Hauling a tomcat255

Yes, I have nothing to do this morn, and you can make what you want of that. Nevertheless, when I follow the Ford truck link that John Highsmith published above, I note that there are several combinations with an eccoboost motor that offer 12,000 lbs of tow capability. Sure there are some things you have to have: a 3.55/3.73 rear axle, weight distributing hitch, hydraulic/electric brakes but that's true for whatever truck you get.

So why not tell joechiro30 that if he wants a eccoboost truck, he can get one that'll tow a Tomcat. He has to spec it correctly, of course.

Boris
 
On a separate note, for those who choose to tow an electric over hydraulic trailer braking system, with an F150, you will probably need to add a relay and/or a fuse in the engine fuse panel in order to get the trailer plug to feed 12 volts to the trailer. Ford uses a 20 amp fuse, and a relay that only allows power to the trailer if the engine is running. For some reason Ford shipped some trucks with one or the other. If it wasn't for another string by fellow C-Dory owners I would have a run a separate 12 volt feed in order to get power back there. Thank you C-Dory forum posters!
 
journey on":3o27961a said:
Yes, I have nothing to do this morn, and you can make what you want of that. Nevertheless, when I follow the Ford truck link that John Highsmith published above, I note that there are several combinations with an eccoboost motor that offer 12,000 lbs of tow capability. Sure there are some things you have to have: a 3.55/3.73 rear axle, weight distributing hitch, hydraulic/electric brakes but that's true for whatever truck you get.

So why not tell joechiro30 that if he wants a eccoboost truck, he can get one that'll tow a Tomcat. He has to spec it correctly, of course.

Boris
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I concur. My next F150 will have an 11 or 12k rating for added margin over my 10k pulling load. Even then, on long trips I will try to leave the fuel tanks at half or less and fill them when I get close to my destination to ease tire loading. I suspect the only time I might approach 11k is on a trip to Lake Powell where looking at the albums and posts a lot of C-brats seem to take everything including the kitchen sink.
 
My bad - I thought the tomcat was around 12-13k on the trailer. If it is 10k, it is within the published rated parameters and if I had a tomcat I would give it a shot since I have the truck.

Like so many have said, "you have to get the right one", and for me that wasn't easy. When I was looking the only 2015s having the heavy payload package, max trailer package, AND 3.73s were several really basic XLs and one XLT. You couldn't find one in the nicer trim packages. I was going to order one, and the sales department researched it and said it was impossible. I don't know if any of that was true....rumor has it this has changed. Anyway, an XLT is fine by me, but I had to look long and hard to even find that one. The only one here, and the only one coming here, had the 5.0 and it has been fine. It has more than enough power. However, for a tomcat I would want the EB 3.5 as it gives another 700 pounds of towing capacity, more torque under 3k, and would be far better in the mountains with the turbo.
 
T.R. Bauer":4q5u943q said:
My bad - I thought the tomcat was around 12-13k on the trailer. If it is 10k, it is within the published rated parameters and if I had a tomcat I would give it a shot since I have the truck.

Like so many have said, "you have to get the right one", and for me that wasn't easy. When I was looking the only 2015s having the heavy payload package, max trailer package, AND 3.73s were several really basic XLs and one XLT. You couldn't find one in the nicer trim packages. I was going to order one, and the sales department researched it and said it was impossible. I don't know if any of that was true....rumor has it this has changed. Anyway, an XLT is fine by me, but I had to look long and hard to even find that one. The only one here, and the only one coming here, had the 5.0 and it has been fine. It has more than enough power. However, for a tomcat I would want the EB 3.5 as it gives another 700 pounds of towing capacity, more torque under 3k, and would be far better in the mountains with the turbo.
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I agree with you and I think my next F150 one will be an EB 3.5. As a helicopter flight examiner and maintenance test pilot in another life, my emphasis has always been on safety. If you go to the airport you will see all the small planes tied to the ground because they want to fly, Not so with helicopters. A helicopters does not want to fly. It is maintained in the air by a variety of forces and controls all working in opposition to each other, none of which care if you survive another minute of flight. My point being, when it comes to safety, I live and breath it. My cross country experience towing a Tomcat with an F150 was one of surprise and enjoyment. At no time did I feel in anyway unsafe. Are there better tow vehicles, absolutely. When I full timed across North America, I pulled a very large fifth wheel that made my F350 dually look more like a little Ford Ranger. I also saw fifth wheels my size being pulled by eighteen wheeler tractors. Was that overkill? Not in their minds.

Bottom line- I think a properly equipped Ford F150 is fine for towing a Tomcat in the conditions I tow in. If I take the Tomcat to Lake Powell than I may get another diesel, albeit I dislike the ride when compared to the F150.
 
