Picking Tow Vehicle and Trailer

T

tdog

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I have a 25 foot Ebbtide Mystique. They don't make this boat anymore, but it is similar to a 260 Sundancer. New, the website said it weighed around 5,500 lbs. Unclear if that included the engine or not.

Original intention was to keep it in a slip. We decided to tow it, and I originally towed it with a 2500 silverado. Then we had kids. We moved to an Expedition EL with a weight distributing hitch. I always felt that this 1/2 ton rig wasn't sufficient for the load. Always seemed a bit small.

This past weekend, with the whole family on board, we got into an accident. Thankfully, everyone in both vehicles was unhurt except for some bruises. But, the expedition was totaled, and the eagle trailer for the boat is toast.

We generally make one longish tow a year, about 180 miles from Chicago to Egg Harbor WI. Other than that, generally within 60 miles of home. Any thoughts on a sufficient tow vehicle for this weight where I can take my family of 5 along?

Also, any insight on how to select a new trailer?

My gut says this boat is large to be towing around. Stick it in a slip and call it a day. There is a disagreement on the bridge over this very topic.

Appreciate any insight or feedback. If we had flipped, I don't know that all 5 of us would be here. That is a sobering thought for me.
 
3/4 ton pick-up with a quad cab can seat 5, and it will handle the load with no problem. Diesel is preferable.
For a trailer, it's hard to beat an aluminum I-beam trailer. For that size boat, it'll be a 2 axle trailer. It's best to get brakes on both axles, as some states require it, and its a good idea anyway. Go for the heavier duty axles. Generally you can tell if it has 6 lugs per wheel rather than just 5. Go for LED lights, and you they should last a very long time.

Best luck.
 
I would go with a 2015 Suburban. I have a 2015 Tahoe with the tow package - 9,800 capacity. Used to have a 2007 Avalanche. The Tahoe is a much better tow vehicle than the Avalanche.
 
Both of the above are wise in suggesting a truck that if anything is MORE than the boat/trailer's numbers might indicate.
First, the rig will weigh more, never less, than the numbers indicate.
Second, the truck's rating is optimistic. Most tests of trucks towing at their rating reflect disappointing performance.
And, that tow rating assumes a pretty much empty truck with no aftermarket accessories. If you go on a vacation, you'll put some of your stuff in the boat and maybe 1000 pounds of people and stuff in the truck.
As you shop for a trailer, find out if it's load rating is for the BOAT, and of course fuel, contents, etc. OR if it's a Gross Vehicle weight including that of the trailer. An aluminum trailer big enough to haul that size boat is going to weigh around 1000. Say you decide on a "7000" pound trailer. If that's GVW then it's more like a "6000" and not enough for your boat and stuff. Don't skimp. Like the truck, go OVER.
If you're serious about this and can make the arrangements, choose the trailer, put the loaded boat on it, and have somebody with another truck tow it to a truck scale, like CAT at the truck stops. Weigh it and see if it matches your expectations. Might change your choice of truck.
Serious towing machine is a Ford Excursion, discontinued, could be hard to find one. V10 gas or 7.3 diesel WILL pull that rig. It's an F-250 with an SUV body. Expedition the F-150 SUV? Nope, not enough.
 
You are going to need a lot of truck to STOP that load.
 
Tdog, been a while. Hope everyone is ok.

I'd probably be looking at the Tahoe with a family and all. You may also consider some of the crew cab pickups. Good luck.
 
My boat weighs in at 9200# on the trailer. I tow with an F250 Diesel and the trailer has breaks on all four wheels. Never an issue getting it moving or stopped.

I believe in always having more truck than I need.

I also added airbags so the rig sits perfectly level. When i see people towing with the back of the truck sagging I wonder how long the tires on the front axle of the trailer will last.
 
The Suburban/Tahoe will get it done but you'll hear and feel it the whole time. Been towing a 24' inboard that's not quite as heavy as your 25'. RPMs will run 4k+ uphill or you're really going to struggle in a higher gear. Braking isn't bad but again in a pinch you'll get some pucker factor. Admittedly, my trailer brakes are only on one axle.

Is the 3/4 ton Suburban still available?
 
We tow our 30x10' power cat 1,000 miles from MD to FL. The boat (according to a truck stop scale) is 7,500lbs. The trailer is 1,500lbs. The truck itself weighs in just under 10,000lbs (Diesel Ford Excursion). All 3 axles on the trailer have brakes. My suggestion is to over-size everything. Go with a 3/4-ton truck (perhaps a Tundra if Toyota's claims are true) at the minimum.

1398474392684.jpg
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

We tow our 30x10' power cat 1,000 miles from MD to FL. The boat (according to a truck stop scale) is 7,500lbs. The trailer is 1,500lbs. The truck itself weighs in just under 10,000lbs (Diesel Ford Excursion). All 3 axles on the trailer have brakes. My suggestion is to over-size everything. Go with a 3/4-ton truck (perhaps a Tundra if Toyota's claims are true) at the minimum.

1398474392684.jpg


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In Jersey; max beam to tow is 8.5'. Not sure if that's national or not ?
 
For a boat of your size you need a 3/4 ton vehicle. While I realize some 1/2 ton trucks have pretty high towing capacity, you will appreciate the weight of a 3/4 ton vehicle. You have your choice of a pickup, extended cab pickup or a Suburban like vehicle.

As for trailer, a galvanized frame roller trailer would be my choice.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Bob J
In Jersey; max beam to tow is 8.5'. Not sure if that's national or not ?

Click to expand...


It is state by state.
 
rb2@gr5tGolfman25 indeed it has been a while. Ironically, or sadly, we had talked about putting her in a slip at North Point, but opted not to because of the drive and our littlest addition (3rd baby is now 1 years old, so we have an 8,6 and 1 yo). With the naps and everything, it didn't make sense to have it in a slip over an hour away. But it would have avoided the accident.

So I've looked at a few rigs. Seems like the 2500 suburban was last made with a Chevy logo a while back, and with the GMC logo in 2013. Definitely open to correction/insight. Regardless, anything later model is really expensive. I am shocked!

The 2500 / F250 pickup idea is in the back of my head, but will be a tough sell to the admiral. I'm thinking the 1500 suburban or yukon/yukon xl with the towing package and a weight distributing hitch. Still going to cost some $$$. I'm looking at 2011-2014 models.

Appreciate any insight. State Farm came back pretty quickly and told us the truck was totaled. Markel has been a little slower with feedback on the boat and trailer. I have no idea how to pick a trailer. I know it will be dual axle and have electric brakes on both axles.

My previous GM experience was the 2500 silverado with a plain ball hitch (no weight distributing hitch) and it pulled the boat, and more importantly, stopped the boat with little problem (that was with surge brakes). With the expedition, I got the weight distributing hitch and put electric over surge (I think that is the terminology).

Appreciate the insight so far.
 
We've done some research, and the Yukon XL/Suburban new, with the tow package, is sort of a wow. Can't bring myself to spend that coin on a depreciating asset.

Looking at used Yukon XLs. Any insight into why they go for so much more than the Expedition? Both are 1/2 trucks. Similar tow ratings. Why is the GM product in so much more demand than the Ford?
 
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