Narrowing my truck and trailer options

T

terraplane

New member
OK< after our gathering on Chesapeake, i'm closer to a plan. How about a 2005 Toyota Tundra, towing package, with an EZ Loader trailer, with rollers, 14 inch wheels, elec. brakes..Does that sound like a good idea?

Now considering leaving right after Christmas, drive to a place in either South Caroline or Georgia, leave the rig, and continue by boat down ICW with stops along the way, with a termination across Lake OK. at Terry's place...and a detour to the Keys? Maybe a total of nine weeks.

Remember i'm an amateur..Does this sound like it might be the beginning of a rough plan?

Terraplane
 
Yes Sir, It sounds like a beginning of a plan. I can't help much with most of it but I can assure you that the Toyota Tundra is a good choice :thup . I have a bit of brand loyalty so I might be biased, but my Tundra pulls the 22 cruiser OK :D . I can't say I'm a fan of the rollers, since I have always had bunk trailers. Just thought the support for the boat was more secure throughout. The Electric brakes may be OK, again, I have only had surge brakes on my (2) boat trailers, and they have done the job. Wish you the best and welcome to the family of C-Brats. There will be as plethura of great information following. Much more in formed than I, but none happier to own a C-Dory. :D :D :D :D :D

Harvey
 
I have a 2001 Tunder Ltd and an EZ Loader trailer w/rollers.

I don't tow a lot but when I do it works great getting up some pretty slimey ramps.

My "problem" with the Tundra is I've never got more than 16 MPG. I think the latter models do better. Before I bought mine -used- a year ago I must have asked twenty people what they thought of their Tundra's. All but one loved the truck and that one had a back problem and didn't care for the seat but otherwise he too thought it was a great truck.

I think you'll do just fine with this set up.

Phil
 
Several reviews of the old Tundra which I read indicated that the rear seat is quite uncomfortable. You might want to investigate that aspect. I like the new Tundra, though.

Warren
 
Terraplane,

I will preface this by saying I am biased toward Ford pickups. When I was looking for a tow vehicle for my business, I test drove a V8 Tundra 1/2 ton standard cab and long bed. I pull a 3500 lb trailer with electric brakes, which is close to what a CD 22 weighs. It is a very nice truck. It seemed more car size. It was very easy to manoeuver. I wound up with a Ford Super Duty F250 with a V10. I was specifically looking for gas engine only, not diesel. It is more cumbersome to handle than the Tundra. It weighs a lot more, has larger brakes, and plenty of power. For me the safety issue was more important than the size. My mileage is acceptable to me. It is about 10MPG in town. IMHO the Tundra is a great vehicle and may be a more comfortable tow vehicle for you as a novice. I am close to retiring. We will be buying a CD22 and doing extensive touring. This contributed to my buying the Ford. The brakes are up to the task, the engine will seldom, if ever, be overtasked, it is not in daily use, and the mileage is really not bad. I can't see how you will go wrong with either vehicle.

Dave
 
Thanks for feedback. It all helps. On the trailer...more input on rollers vs bunk would help..What are the good and bad sides to this? And how about the 14 inch wheels. Some say it may make some ramps more difficult to use.
Anybody know the mileage i might expected, with boat loaded with a 2005 tundra?

terraplane
 
It can be harder to load a roller trailer on a steep ramp by yourself.

Boats can be stored better on a bunk trailer over the winter, if that
is a consideration.

A 22', with a dual speed winch can be hand cranked up a bunk trailer
without a great deal of difficultly.

Boats can roll off roller trailers. This can be good or bad. I have
pictures to prove the bad. New roller trailers can allow a boat to
roll down and be launched. However, it seems that after a while,
the boat doesn't roll very easily and the advantage of a roller
trailer is largely lost.

I'm glad we got the bunk trailer, particularly with the C-Dory, which
doesn't need much water to float.

Mike
 
Tom --
We tow with our '05 Tundra -- no problema -- back seat is very comfortable, according to our kids and grandkids.

We totally agree with all said by Mike -- much prefer the bunk to rollers.

Your trip sounds great, but why trailer south? Mighty nice cruise from your home port. We've done that route and enjoyed it all.

