Towing a C-25 with a 2006 Frontier

P

petemos

New member
I’m looking at a 2007 C-25 and have a 2006 Frontier 265HP Six speed manual with a 6,300lb towing capacity. The info i got from the dealer is the boat weighs 3,600lb dry with another 800lb for the engine and figure 1,000lb for the trailer. Total 5,400lbs.

I would seem to be OK at this weight, but in looking at some forum comments, I'm started to get scared off and thinking of going with a C-22 or a Arima 22HT. I have to tow this boat once 350 miles and then maybe 25-50 miles ever once an a while. I boat will be at my dock for most of the summer and then i will pull it out for the winter.

Anyone actually tow a c-25 with a Frontier or mabe a Tacoma (which can't tow as much)? If so, how did it work out?

Thanks Jim
 
Jim, I don't think you've got enough capacity but I'll let those with a 25 chime in. When you add fuel, water and all the stuff most of us carry, you'd be over your limit by a goodly bit!

Charlie
 
Thanks. I was not going to have any gas or water in the boat on the long tow. I was just going to get it from the dealer and drive to my home. Just boat, motor and mabe the batteries. Jim
 
Hi Jim,

Just for reference, when we weighed our CD-25 on the trailer, it came in around 8500 pounds. That was loaded for cruising, less than 1/4 fuel, full water, empty holding tank. We do not travel night, but much of the cruising gear (dinghy, dinghy motor, extra clothes, deck gear, etc) was in the back of the truck, not on the boat.

We tow with a GMC Sierra with the Duramax and 6 speed Allison transmission. We bought the truck because of the weight of the boat/trailer. I had planned to tow with a one ton chassis van with an 8400 pound towing capacity, and I am glad we didn't use that vehicle for this boat.

I did not weigh the trailer without the boat on it to get an actual weight on the boat, but from the manufacturer info, the trailer is in excess of 2000 pounds. That is the steel galvanized trailer - the aluminum trailer would save you some weight, but I don't know how much.

We also have a Class V hitch on the truck.

We were also told to expect the boat/trailer to be around 6500 pounds, "all up." When I checked with other owners before heading out to pick up our boat, I kept hearing weights closer to ours than the original estimate.

With that in mind, I would think you are going to be a bit light on the tow vehicle. We had towed a 5000 pound sailboat with the one ton van previously, and it had to work pretty hard. We are pleased with this truck for the towing.

Good luck with your decisions. Ask away if you have other questions - this place is a great resource.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Thanks. I'm going to have to nail this down with the dealer as i was not planning to buy a new truck as part of the package. My if i still decide to go with the C-25 my other alternative is to have them deliver it the extra 350 miles and see what that costs me.

Jim
 
I have the factory hitch, which I think is a class 3-4. I'm not sure how i tell. It's 2" square and a frame hitch from the factory. It has a 7-pin connector with integrated brake support. I order the biggest tow package that the Frontier had
 
I towed my 10K# Tom Cat from WA to Lake Powell with the hitch that came with my truck but I have often wondered if it was optimal.

Warren
 
I would think that it would make sense to pull a full size boat with a3/4 ton full size truck. I don't even know if a half-ton is a good idea either. But, I never really worry about having the power (it wouldn't even cross my mind to pull it with a light duty pickup), I always worry about stopping it. I do think that your truck will pull and stop a cd22 just fine. Maybe that is what you should get instead, or a bigger truck.
 
pcator":37lp7yp4 said:
Can you take the boat and trailer to a truck stop/w scales and get it weighted? Cost?


Patrick
Click to expand...

Most truck stops charge between $5 and $10 to weigh. There are instructions on the scale to show you where to stop. You can unhook the trailer and get the tongue weight if you align it right and pay for a second weigh. If you don't have a CB, check in at the fuel desk and they will talk you through it. Pay, go weigh, go back to the desk and pick up your weight slip. Easy.

And for Warren - We have the heavy duty towing package. The receiver is 2 1/2" with a 2" adaptor for smaller hitch bars. Factory option.
 
I'm not sure exactly what the Nissan Frontier is, but if it's the equivalent of a Toyota Tundra, or a Chevvie 1500, I would think it's OK, for a short haul. We towed Journey On with a 63 Chevvy 1/2 ton from and to Seattle, and had no problems. Used the equilizer hitch, and the trailer had electric/hydraulic brakes, and those two things made the difference. That said, the drivetrain wasn't stock, but everything else was. Picture here:Journey On Tow

As to the weight of the boat, you're guaranteed >8000# empty. Trailer lists at 2500#, and Jims Wild Blue's weight is accurate and on the low end.

Boris
 
Just for your comparison, my new CD 22 cruiser with a Honda 90 and 9.9 on a two axle galvanized trailer and 50 gallons fuel weighed 4500 lbs on the truck scales. That's with minimal equipment and toys. (Anchor, windlass, two batteries, no water.)

I have a 2000 Silverado 1/2 ton with a 5.3 L automatic and it tows easily. I used to tow a 5500 lb Malibu ski boat setup and it also towed fine, but the weight difference is apparent.

