Towing a 25 ft. cruiser

Helm wrote:
I believe the easy-loader weight distributing hitch you have in your post won't work with a hydraulic surge brake.
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Helm, I have no idea why you'd say that! I have 4 wheel Disc brakes, I've towed my boat over 10,000 miles up and down moderately steep hills, the brakes work smooth as silk and is the absolute best setup on any boat I've owned. That entire a-frame looking thing is attached (welded) to an Atwood actuator, the whole assembly moves together, the only way a surge brake system would work properly.

Come take a ride someday, I'd be glad to show you how well it works!
 
My mistake, I just saw the chains ala easy-lift which is a system that won't work with surge brakes, your system looks great. I think I still like equalizer, less complicated, provideds sway control, and easy to move from trailer to trailer
 
I have a setup like Roger's too. Had my trailer modified after purchase with electric over hydraulic brakes and equalizer hitch.

I like it because now my boat trailer and my travel trailer hook up the same way.
 
Helm, yes, I forgot the name and I did 'borrow' them from my travel trailer, they are EZ-Lift. But this system (by Pacific) does let them work good. But like I said, if your tongue weight gets too high and you crank up the tension, the Atwood actuator begins to bind with all that torque placed on it.
 
For all who contributed advice on my question to tow a 25 ft C-Dory with a 1/2 ton truck..... I FINALLY got my boat and drug her to Valdez last weekend and with my 2006 Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 (350 Alaska road miles). She towed GREAT! I did about 55 average other than the areas that have been know to swallow tourist's motorhomes. Had the back of the truck FULL of stuff to! Made it in 8 hours. On fairly flat roads it pulled great, will admit that going up some of the long steep hills she slowed down to 45 but I sure expected worse!! I did add an equalizer hitch and am covinced that helped consderably. Going down Thompson pass ( a VERY long grade, about 5 miles) the surge brakes worked great! Never felt as though I needed anything else. If I wanted to slow or stop, no problem. For those interested, I have a few pics in my photo album!

So.... for those who said "no way!" to my original question, sorry but you were wrong! For those who said go for it, "You have chosen wisely"

Thanks for the help!!

Don

C-Yalater



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I just picked up my cape cruiser 23 from melbourne fl to Naples fl about 230miles We used my 4100lb single axcel trl with brakes . The Honda Pilot did great about 11-12mpg almost the same mileage as towing the c-22 cruiser.You definatly know it s back there but going about 55-60 it worked great . I might end up with a tandem alum trl we will see depending if the duck sells with or without the trailer I love my Honda and my c-dorys
 
Edward Thieme":2c40cbw7 said:
Just to be contrary, I have a C-25 which I tow with a 2005 Nissan Frontier 4X4 with the 4 liter V6 265hp engine and a 6 speed manual transmission. I towed the new boat back to CO, where there are real mountains, from Fife, WA. Last fall went to Lk. Powell which means going over Vail Pass and Eisenhower Tunnel going and coming. No I wasn't the fastest thing on the road but just shifted down going up hill. On halfway level ground maintaining 55mph, the fastest I want to go towing anything, was no problem.

Ed
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Ed,

I hope you never get in an accident while towing your boat with that vehicle. More than likely the insurance company will not cover the repairs as you are seriously overweight towing that boat with the Nissan. And the likelihood of getting into an accident seriously increases when you are overweight. It isn't so much being able to PULL the boat as it is being able to control the boat while doing evasive maneuvers or trying to stop.

Remember that max towing capacities are often rated with load leveling hitches. Without that they are often reduced by a thousand pounds or more.


Don (Kena B), Congrats on the new boat.
 
I aggree with most posters here. I think you need 3/4 ton or better. I have a
1 1/2 ton dulley. I don't think dulleys are the best for pulling bumper pull
trailers either. When trucks have worn grooves in the highway they tend to wander. With the high prices of fuel you should be able to find a good price.
Good luck.
:smiled john schuler :smiled
 
This towing thing has been visited before ,but is is always good to have someone bring it up, as it is timely with the newer CD owners out here.
That being said....as mentioned in the past we primarily tow our CD-25 with our 2004 V-8 powered VW Touareg. It tows it fine as the Touareg is a really heavy ,almost 6.000 lb vehicle itself, it has plenty of power and the short wheel base helps in tight backing situations. We also have a F-250 4X4 Ford with a 460 in it that we use sometimes. but it uses a lot more fuel than the Touareg. We do get a lot of looks when we go down the road with the Touareg, and of course some glassy-eyed looks when asked what we tow our CD with, but it works for us. Money not being a problem I would use my 2008 T-850 Kenworth that I drive at work if I could, I could then tow the CD and our Travel Trailer at the same time.

Jim
 
JamesTXSD":2xaeflzl said:
When we weighed our 25, with less than a 1/4 tank of fuel, full water, Honda 135, reasonably loaded for cruising (the dinghy/motor and generator were still in the truck), the boat on the trailer came in at just under 8500 pounds.
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Later on, Kena B says they pulled their CD25 with a 1/2 ton with no problem, maintaining speeds of about 55. So here's my question: I have the opportunity to TRADE my Jeep (extensively modified) for a 1997 Dodge Magnum V-8. It's still only a 1/2 ton, but has been retrofitted with a transmission cooler and electric brake control. Pertinent specs look like this:

tow cap. (owner's manual): 7400 lbs
hp: 220 @ 4400 rpm
torque: 300 ft lbs at 3200 rpm

It's not the ideal truck for pulling a CD25, but do you think it's up to it with the add-on's?

