Trailering a Sundancer 240 around

annie said:
We treat ours like an RV trailer when on the road. Great being able to keep all your food in the fridge and having a loo handy when nature calls..... You just have to remember not to dive over the side when parked up at camping spots... Ouch!
Click to expand...

That's funny right there!

I have slept in the boat at a rest area while towing, wake up in the middle of the night confused, and go top sides and not remember I was on the trailer. Startling when a truck pulls in next to you.
 
Last edited:
islandhopper00 said:
That's funny right there!

I have slept in the boat at a rest area while towing, wake up in the middle of the night confused, and go top sides and not remember I was on the trailer. Startling when a truck pulls in next to you.
Click to expand...

We've done it a couple of times. We've taken the boat on the trailer to a friend or relative's party. We call it the boaterhome. No DUIs and we have all of our stuff. It's worked well.
 
Biks said:
I was thinking of buying a Sundancer 240 or Sundeck 240 and trailering it around everywhere.

What's the consensus? How fast will it become old to put a 24' boat in and out of the water every weekend? I've wrangled a 32' RV trailer around for a few years, so it seems (to me) that I'll "merely" be dealing with a 24' thingy.

Who here has a 24' boat and has kept it mostly on a trailer? What would you have done differently? Any regrets?

Thanks for any feedback!
Click to expand...

We have a small boat......We have done both, alot......trailered, and, wet slipped for the summer.....both options are desirable for all of the reasons aforementioned....even if you wet slip for the summer you can pull out and go somewhere else for a long weekend or vacation.....I strongly recommend doing both if you can.....we added a very nice camper 3 years ago, that we haul with the F-350...love it all...if we get somewhere and the weather isn't cooperating, we leave the boat on the trailer and "site-see" with the truck....its all fun....I think the big boats are very cool....but you're very versatile with a trailer-able set up....particularly if you can avoid "rush hour" traffic....(keep that in mind)....not to fun, sitting in traffic for hours,....carefully evaluate your logistical situation......and go for it....short term wet slip, full time trailer, either way, when its hot (the weather) boating is the greatest..:grin:
 
Interesting topic. I've just bought an '84 Searay 260 Sundancer with a trailer. I've trailered my previous vintage '57 Bellboy and kept it in a marina. This boat has a bunk tailer whereas the former had rollers. I'm wondering, of those who found it easy to trailer, were they bunks or rollers?
 
I have the original rollers.....but my boat is relatively tiny and easily muscled, pulled, or pushed....I see alot of boaters power right on to the trailer with guides and bunks....they seem very easy to me.....
 
We trailered a 250 for 2 months, using an expedition the truck was fine but i'll never do it again!!!! waiting online at the ramp. loading it after a long day on the water ,etc, driving home and un-hooking.
It was a lot of work now we clean the boat en route to the slip and wash it down close it up and go home.....PRICELESS
 
what kind of vehicle is towing it? I have a dodge ram pickup 1500 2 wheel drive. v8. I have the 1984 v260 and have a terrible trailer that someone rigged. I need a new trailer. do you use a double axel or triple? I'm new to this and not sure. the previous b/o cut the front of the trailer to lengthen it. what a mess.
 
the guy at the trailer place said I need a 28foot trailer for my boat.??
 
You need the trailer that is rated to hold the weight of your boat with water, fuel and gear in it. In my case I have a triple axle King Trailer. It's galvanized with stainless steel disc brakes rated for 8600 lbs.
http://www.kingtrailers.com/trailers_i3807320.html?catId=158084

The trailer is 32'-4" and I hang off the back with the transom and outdrive about ~2' .
May garage is 34' deep and I have 3" to spare with the door closed. Yes it's tight, but it's worth it keeping it indoors, with power and she'd 15 minutes to go get her from the garage & back home to pack.
Garage11-17-08.jpg
 
I was wondering what size truck are you guys using to trailer your boats. I have a 77 240sda and have yet to trailer it the 20 or so miles to Lake Mead with my 94 f150 4x4 351 v8. It pulls my bayliner 175 cutty without any problem at all. I towed the Bayliner 3700 miles from Alaska to Las Vegas with no problems. The 240 SDA trailer has brakes on one axle and dual axles.
 
