Boat pulling - Diesel Forum

demonrocket · 08-03-2007, 03:16 PM

I am looking at boat and trailer that with gear, etc. weighs in at about 13700#. I had a 04 that was just stolen. I am looking to replace with 2005-07 250 PSD 4X4. That means I am good on everything, GVWR, GCWR, but not what Ford says on conventional towing of 12500#. That would be about 1200# over. Is that a workable situation? Stopping would be the biggest question. Boat has electric over hydraulic brakes.

Sparkydm · 08-03-2007, 06:06 PM

I pull a scaled 12,500' on a triple axle with the truck in my
signature. It does a great job so, I would think it would
work. I do have brakes on all 3 axles though. I'm a little
paranoid about being able to stop. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

JB4LCM · 08-04-2007, 02:33 PM

If you review the weight limits, you'll see that a receiver weight limit is about half that of a 5th wheel for the same truck. So it is referring to the hitch's position/geometry limitations for pulling. Towing with the bumper-hitch-receiver is actually trying to lift the front tires off the ground - so to speak - with the rear axel being the fulcrum. Having the weight directly over the rear axel is far safer for pulling/stopping heavy loads. In my opinion, you are pushing it. How far will you be towing? How fast? If you are only towing a few miles and less than 40 mph, you should be fine. But if you are pulling at hwy speeds for considerable distances to play with your boat - think about it a little more. It's only the safety of you, your passengers - and the folks in front of you that's at stake here.

JB

96STROKE · 08-04-2007, 08:17 PM

Boats tow much better than a TT or 5th and only have approx 5% hitch weight, so as far as hitch weight you will be ok.

I also think that you will be ok as long as the trailer has brakes on all axles and you get the best break controler money can buy (not the one ford puts in the dash as an option) I also think that you should be looking at a F350 not a 250, but thats just me.

demonrocket · 08-10-2007, 03:41 PM

Ok, 96stroke, you indicated you would be looking at a 350 not a 250 if it was up to you. According to Ford, the 250 and 350 SRW have the same conventional towing limits and right now there are not 07 350's around and a few 250's. So why then move to a 350?

bogg · 08-10-2007, 04:45 PM

I had to think back a bit, but as I remember it the real weight restriction between the two is gvwr. The problem was the weight of the truck with trailer attached. My 03 was ok by axle restriction and close on gcwr, but way over on gvwr. I had a 8800# gvwr and without tongue weight was already at 8000#. Now, the truck did fine with it, but I was always worried about it, so I popped for the 350 and added DRW. Better to have too much truck...

96STROKE · 08-11-2007, 10:46 AM

I would go with the F350 over the F250 because it has a higher GVWR. Thats just me. You never know what you will need to haul with your truck in the future and for the price difference between the F250 and F350, to me, its a no brainer! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

Sparkydm · 08-11-2007, 08:14 PM

I pull 12,500 lbs. with my F250 and it does a great job. If
I was buying another one and had a choice, I'd get the F350.
I like the idea of a larger capacity truck. It would also
allow me to go to a larger boat! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

davidm49 · 08-17-2007, 03:13 PM

You would be best to look at a F350 to be legal, safe and above all be confident in your ability to stop within a reasonable amount of time. Not sure how much fuel your boat carries but you have to add about 8 pounds to the gallon and you also have to add how much weight you have in your truck including people, coolers etc.... A rule of thumb I continue to read about is a 10% safety factor which given that, you are way underrated to tow such a boat with a 250. As someone else said, it is only the safety of your passengers, yourself and than above all else the people on the road with you who have no control of the fact you bought an underrated truck and could not stop in time when you needed to. I am continually amazed by the people who buy a 19,000 pound toy hauler and tow it with a 250 or 2500 chassis type truck and brag about how fast they can go as if it validates the fact they don't need to buy the properly rated truck.

96STROKE · 08-18-2007, 11:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
You would be best to look at a F350 to be legal, safe and above all be confident in your ability to stop within a reasonable amount of time.

[/ QUOTE ]

davidm49,

I too recomended the F350. But you do realize that the F250/F350 SRW share the same drive train, and brake system? (after '99 anyways)

So as far as getting that boat moving (talking PSDs) or stopping either truck will work. Just the F350 can carry/haul more (has a higher GVWR vs the F250) and thats why I say to go with the F350.

I am suprised that you are towing that much toyhauler with that little F350, when you really should be in at least a F450.

Sparkydm · 08-19-2007, 09:26 AM

I pull the boat in my signature with brakes on all 3 axles.
I don't have a stopping problem as I can lock up the tires
if I get too aggressive on the pedal. I agree with the idea
of increased bed capacity. I went with what people told me
who already owned the same model boat. They all said I'd be
10K or less. Seeing that one owner towed his with a F250
that had a 351 small block engine it sounded reasonable. His
truck must have really been straining with this load. He also
had a hardtop which made the boat heavier. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

96STROKE · 08-19-2007, 10:36 AM

sparkydm,

I am not trying to argue, or be the weight police! Just have alitte conversation. But there is no way I would tow your boat around the terrain I drive around here with your truck. Yes I looked at your sig. A 3.55 rear end would drive me nuts driving the mountain passes. With my '96 PSD w/4.10 rear end, I struggled with 11k lbs.

This thread is about someone looking to buy a new truck to pull his new boat, not how much can a F250 pull. When someone is going to be buying a new truck, I don't see why they dont spend a couple extra bucks and get more truck for the future. You know as well as I do that we all upgrade our toys down the road and will need more truck next year. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img] Now that ford is making the F450 a little nicer I really want one, no in fact I need one! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

mmcspadden · 08-19-2007, 11:37 AM

I pull 13,000 lbs of gooseneck horse trailer very easily. If that helps at all.

Sparkydm · 08-19-2007, 01:50 PM

"I am not trying to argue, or be the weight police! "

I've reread my post post trying to figure out how
you got that out of what I sent. I thought it was
quite specific. I didn't recommend that he buy a F250, I
was very clear on that one. I didn't even say that I
would buy the same truck again. I was very clear on that
also. Where are you coming from? When I bought my truck I
had no idea that the boat/trailer combo I was going to pull
was within 1 ton of what it actually is. If I did, I'd
have bought a F350. Not that is has anymore pulling
power, just for the load carrying ability and the solid
front axle. Being in MI, the 3.55 gears work just fine. That's
why we put things in a signature to help clear these items
up. Being in more hills/mountains would call for a switch
to 4.11 gears. Read what's posted and understand where people
are located and everything that they post. It helps to have
a clear picture. If you thought any of my post was intended
to "correct" you, I do apologize. I tried to be quite specific
and assumed that people would follow the previous posts. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

96STROKE · 08-19-2007, 11:06 PM

sparky

I said that I was trying to have a conversation about what truck to buy. What are you reading out of my post?
I must have really hit a nerve of yours. Sorry.
I did read your post and sig.
But the way I have read your post and sig. it sounds like you are advocating pulling 13k with a F250. Thats just what I got out of it.