Thanks in advance,
McMike
 
I have just towed the CD 25 with a 30 foot RV about 1200 miles, with zero propblems, but the truck is basically a 650 chassis--total capacity at 26000 lbs. I had the transmission modified, with a different torque converter and can lock the tranny in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th--I don't use overdrive when towing.

I am using a equalizer hitch--with 6" of chains the surge brakes work fine. I was able to pull most grades, including Grapevine at 45 mph--but went down slower (engine compression--no heating of brakes).

I have a 1993 1 ton Road Trek Van--and wonder if it is heavy duty enough (mostly tranny) for pulling this.

My personal opinion is that unless the truck is rated for at least 7,500 lbs you are over stressing it--and have some risks. But again this is an opinion--and doesn't mean that you cannot do it....The 25 is a significant load--much more than the 22.
 
I can flat out tell you that the Expedition was barely up to the job towing Daydream for short hauls on fairly level ground...I was not comfortable at all with it even going over Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascades when we went to the Idaho lakes last summer. It was rated for 7,500 lb I believe. The Titan is awesome - I think its rating is 11,000 lbs or something like that. Anyway, NO issues with the Titan, which has the tow package that changes the shift points in drive, and also has a clutchless manual four speed transmission that is great for either more power going up hills or engine braking going down when you need it. Unfortunately, at $4 per gallon, headed for between $5 and $6, I pine for the fuel economy of the Expedition!
 
McMike,

IMHO you would be pushing the limits of the 1/2 ton Dodge. I wouldn't do it. I would wait and find a suitable 3/4 ton or 1 ton. The difference in cost from a half ton is usually not too much (unless you go diesel). And the difference in fuel prices is probably a wash. So why get something that you know is marginal up front rather than a truck that will easily do the job?

My 27' C-Dory is 6800lbs empty on the trailer. I tow it with a '93 F-250 diesel 4x4 Extra Cab (Rated for 10K +-). While I really wish I had waited to get a 1 ton turbo diesel over all the truck works great for towing it. There is no way I would want to tow it with a Half Ton. And yes, it does have a load leveling Class V Hitch with Surge Brakes.

If you do decide to get the Half Ton, make sure to spend the extra money on a load leveling hitch on the trailer.
 
The truck I had before my current Dodge 2500 Cummins was a 96 Dodge 1500 with the 360. I used it to tow a 22' Hewescraft, which probably weighs close to a C22. I could only go about 35 mph in 2nd (automatic) going up Interstate mountain passes like Snoqualmie, outside Pendleton, etc. That truck purchase was a definite case of being penny wise and pound foolish. I regretted it almost as soon as I bought it.

Warren
 
We have not spent a lot of time or effort on the equalizing hitch--and this experience with the CD 25 is the first time I have used one. If you look at many of these trucks, they are rated for the max load capacity ONLY with the equalizing (load leveling hitch). Often the sales people will say "that is not necessary"--nonsense--the factory specs that, and for a reason. I am sold on the equalizing hitch--mine was about $500 including the "pole tongue" adaptor. The only negative, is that I have to undo the chains to turn the handle on the foreward tongue jack wheel. I probably could make some slight modifications , changing the position of the jack and not have to drop the chains. Putting the chains on only takes a couple of minutes, and the effort of hitching is minimally more than a straight pull hitch. It really makes a difference the way the trailer handles, especially in cross winds, and when large trucks pass.
 
Wait a second. I pulled the C-25 with a 1/2 ton. Worked great. I accept the fact you have to gear down in the mountains, both going DOWN and UP. That's why transmissions are there. 20 mph coming south out of Oregon into Calif is normal, that is a steep grade, and if you can make that you can do anything. I haven't seen anything like that west of the rockies.

The two mandatory things for towing a heavy load with a 1/2 ton are: a 350 inch motor (or equivalent) and an equalizer hitch. If you want to be really careful toss in electric/hydraulic brakes. That's all you need. You know, all the 3/4 ton has that's different is stiffer springs, and a heavy-duty rear axle.

Boris
 
And bigger brakes. Might come in handy. There is a reason they rate 3/4 ton trucks higher than 1/2 tons. Comfort/security level is up to the driver.
 
I am a bit suprised that anyone would state that "no way can you tow a 25 " CD with a 1/2 ton".

NO doubt a 3/4 ton would be better but I can not see selling a good 1/2 ton and buying a new 3/4 ton just because someone said it would not work!! Does that some one have the experience of towing a 25' CD with a 1/2 ton???

Guess not!

My 1/2 ton hitch is rated at 10k lbs (with an equalizer hitch). Works great!! Sure glad I didn't listen to those who said "It cant be done"!! Just spent last week catching halibut and BIG shrimp on the gas I saved on not purchasing a new truck!!

I just did, 380 miles on the worst roads in the US (Alaska) and it towed just GREAT!! I had a friend with me and he said he thought the boat and trailer fell off at the start because the ride was so good. Bad news is I got 10 MPG towing down!! I will give much credit to the equaliuzer hitch as it did take considerable load off the hitch.

I would love to see all who tow and say a 3/4 ton is the only way to drive from Fairbnks to Valdez. It is all up, down. rough, bumpy. I did go slow in the rough spots and will a admit that on the steeper up grades I ended up at around 45 MPH but that was faster than the tourists in motor homes!!

Don't waste your money on a bigger truck, save it for boat gas!! ( you will need it! Paid $4.33 at the dock last week!!)

Please look at my photo album as I have a few pics of the trek to Valdez with the truck that would not do it!

I say to those who think a 3/4 ton is the only truck: You need a 1 ton!!! It is much better! (I agree!)


PS: we had the back of the truck full of "stuff" that probably was around 500 lbs!

Don[/img]
 
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