Towing 260DA

MedicA

Member
May 7, 2018
35
Boat Info
2005 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer

No Trailer
Engines
Mercruiser 350 w/ Bravo III
I am curious if anyone has towed their 260DA with an F150? I have a 2016 F-150 4x4 (V6 Eco Boost - 370HP) with towing package and supposedly it can tow up to 12,500 lbs...

My boat is about 7000lbs dry and the trailer is about 1000 lbs. I live in Michigan so 98% of the roads are flat, my biggest incline would be the boat ramp. We are headed to Torch Lake tomorrow so I am debating if I should take my boat or rent one up there, its about a 4 hour drive.

So if you've towed one of these boats with a half ton truck please share your experience. Thank you
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I towed mine with a v8 expedition with an equalizer hitch and towed great! Did have 4WD for the ramp as well as electric over hydraulic brakes on the trailer for backing down. Not sure how is would have worked without those 2 items.
 
You should have no problem towing your 260. Make sure the tongue weight is right, trailer brakes work, and all tires aired up properly.

I towed a 270 with a 1500 Chevy for several years.
 
Awesome. I was curious myself because I have the same truck and am looking at 260DA's as well.
 
I am curious if anyone has towed their 260DA with an F150? I have a 2016 F-150 4x4 (V6 Eco Boost - 370HP) with towing package and supposedly it can tow up to 12,500 lbs...

My boat is about 7000lbs dry and the trailer is about 1000 lbs. I live in Michigan so 98% of the roads are flat, my biggest incline would be the boat ramp. We are headed to Torch Lake tomorrow so I am debating if I should take my boat or rent one up there, its about a 4 hour drive.

So if you've towed one of these boats with a half ton truck please share your experience. Thank you View attachment 57039
I pulled my 260 with no problem behind a f-150 eco boost in fact I pulled a 280 with it for awhile. The real problem comes with stopping. Make sure you have working trailer brakes. The one issue to watch on your truck would be the trans fluid. Don't let it get too hot especially if there are some hill by Torch lake
 
Towed a late 80’s 268 Sundancer with an Expedition 5.4L. The truck has plenty of power but stopping was nerve wracking if the roads were wet or if you needed to stop short. I had surge brakes on one axle. Agree with having electric brakes on both axles
 
I towed a 2005 260 everywhere with a 3/4 ton suburban. I don't see a problem with the 1500. What made a huge difference was a weight distribution hitch and electric over hydraulic brakes on disk brakes.... With sensitivity adjustment under the dash....That braking system was worth it's weight in gold
 
When i initially purchased my 260 I towed it from VA to KY through the Cumberland Mtns in my F150. Granted some of the hills I was going pretty slow, but on semi-flat ground there wasnt much issue. My F150 is a 5.4 w/ towing pkg, 9800lb capacity.
 
I thought in 05, SR changed the ratings on the 260DA and the weight increased. Our 2006 260DA had a dry weight of 8500 lbs. Add gen, AC, 3-batteries, full gas/water, and loaded for a weekend on a tandem axle aluminum I beam trailer, and we weighed upwards of 10,500lbs.

Pulled it home with a Z71 Chev 1500. Traded the truck the next week for a 2500 Duramax. 1/2 ton would pull it, but stopping was not good. Get in an accident and be overweight and you just sold the farm!

Just my $0.02...

Bennett
 
Can't add much more value than what's already been said, but I towed our 260 with a 1500 Chevy Avalanche. It did it. If we had kept the boat and the trailer, I would have put electric over hydraulic brakes on the trailer, but we upgraded both.

Can you? Yes. Just be smart about it.
 
I pulled my 260 with no problem behind a f-150 eco boost in fact I pulled a 280 with it for awhile. The real problem comes with stopping. Make sure you have working trailer brakes. The one issue to watch on your truck would be the trans fluid. Don't let it get too hot especially if there are some hill by Torch lake
My truck is equiped with full towing package including Ebrake controller. I am being optimistic about it.

I just dont want to rent a pontoon for a day for $450.00
 
Thank you all for your input, I will go with it, take it easy and hopefully wont have any issues.
 
