cubyray
New Member
Does anyone out there trailer a 320 with inboards I am debating, I presently have a 290 with twins and a 15,000 cap trailer for it. Thanks.
2002 sundancer 320 Trailering
- Thread starter cubyray
- Start date
Nehalennia
Well-Known Member
- Aug 22, 2007
- 10,006
- Boat Info
- 2001 310DA twin 350 MAGs, Westerbeke 4.5KW
- Engines
- Twin 350 MAG V-drives
You'll be close to 20K buy the time you have a trailer underneath her. That's a big haul + oversize + pain I would think to launch with any frequency.
beerman
Member
Why are you looking to trailer it? Boltman trailers a 320,I don't recall if it has inboards, and it is on a fifth wheel trailer. There was a 340 with inboards at our marina last year that trailered it a couple of times a year to go to the Mississippi River with it. It was almost an all day affair to get it ready. By the time they pulled it out, pressure washed it, and lowered the arch(custom) they probably had 8 hrs into it. They also pulled it with a 3/4ton Suburban with air ride and a big block(not the right vehicle). Good luck.
keokie
Well-Known Member
- Dec 27, 2006
- 1,483
- Boat Info
- 2002 310 Sundancer, Westerbeke 4.5 Genset
- Engines
- 496's, Bravo III's, 2.2:1 Gears
The most difficult issue is the width. However, with the right equipment it will tow, launch, and retrieve just fine. I've many miles over the road wirh my 310 which is very similar in dimensions and weight.
Sundancer
Well-Known Member
- Jul 20, 2005
- 2,909
- Boat Info
- 34 year old CLASSIC 300 DA, towed almost anywhere behind the Duramax Dually Crew Cab.
- Engines
- 16 cyl, 700 cu. in./Alpha I's
I tow the 300 DA every weekend. I think the 320 is only 6 inches wider than my 11 footer, but might be a little higher on the trailer? I'm right at 12' 6" where the light on the arch and the spotlight stick up. For some reason the newer boats are a LOT heavier than my old garbage scow. My gross trailer weight is around 13,500 lbs loaded and ready to go. Some of the newer boats weight that much without options and trailer.
If you have the proper tow vehicle, there isn't much difference when they get that big until you get over 12 feet and have to add pilot cars. You'll get used to missing telephone poles and signs, cringing everytime you go under a bridge that seems too low and people coming to a stop on the opposite side of the road so you can go by even when there is still plenty of room for them to pass. Launching and loading isn't much different than our 250 DA. Loading is actually easier for me since I manually crank the 300 DA two feet to the bow stop. The 250 DA required about 4 to 6 feet of cranking and I developed a large right arm at the end of each season. The 300 DA is EASIER to load!
I think the biggest concernt might be your height on the trailer. I don't know how high the inboards will have to sit to give you proper ground clearance. That might push your arch up into the gray area.
If you have the proper tow vehicle, there isn't much difference when they get that big until you get over 12 feet and have to add pilot cars. You'll get used to missing telephone poles and signs, cringing everytime you go under a bridge that seems too low and people coming to a stop on the opposite side of the road so you can go by even when there is still plenty of room for them to pass. Launching and loading isn't much different than our 250 DA. Loading is actually easier for me since I manually crank the 300 DA two feet to the bow stop. The 250 DA required about 4 to 6 feet of cranking and I developed a large right arm at the end of each season. The 300 DA is EASIER to load!
I think the biggest concernt might be your height on the trailer. I don't know how high the inboards will have to sit to give you proper ground clearance. That might push your arch up into the gray area.
Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
As with any kind of complicated question, the immediate answer is “it depends”. I’ve towed boats for about 10 years and as others stated, it’s doable. However, the biggest question is it worth it? If you account all the overhead, the prep work and the hassle I’m not sure you save anything. But, if you must, then make sure you have all proper equipment. There are no shortcuts here. If you screw up with choosing the right equipment and something happens, insurance will not cover any damages.
