Towing - Windshield & Door Open?

G

Gary Lewis

New Member
Feb 19, 2015
153
Tulsa area
Boat Info
Tabs, Halon, dual batteries & switches, & aluminum trailer. Towed w/a 2015 F150 w/3.5L EB
Engines
6.2L MPI w/BIII spinning 22" Hill Marine FourX4's
I'm in the last phase of preparing for our tow from Tulsa to/from Lake Powell, and have two questions:


  1. Should I close the windshield and the door between the bow and the passageway? Does one way or the other reduce the drag?
  2. Any other tips?

Just for background and to make sure we don't have to cover this ground:


  • I've towed to Powell two other times so know the route/road fairly well
  • I'm towing w/a 2015 F150 with the 3/5L EB engine, HD tow package and all the bells and whistles, and it is rated to tow twice the weight of the boat/trailer combo
  • Have new electric brakes on both axles and both the brakes and the controller will be properly adjusted
  • Tires are new and properly inflated
  • Spare tire will be in the truck
  • Bearings are new and well packed and the nuts are torqued properly
  • Lug nuts are torqued properly
  • Tongue weight is adequate
  • The trailer will be level when attached to the truck
  • The Bimini will be down and strapped that way
  • Lights are all LED and work
  • I'll have the snap-on covers off for the tow
  • Everything will be out of the boat and in the truck to ensure no sticky fingers go shopping
  • I have locks on the hitch, the latch on the coupler, and around the Bulldog hitch itself
  • The boat is secured fore and aft with the appropriate ratchet-style tie-downs

Thanks in advance!
 
Closed. I wouldn't want that thing flopping around on me while in tow. And I don't think you'd notice a difference in drag if there was one.
 
What's the weight of your trailer & boat combo ?
Check your manual. 5000 lbs. max unless equipped with a Weight Distibuting hitch set-up.
This is for any warranty issues.
I bought Reese SC for mine.
Whenever the trans. decides to spit out it's innards (hopefully it doesn't) I can just say to Ford " yes, properly set-up, please fix on you dime."
Just double check for any cushions that might get lifted out on the highway.
My '01 210 Sundeck was right around 5000 lbs & had no issues behind a 5.4 litre at the time. Your 3.5 EB will have gobs more torque.
Current F150 has a 5.0 & still more torque than the 5.4 ever did.
 
Importmonkey - I guess I should have specified that I would tie the window down. But, point taken.

Steve - The 2015 F150 Owner's Manual has only one page that mentions "weight-distributing hitches" - Pg 263. And it doesn't say when one is required, just how to adjust it. But, I'll peruse the manual more closely as well as ask on Ford Truck Enthusiasts, where I hang out, to see if anyone knows of a warranty requirement. But, to answer the question, the Sea Ray brochure says the dry weight is 4200 lbs, and Magic Tilt says my aluminum trailer weighs 800 lbs. So, I'll be over 5,000 - but not all that much as almost everything will be out of the boat for the trip. We'll have used almost all of the gas before we go so it'll be empty, and will have everything that isn't bolted down in the truck under lock & key.


Thanks, guys! Keep those cards and letters coming in.
 
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Close the windows and doors and make sure the window is secured.

You will have no issues with the truck towing it. I've pulled our 270DA with the same year truck/engine set-up with ease.
Recently pulled an enclosed trailer weighing in at around 9,000 from Michigan to Florida and back with no problems.
Just don't expect good mileage, we got around 8 to 10 at 75 to 80mph and 10 to 12 around 65 mph.

Eco-boost tip:
On that long trip I personally recorded a 2 mpg increase running premium fuel (91 or 93 octane) in the truck when towing on the way back.
Does not seem like much but when your that low it's a 25% increase.
Based on the added per gallon fuel cost you still end up ahead.
I researched this is one of the few engines that sense and adjust for the octane difference.

Have a safe trip!
 
I've checked the owner's manual extensively and it doesn't say anything about at what trailer weight you need a weight-distributing hitch. What it does say, multiple times, is "Do not exceed a trailer weight of 5100 pounds (2313 kilograms) unless the vehicle is equipped with the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow package or the MAX Trailer Tow package." My truck does have the MAX Tow package.

KC - Thanks! Good to know how well the truck will tow. I'm going to cruise at 65 MPH, so is the 2 MPG on top of your 10 - 12 or already figured in? Like 10 MPG w/o premium and 12 with?
 
Gary Lewis said:
I've checked the owner's manual extensively and it doesn't say anything about at what trailer weight you need a weight-distributing hitch. What it does say, multiple times, is "Do not exceed a trailer weight of 5100 pounds (2313 kilograms) unless the vehicle is equipped with the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow package or the MAX Trailer Tow package." My truck does have the MAX Tow package.

KC - Thanks! Good to know how well the truck will tow. I'm going to cruise at 65 MPH, so is the 2 MPG on top of your 10 - 12 or already figured in? Like 10 MPG w/o premium and 12 with?
Click to expand...

Yes - 10 with 87 octane and 12 with 91/93 octane.
Actually I forgot, with my test the trailer was carrying about an extra 5000 lbs running back with the premium and getting the 2 mpg increase.
I'm guessing you will be around 12 cruising at 65 mph.

Transmission Note:
I ran with the transmission in tow mode and selected limiting it to 5th gear keeping the turbo boost down.

Another thing that helps mileage on a long haul is a cockpit cover or full trailering canvas.
When towing our 22 Pachanga back in the day I noticed a significant increase when the full cover was on.
Even with our race boat, just the cockpit cover made a significant mileage difference on the cross country trips.
Keeps the boat inside cleaner too - especially if it rains.

Again - safe travels!
 
