C-dory 25 or 26 tow weight question.

M

Mike_b

New member
First off I want to say even though I don’t own a C-dory the C-brats site is my favorite boating website. Thanks to all that make it possible!

I’m at a boating cross roads, see my other post concerning boat repowering for more information on that if interested…
Anyway, I have a question concerning the towing weight of a C-dory 25 or 26 C-dory (I know the 26 is slightly heavier). Now I have used the search function, and I know this subject has been discussed many times before. With that said I want to beat a dead horse a little more if you all don’t mind lol. I have reviewed the towing information in my trucks owners manual, and put my truck on a truck scale full of fuel and people. Long story short I can tow 8500 pounds and be within all GM’s specifications for my truck. I’ve been looking on C-Dory’s new brochure and they are saying an average towing weight of about 6400 pounds. I know from reading this forum that these numbers are not all that accurate. However do you all think that a moderately loaded 25 or 26 would have a tow weight that would be at or under 8500 pounds? We are still working age with kids, so I don’t see us loading the boat heavily for long cruises, we would mainly just do weekend and day
adventures. What do you all think, is the 8500 pound tow weight realistic? Thanks
 
Good luck with the search. When we bought our 25, the weight on the trailer was listed as 6,500 pounds. I had a one-ton Dodge campervan with an 8,400 pound towing capacity, so I thought we were good. Another 25 owner reached out and said the factory numbers weren't realistic, and to expect the weight to be closer to 8,500 pounds. Yes, one ton off.

We bought a 3/4 ton diesel pickup, and glad we did. Our 25 on the trailer, with less than 1/4 tank of fuel, full water, empty black tank, loaded for two people, was 8,700 pounds on the trailer. That was with much of our cruising gear in the bed of the truck. You may often hear people say, "Didn't even know it was back there..." We always knew the boat was back there, even though it was well below the rated capacity of the truck. Adding electric over hydraulic (instead of the surge brakes the trailer came with) brakes made a real difference, as well.

If you are loaded light, you will likely be close to your max. I can't make a recommendation, just providing real world info. We towed coast to coast, and having enough truck to do the job kept things from being nail-biting while on trips. Yeah, but we always knew it was back there.
 
Yup, Jim has the math down. Check out his blog and see a motor home towing a small sedan towing a cargo trailer that has two gas scooters, two electric bikes, an electric scooter, and some serious "cat stuff" in the payload. His Big Red was a very nice truck. If I bought a C-25, I would pop for a one ton, you are supposed to add the Pax weights, all the personal stuff, all the fuel, and even the Kleenex. A quarter tank of fuel? Not if there is an ethanol free pump with good prices on the way to the water. All my friends who tow horses have one tons, most 4x4's, and they just put sand bags in the back when not loaded. With a boat on trailer, you could have a fancy split cross bed dual fuel and tool box - now that is styling! Just enjoying spending other folks money.
Bob Jarrard
 
Mike_b,
I you have the Duramax 6.6 diesel then you may be fine. We have a 2010 F-150 with the 5.4 gas engine and the truck is rated to tow 9,500 lbs. We tow a C-Dory 23 Venture and I can't imagine towing a 25 Cruiser or 26 Venture with it. IMO the gas engines lack pulling power which is especially noticeable on hills.
 
JamesTXSD":351l1vc2 said:
Good luck with the search. When we bought our 25, the weight on the trailer was listed as 6,500 pounds. I had a one-ton Dodge campervan with an 8,400 pound towing capacity, so I thought we were good. Another 25 owner reached out and said the factory numbers weren't realistic, and to expect the weight to be closer to 8,500 pounds. Yes, one ton off.

We bought a 3/4 ton diesel pickup, and glad we did. Our 25 on the trailer, with less than 1/4 tank of fuel, full water, empty black tank, loaded for two people, was 8,700 pounds on the trailer. That was with much of our cruising gear in the bed of the truck. You may often hear people say, "Didn't even know it was back there..." We always knew the boat was back there, even though it was well below the rated capacity of the truck. Adding electric over hydraulic (instead of the surge brakes the trailer came with) brakes made a real difference, as well.

If you are loaded light, you will likely be close to your max. I can't make a recommendation, just providing real world info. We towed coast to coast, and having enough truck to do the job kept things from being nail-biting while on trips. Yeah, but we always knew it was back there.
Click to expand...

Thanks! That’s the type of information I’m looking for! It validated what I have read before on this subject.
 
DayBreak":52t5xm56 said:
Mike_b,
I you have the Duramax 6.6 diesel then you may be fine. We have a 2010 F-150 with the 5.4 gas engine and the truck is rated to tow 9,500 lbs. We tow a C-Dory 23 Venture and I can't imagine towing a 25 Cruiser or 26 Venture with it. IMO the gas engines lack pulling power which is especially noticeable on hills.
Click to expand...

Thanks
Were roughly in the same situation. I have a truck that has a stated 9200 pound trailering capacity. However when I put it on a scale full of fuel, gear and the family it brings the trailering capabilities down to 8500. As I've researched this I've learned manufacture's stated tow ratings are misleading, there's many variables to consider. I'm beginning to make peace with the fact that I need a bigger truck if I want a bigger boat.
 