I’ve purchased my 320DA from FL and had it prepared for transportation to NJ. Just organizing it and getting all in line was a huge pain, then comes the fun part of actual boat prep. A full day, I’d say at least is needed to get things in order. 320DA has 11,6 beam, but the height is your biggest problem. It’s very high with the arch attached. After I took everything down from the arch it was still about 13’4” or so on the special very low profile trailer. Since I have inboards I took the props off. The only good way to handle the height issue is by installing custom hinges for the arch. I think boltman has them. If I recall, he does have I/Os (BIIIs I think). And BTW, don't forget to keep her covered. Custom cover or professional shrinkwrap.
After going through this only once I would recommend to pick the right season and take her by water and enjoy the trip.
I’ve purchased my 320DA from FL and had it prepared for transportation to NJ. Just organizing it and getting all in line was a huge pain, then comes the fun part of actual boat prep. A full day, I’d say at least is needed to get things in order. 320DA has 11,6 beam, but the height is your biggest problem. It’s very high with the arch attached. After I took everything down from the arch it was still about 13’4” or so on the special very low profile trailer. Since I have inboards I took the props off. The only good way to handle the height issue is by installing custom hinges for the arch. I think boltman has them. If I recall, he does have I/Os (BIIIs I think). And BTW, don't forget to keep her covered. Custom cover or professional shrinkwrap.
After going through this only once I would recommend to pick the right season and take her by water and enjoy the trip.
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Sundancer
Well-Known Member
- Jul 20, 2005
- 2,909
- Boat Info
- 34 year old CLASSIC 300 DA, towed almost anywhere behind the Duramax Dually Crew Cab.
- Engines
- 16 cyl, 700 cu. in./Alpha I's
Just a few pics on the trailer:
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boltman
Active Member
- Dec 28, 2005
- 1,507
- Boat Info
- 480 Sedan Bridge
"Sea Ray's Best Boat Ever Made"
- Engines
- 700 hp MANS Diesels Thundering Cathedrals of Torque!!
Yes I trailer a 320 dancer, but I have IO's and yes you'll need a trailer for lifting 20,000 pounds.Mine is a Fofth wheel trailer, you'll also need a truck worthy of the job. I haul mine with an F350 Diesel 1999 with 445,000 miles, of coarse I have this truck chipped up 60 HP. Your trailer is Under equipped, it may be able to haul 15,000 but your 320 weighs in at 14,000 pounds dry weight No nothing on board and your trailer wieghs 5000 pounds or should weigh that much, if not you have no trailer to pull this load... Fell free to PM me anytime. Oh Yeah we had the Radar Arch Hinged too, yo'll need to do that as well
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Uplate
New Member
- Oct 13, 2008
- 977
- Boat Info
- 1998 Sea Ray Sundancer 310
Westebeke 4KW Generator
- Engines
- Twin 5.7 Mercruiser Carbuerated.
Alpha 1 Drives
Quint-
Thats is simply an awesome picture! I think it will be my new desktop pic.
any idea of what size boat that is?
Mike
Thats is simply an awesome picture! I think it will be my new desktop pic.
any idea of what size boat that is?
Mike
JimG
Well-Known Member
- Nov 4, 2008
- 6,085
- Boat Info
- 2007 310 DA
Kohler 5ECD
- Engines
- Twin 350 Mags
Raw Water Cooled
V-Drives
I have the towing issue coming up also. Only good thing is I only tow twice a year... to and from the lake. My 2001 2500HD was great for the 270SE but now with the new 310 at 14,000 lbs dry, its over the limit. Not sure what to do. :huh: boltman, how much does you boat/trailer combination weight... I bet its over the limit on your F350. How far/often do you tow?
