Trailering a Vintage 300

BonBini

BonBini

New Member
Sep 28, 2009
685
Great Lakes
Boat Info
88 268
Engines
7.4L Alpha One
Any body trailer an older 300? If so how much truck? And hows the launching go? Permits or just short trips on side roads?

I'm just a little curious for now. I already need a bigger truck for my 268:grin:! ...Ron
 
I trailer my 290 (9ft beam, 30ft 6in LOA) on a triple axle trailer (electric brakes)with a Chevy 2500 Diesel, no trouble. Of course the boat your speaking of is a bit larger. With the proper trailer set -up launching and loading is a snap. Here is a video of me loading my 290 single handed....easy!
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7TUqF8RHnI[/YOUTUBE]
 
Great video Quint4 - you make it look so easy
Jim
 
I trailer and 89 300 DA all over Washington and Idaho. I have an oversize load permit from both states. The Idaho costs $50 for the year and the Washington is $20 per month. I usually go from April or May through October. We tow on the freeways, side roads and wherever we need to go to fuel up, get groceries or whatever we need to do. Launching is just like any other boat. Back to the waterline, unhook the chain and back in. Loading is actually easier than the 250 DA because I pay more attention to where my rear wheels are when I launch. I back to the same place and typically winch it about 3 feet to get it on the trailer.

I tow with a Duramax Diesel dually. It's back there, but I don't have any problems. Towing from Spokane to Anacortes includes a pretty good climb from the Columbia River West to Ellensburg. Snoqualmie pass is a piece of cake after climbing out of the Columbia Gorge. Coming back, the bad hill is right before the summit of Snoqualmie pass. I'm down to about 45 mph, but I take it pretty easy. I want the truck to last and I don't want to get stuck alongside the road! The towing speed limit in Washington State is 60 mph, but I can easily do 65 and faster. The mileage drops considerably though!

IMG_0946.jpg


Here is a pic of some mid 90's 270's next to the 300 DA!

100-0822_IMG.jpg
 
Last edited:
Quint4: You've got 400 lbs on me. Based on how my 268 feels behind my 99 Z-71 reg cab short box, and how your 290 feels behind your HD Duramax, a 2500 Diesel would probably pull my boat like nothing. What do you think anouther 4000 lbs of 300 SeaRay would be like back there behind a HD? I don't know what a 2500 and a 3500 have in common as far as power train componants, may the same duramax and alison trans?

Sundancer: Is your 3500 2wd? And if so how well does it do pullin that fat girl out of the water? Your hitch, is it still a ball like a 2 5/16 or something like a pintil type. thanks ...Ron
 
My 290 and trailer are about 11,500lbs. My 2500HD diesel pulls it with ease, but more importantly my trailer has electric brakes that make stopping just as easy. 2500 and 3500 powertrains are the same, the difference is in the suspension systems as far as I know.
 
Last edited:
I recently bought an '88 300 SD and pulled it 746 miles with my '08 F250 (6.4 liter diesel with a diablosport programmer). It handled it like a champ. Downside was 7.5 MPG. I like Quint also have the electric brakes on the trailer and that makes a great difference. I used to pull a 27footer without trailer brakes-- it can be done but leads to some exciting moments at times.
 
BonBini said:
Sundancer: Is your 3500 2wd? And if so how well does it do pullin that fat girl out of the water? Your hitch, is it still a ball like a 2 5/16 or something like a pintil type. thanks ...Ron
Click to expand...

First of all are you calling my wife fat? :smt013

Our truck is a 4x4 but I've only had to engage it once pulling out of a ramp. There was a lot of small bb sized gravel shuffled around the ramp at the water line. When I hit that with the dualies, I just couldn't get enough traction to pull it out. Putting it in low range allowed me to easily pull it up. That was at our primary launch site and I haven't had a problem before or since. After I leave the launch, I have a VERY steep climb and the boat always shifts back about two inches held by the strap and chain.

The hitch is an upgraded hitch. The factory is only rated to 12,000 lbs and the upgrade will handle a 15,000 lbs. Yes, it is a 2 5/16 ball. I have a goose neck hitch in the bed and have considered swapping the trailer. It's a home made trailer and could easily be adapted. It trailer's so well, I just don't see the point in doing it.
 
Sundancer: Sorry bout that fat comment. I didn't know you were married to her.:huh: ...Ron
 
No problem! My wife says the same thing! :smt043
 
Quint...Sundancer...I am impressed.:thumbsup: You guys have done a great job engineering your rigs!!

Quint...the only thing that I might add to your routine would be to add a pair of trailing blocks to throw behind the rear wheels while you are on the ramp. When I trailered I had eye bolts thru mine tethered to the frame with 1/4" line. As I pulled up the ramp the blocks would drag behind. I would dis-connect them once I got to the lot at the top of the ramp. Just a little xtra insurance...it only has to happen once.