Well, over on FTE one of the guys was sure the owner's manual said 5000#, max, on a weight-bearing hitch. He knows the previous manuals had that. But, he confirmed that the 2015 doesn't have that. However, I found a link in the owner's manual to Ford's RV & Trailering Guide, and it says that 5000# of trailer and 500# of tongue weight is the max before going to a weight-distributing hitch. And, as it turns out, if you slide under the truck the hitch itself says 5000/500 max. So, I am right on the line. But, everything I've read says the truck will do well with our boat and the fairly light load we'll have, so we are going the way it is.

As for a cockpit cover, I have the snap-on bow and cockpit covers the boat came with. But, they are 14 years old and have some frayed spots, so I'm loathe to risk it. My fear is that they'll disintegrate or come loose while towing, so I think we'll stow them while underway and put them on at night or when storing the boat.
 
I also think you will want it closed. I notice that my snap in carpet wants to take flight with the window open-and that is at speed on the lake-not highway speed. It does not do this with the window closed. I would also vote for the covers but understand your reluctance.
 
Tdgard- Thanks. Closed it shall be. Both the windshield and the passageway door.

As as for the covers, have any of you towed with the snap-on covers? Do they stay on?
 
Agree, close the window and door. I forgot once and almost lost a section of my carpet that covers the floor storage. It gets very turbulent back there with the window/door open.

As for the towing -- I'm sure you will be fine. I tow my 4000#, 23'2" Cobalt at least twice a week with my 2004 Tahoe and it's completely comfortable. I hardly notice it behind me.
 
Tonka - Thanks. Must be unanimous - close the door/window.

Back to to the cover(s) - I'm wondering if they might survive if I reinforce the frayed areas, use the poles that hold the covers up to shed rain, and put a couple of ratchet straps around the boat. The poles allow me to tension the covers so there shouldn't be much flapping. And the straps would ensure the cover can't come off.

Thoughts?
 
Gary Lewis said:
Tonka - Thanks. Must be unanimous - close the door/window.

Back to to the cover(s) - I'm wondering if they might survive if I reinforce the frayed areas, use the poles that hold the covers up to shed rain, and put a couple of ratchet straps around the boat. The poles allow me to tension the covers so there shouldn't be much flapping. And the straps would ensure the cover can't come off.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

If the covers are in decent shape, you can absolutely trailer with them on. I always use the bow/cockpit covers when towing. Every boat I've ever owned, along with the many, MANY other boats I've towed over the years. Family members, along with customers, too. The key is, as you mentioned, the cover needs to be taught. Use the poles - but no need for other straps. I do make it a habit to check on them once in a while, along with bearings, tires, etc.

Do you have Velcro where the cockpit cover and bow cover meet at the base of the windshield? Check it's condition - the UV Ray's wreck havoc on it.

BUT, if you want to be 100% sure, get it shrink wrapped. If you cut it off in just the right way, you can reuse it, too.
 
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Gary Lewis said:
Tdgard- Thanks. Closed it shall be. Both the windshield and the passageway door.

As as for the covers, have any of you towed with the snap-on covers? Do they stay on?
Click to expand...

YES use the snap on covers. this would help as much as any thing with gas milage ,keep most of any rain out, keep your stuff from blowing away, keep sun and prying eyes off interior. we never tow either boat without cock pit cover installed.

another yes to close every thing you can.

towed our 230 weekender many many miles with a 1/2 ton yukon xl. it plus the trailer full of water, fuel and belongings, weighed 7500.

are you launching at bull frog or page?
 
Personally I like to save the wear and tear on my covers and tow with them off. As for towing I towed my 250 DA with a 2004 F150 no WD hitch no problem for 7 years. I now tow a 185 Sport (much lighter than your load) with a 2014 VW Touareg. But that is likely less than 5k and the tow capacity is 8800#
 
dpvandy01- Thanks. Towing w/o the covers was my plan initially. But the guys here are persuading me otherwise. I want the covers on at night when we stop enroute, as well as when the boat is stored at The Canyon - see below. So, the easiest way to do that is to tow with them on. And then there's the benefit of MPG and cleanliness.

garRy :)grin:) - Thanks to you as well. As for where we are launching, it'll be Page/Wahweap. We've done the Bullfrog thing, and went the short way out of Mexican Hat - up the switchbacks. Yipes!

But, there's more to the story. We are headed to the Grand Canyon first, and are riding the mules down, spending the night at Phantom Ranch, and then riding back up. We'll be there three days and have arranged to store the boat while there so we can use the truck to tour. Then we will grab the boat and head to Powell to meet my brother and his wife.

They are are checking out the houseboat that morning and will head up the lake about 11:00. We hope to be on the water at 1:00. In 3 hours they should get 30 miles, so at 2:00 should be close to Dangling Rope. In 1 hour we'll go 30 miles, so should catch them there. :thumbsup:

I've to many, many countries and have seen a great deal of the must-see sights. But seeing Lake Powell from my own boat is one of the best of all of them. Can't wait!
 
Lazy Daze - Sorry, I missed your post. We do have the Velcro at the base of the windshield, but it is tenacious so must be in good shape. Thanks for the advice.
 
Gary Lewis said:
But, there's more to the story. We are headed to the Grand Canyon first, and are riding the mules down, spending the night at Phantom Ranch, and then riding back up. We'll be there three days and have arranged to store the boat while there so we can use the truck to tour. Then we will grab the boat and head to Powell to meet my brother and his wife.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear you're storing your boat while doing the Grand Canyon. I don't think those mules come equipped with a hitch to tow your boat up and down the canyon! They probably don't make a weight distributing saddle either! :smt101

+1 on towing with the snap covers. I've towed mine at 70 mph and they don't even flap around.

Enjoy the trip. It sounds like a great adventure. Take pictures!!!!!
 
We will take pics, but since I can't post them on here for some reason all I'll be able to do is post links.
 
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