8500lb towing capacity is ok for a 25 Cruiser, but I would double-check if you need a weight-distribution hitch, and tongue adaptor) to tow 8500. Mine comes in under 8500lbs unless I load it up. I have Electric Over Hydraulic brakes on our Load Rite Elite Trailer and tow it with a 2015 F350 1 ton.

You should be fine unless you plan to tow often and want the convenience of putting everything in the boat.
 
kaelc":1ypzbenh said:
8500lb towing capacity is ok for a 25 Cruiser, but I would double-check if you need a weight-distribution hitch, and tongue adaptor) to tow 8500. Mine comes in under 8500lbs unless I load it up. I have Electric Over Hydraulic brakes on our Load Rite Elite Trailer and tow it with a 2015 F350 1 ton.

You should be fine unless you plan to tow often and want the convenience of putting everything in the boat.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I already have a weight distribution hitch and I was planning to use it on the boat. All of our towing will be with 120 miles of our house, that's the great thing about Oregon, so many boating opportunities close to home!
 
Here's a weight analysis for Journey On.

Towing: 8000 lbs

Weight in truck: 300 lbs+people

Weight in water, loaded for cruising: 7400 lbs

Boat_Weight.jpg

Boris
 
I don't have an exact weight for my current or past C Dory 25. I have towed it with a 30' RV, where I had the towing part of the chassis upgraded, and put in a better torque converter (Ford V 10 Engine). I found towing better with the 3/4 Ton 7.3L Ford Diesel, and a weight distribution hitch. I towed my son's 25 (Cruise Ship) over the GrapeVine on I 5 in Calif during a day where the temps were 110* in the valley. We had to stop and let the tranny cool off. This was a Yukon XL with heavy duty tow package. I went on to tow my current C Dory 25 over 4000 miles and only added E/H brakes and air ride suspension in the rear. When the Yukon was nearing the end of its totally trouble free life, I sprung for a 2019 Ford 250, Diesel (450 hp and torque in the 950ft/lb Range.). What a difference! It is almost effortless even on hills, and we average about 12.5 mpg and with an auxiliary 35 gallon diesel tank, we have a range of about 800 miles. There is no worry about the truck, load, tongue weight etc put us over the weight limit. Newer Ford diesel is 475 hp and 1050 ft lbs torque...

Conclusion, although you can tow with the 1/2 ton--and if only short distances, it is fine. You are far better off with a 3/4 ton especially if you have large family and you want to go longer distances.
 
thataway":2lt35wt3 said:
I don't have an exact weight for my current or past C Dory 25. I have towed it with a 30' RV, where I had the towing part of the chassis upgraded, and put in a better torque converter (Ford V 10 Engine). I found towing better with the 3/4 Ton 7.3L Ford Diesel, and a weight distribution hitch. I towed my son's 25 (Cruise Ship) over the GrapeVine on I 5 in Calif during a day where the temps were 110* in the valley. We had to stop and let the tranny cool off. This was a Yukon XL with heavy duty tow package. I went on to tow my current C Dory 25 over 4000 miles and only added E/H brakes and air ride suspension in the rear. When the Yukon was nearing the end of its totally trouble free life, I sprung for a 2019 Ford 250, Diesel (450 hp and torque in the 950ft/lb Range.). What a difference! It is almost effortless even on hills, and we average about 12.5 mpg and with an auxiliary 35 gallon diesel tank, we have a range of about 800 miles. There is no worry about the truck, load, tongue weight etc put us over the weight limit. Newer Ford diesel is 475 hp and 1050 ft lbs torque...

Conclusion, although you can tow with the 1/2 ton--and if only short distances, it is fine. You are far better off with a 3/4 ton especially if you have large family and you want to go longer distances.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

For years I’ve been towing a 7900 pound travel trailer around Oregon with no problems with my 2018 GMC 1500. I can pull my travel trailer at 70% throttle over our local 6% passes at 50mph. I think I could handle 8500 given everything I want to is within 120 miles. My old 1998 f150 with factory tow package struggled with my 5000 pound boat. It seems 1/2 ton truck capability’s have improved in the last 20 years. That being said I recognize that having a truck that’s not maxing out it’s tow capability’s is ideal.
 
The 7900# travel trailer probably is less aerodynamic than the C Dory. (This why the older Honda Pilots would tow a 5,000# boat, but only a 3,500# travel trailer.). For the distances you travel--you should be OK. Several owners of 25 tow with late model gasser 150/1500.
 
I have been very impressed with the Silverado Duramax diesel. Plenty of torque, stable at speed, and great MPG (we averaged 17 mpg to/ from northern NY and that includes many miles up and down PA”s endless series of ridges).
 
I'm towing my CD-25 on a tandem axle aluminum trailer with my Ford F-150 with the 5.0L. Been round trip over the Rockies twice last year, no problem! I also have EOH brakes on the trailer. No equalizing hitch. (They are not recommended by many trailer manufacturers.)

