The C-Brats Forum Index
HomeForumsMy TopicsCalendarEvent SignupsMemberlistOur C-DorysThe Brat MapPhotos

Towing a C Dory 25 with a Ford Ranger

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> General Chat
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
dpod2003



Joined: 22 May 2016
Posts: 27
City/Region: Bellingham
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Kingfisher
Photos: Kingfisher
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 6:56 pm    Post subject: Towing a C Dory 25 with a Ford Ranger Reply with quote

I have a C Dory 25, new to me, that does not have a trailer and is currently moored. I have the option of buying the trailer that it was on, for a good price. At this point we don't have any plans to tow it very far. The main point for getting the trailer would be for haul outs for engine maintenance, etc. I currently own a 2008 Ford Ranger 4x4 pickup that is rated to tow 6,000 lbs. maximum. I know that the total weight for the boat and trailer would be more like 7,500 to 8,000 lbs. I would only be towing it a short distance to where maintenance could be done, mostly just a mile or so. Although, it could be as much as 15 miles to a place where I could do some work on my own. The trailer has a weight distributing hitch that might help.

Is this crazy. Is it just way to much for this truck to handle even for a short distance, or might it work for the few times I would do this? Opinions?

Doug Robinson
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have moved 25 foot boats about yards or my house with a lawn tractor...Is that a good idea? Back when I had a Honda Pilot, I used it to launch the 25 once. Sort of scary going the few miles to the ramp--but I did it--not really a great idea--I bought a For Excursion 3/4 T Diesel the next week.

Could you do it with a Ranger, in a storage lot to a ramp? Sure. One of the issues is traction on the ramp--If it can do that, it can do the short hauls. But, if there is an accident---Braking capacity is another factor--truck weight vs boat weight--I like a heavy truck.

_________________
Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
journey on



Joined: 03 Mar 2005
Posts: 3593
City/Region: Valley Centre
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: journey on
Photos: Journey On
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 9:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've towed and launched Journey On with a short-bed 63 Chevvie 1/2 ton. Worked great because the trailer had electric brakes.

When you have electric over hydraulic disk brakes you can apply them either going forward as in normal driving, or in backing down the ramp to launch the boat. Other type of brakes don't work on ramps and you're counting on the truck weight and brakes only. The weight of the boat/trailer combination approaches 9000 lbs, which is over twice a Ranger so using the Ranger to stop the boat going down a slippery ramp is problematical. You can retrofit electric over hydraulic brake actuators on disk brakes for about $700, a cheap price to pay versus a new truck. Just make sure you get the e-over-h actuator and not the electric RV brake.

Note that if you use surge brakes they don't work if the trailer is going downhill backwards. You even have to lock out the brakes to back the trailer up.

For long distance towing we bought a Dorf F-250, which is a great truck, tho expensive.

Boris
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
ken35216



Joined: 12 Mar 2013
Posts: 569
City/Region: Destin, Florida
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2017
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Lady Onyx
Photos: ken35216
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 9:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

journey on wrote:

When you have electric over hydraulic disk brakes you can apply them either going forward as in normal driving, or in backing down the ramp to launch the boat.


I just finished (around noon today) towing my 25 with electric over hydraulic disk brakes almost 600 miles and the trailer alone 250 miles... what a pleasure! Peace of mind. No problems. Even quick stops are not scary. I loved it! My tow vehicle is a 2013 GMC 2500 diesel.

_________________
2007 25 Cruiser 150 Suzuki (2013-2016)

2017 25 Cruiser 200 Yamaha (2017-present)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
JamesTXSD



Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 7444
City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 10:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would be in the "yes, this is crazy" camp. I wouldn't tow a 25 with an F150, and sure wouldn't do it with a Ranger. If you aren't planning on towing it a lot, check around to see about renting a capable truck for the times you need to move the boat. Then, buy at least a 3/4 ton truck when you're ready to haul the boat all over the country to enjoy all the best cruising places at the best times.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Wandering Sagebrush



Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 2768
City/Region: Northeast Oregon
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Constant Craving
Photos: Constant Craving
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 11:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Doug, I have a 2007 Ranger 4x4, 4.0L. I've pulled my 22 a few miles with it, but at no time did I feel safe. The stopping power of the Ranger was what had my attention. I would hate to have to do a panic stop. I can't imagine trying to stop a 25... If you were in an accident, I think you would be in deep kim chee, physically and legally.
_________________
"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
dpod2003



Joined: 22 May 2016
Posts: 27
City/Region: Bellingham
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Kingfisher
Photos: Kingfisher
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2017 11:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you all for the great feedback. I think I can see that it would not be a good idea to try to do this. I may try to see about a truck rental, or try to borrow something for the few times it would be needed.

What a great wealth of information. Again, thanks so much.

Doug
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Chester



Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Posts: 1176
City/Region: home
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sold to lovely couple
Photos: Chester
PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2017 12:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I towed a 22 Cruiser with a 2006 Ranger 4.0 and it did fine. Others may have a different perception but I have been around heavy equipment all my adult life.
Obviously the 25 is a different game but if you really do keep the haul to 1 mile be careful and make damn sure the trailer brakes are actually working, don't guess or just hope they are.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
localboy



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2017 1:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I would be in the "yes, this is crazy" camp.


Ditto. Torque, braking, rear axle capacity...just a few of the safety issues that come to mind. Putting so much weight on a rear suspension that cannot handle it makes the front suspension (steering & braking) lift unsafely. You lose most steering and braking, which is most of your braking power. Not to mention the legality of towing beyond capacity. Hell, pulling the boat up a ramp would be a challenge, IMO. We have a 3/4 ton diesel. I can't imagine pulling our 25 with anything less...no matter the short distance. I don't want that liability.

_________________
"We can go over there...behind the 'little one'....."
Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
starcrafttom



Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 7878
City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2017 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had a cd 22 and I towed it every where with my 95 v6 4x4 ranger, including to ucluelet b.c. it was just fine. Twin axle trailer and brakes help a lot. Not all rangers are v6 or 4x4 so that will need to be considered.

That said I would not use the ranger for a 25 unless you are just moving it around the yard or very short distance to the ramp. No highway or even roads over 35mph. Is not about being able to pull the boat , its about being able to stop the boat.

Better to just borrow a truck the few times a year you need to move the boat. Or go buy a real truck;)

_________________
Thomas J Elliott
http://tomsfishinggear.blogspot.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
tomherrick
Guest





PostPosted: Tue May 16, 2017 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When my boat was a 22' Angler, I bought a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. It was rated to tow 6,500 lbs. It towed and stopped just fine. Then I pulled the boat on the interstate with some pretty stout side winds. The boat turned into a sail and steered my truck. It was a white-knuckled trip up and back. Sold the Toyota two weeks later and bought a diesel F-250. The Toyota was a great truck, but didn't have the weight to counteract the sideways torque.
Back to top
nuccifilms



Joined: 21 Apr 2017
Posts: 66
City/Region: las vegas
State or Province: NV
PostPosted: Sat May 20, 2017 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

crazy post, but in someways i sympathize with the sentiments going into it. i have never been a big carbon footprint guy. it goes against my nature. and having that 250 or 350 mostly sitting in my driveway while i use my grocery getter tacoma/ranger 99% of the time, i might as well keep my diesel hooked up to the trailer, . . it's a painful purchase, when you know going into it, it's limited use Sad i've jumbled the numbers around, trying to justify a half ton. i came to the conclusion that i've done enough white-knuckle rides at or past capacity. towing a 25' or a 22' (at any roadway speed) is just a marginal risk i no longer care to take. of course i'm 51 yrs old, and i'm not saying what i thought at 21? i hope to be towing from vegas to the west coast now, until i'm at least 71, and any stress i can't take out of that trip adds to how long i'll be doing it. a F250 diesel, electric brakes, all in prep. for a future 22', that's just me.
_________________
rick
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> General Chat All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
     Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum



Page generation time: 0.1396s (PHP: 60% - SQL: 40%) - SQL queries: 30 - GZIP disabled - Debug on