towing

[everthing's irie]

I'm stuck using american trucks to tow my 290. In your case I'd look into a Toyota Tundra. Add a weight distribution hitch, they do make them for boat trailers I have located them at my local rv place, and you'll have a truck that will last more than 3 years and handle the load.

Look out here comes the fury!:lol:

 

[Nehalennia]

We have a '94 270DA.... bottom line is that you'll need a bigger and stronger tow rig. Loaded, our 270 tips the scale right at 10,000# according to offical scales. We tow with 2000 F250 V10, and though it handles the boat & trailer just fine, I sometimes wish for more. Towing at over 80% of my truck's rated towing capacity of 11,800# is definitely putting a lot of stress on it. You need to make sure that your trailer brakes, your truck brakes, your transmission, and cooler are in tip-top shape before getting on the road for any distance. And though my trailer brakes are excellent disk brakes that I replaced a couple of years ago, my truck brakes are taking a beating.

We just returned from a 1,700-mile round trip towing our boat from Sacramento, CA to Anacortes, WA and back. Coming down the mountains I was happy to have a heavy truck, but was still amazed at how much the boat & trailer were pushing - definitely nothing you should ever tackle with a lighter truck.

I agree

 

[Sundancer]

Sure the F-150 will tow it, but in the long run it WILL be cheaper to upgrade. You'll run through brakes, over heat transmissions and put a lot of wear on the F-150 even towing a mere 4 miles to the closest ramp. Eventually you'll want to explore and then something WILL go wrong and you'll end up paying for a new tranny or something. Use the old rule of thumb and figure out if you'll upgrade to a larger boat and then buy a tow vehicle that will handle that with 20% of it's towing capacity still available! Don't forget about all those people stuck behind you at the stoplights as you attempt to pull away! Going slow will annoy them and they will show you their favorite finger as they pass you. Just look straight ahead! :grin:

 

[khaynes]

Thanks again everyone. Looks like I'll be looking for a bigger truck. Just made my last truck payment last month too.

 

[Luckydogs]

Thanks again everyone. Looks like I'll be looking for a bigger truck. Just made my last truck payment last month too.

Isn't that how it always happens!! As soon as you get it paid off; upgrade, repairs, etc... As I mentioned before; I tow with a 97 F-350, CC, 7.3L and had to have my tranny rebuilt this year. Go as BIG as your wallett will allow!!