Anyone who trailers a 26'-28' Dancer - What do you pull it with?

[KRB64]

I use a 3/4 ton 4x4 diesel and am satisfied. A duelly ton would be better obviously. I get 12mpg loaded and 16-19 empty but thats with mods and an auto.

I'd use a 1/2 ton on flat ground for that 25 miles if it was only 2x a year, with light traffic and the ramp wasn't too steep or long and the trailer brakes were good. Is your 1/2 ton a 4x4?

 

[Fishdancer]

Damn, I was hoping a 1/2 ton might do it - I hate to drive a 3/4 ton 98% of the time when not hauling the boat. Does anyone use a 1/2 ton? it's pretty near flat around here if that matters.

LK

I agree that you should be using a 3/4 ton truck if the 1/2 ton tow ratings aren't adequate. Having said that, and to answer your question - I've been pulling (flat land) my 1987 268 Sundancer the last three years to Lake Superior and Lake Michigan a few times a year (hundreds of miles) with a 2002 Chevy 1500 5.3L and the towing package. The truck has handled it just fine on the ramps and minor hills, at speeds up to 70 MPH on the interstate. It hasn't felt like the truck is working too hard except on the steepest grades. The primary issue is whether you'll be able to stop quick enough and in control if necessary, even with trailer brakes in great shape. My boat is on a dual axle trailer, assumed to total about 8000 pounds - at the limits of the tow rating for my truck. I finally got around to weighing the rig this spring and got a real shock. The boat (spec'd at 5500# dry weight) and trailer weighed in at 9600#s on a CAT scale, with 600#s of that tongue weight. It had my Great Lakes fishing gear on board, but no water and only 25 gallons of fuel so I'm guessing the published specs are unreliable at best. The lesson here is to never assume, and always measure.

I'll probably continue to tow cautiously with my current truck until I can swing a better tow vehicle. It can be done, but isn't recommended.

Paul

 

[alwhite00]

I agree that you should be using a 3/4 ton truck if the 1/2 ton tow ratings aren't adequate. Having said that, and to answer your question - I've been pulling (flat land) my 1987 268 Sundancer the last three years to Lake Superior and Lake Michigan a few times a year with a 2002 Chevy 1500 5.3L with the towing package. The truck has handled it just fine on the ramps and minor hills at speeds up to 70 MPH. The primary issue is whether you'll be able to stop quick

thanks for the info, i talked to a guy last week that tows (flat land) a 268 with a F150 and he said it's fine. Obvously a 3/4 ton would be better but it worked OK for kim.

LK

 

[Nehalennia]

I wouldn't tow my boat with a 1/2 ton. I had a very nice 1/2 ton Burb that I really liked. When I sold my 230OV I sold the Burb and picked up the '04 Chev 2500HD Silverado I have now anticipating getting a 260DA. After towing our boat every time we go out(3-6/MO from May until Oct, 1-2/MO Oct - May) I would not want to rely on the 1/2 ton to stop it. The trailer brakes on my King Trailer are great(stainless disc) but in an emergency that 1/2 would be eaten alive IMO.

I wish I had a Duramax. Mine is the 6.0L.

 

[tdappleman]

Agree with all of the comments so far - good reading. I'd add upgraded brake pads on your tow vehicle - OEM or normal parts store pads just aren't as good as performance pads. I'm running the Hawk LTS pads but if I was towing in mountains or any grades, Hawk recommends their Superduty pads (not the Ford kind but the Hawk kind.... ) Make sure you bed the pads in well to transfer some pad material to the rotors and outgas the pads.

Hawk truck/suv pads - http://www.hawkperformance.com/truck/
Here's the Hawk bedding process - http://www.hawkperformance.com/performance/burnish.php

 

[Nehalennia]

Good info Travis. That looks like a good product.

 

[laportto]

For what it is worth, i just purchased a 2000 260 Sundancer on a tandem axle Loadmaster trailer. Picked it up in Lake Cumberland, KY and hauled it back to IA behind a 2010 F150 FX4 (812 miles). Lots of hills through KY and southern IN and truck had no problems. Have since hauled it around here and no problems in or out of the water and on some windy days on the road. It's only about a foot wider than the truck and i would estimate boat, trailer, gear at about 8,500-9,000 lbs, truck is rated to haul just over 10,000. I'd hate to make an emergency stop pulling something that big with any truck, but all my experience has been very good and truck has handled it great. Love the boat and love my F150.

 

[floriduramax1]

For what it is worth, i just purchased a 2000 260 Sundancer on a tandem axle Loadmaster trailer. Picked it up in Lake Cumberland, KY and hauled it back to IA behind a 2010 F150 FX4 (812 miles). Lots of hills through KY and southern IN and truck had no problems. Have since hauled it around here and no problems in or out of the water and on some windy days on the road. It's only about a foot wider than the truck and i would estimate boat, trailer, gear at about 8,500-9,000 lbs, truck is rated to haul just over 10,000. I'd hate to make an emergency stop pulling something that big with any truck, but all my experience has been very good and truck has handled it great. Love the boat and love my F150.

The 280 would change your mind.. Lol