I wonder what the dealers would tell you my 4500 lb rig would weigh.

In addition to the power issue, there's a vehicle size and weight issue for safety so you don't get overpowered by the trailer in case you have to do any stunt driving, planned or unplanned......

Anti-lock brakes are nice, and 4WD is nice on slippery ramps.

When you're at the truck scales you can spot the trailer twice and get two weights, with and without the tongue jack on the scale. Then you can be sure you're somewhere in the ballpark on tongue weight. You can go with 10% tongue weight, or somewhat less, but it's good to make sure it isn't really light up there. THAT's dangerous.

If you have a light trailer and a big tow vehicle, the tongue weight is no big deal, but when the trailer becomes significant relative to the truck you'd better not fool around. I've watched people experience the results. Very scary.

Jeff
 
We weighed the CD 25, empty--that is zero fuel, zero water and no cushions or any gear and it was 5500 lbs on the aluminum trailer. In travel mode (we towed it over 2500 miles last year) it weighed about 6500 lbs. This included taking the kicker on the transom, and minimal water, fuel less than 1/4 full. This is a 2003 boat--newer boats may weigh more.

You probably would be OK trailering it home "light"--also short distances OK, but not long haul.

I would buy the boat you will be happy with--if you buy a boat according to the truck--you may have regreats later. The HP is not the issue--the stopping and weight of the truck--as well as hitch are. You probably should consider getting a weight equalizing hitch if you are going be this close to the limit of the truck. We use a Ford Excursion diesel--which is rated as a 3/4+ ton truck.
 
journey on":28neuu48 said:
I'm not sure exactly what the Nissan Frontier is, but if it's the equivalent of a Toyota Tundra, or a Chevvie 1500, I would think it's OK, for a short haul. We towed Journey On with a 63 Chevvy 1/2 ton from and to Seattle, and had no problems. Used the equilizer hitch, and the trailer had electric/hydraulic brakes, and those two things made the difference. That said, the drivetrain wasn't stock, but everything else was. Picture here:Journey On Tow

As to the weight of the boat, you're guaranteed >8000# empty. Trailer lists at 2500#, and Jims Wild Blue's weight is accurate and on the low end.

Boris
Click to expand...

It is not a full size pickup.
 
I have often wondered if it's not so much the weight of the vehicle but how the weight is distributed. I wonder if the Excursion is a better towing vehicle than a 3/4 pickup that has no extra weight in the bed. It seems to me that an empty pickup would have a tendency to be pushed around more than something that has weight back there.

Just curious because I tow with a 2004 durango/w 5.7 hemi(year they stopped using the light truck frame) with the tow package. I have had to make some pretty hard slow downs where people coming onto the on ramp don't want to be behind a towing vehicle and they have cut me off. I have had the trailer brakes locked but no movement of the durango. Just slowing in a straight line.

I also wonder if the trailer is the key to what the total weight is. When Wild Blue says 8500, I beleive him. And when Thataway says 6500. I believe him too. There probably is some difference in the weight of what you pack, e.g., beans vs chips. But not 2 000 lbs.

Just going to have to get mine on some scales. Can't stand it any longer.

Patrick

Patrick
 
Well, I think i'm going to rent a truck to take the C-25 to my home (350 miles) unless the dealer can do it cheaper. A one way rental will cost $3 or $4 hundred plus gas and $.40 a mile over 250. I will still use my Frontier locally, but should be OK if i don't load it down.

Thanks so much for all the comments and suggestions.

Jim
 
Do you have to tow up any inclines? It's funny but people who live in flat states might not consider this. If you live in a flat location you can probably get a way with an undersized vehicle for limited towing. However if you need to do any climbing you will pay for it. One weird thing i notice is my truck actually rides better full fuel. Remember that the tongue weight will vary depending on full fuel tanks or not. This will affect the towing. Also, short wheel bases combined with long trailers are a bad idea. The longer the wheel base the better.

I tow with a 2007 explorer sport trac. I have the v8 (292hp). My wheel base is 130 inches which is surprisingly longer than even the bigger expedition (only 119inch wheelbase). My 22' cruiser weights about 4500lbs and my sport trac does a nice job. Over the mountains I would like more power so I couldn't imagine towing a 25' with my vehicle except maybe on flat ground.
 
I had the same issue when we bought our cd25. The tow vehicle was at 95% of tow capacity. You said that your boat will be stored in the water during the summer. I would guess then that you will be towing a minimum amount. I would not let the tow vehicle keep me from buying the boat that that fits best. I would find a friend with a 3/4 ton pick up for the long trip or consider renting a truck or having it delivered. I did replace our tow vehicle with a 3/4 ton pickup because I tow every time we take the boat out. The vehicle you have although minimal for a cd 25 is not unrealistic for the occasional short distance tow. Get the cd25 for your boat time and appreciate not driving a 3/4 ton pickup the 98% of the time you arent towing. :lol:
 
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