Last edited:
I pull my 250 with a 2013 Ram 1500 hemi 4x4 no problem. weighs about 8000lbs with the tri-axle trailer. barely know its back there. with a 351 i wouldn't think you would have issues just make sure your brakes are up to snuff
 
boatman37 said:
I pull my 250 with a 2013 Ram 1500 hemi 4x4 no problem. weighs about 8000lbs with the tri-axle trailer. barely know its back there. with a 351 i wouldn't think you would have issues just make sure your brakes are up to snuff
Click to expand...
We also tow our 240DA with Ram 1500 4x4 Hemi. No problems at all.
 
Towed my 18 ft Bayliner cutty back to the house from dry storage today and I think that I need to add some octane booster to this crappy fuel we are getting out of California poor girl seems she has a lack of power pulling the boat. Will get the 240SDA out to the lake soon and see how the truck does. Good think I'm retired the projects never seem to end lol.
 
Loose Cannon said:
There have been a lot of advantages mentioned with regard to trailering. While they all make sense, one's situation can make a big difference. I used to trailer a runabout years ago without issue. My job keeps me pretty busy these days so having my 240da in a slip gives me the flexibility to show up after work for an hour long "de-stressing" cruise anytime during the week (only thing that keeps me going some days). This would be difficult to pull off with a trailer due to the extra time involved, plus I don't want to deal with it after a long day. If I want to stay out past dark, no big deal, I tie up at the marina and drive home. That's just my situation and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Click to expand...
I'm with you on that one. I do the same thing with my 260. Takes all the stress out of the end of the day. 3 ropes and done!!!!
 
I would really love to have my 240 SDA moored at the marina but theres a mussel infestation at Lake Mead and they get into everything including your heat risers. Then theres the issue of the charges, a 24 footer cost $240.00 a month way out of my retirement income for sure. When I lived in Homer Alaska I use to moor my little Bayliner in the harbor and it cost around $400.00 for the summer. Your right it was great to just go down to the boat hop in and go fishing at a moments notice. Down fall on that was even with the bottom treated the boat use to get barnicles, 2 ft. long seaweed and moss. Clean it all off on Wednesday and it was back by Sunday. It was in the end easier and cheaper to haul the boat down and launch.
 
Loyd Dinneen said:
I would really love to have my 240 SDA moored at the marina but theres a mussel infestation at Lake Mead and they get into everything including your heat risers. Then theres the issue of the charges, a 24 footer cost $240.00 a month way out of my retirement income for sure. When I lived in Homer Alaska I use to moor my little Bayliner in the harbor and it cost around $400.00 for the summer. Your right it was great to just go down to the boat hop in and go fishing at a moments notice. Down fall on that was even with the bottom treated the boat use to get barnicles, 2 ft. long seaweed and moss. Clean it all off on Wednesday and it was back by Sunday. It was in the end easier and cheaper to haul the boat down and launch.
Click to expand...
I can certainly understand from just the maintenance side....I've pulled my 260 500 miles when I moved from MD to VA and she pulled nice. Safe travels my friend!!!!
 
Loyd Dinneen said:
I was wondering what size truck are you guys using to trailer your boats. I have a 77 240sda and have yet to trailer it the 20 or so miles to Lake Mead with my 94 f150 4x4 351 v8. It pulls my bayliner 175 cutty without any problem at all. I towed the Bayliner 3700 miles from Alaska to Las Vegas with no problems. The 240 SDA trailer has brakes on one axle and dual axles.
Click to expand...
Before you can answer that question you need to know....1. That's the weight of the boat and trailer. 2. What's the tow rating of your truck.

1. Take your boat on the trailer to a truck scale and get it weighed and then be sure and consider the weight of fuel and water on board as well as all the other crap that seems to find it's way on board as well. I used to live in Las Vegas, I know there are a number of scales where you can get it weighed.
2. Do an online search for Ford Truck Tow Ratings. You will need to know your rear axle ratio.

That should answer your questions. BTW brakes on one axle is fine.

Shawn
 
The weight capacity for the truck with it's equipment is 5900lbs I will have to check on the scale locations, I am considering getting another truck or van that will be 3/4 ton or more, almost have the wife talked into it as she knows I want to haul the boat to Oxnard Ca to do some salt fishing.
 
Not sure what you want to spend but 3 years ago I bought an '06 Ford F250 Lariat Crew Cab. It has the 6.0 Diesel and only 68,000 miles when I bought it. I paid $25,500. It was a 1 owner and it tows my 5800 lbs. like it's not there.
F250 sm.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,116
Messages
1,426,329
Members
61,028
Latest member
ddbyrd329
Back
Top