What is your tow vehicle / what's a good price for a trailer

[cdory25]

We recently purchased a C-Dory 25 w/o trailer. Now we want to trailer it around. We have a V-8 Dakota rated at 7500# towing capacity. We have heard it's kinda small (even though boat & trailer would be less#) so we are in the market for a larger truck. Just wondering what C-Brats pull their 25' cruisers with.

The dealer is the only one that can guarantee a trailer set up for our 25 cruiser. They want $6K for a top of the line Magic Tilt trailer. Is that high? Central Florida is supposed to be trailer heaven but I can't find anyone who even know's what a C-Dory is. Set up is cruicial, right? Any suggestions?

Thanks!
John/Karen

[Wandering Sagebrush]

[hardee]

John/Karen,

I think if I was in Florida and looking for anything "C-Dory" I'd be checking with Marc at Wefings. He is on here frequently, and I have never heard anything less than stellar about Marc or his dealings. I don't think 6K is out of range for a new trailer, and if I was going to be spending that kind of money, I'd want to be doing it with Wefings.

Just my humble opinion, and I have nothing to gain from any dealings with his business. They are just good folks.

Here's a link to their site:
http://wefings.com/

Harvey
SleepyC

[localboy]

F-250 turbo-diesel Super Duty; crew cab, short bed. But any 3/4 ton will pull a 25 no problem.

[jennykatz]

Before you go out and spend all kinds of $ on a tow vehicle and trailer . I would search around. Wefings would be a good start research the c-brats for trailer deals .
Also are you just going from ramp to house or are you going to use this trailer and go all over America .
Trailer specs
1 aluminum trl keeps weight down and looks good after many years of salt water use
2 torsion axcels much better for salt water use but more expensive .
3 disc brakes Kodiak if you have a choice must be on all 4 wheels in florida (over 3000lb).
4 Bunks vs rollers less things to go wrong (KISS)
Sometimes after the boat shows they sell the trailers from the shows at a discount that what we used to do check out my trailer it is a bunk style with 2by6 in middle for guidence .The price seems high 6k that should be for top of the line with all the trl spec's
As for your dakota check out the rear end what gear ratio and what will it tow 7500lb should be good if just going down to the ramp or for short hops but if you are going to go to Powell ,PNW etc etc . then check into a nice 3/4 ton pickup Good Luck in your quest Jim[img][/img]

[CougarMtn]

Your boat is about the same weight as ours, but how much gear and supplies can add up quickly. We have a Chevy Duramax dually, and at times it may seem as an overkill, though there have been times I wouldn't have wanted any less. Those sections of rough highways, like that between Seattle and Tacoma, (tail trying to wag the dog) make a heavier tow vehicle safer. Nicer at those steep launches also.

[jennykatz]

this is the trailer I use for our cape cruiser about 5000lb on trailer 4000lb for boat and engine and stuff

Mike Tailor's 22 Angler in the background

[Doryman]

I have a 3/4 ton GMC crew cab with the Duramax diesel and Allison transmission. It's the best truck I have ever owned. I suspect more Brats own Fords, though.

I concur with the recommendations to talk to Marc for your trailer needs.

Warren

[cdory25]

[thataway]

Although the Dakota with the proper engine and rear end can pull 7500 lbs, it will be challenged in any place other than the flatlands. One concern would be that the truck only weighs about 4800 lbs. You will be towing 7500 lbs of boat. Many of the C Dory 25's come in at over 7500 lbs on the trailer ready to go.

I towed the C Dory 25 over 15,000 miles (including to Prince Rupert, and over the Rockies and other Western Mountains)--mostly with a Ford Excursion diesel--and it was well matched--especially after I put a weight distribution hitch on. Curb weight of the Excursion is 6650 lbs--almost 2000 lbs more than the Dakota. I would not be comfortable with that light a truck. My current Yukon XL is rated to tow 8500 lbs and weight is slightly over 6,000 lbs. It would be OK--but I would rather have the 2500 XL if towing a 25 currently. Maybe Charlie will weigh in--since he now owns the Excursion and compared it to a V 10 Dodge 3/4 ton--and kept the Excursion over the Dodge.