Do you guys use electric brake controllers on your trucks?
 
Alot of great tips on trailering guy's.

Not sure what state your in on the Great Lakes but here in Michigan it's $30.00 for a yearly oversize load permit. $15.00 for a 5 day permit.
Legally trailering can only be done Monday thru Saturday during daylight hours - No Sundays.
I was once questioned (on a Sunday) by the State Police when filling the boat up. Fortunately he cut me a break when he saw I did have a permit - Fines can be hefty.

We only trailer our 270DA twice a year using our 99 F350 crew cab with a powerstroke diesel - No problems.
I personally prefer the electric brakes. Our rig is equipped with a Husky "Excursion" brake controller. Of all the controllers I have used I find this to be the best one so far.
 
"Do you guys use electric brake controllers on your trucks?"

Yes.
 
When I bought my 290 AJ it had a trailer. I was so excited that I went out and bought a 2003 F-350 Superduty dually (quad cab), 2WD. The trailer was a tri-axle with disc brakes at all six wheels. I towed it once through town and sold the trailer and truck! To get to my marina, you have to travel some pretty hairy roads, and I was not about to get permits. Plus the AJ is 10ft6in wide and over 12k pounds loaded. Add the aluminum tower and radar and you are well above the height limit as well (came to almost 14 ft). Yes, I learned this the hard way!

Much happier with just keeping it in the water year round. Wish I could be more mobile like you guys, but I am a bit of a wuss I guess.

I found the 2WD dually just "ok". I was stuck at the ramp when I was experimenting with putting it in and pulling it out a few times before selling the trailer and truck. I added 6 guys to the bed, and then it pulled it with no problems. Go with 4WD if you have a choice.
 
I agree completely with the need for a 4x4, especially with the bigger boats. I've seen many trucks slippin' at the ramps like you mentioned.

14 feet is pretty tall - we are at 12'-3" to the top of the radar on a triple axle roller type trailer.

As far as a "dually" I found our standard axle 4x4 F350 works great. During our offshore racing years we put 10's of thousands of trailering miles on it with no advantage seen by our buddies with the duallies. Even in the worst weather, if anything we had the advantage in the heavy snow when returning home from Florida. I'm not saying duallies are bad, just giving my observations and experiences.

The most important thing I found with any trailering is not to be in a hurry. Take your time and leave lots of room for that "other guy" who's not paying attention.
 
Last edited:
Yes, we have electric brakes on all six wheels. I have a controller in the truck as well. Don't ask me which one, I can't remember! I believe it's a prodigy, but it's easy to adjust when the boat is on or off the trailer.

Our height is 12' 6" and there are a few underpasses downtown that we have to avoid. I'm paranoid that I'll forget and drive through there with the boat someday! The rest of the time it's not really much of an issue.

We didn't really want a duallie and I see no advantage to it. It was the only one on the lot when we blew motor in a burb. The Dmax had a brand new motor and they sold it to us for less than $30,000. We wrote them a check and drove the last 300 miles home towing our travel trailer. It's definitely not good in the snow! I'd rather drive a burb instead!!
 
My '08 F250 has the built in from the factory brake controller and it works great. As far as single versus dual rear wheels, my single does a great job with starting and stopping and handles the 12,000 boat/trailer combo very well. My only negative was at speeds above 60 it seemed to feel a little loose but did great up to and including 60 mph. Friends with duelies tell me that loose feeling would not be there with duel rear wheels... I don't know. I'm really OK with keeping it at 60 or less because that is a lot of weight and the slower speed does give lots more room for evauating and reacting to "situations".
Also mine is 4X4 so there are no slippage problems on ramps.
 
Sounds like a 3/4 ton will do the job towing. How bout the tonge weight? Do you guys have that 10% tongue weight rule or does a tri axle trl lessen the tongue weight some? Have some of you added anything to rear suspension on 3/4's?

BTW: hit a deer yesterday morn going to work. Blew a brake line trying to stop. Trucks ok, deer ran off, I'm starting to disslike winter more since I started boating. ...Ron
 
On the bright side of the deer incident - you can still post! :thumbsup:

I would think the 3/4 ton would be fine as is with no modifications needed.
Our previous tow vehicle was a 3/4 used with a slightly heavier tow load than yours at the time. Towed good even with the truck loaded up.

Diesel - Something else to think about, I'm not sure if anyone mentioned diesels but I swear by them.
The diesel pulling performance and higher MPG's can't be touched by the gasoline cousins.
Been using them for the past 15 years. The extreme winter temps we get have never been an issue either - plugged in or not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,185
Messages
1,428,155
Members
61,095
Latest member
380Thumper
Back
Top