Boat loaded on trailer, 8304 lbs. total weight. Tongue weight 644 lbs. (Full gas and water, and equipment.)

Boat weight, no fuel or water, no trailer: 5400 lbs
LoadRite Trailer empty, no boat. Tongue 360 lbs
Axles 1,280 lbs
Total 1, 640 lbs
 
colbysmith":r76l7epl said:
I'm towing my CD-25 on a tandem axle aluminum trailer with my Ford F-150 with the 5.0L. Been round trip over the Rockies twice last year, no problem! I also have EOH brakes on the trailer. No equalizing hitch. (They are not recommended by many trailer manufacturers.)

Boat loaded on trailer, 8304 lbs. total weight. Tongue weight 644 lbs. (Full gas and water, and equipment.)

Boat weight, no fuel or water, no trailer: 5400 lbs
LoadRite Trailer empty, no boat. Tongue 360 lbs
Axles 1,280 lbs
Total 1, 640 lbs
Click to expand...

Thanks.
 
After reading all the great reply’s I think if I end up with a C-dory 25 or 26 I would keep my GMC 1500 and see how it goes. For the previous 20 years I pulled triple semi trailers for a living through Oregon, so I’m very familiar with towing trailers. If it turns out my current truck isn’t a good fit for the C-Cory I will buy a different tow vehicle.
 
We have a 2008(?) 25 C-Dory with twin Yamaha 90s, 3 batteries, and the usual electronics etc. etc. etc., on a Road Runner trailer that catalogues at 1500 pounds. The tow vehicle is a 1995 Ford F350 crewcab dually with a 7.3 litre turbo-diesel (and modern half tons probably have more power and towing capability than our old beauty). Pulling over the Rockies (we're in Calgary) definitely puts me in the 18 wheeler slow lane.
Went to a truck scale on the weekend with the truck/C-Dory, then truck alone.
Near as I can figure, the truck is about 6815 pounds (one full tank, one empty) with no one and nothing in it.
The C-Dory (no personal supplies; full fresh water; 70 gallons gasoline, empty holding tank) works out to be 7900 pounds incl trailer.
Rear axle weight went up by 1200 pounds with the C-Dory hooked up, and the front axle down by 20 pounds by unhooking the trailer and my wife and I (about 320 pounds) getting out - so I don't fully understand nor trust my figures here.
So, I'm apparently pulling 7,900 pounds with no personal stuff/supplies aboard, and (apparently) a 1200 pound tongue weight.
None of these figures make me happy as I believe that they exceed what the truck is supposed to be capable of.
The engine doesn't overheat (temperatures were in the high 80s over the various passes), but I'm thinking I'd better find out what I need to add to monitor the automatic transmission.
The current C-Dory web-site advises 3950 pounds for the 25 footer, which is 2400 pounds less than what I've weighed (sans supplies).
 
Doug, see my comments on the previous page. My Cd 25 on trailer weighs around 8100 lbs and I’m pulling with the F150 with the 5.0 l. Pulling over the Rockies last summer, over both I70 and I90, I was able to maintain 60. Truck downshift to 2nd to maintain 65 and I pulled my foot out of it slightly to put a little more space in front of tach red line. I’m surprised your 350 needed to stay in the truck lane. My tongue weight is about 630. Colby
 
You have to be careful about older diesels. I believe the 1995 7.3 liter turbodiesel (when new) produced a little over 200 hp and 400 ftlb torque. It likely doesn't do that any more after a few hundred thousand miles. These engines are legendary in their longevity, but a lot of that had to do with a heavy engine and relatively low compression compared to a modern diesel. My 2014 Dodge 1500 with the small V6 gas engine produces 305 hp and 269 ftlb. The Ford 350 truck starts heavier than the Dodge 1500. This might make the "half-ton" and "full-ton" more similar in towing, at least in terms of ability to pull a trailer that it would at first appear. Newer Ford 350s with modern diesels are in a whole other ballpark in both HP and torque, more than double the 1995, and the new 10 speed transmission should make a difference as well.
 
Doug your numbers of trailer weight are what to be expected. All of the "hull weights' are off.

I have the 2019 Ford 250 SD, and the 6.7 L diesel. 450 HP and 935 ft lbs of torque. I have the 6 speed. 10 speed was not available for the 250 at that time. I drove a 150 with the 10 speed, and am not sure it will really make that much difference. The split on the gears is mostly at top end, and using basically overdrives to increase fuel economy (and meet goals).

I have also owned a truck with the 7.3 L. Great engine, but only 250 hp and 505 ft lbs (2003--the last year they were made.). Pretty trouble free engine.

I would try and get the tongue weight down to about 700 # if possible. You may best achieve that by moving the boat back on the trailer. Weight either using bathroom scales and fulcrum, 4:1. Or get a hydraulic hitch weight. $150 for scale, or $125 for a hitch with a built in scale. I used a weight distributing hitch on my first C Dory 25 which I was towing with the 3/4 ton Excursion with the 7.3. That made all right with the world!
 
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