[Will-C]

I would look at and price a Float On trailer with Kodiak brakes, they are made in Vero Beach we like ours and they have treated us right with service after the sale. We like our Chevy 3/4 ton Duramax diesel. The Allision six speed transmissions are known to able to hack the rigors of towing. The Duramax's made by General Motors GMC/ Chevy are a good all around package. Plus they have pretty decent resale value. What ever you get if you are planning on being a real road warrior get something designed to tow. Some of the bigger gas V 8's can pass anything but a gas station they get real thirsty towing a 6 to 8 thousand pound boat and trailer.
D.D.

[mngrant]

Here's my two cents worth....

Don't tow with anything other than 3/4 ton.

I have a Chev Duremax 3/4 which gets me up the ramps at minus twice and over the steep passes. I broke a self imposed rule of never tow with anything under 3/4. I tried to tow with a Tundra but the Tundra just did not do the job. I was thinking economy and had this truck for sometime. Plus I spoke with the local dealer who said "the Tundra should do the work".

I trailer a 22 C-Dory on a salt water dual axel trailer with bunks, side rails, and disc brakes. The trailer will carry 6000lbs. I bought a new trailer because of the old trailer set up of the single axel and rollers and what I thought was under weight once the 22 C-Dory was loaded with gear, etc. I also did not like the on and off with rollers. The quick action made both Carole and I sometimes unsettled.

I now know with this set up of tow vehicle/trailer our needs are complete. And I'll feel save knowing this set up can take the heat generated from/ with all the systems associated with carrying the total weight of truck, boat, trailer, gear, persons, etc.

But hey, check out some of the trailering sights on the web...the C-Brats blog and the trailer sailor for one is good. Research the issue and I am sure you will discover a 1500 series truck, any make, will not stand up to the rigors of towing safely as does a 3/4 series.

Actually I think I said more than two cents.

The best,

Mike
M/V Kestrel

[journey on]

Here's a different opinion on a tow vehicle for the C-25.

I'd try towing it with your present V-8, though I'm not sure what a Dakota is. Other than a couple of states up north. Anyway, that'll give you an idea what you need. For a 1/2 ton truck you'll need an equalizer hitch. I've used them with surge brakes, with no problems. Add a BIG trans cooler, shift down on hills, and you're all set. Florida is still flat, right?

Also, (strongest recommendation) get electric over hydraulic brakes on the trailer. Whatever truck you get or don't get.

I've towed Journey On with a 1963 short bed Chevvy 1/2 ton, with no problems, up and down the west coast, which isn't as flat as Florida. All you need is a V-8 and a good tranny, with a little patience to go up steep hills.

Also, I happen to prefer roller trailers, easier for me to launch and load, you don't have to back the truck in as far.

Boris

[Sunbeam]

[jep111]

I tow a large boat (28 Bertram - twin diesels - 17.5k in tag-along) with my one ton Ford diesel dually. I have towed it from Long Island to California with absolutely no problems. Towing comes down to a couple of things:

Tongue weight - how much capacity your tow vehicle has for load on the suspension, axles, bearings. This can be mitigated by the placement of the boat on the trailer, multiple axles, etc. My Bertram rig has very little tongue weight as it is a triple axle with the center of gravity just in front of the middle axle. The tow vehicle does not have to support the boat.

Tow capacity - this relates both to how much pull you have to move the load as well as the brakes to stop the load. Most manufacturers ratings are calculated with no braking coming from the trailer, e.g. dead weight. My trailer has disc brakes (electric over hydraulic) on the front two axles with an in-cab proportion controller. Additionally, a weight distributing-hitch makes sure that whatever load the trailer does transfer to the truck makes it to the front disc brakes. These two items (trailer brakes/weight distributing hitch) also control the "tail-wagging-the-dog" syndrome which is a result of the trailer pushing the tow vehicle; the hitch controls sway, and a little touch of trailer brakes from the controller controls the push.

These principles are equally applicable to smaller rigs, especially if the trailer has at least two axles. If you set up so that the trailer is carrying the load and providing its own braking, a smaller truck of sufficient capacity can do well.

Of course, this is assuming adequate cooling systems (engine and trans) and that you don't drive with a lead foot...

Good luck!

John

PS - A really important thing to look for is that the axles, wheels are all in alignment. The old rule of thumb was 10% of the total trailer weight on the tongue. I find that if everything is aligned properly and set up as described above, that 2-5% is plenty. (Only for 2 or more axle trailers).