I am considering towing (relocating) my 32' boat from Greenville, NC to the Charleston, SC area which is about a 400 mile trip. The boat is 11' wide, 13.25' tall on the trailer and I should be able to get its weight, including trailer, down to 12.5 to 13K lbs. by using up the fuel and removing all the "stuff" it has accumulated. The trailer is an aluminum tri-axle with surge brakes on the front two axles.
I have had no problems towing it in NC on two-lane roads and 4-lane highways (no interstates) and have the annual permit, banners, flags, etc. and plan on getting the permit for SC as well. However, there is one requirement that the state of SC has for towing OWOS loads...see it here. Item 12 under section D says loads in excess of 10 feet and up to and including 12 feet must be towed by a 1-1/2 ton or larger truck.
I will likely travel down HWY 17 into SC, bypass Myrtle Beach and continue down 17 through Georgetown and into Charleston. My question is can anyone tell me if they have had any experience towing OWOS loads, particularly boats, in SC using a 3/4 ton pick-up? Did you have trouble getting the permit, were you ever stopped and checked, etc.?
I would like to do this as legal as possible, but getting a 1-1/2 ton truck (what's that a F-450 or F-550?) for this seemingly simple tow seems extreme.
Yes, I know I could captain the boat down, but I'm just looking at all my opitons including having it hauled down, but once there I will need to haul it a couple times each year from the water to our home for maintenance/repair. Your thoughts and comments about the haul/tow are appreciated.
__________________
2008 Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7
2004 F-250 CC Lariat FX4 6.0 PSD with 132K miles (traded)
you can pay a towing company to move it....... they can pretty much get away without any permits or anything, but they charge by the hour......
i haul run down semi trailers, non plated/inshured semi trailers and contructiopn site trailers all the time with a HD tow truck, and dont ever get stopped or questioned. with 53' trailers i am far over 90' long front to back
we run about $125 an hour though....
__________________
lots of junk
97 f350, 7.3L, 2wd, auto, exhuast, intake, injectors, chip, IC, big gooseneck.
93 f350. 7.3L idi turbo, 2wd, 5 speed, dually. Pics
Sorry but a 3/4 ton pick up is the same as no signs or no light. It voids the permit. *IF* you get stopped, it's up to the officer what he desides to enforce. You could rent a 1 1/2 ton truck from U-Haul just for this move but I see no other way around the laws of S.C.
__________________
97 F250 SC LB 4X4 PSD TDE0, E4OD,3.55's, 285/70/16"s ,Modified fuel tank vents, 375+k headed for 500k
Well they sure as heck don't enforce the 55mph speed limit for mobile homes on the interstate, it's common to have them running 70+, so who knows if they'd bother you.......
[ QUOTE ]
Well they sure as heck don't enforce the 55mph speed limit for mobile homes on the interstate, it's common to have them running 70+, so who knows if they'd bother you.......
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I got a big laugh out of that one. Many times I've had to really hammer down to pass those wobble-wheel specials as they were running 70-75 MPH on the interstates [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]. One time I almost spilled my beer [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]! (Just kidding)
__________________
2008 Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7
2004 F-250 CC Lariat FX4 6.0 PSD with 132K miles (traded)
AutoForums.com is the premier network of enthusiast-owned
enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
We operate more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share
experiences and opinions as a community.
Linear Mode