Everyone's comments have been helpful. I really enjoy the ride of the f150 2015 aluminum frame 3.5 Eco. I don't want to drive a diesal 3/4 ton everyday. I don't want to buy a truck that I would only use twice a year. Our tomcat is in dry moorage. On seldom occasions I want to be able to tow the tomcat from everett to wesport for tuna and kings. It sounds like that could be possible.
Thanks for everyone's two cents.
I understand now what would be needed if I use the f150 and what my limitations would be. I would definately be traveling light and fuel up when I get to the destination
 
Regarding the weight distribution hitches. If you think about how they work, you are putting a lot of stress on a boat trailer tongue that is usually a single tube. (Compared to a heavier A or Square frame of a utility or travel trailer.) I use to haul a 9800 lb 1988 Searay 268 Sundancer behind an Excursion with no problem. At the time I believe the hitch was rated for the weight, both towed and tongue. (It was rated even higher if weight distribution was used.) Most professionals I've checked with say when it comes to heavier boats, 5-7% tongue weight is fine. Along the same lines as all this, the boat also helps to strengthen the trailer, when it is appropriately attached at the bow stop. Colby
 
what brand and type of weight distributing hitch should I get?

We have a EZ loader tandem axle galvanized with surge hydraulic brakes.
It's a 2007 trailer.
 
Equal-I-Zee specifically states that their set up works with surge brakes.

I used the E Z lift by Camco. It does use chains. I worked with a local trailer hitch shop setting it up, and we had good function of the surge brakes, by keeping the chains fairly long.

As far as the pole tongue adaptor, I have to disagree with colby--in that it spread out the load on the pole tongue--and actually stabilizes, it-especially on "Bumpy" interstates. This unit came with an adjustable height htich/receiver as I recollect there was about 10" of adjustment up and down. Of course we did not use an anti sway bar.

One would want to be sure that the surge brakes works with what every equalizing hitch you get.
 
You're right, the frame is fully boxed high strength steel with welded (hard to believe but true) cross members. The body is mostly 6000 series aluminum - which is the good stuff, but harder to work with.
 
Hi Bob,
I disagree with your comment that a pole tongue adapter spreads out that weight placed on the trailer tongue. From what I understand, it simply crosses the boat trailers pole tongue at a right angle, to give width for the tension bars of the WDH to attach to. Some trailer manufactures, such as Venture, do not recommend using a WDH on their aluminum trailers due to that additional downward stress it places on the trailer tongue. In essence all the WDH is doing is redistributing tongue weight to the tow vehicles front tires, and to the trailer tires. It does this with a twisting motion on the hitch, lifting on the back of it and pulling down on the front. Thus, not only does the trailer need to be able to handle this additional stress, but the tow vehicle also needs to be able to handle the WDH. As an example, my 2010 Toyota Highlander does NOT recommend the use of such system. And I personally would not want that additional stress on a long single tongue that most boat trailers use, unless the tongue was beefed up. Colby
 
Float on Trailers specifically says "do not" use a load distributing hitch with a torsion axle trailer .
I have towed hundreds of thousands miles without one. Brakes are far more important if you are at the upper limit of your vehicle's capacity.
Marc
 
Wefings":9vww7h0d said:
Float on Trailers specifically says "do not" use a load distributing hitch with a torsion axle trailer .
I have towed hundreds of thousands miles without one. Brakes are far more important if you are at the upper limit of your vehicle's capacity.
Marc
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Uh-Oh :shock:
 
So where does that leave you when the trailer company says its a "no-no," and the truck company, "yes-yes". Any lawyers here? I only have a 22 and don't need one as it isn't much of a load, but I do have that kind of hitch for my car hauler....Never mind, I'm totally screwed on that since I built that myself (or way overbuilt) out of fully TIG/MIG welded 5250 aluminum. There's no way it is going to break into pieces, but I am curious since others brought it up.
 
I think load equalizing hitch attachments are like push up bras, and they both ought to be illegal. :lol: I think the tow vehicle should be rated for at least a thousand pounds more than the weight it will be towing. JMHO but if you need a load equalizing hitch; your tow vehicle is a little light.
D.D.
 
Hmmmm........sounds like a Catch 22 to me. From what I have been reading, you need to use a weight distributing hitch whenever the load approaches the weight of the tow vehicle. A Ford F450 1 ton Crew cab Super Duty with long wheel base weighs 8600 lbs, so the most it could theoretically pull a boat trailer without a weight distributing hitch is less than 8600 lbs , unless of course you add a couple thousand pounds of lead to the bed, which kind of defeats hauling capacity and reduces MPG.

If you drop back down to a 'little' F250 3/4 ton, the towing limit for boat and trailer would be closer to 6000 pounds, unless of course you subtract anther 1000 pounds for an added safety margin, which puts you down around 5000 lbs maximum towing capacity without using a weight distributing hitch. I suspect there are a 'whole-bunch-of-boats' weighing more than #4500 lbs, being pulled with less than 1 ton Heavy Duty trucks :roll:
 
No load equalizing hitch used up from california, no problems.
Thats with towing a 35 ft. sailboat and a tomcat, not at the same time of course!!
Go Dodge diesel!
 
This thread has a life of it's own. A Ford F-250 (3/4 ton) has a towing rating of 12,000 lbs, min. If you want to go diesel, 14,000 lbs. We tow a C-Dory 25 which, with a trailer, weighs around 9000 lbs.

No weight distributing hitch. tried one and it reduced traction and didn't help towing.

Boris
 
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