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toyman

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C Dory Year
2006
Vessel Name
Fan-C-Dory
I've been waffeling around about a C-Dory since I saw one in Michigan 2 years ago. We (Self, Wife & Yorkie) have been RV'ers for ~30 years. We've now been down most of the roads we want to and are thinking a C-Dory may be what we need - I have trouble determining the difference in "needs" & "wants".

I'd really like a 25' but since our present M/H has a 5000# tow rating, I'm thinking I should stay with a 22'. Question, has anyone actually weighed their rig to verify the weight – if so, what was the outcome.

Here is a link to a couple of photos of our present M/H & proposed tow vehicle.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/river_rd/

TIA, Dave W
 
This question has been asked a few times before and yes, many people have weighed their CD22. Fully loaded and on the trailer, you'll be looking at 3700-4000lbs. With a CD25 fully loaded the boat and trailer will come close to 8000#. A 255TomCat will hit closer to 10,000#. So with a 5000 tow vehicle, you're limited to the 22 (or venture 23) and smaller. I towed my 22 for quite awhile with an Isuzu Trooper (rated 5000# towing). No real problems with that but I definitely couldn't charge up mountains and I did add air shocks to the rear to raise the suspension a bit.
 
Please see the last discussion: Tomcat Weight which contains discussion of the C-25 as well.

Try this for the 22: Trailering 22

Boris
 
Generally I would recommend staying with the 22 or 23 with an RV which has a Tow rating of 5000 lbs. However, it depends on what the tow rating is based. Is just the hitch? Is it the capacity of the vehicle--such as the gross combined vehicular weight (which combines the vehicle weight with the weight of the trailer)?

We have a 30 foot RV which has an oversized chassis and drive train for its gross vehicular weight. By upgrading the hitch and putting in an upgraded transmission, and stay within the GCVW, the vehicle was able to tow the C Dory 25 with relative ease-- -- including the major grades on I 5. (slow going up and down some of the steepest grades). I do not recommend this for most RV's and with the 25 you are very close to the 65 foot length. Over 65 feet can be towed, but campgrounds, and service stations become a problem even at 65 feet.

We found a "30 foot" diesel RV, with a hitch and chassis rated for 10,000 lbs, but it was 34 feet long when measured, and even without the tongue weight on the rear, was light on the front axle, so it was not satisfactory.

Our 25 weighs 6500 lbs on its axles and 700 lbs on the hitch (scale measured weight on the road, with low fuel and water, moderate amount of gear. We normally tow it with a diesel Ford Excursion which is rated at 10,000 lbs. with a weight distribution hitch.

Some folks have truck campers which are satisfactory to tow even the Tom Cat (over 10,000 lbs).
 
many people have weighed their CD22. Fully loaded and on the trailer, you'll be looking at 3700-4000lbs.
Click to expand...
My 22 Cruiser is 4500#s fully loaded on a single-axle EZloader roller.
 
Hi Dave and welcome aboard,

When we went to Seattle in 06 to buy a C-Dory, we were convinced (OK, I was convinced) that the 22 would be the perfect boat to pull behind our Class B campervan (tow rating: 8400 pounds). It was on the Dodge one ton chassis, not the Sprinter chassis. When we decided to go with a 25 instead of the 22, we were told that we'd still be within our weight rating. Checking into it further, we found that the tow weight rating was based on the "unladen" (read that as: prior to conversion) van. In order to get at the actual towing weight left, you had to subtract the weight of the items added to make the camper conversion. That left no doubt that we would be well over our tow rating with the 25. We decided to get a diesel pickup to tow the boat and have not regretted that move.

Having said all that (and stating that the 25 is definitely the right boat for us), I still think a Class B towing a 22 would give you great accommodations on land and water, and still keep your length manageable.

When that Sprinter chassis was first introduced in the US, the tow rating was 3500 pounds. I'd check with the chassis manufacturer (not the RV converter) to find out exactly how the tow rating was determined.

Good luck with your decisions - you have half of a great combo there. :wink:

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I tow my 22' with my Safari Trek 28' motorhome. It's on a P30 Workhorse chassi with an 8.1 GM engine. I hardly know it's back there.
I also tow with the Jeep GC with the small V-8.
 
I applogize for not realizing that your RV was a Dodge Sprinter. I think that the Sprinter Van conversions are fantastic vehicles. The 2500 (which I assume you have, since the 3500 has a tow capacity of 7500 lbs). has a 13550 combined weight for the Sprinter and the towed boat. You need to weigh the Sprinter and see what its weight is with the conversion and all of your gear aboard.
I believe that the basic Sprinter chassis has only about a 3600 lb payload before conversion. The vehicle capacity is 8550, with a curb weight of about 4930 lbs You may not be able to tow 5000 lbs if you are over the combined weight when you add in the weight of the C Dory on the trailer.

You will find that your speed up the grades will be fairly slow--and you may want to put a temperature guage on the transmission. The HP is only about 154

I have a one ton Road Trek on a conventional Dodge Van Chassis, with a tow capacity of 6800 lbs--I towed the Road Trek 22, but have not attempted the 25--I think it is too much weight.
 
Thanks for all of the good reply s. I KNOW to tow with the Sprinter I'd be limited to a 22', but I wasn't to sure how close I'd be cutting it - looks like I'd have ~500 to spare on tow capacity (GCWR 13550). And I'm about ~500 under my GVW so I think I'm good to go - SLOWLY ! Thanks again.
 
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