Towing a 270 Sundancer

packerkidd30

New Member
May 10, 2018
14
Lake Lewisville, TX
Boat Info
1998 270 Sundancer
"19th Hole"
Engines
7.4L MC Bravo III
I am going to be towing my '98 270DA from Madiosn,WI down to Dallas,TX this weekend and this is the first time I'm going to be towing it more than a mile. I'm having my marina make sure my trailer is ready and I know I need new transom straps, but the only ones I've seen are the BoatBuckle ones that aren't quite long enough and I'm planing on putting some on the bow as well. Any advice anyone can give me would be much appreciated! Im going to be pulling it with a 3/4 ton diesel so the tow vehicle shouldn't be a problem!
 
I pull my '88 270 which I believe is a bit bigger than yours (wider beam, little heavier) with my 1/2 ton Ram Ecodiesel with air suspension. Do I do it often?....no, but at least 2X year back and forth from home (3 hrs) and usually 1-2 trips to northern MI. Main pointer I have is.....make sure your trailer is a good weight distributing trailer (preferably tri-axle) and has good brakes that WORK! I would't attempt to pull mine if I didn't have such a nice trailer. Brakes on all axles, I can use the brake controller to stop the truck without having to touch the brakes. I did have a previous Ram (2013) with a hemi without the air suspension in it and did notice some sway when going over overpasses, etc.

Harbor freight has a pretty good selection of the heavy duty straps. Have some 4X4's, 2X6's, etc. and a heavy duty 10-ton or larger jack in case you need it, and check your lug nut size and make sure you have the appropriate size wrench as it probably won't match your truck. Take it slow(er) and don't be in a rush. People on the road do not care you are pulling a big heavy object. They will tailgate and zip in front of you as if you can stop on a dime, it's just what they do! Good luck and be safe!
 
20180420_173912.jpg 20180420_174409.jpg pics of my setup :)
 
What's the beam of your 270? If it's more than 102" you're going to need trip permits for each state you tow through. They're easy to get online and much cheaper than the little slip of paper the trooper you're talking with gives to you.

Also, if you're over 102" you'll need wide load signs front and rear and orange flags at the widest part of the boat. I used the nylon mesh flags and just zip tied them to the bow rail.

Stop every 100 miles or so and feel the hubs on the trailer to make sure they are not getting hot. Cool hubs are what you want but if the hub is not enough that you can't hold your hand on it, it's time to add some grease.

Most of your trip will be on flat land until you get to Missouri, then you'll be in and out of some gentle hills. Just take those slow and easy and you will do fine.

Good luck and be safe.
 
I am going to be towing my '98 270DA from Madiosn,WI down to Dallas,TX this weekend and this is the first time I'm going to be towing it more than a mile. I'm having my marina make sure my trailer is ready and I know I need new transom straps, but the only ones I've seen are the BoatBuckle ones that aren't quite long enough and I'm planing on putting some on the bow as well. Any advice anyone can give me would be much appreciated! Im going to be pulling it with a 3/4 ton diesel so the tow vehicle shouldn't be a problem!
Go to Farm & Fleet, they should have all kinds of ratchet straps to choose from.
 
If your luck is anything like mine you can be sure that you'll find at least one eagle-eyed State Trooper with a tape measure along the way...

I'm not sure if all states are the same but you're a good foot +/- over-width here in Michigan...
 
I would have a spare trailer hub greased up and ready to go. There’s nothing worse than leaving your boat along side the highway while you go looking for parts.
 
Thanks guys!! Alot of good info! My beam is right at 108'' so ill be getting the DOT permits and a sign. Should I need any extra straps other than the two on the bow and two on the transom? Also, I am trying to figure out how to take off the bimini, so I can put the cover on it! Heres a few pics of it last summer on the trailer!
IMG_0393.jpgIMG_0395.jpg
 
To all this good advice, I'll add that ideally you'll have 2 mounted spares. I can almost guarantee you'll lose one, maybe more, tires from the trailer. The boat is heavy and it'll be getting warmer the farther south you drive. Tires also go bad just sitting around, though they can look just fine. How old are yours?

As previously mentioned, leaving your boat on the side of the road is a drag. Do you have a lock for the hitch end of your trailer? Also important is a jack that can easily lift the boat. You might need some sort of blocking material under the jack. Proper wrenches/cheater bar for the lug nuts. Perhaps bricks or something to block the other tires while you jack the boat up.

All from experience towing my earlier rig.
 
Should I need any extra straps other than the two on the bow and two on the transom?
When I towed my 330 I ran a heavy duty tow strap over the bow and used a come-a-long cable under the center beam on the trailer to cinch it down. I didn't have a winch strap like most trailers, just a chain. The strap over the bow kept the bow from bouncing if I got on a road that was rough.
 

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