Largiest practical towable boat

[ChuckW]

Gotta disagree on both counts MM.

Although the boat is definitely heavy to the rear the trailer axles, in my experience are not what I would call "to the back of the trailer frame". In fact on a larger cruiser the tongue weight is significant and can benefit from a WD hitch.

Have you ever towed a tri-axle or in this a quad? They don't sway. Tandems and singles do.

 

[Someday Lady II]

Have you ever towed a tri-axle or in this a quad? They don't sway. Tandems and singles do.

Here is my set up. When I bought the boat and trailer it came with a WD hitch due to heavy tongue weight and worked very well over an 1100 mile haul back to Canada from Michigan. I highly recommend it.



When towing my friends 330 Rinker back to Canada from North Dakota we found that because the boat was loaded incorrectly on a tri-axle trailer (light on the tongue) we were adversely affected by cross winds that caused swaying at high speed. We backed off on the speed and checked the tires at frequent intervals, but the swaying (we think) eventually caused a tire blow out near the end of an 800 mile haul.

If the boat is loaded property, the anti-sway might be overkill on boats this size but the WD noticably lifted the back of the truck when we cranked up the torsion bars.

 

[MonacoMike]

Here is my set up. When I bought the boat and trailer it came with a WD hitch due to heavy tongue weight and worked very well over an 1100 mile haul back to Canada from Michigan. I highly recommend it.

View attachment 24358

When towing my friends 330 Rinker back to Canada from North Dakota we found that because the boat was loaded incorrectly on a tri-axle trailer (light on the tongue) we were adversely affected by cross winds that caused swaying at high speed. We backed off on the speed and checked the tires at frequent intervals, but the swaying (we think) eventually caused a tire blow out near the end of an 800 mile haul.

If the boat is loaded property, the anti-sway might be overkill on boats this size but the WD noticably lifted the back of the truck when we cranked up the torsion bars.

In the photo the trailer seems tongue heavy as the distance between the tire and the top of the fender seems much less on the rear than the front. There is a balance point to be found particularly if you want to get there fast. I tweek my bow stop to the inch to find the best ride. One of the missing links for towing is the lack of a sway bar on many trucks and in that case the sway feeling is not generated by the trailer as much as the body roll of the truck that starts the sway of the trailer. I love my solid steel sway bar for all driving.

I am not against the use of weight distribution hitches, I have used them for years on a travel trailer that was improperly engineered and the axles are too far forward so it and the sway bars really help. No big boat trailer I've seen needed that. I have weighed my TT both with and without WD and it moves about 250-300 lbs off the rear of the truck and on to the front axle.

MM

 

[Someday Lady II]

In the photo the trailer seems tongue heavy as the distance between the tire and the top of the fender seems much less on the rear than the front. There is a balance point to be found particularly if you want to get there fast.
MM

The trailer is tongue heavy but I believe that to be preferrable to hanging twin 7.4's further off the back of the trailer.

I really can't comment on the distance between the fender and the tires since my eye sight may not be perfect.

 

[MonacoMike]

The trailer is tongue heavy but I believe that to be preferrable to hanging twin 7.4's further off the back of the trailer.

I really can't comment on the distance between the fender and the tires since my eye sight may not be perfect.

It is usually inches that move weight off the tongue not feet so you wouldn't be moving it back that much in my experience. On my current tri-ax 2 inches forward dropped the bumper about 2 inches.

MM

 

[WahooUSMA]

Hello -

I am the owner of MREBoatTransport.com, and have over 500K miles on towing boats from 18' to 38' LOA across the US and Canada.

In my opinion, the largest practical size behind a modern 1-ton (3500 series) diesel truck is a 320 SeaRay on a triple axle steel framed trailer with good working brakes on all axles, 235 85/16 load range E rubber.

Larger than that, you really need to put the boat behind a medium duty (F-450, F-550) tow rig and gooseneck trailer is advisable. That gets up up to 380.

Beyond that you are into a semi/lowboy trailer for clearance and weight capacity.

This is a general discussion and there are exceptional people, equipment, and short hauls with no enforcement. When I leave home, my average loaded gig is 1200 miles so I don't want flat tires, bad brakes, or run-ins with the DOT.

Cheers

Mark Rinker
MREBoatTransport.com

Great info and great thread as I am currently considering stepping up to a 310 Sondancer.

My present tow vehicle is a 2500 HD Chev Duramax w/built Allison 5sp trans, air bags, which tows my 27 w/out any issues. I think my biggest concern, when stepping up in boat size will be the fact my truck has been lifted and I run 35in tires...I think the tires I am running now are a D rating.

I dont want to lowerer my truck back to stock height since I have many other mods that cost me an arm, leg, and my first born child.The lift is only 4in, do you think I could safely tow a 31' with my current set up? i am certain there are tire manufactures out there that make a 33 or 35 E rated off road tire.

Many thanks!