tires and come apart. I only use Goodyear Endurance tires of one load range higher than factory spec on all my trailers. Lost a few on the road until I got that figured out.

Next are wheel bearings because the owners don’t PMI them by pulling the hubs, packing with fresh grease, and replacing the seals on a regular basis. Hot wheel hub doused in cold water at the launch. I had to change a few on the side of the road also before I finally got into my thick skull to keep up with maintenance.
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Carlisle tires are very good tires..
 
MonacoMike said:
Got any proof of this in the US? Never heard of this ever being done. Is that clear enough for you?
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I can't dumb this down any further. Geez, Mike - just get out your glasses and read through your policy. Or ask any insurance adjuster. Are you really that thick?
 
Juliery said:
I can't dumb this down any further. Geez, Mike - just get out your glasses and read through your policy. Or ask any insurance adjuster. Are you really that thick?
Click to expand...

So you have no proof. You are just an internet bully that would not have the balls to say that to any man in person. Clear enough.
 
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