Towing a boat

Dez · Sep 23, 2014

Hey guys, I'm thinking about upgrading my boat to a 24' pocket cruiser, around 7000-7500# total. Anyone pulling a boat like this with their 1500? Mine is a 2013 Big Horn Hemi/4WD 3.92 with towing. I know the truck is rated for around 10,000# but don't want to be anywhere near that. I'm in Florida (flat) about 5 miles from my ramp which isn't very steep. Just wondering what kind of boats everyone else is launching on the weekends? Any problems?

Thanks, Dave

mtofell · Sep 23, 2014

I don't currently tow a boat but have towed A LOT of things over the years. What you propose sounds totally reasonable. The 4WD is nice for the ramps just in case and a short trip like that on flat land is a no-brainer with that truck. fwiw, a long trip in the mountains would be okay as well as long as you don't load the truck or bed up with too many people or other heavy things.

14hemiexpress · Sep 24, 2014

Ill chime in hopefully more with boat experience will also. With those stats I wouldn't think twice about it exspecially with 4wd I know boat ramps can be tricky. My boss has a good sized boat not sure of the exact weight or length but it a crownline that towers my truck and he pulls it with a 1/2 ton chevy and a youkon and has no problems on the ramp.

NYCruiser · Sep 24, 2014

You'll be fine.

Stangshcky12 · Sep 25, 2014

My buddy used to pull his with a lifted f150 with a 5.0 and 3.55 rearend even though he had a cummins haha

I've only seen one 2wd truck get stuck at a boat ramp but I've only ever seen one 2wd truck at the boat launch

swanny297 · Sep 25, 2014

Plenty of truck for your boat

hounddog · Sep 28, 2014

I tow a boat in the "pocket cruiser" family. Its slightly bigger at just over 10,000lbs with a steel Eagle tandem trailer.

I've pulled it with; '02 Ram 1500 CC 4x4 5.9l and 3.92 gears, an '04 2500 4x4 CC hemi with 3.73s, an '07 Durango he I with 3.92 gears, a '11 ram 2500 CC 4x4 6.7l ctd and 3.73s, a '14 2500 CC 4x4 ctd with 3.42s and now a '14 CC dually 4x4 with Aisin tranny and 3.73s

So what I learned is anything less than 2500 will pull it, but the boat is in charge of the truck and the truck losses the tug of war of forces between the two. It pulls it, and stops it OK, but its not really a comfortable ride.

My '11 2500 pulled it better than my '14 did probably because of the gearing, but the '14 2500 had better control of the trailer weight. Obviously my dually, which i bought to haul the fifth wheel, is the best.

Yes you can pull it. No it wont be completely in control, and yes it will get pushed around.
You settle on something yet? Mines for sale.

Here's a pic behind my '14 2500. 1,200 lb-ish tongue weight, for what its worth.
One in the water and one behind the dually.

Crescent1101 · Sep 28, 2014

That is a big boat ^^^^^! I am looking at a Yamaha SX230 HO. You shouldn't have any trouble. Is it 7klbs with fuel or without? Fuel adds a lot of weight!

hounddog · Sep 28, 2014

The trouble is that the weight of the boat, 7000+ lbs, isn't the end. What's the trailer weigh? My trailer weighs just over 2000lbs. So if you have a steel trailer you're pushing the max of your half ton at likely more than 9000+ lbs. Tongue weight will also be an issue with roughly 1000 or more lbs.

Not saying it can't be done, especially if you aren't intending to go far. But if you intend to go out more than a couple hours away you might want to re-think your tow vehicle.

Just food for thought.

Bigdaddy · Sep 29, 2014

Yeah, I agree with Hounddog it's the tongue weight that will kill you with a half-ton but since you only going a few miles I would say that you will be okay.

init6 · Sep 29, 2014

I pull a 26' cruiser with my chevy 1500. (5.3L 3.42 gears)
Boat (fully loaded) and trailer weigh in at 9k lbs.
Have to use 4HI to get it out of the water but flat land it's fine.

Tongue weight limitations can be avoided. My boat is balanced on my trailer (30 ft tandem axle) so that only 200lbs is on the tongue at 18inches. Truck pulls it fine.

So, you'll be good. I wouldn't take it on any extended trips or through any mountains though.

Dez · Oct 6, 2014

Thanks for the replies everyone. The 7-7500 includes an aluminum trailer and 500 or more lbs of gear and supplies. l"m looking at a Sea Ray 240 Sundancer 5600 boat/1200 trailer and 500 fuel and supplies. I was looking for anyone else towing this type of set up and how the truck handled it.

Thanks again...alot of good advice here!

hounddog · Oct 8, 2014

Dez said:
Thanks for the replies everyone. The 7-7500 includes an aluminum trailer and 500 or more lbs of gear and supplies. l"m looking at a Sea Ray 240 Sundancer 5600 boat/1200 trailer and 500 fuel and supplies. I was looking for anyone else towing this type of set up and how the truck handled it.

Thanks again...alot of good advice here!

Hook up to one if you can and pull it. Most importantly if possibly back down a ramp and see how it feels.

Also, that's a tall trailer and a big wind friction area with the bow. It will pull surprisingly harder then you figure it will. Good luck, and if you stay with a 1500 strongly consider a system like the Blu Ox weight distribution system and even air bags.

Going to need pictures and how you like everything. Lots of photos with the boat please.

Dez · Jan 1, 2015

Well, finally got the boat the Friday before Christmas. '08 Sundancer. The truck pulls fine. Out of the ramp no problem. I adjusted the trailer to lighten up the tongue weight and want to adjust it a little more. The truck is sagging more than I'd like. But overall not bad. Attached is a pic of the boat. Thanks for all the replies.

Blazin383 · Jan 19, 2015

Congratulations on the new boat, and good luck with the towing. I just ordered a 2500 6.4 Hemi Laramie 4x4 cc with expectations of selling my Sea Ray 300 Sundancer and buying a smaller towable cuddy cabin of some sort that we can tow around the Northwest. Our current Sea Ray is 30' with an 11' beam and weights somewhere around 11,000 lbs I think. Even if I had a trailer for it I wouldn't want to haul it anywhere! I'd like to find a boat about like yours! I did order the 4.10 gears just to make sure the Hemi will haul whatever I buy!

NYCruiser · Jan 19, 2015

These trucks will sag with any real tongue weight. The proper fix is to get upgraded rear coils. They're cheap and easy to install.

The tongue weight should be 10-15% of the trailer weight or the rig won't ride correctly and will still sag under any hard braking. Too light of a tongue weight will make the trailer "wag" going down the road. Proper tongue weight will make the whole rig feel more planted on the road.

Don't just lighten the tongue below 10% to prevent the sag.

Get something like these:
TTC-1210 Rear Coil Spring Kit 09-14 Dodge Ram 1500

They won't increase the legal load capacity of your truck, but they will make it handle the capacity better.

Towing a boat

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