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rondds
Well-Known Member
- Oct 3, 2006
- 8,859
- Boat Info
- 2001 380DA
- Engines
- Merc 8.1s (2008)...Hurth ZF 63 V-drives...WB 7.0 BCGD (2013), Garmin 8208 & 740 MFDs, GMR 24xHD dome
If you want tons of advice from some pretty hard core trailer boaters, this is the place...
http://boards.trailerboats.com/cgi-bin/trailerboats/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi
These guys will tell you what you need, from equipment, to tow vehicles and to wide load requirements in any state in the union. I learned a lot there when I was schlepping this around...
http://boards.trailerboats.com/cgi-bin/trailerboats/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi
These guys will tell you what you need, from equipment, to tow vehicles and to wide load requirements in any state in the union. I learned a lot there when I was schlepping this around...
tdappleman
Active Member
- Dec 17, 2007
- 1,608
- Boat Info
- 1996 270 Sundancer
- Engines
- New twin 4.3's - 235hp each with Alpha 1 Gen 2 Drives
I'd recommend a new F450 - thing is rated to tow 24,500 pounds.
Sundancer
Well-Known Member
- Jul 20, 2005
- 2,909
- Boat Info
- 34 year old CLASSIC 300 DA, towed almost anywhere behind the Duramax Dually Crew Cab.
- Engines
- 16 cyl, 700 cu. in./Alpha I's
I'd give the 09's a few years to get over the new exhaust requirements. Ford and Dodge aren't doing real well in that department. The Duramax is getting a better report, but I'm not a fan of jumping in on the new technology when required by the government. Give them a few years to work out the bugs and get the mileage numbers back up a bit. The Ford is a nice looking truck though. I think they need to go back to the old powerstroke days in the engine compartment.
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boltman
Active Member
- Dec 28, 2005
- 1,507
- Boat Info
- 480 Sedan Bridge
"Sea Ray's Best Boat Ever Made"
- Engines
- 700 hp MANS Diesels Thundering Cathedrals of Torque!!
Yes the boat and trailer are over the weight recommendations from FORD, but I've chipped the truck up as I said 60-70hp, I've had the transmission rebiult to haul 25,000lbs, I've installed a larger then lie trans pan that hold 15 quarts of tranny fluid, and I maintain no more then 1200 degrees on my EGT's, there are times when I just have to take it slow up the hills, and let the engine do the work, maintaining 1100 degrees while pulling the hills. EGT's are your enemies, and heat on the tranny is also the worst, install temp gauges in order to watch both of these temps. I'm looking into the 09 450's, but for now I'll keep with my old baby F350, she's still pulling hard....
Scott1
Member
Does your insurance know you are pulling beyond the capacity of your truck? Ever weighed the entire rig (GCVWR) with normal trip load?
jitts3
Well-Known Member
As sombody who tows stuff around for a living using roads that would make most people wet their pants. Anything can be towed...with the proper equipment. It ammazeaz me that the power of the tow vehicle make it safe to tow heavy loads. It's not the engine...its the brakes. You do not have to tow 24,000 pounds up a hill at 80 MPH Back in the day you could get a chevy 1 ton with a 6 cylender! Automatic transmissions have always had trouble with heat under a hard load. Why do you think a heavy duty tow vehicle has a standard transmission? Even Class trucks that have automatics really have a servo actuated standard. Automatics are good for racing and Luxury cars. Thats about it.
Weight distribution is the second most important thing to wory about.
If you can get the boat under 13'6 your good. anything over 8'6" wide is supposed to have an oversized permit...technically.
Example
This is a 56,000 lb Overhead Crane Trolley. It was 14 feet wide. My legal registered weight is 80,000 lbs My truck and trailer has am empty weight of 35,500lbs. Under this load my actual gross weight is 91,500 LBS. Of coarse I was permitted and had to run a special route thru Milwaukee It towed down the road effortlessly. The trailer is weight rated for 80,000 on the deck. 50,000 in a 10 foot area. So despite the bow in the trailer I was well within the design peramaters. The load was placed on the trailer toward the middle for weight distribution. Now it is not dead center, it is more to the rear because of the spread axle trailer and not to overload the weight rating of the drive axles of the tractor. Now this truck has the monster 600 HP CAT and an 18 speed manual eaton fuller transmission. But that just gets me up the hill better. Its Arvan Merritor that stops her. Thats most important. I could get the same load done in a 1971 GMC cabover trackor with a 318 Detroit and a 9 speed trans. Just would take longer.