I thought in 05, SR changed the ratings on the 260DA and the weight increased. Our 2006 260DA had a dry weight of 8500 lbs. Add gen, AC, 3-batteries, full gas/water, and loaded for a weekend on a tandem axle aluminum I beam trailer, and we weighed upwards of 10,500lbs.

Pulled it home with a Z71 Chev 1500. Traded the truck the next week for a 2500 Duramax. 1/2 ton would pull it, but stopping was not good. Get in an accident and be overweight and you just sold the farm!

Just my $0.02...

Bennett
My manual says 7000lbs dry. I also do not have gen, ac, only 2 batteries and plan to tow it dry... might fuel up once I am close to lake.
 
I tow my 250 with a 2013 Ram 1500 Hemi (395HP) with 6 spd auto and 3.55's. My tow rating is about 8600 (can't remember). My boat is about 4700 dry but I have a tri-axle trailer with big beams...lol. I think they are 2' x 8' steel. The regular spare tire carriers for the trailers won't fit around mine. My trailer weighs 1500lbs. Total I am probably pulling about 7500-8000lbs. I have no problem at all towing that. I have hydraulic brakes on 2 axles and stopping has been no problem either but I try to avoid big hills. Just trying to be smart and limit potential issues.

Power wise I don't think you will have any issues. Just be sure you are not over your legal limit and be careful with braking.
 
My 270 sundeck is 8100 lbs on the trailer. I have pulled it with a Tundra, and it did great, then bought a F350 diesel, and it is effortless. Stopping is always the issue.
 
I believe your manual may have a misprint, or you misread it - or every piece of literature I've ever known seen about this model 260DA is wrong. Everything I've ever seen about it states 7,500 dry. However, in later years it did go up - possibly due to more things becoming standard equipment. Regardless, your towing weight - from people that have had theirs on a scale is going to be every bit of 11,000lbs if not approaching (and possibly over) 12,000lbs.

You mentioned your trailer is 1,000lbs. I assume it's an aluminum trailer, but are you POSITIVE on that weight? That sounds really light, even for an aluminum. What is the trailers maximum carrying capacity? It's on the trailer spec plate and the trailer's weight can figured out from that info, as well.

You mentioned "e-brake controller"... e-brake means "emergency brake", which has nothing to do with towing. I suspect you are confusing terms and that you really mean a "brake" controller. The "slidey thing" being mentioned above. BUT... do you have EOH (or even straight electric) brakes on the trailer? If not, that feature means nada.

I do think your truck has the capabilities, depending on how it's equipped. But, going on the assumption that you are confusing the "e-brake" term, I think you also need to call a Ford dealer, with your VIN, and find out FOR SURE, what the towing capacity is. There are multiple factors (wheel length, rear axle, to name a few) that can GREATLY impact the weight rating.

Another thing to consider... the max trailer weight rating is usually based on a driver, ONLY, in the truck. Any gear or other people you put in the truck is supposed to be subtracted from the max rating.

As I mentioned, I'm not saying your truck can't do it. But you need to find out MORE INFO before just blindly doing it. Also, based on the info you've written, it seems like you're relatively misinformed about what it takes to trailer safely... I'm not saying that in a negative way - just that you should be open to finding out (learning) more info. As stated above by others, towing is not really about "can the truck pull it" or "the roads are flat". It's about whether or not the truck can safely stop/maneuver in an emergency situation. I'm going to say that again... It's about whether or not the truck can safely stop/maneuver in an emergency situation. Saving $450, but possibly getting in an accident or people getting hurt (or worse) nullifies that savings awful quick. I don't mean to be a downer, but you NEED to be more informed to have a better chance of being safe.
 
Lazy Days - The latest F-150 with eco boost w/ factory tow package comes with an 'Electric Trailer Brake' controller (I think that's what he meant by e-controller) as well as a transmission cooler. The truck also has automatic 'anti-sway' capabilities.

However, I would add, and probably will to mine, adjustable air bags for the rear suspension. It's a tad mushy under heavier loads. Air bags are cheap.
 
Lazy Days - The latest F-150 with eco boost w/ factory tow package comes with an 'Electric Trailer Brake' controller (I think that's what he meant by e-controller) as well as a transmission cooler.

Right, that was the assumption I was going on. Meaning, it does nothing for him if his trailer has regular surge brakes.
 

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