We were playing "Gonna cruise the Chester River" this weekend, out in Sucia Island in the San Juans -- Pat, Patty, Ruth and Joe and us'ns singing at the top of our lungs -- we were with you folks, in our hearts and minds!! Cheers
 
Marc at Wefings where I bought my boat strongly suggests bunk trailers for better support and I think less surprises at the ramp. He also recommends against the electric breaks because of salt water. Just thought I would pass that along because I value his opinion. For tow vehicle I like the F-250 or GMC diesel . You get 10 mpg while towing, plenty of stopping power ( big brakes), easier refuel at truck stops with more space and up to 20 mpg not towing. I now have 100,000 miles on my '05 with nothing other than routine maintenance, one set of brake pads and one set of tires. Hope to go another 250,000.
Enjoy your great boat Terraplane! :smiled
 
Funny thing about bunk trailers. Hard as heck to winch that last few inches but they have no problem letting your boat slide back down 15 feet of bunk, with you at the bow with the winch strap in your hand. But I did get to see some folks "launch" a 17' fiberform on the ramp saturday at crescent lake.
 
With electric over hydraulic brakes, the trailer brakes are hydraulic, but powered by a pump up on the tongue by the hitch which is electrically controlled by your truck's brakes AND your custom hand setting and you can touch them on any time you want as hard as you want. This helps alot on long hills where a surge brake system would fry your brakes as well as in gusty winds where you need to stop a sway, etc..

John
 
I own a 2003 Tundra and tow my cruiser from the interior of British Columbia to the coast. This means mountain passes up to 5500 ft and long up and downhill grades. The verdict? No problem for the Tundra. I would anticipate mileage in the 14 mpg range though or maybe even lower than that when towing. I've also towed my boat with my friend's '05 Dodge diesel 1-ton. Result - my next truck will be a Dodge. You barely know the boat is behind this truck, yet the mileage is much better than the Toyota whether loaded or unloaded. The new Cummins is very smooth - the new 6.7 litre for 2007 is quiet and clean and comes standard with an engine exhaust brake. I think it represents a big improvement over the 2006 and apparently even better mileage to be expected. I've driven Toyota trucks since 1991 and I have always been well served by them. But now that I have some serious towing to do, and I might want to haul a camper at the same time, the 1/2 ton Tundra just doesn't cut it. Nor would a 1/2 ton Chev, Ford, or Dodge. The 1-Tons are popular here in Canada because they don't draw a luxury tax like similarly priced 1/2 and 3/4 tons, so they are actually cheaper to buy. One other bit of advice I got from my friend with the Dodge was to stay away from dual rear wheels unless you're going to be putting 3 or more tons of stuff in the box!

Have surge brakes which seem to work fine. Also have bunks which I prefer to rollers.

Bill
 
Currently have 2 Dodge Ram Cummin's diesels- 98 and 04.

Both have been fantastic, trouble free and thankfully 04 and later are very quite. Besides our C-Dory we currently pull a 14,000 lb 30' fifth wheel averaging 13 mpg wherever we go with a Banks Power kit installed, climbing 5-6% grades at 60 without problems. On flat land our mpg averages are even higher. Such an amazing engine for only 6 cylinders. Add a Banks Power to whatever you get if diesel (Dodge, Ford or Chev) it always makes a substantial difference.

Best of wishes in your future travels on land and water.

Ron
 
Hi,

I'm waiting for my new C-Dory, which will weigh around 3500 with trailer, but I've towed a Malibu wakeboard boat and trailer at 5000 lbs a lot with my 2000 Silverado 1500 and had no problems with the combination. The trailer brakes more or less take care of the trailer, so the truck brakes don't seem to get too much more load from the combination.

The truck has the 5.3 V-8 and I get around 17 on the highway and around 13 towing the big boat. I drive a little more moderately than a lot of people, though. I have the original brakes with 87000 miles and they look like they'll outlast the truck, and me, and ....

Everyone talks about gas mileage for vehicles like it's a fixed number. The driver has a BIG impact on the actual result. I've gotten 51mpg avearge for 23000 miles in my Prius. Most people get around 45 I believe. Not much chance of towing a C-Dory with the Prius.

Jeff
 
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