I'm not saying you should pull your 320 with a chevy S-10, but a 3/4 with proper equipment and proper weight distribution would be ok. Just I would not want to do it weekly.
Sorry about th long reply, but this is somthing I know plenty about.
Weight distribution is the second most important thing to wory about.
If you can get the boat under 13'6 your good. anything over 8'6" wide is supposed to have an oversized permit...technically.
Example
This is a 56,000 lb Overhead Crane Trolley. It was 14 feet wide. My legal registered weight is 80,000 lbs My truck and trailer has am empty weight of 35,500lbs. Under this load my actual gross weight is 91,500 LBS. Of coarse I was permitted and had to run a special route thru Milwaukee It towed down the road effortlessly. The trailer is weight rated for 80,000 on the deck. 50,000 in a 10 foot area. So despite the bow in the trailer I was well within the design peramaters. The load was placed on the trailer toward the middle for weight distribution. Now it is not dead center, it is more to the rear because of the spread axle trailer and not to overload the weight rating of the drive axles of the tractor. Now this truck has the monster 600 HP CAT and an 18 speed manual eaton fuller transmission. But that just gets me up the hill better. Its Arvan Merritor that stops her. Thats most important. I could get the same load done in a 1971 GMC cabover trackor with a 318 Detroit and a 9 speed trans. Just would take longer.
I'm not saying you should pull your 320 with a chevy S-10, but a 3/4 with proper equipment and proper weight distribution would be ok. Just I would not want to do it weekly.
Sorry about th long reply, but this is somthing I know plenty about.
wannasearay
New Member
- Dec 7, 2006
- 16
- Boat Info
- yada yada yada
- Engines
- No wonder I have not been on this board for so long!!!
Jitts3:
Good lookin Petercar, but ya need more chicken lights. I was partial to my Signature 600 Cummins, but that's personal preference (although I smoked an awful lot of kittycats, and occasionally got smoked myself). But I agree with everything you said. Many "oldtimers" can remember running a crackerbox Jimmy with a 289 Cummins pullin hills slower than you could run up it.....but it got done.
It's all about stoppin, and to some degree suspension. I don't have a problem pulling 16k with my 02 2500hd (6.0L w/ 4L80E auto), just watch the tranny temp, take it easy and make sure my brakes are adjusted correctly (and do my best to keep out of potentially bad situations).
Good lookin Petercar, but ya need more chicken lights. I was partial to my Signature 600 Cummins, but that's personal preference (although I smoked an awful lot of kittycats, and occasionally got smoked myself). But I agree with everything you said. Many "oldtimers" can remember running a crackerbox Jimmy with a 289 Cummins pullin hills slower than you could run up it.....but it got done.
It's all about stoppin, and to some degree suspension. I don't have a problem pulling 16k with my 02 2500hd (6.0L w/ 4L80E auto), just watch the tranny temp, take it easy and make sure my brakes are adjusted correctly (and do my best to keep out of potentially bad situations).
jitts3
Well-Known Member
Jitts3:
Good lookin Petercar, but ya need more chicken lights. Iquote]
The bumper was covered up with the wide load sign.
Horrible quality pic but you get the point.
Whoop Whoop....
berth control
New Member
Jitts - I could not agree more!:smt038
It annoys me when people talk about their tow vehicle in terms of the engine. I posted the same thing in another thread, a guy was wondering what engine to get in his to vehicle. While the engine is important, it annoys me when people say that you "need" the diesel or big block gasser to tow a 23 foot bow rider. I have a diesel, and I love it, but the brakes, suspension, chassis, tires, and driver are all more important than the engine - in my opinion.