I recently purchased a 2002 Hunter 260 and anticipate wanting to trailer it down to Florida this winter. I will be pulling a dual axel Magic Tilt trailer (that I believe came with the boat) with a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Any thoughts on what type of braking system to install? Will I require anti-sway, etc?? Also, I understand that there is a video on how to step the mast. The dealers don't seem to have one. Where would you suggest I track one down? Any chance that the video is a DVD? I don't own a VCR. Thanks!!
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Lots on this subject in the archives. Your boat and trailer weighs close to 6000 lbs. Check the GVMW for your vehicle. You'll need to towing package for sure. Although your car will probably pull the rig OK, my guess is that you'll exceed your GMVW and a new transmission is in your future if you do much towing with this vehicle. There is only one company I know of (Equal-i-zer)that makes a anti-sway hitch for boat trailers with surge breaks. I doubt that Chrysler would recommend towing this load with your year Cherokee. However, the new Grand Cherokee with the Hemi engine will easily tow it. http://www.freep.com/money/autoreviews/phelan2e_20040902.htm Can't help regarding the video, but there are pretty good instructions in the H260 manual and checklists in the archives.
Surge brakes
Anne, your Magic Tilt trailer should already have surge brakes on it. They are quite effective. You may want to go to a brake/tire shop to get them adjusted before you take your trip. As far as your towing vehicle, I have towed my boat with a Ford Aerostar and a Nissan Quest without any problems. Not all rigs weigh near 6000lbs it depends how much stuff is on your boat. Also a lot of people make the mistake of towing with the transmission in overdrive; this will burn one up in no time (check your owner's manual).
Anne, your Magic Tilt trailer should already have surge brakes on it. They are quite effective. You may want to go to a brake/tire shop to get them adjusted before you take your trip. As far as your towing vehicle, I have towed my boat with a Ford Aerostar and a Nissan Quest without any problems. Not all rigs weigh near 6000lbs it depends how much stuff is on your boat. Also a lot of people make the mistake of towing with the transmission in overdrive; this will burn one up in no time (check your owner's manual).
Trailer Brakes in the Keys
FYI - I understand that there is a special DOT rule for the Keys that requires boat trailers to have brakes for each axle. I don't know how strictly it's enforced. I have friends who've towed powerboats to the Keys with brakes on only one axle and didn't get stopped. Maybe someone else has more information. Regards, Marc_B
FYI - I understand that there is a special DOT rule for the Keys that requires boat trailers to have brakes for each axle. I don't know how strictly it's enforced. I have friends who've towed powerboats to the Keys with brakes on only one axle and didn't get stopped. Maybe someone else has more information. Regards, Marc_B
info
Usually, states honor what your state requires. Therefore, you are acceptable driving in the keys. As for the wieght of the boat, it weighs 3000 pounds dry weight and with the trailer and equipment, figure on 4600 to 5,000 pounds not 6000.
Usually, states honor what your state requires. Therefore, you are acceptable driving in the keys. As for the wieght of the boat, it weighs 3000 pounds dry weight and with the trailer and equipment, figure on 4600 to 5,000 pounds not 6000.
Hey Anne
On the Hunter marine site you can find a link to a series of videos called "Trailer Sailor" that feature the H26 and H260. Look under the 260 link under water ballast boats. I think there are 5 of them. One of them has a segment on stepping the mast but it is the previous version H26 and not the 260. Still pretty close though. I think the main difference is the support struts on the 260 vs. the wires on the H26. They were produced by another company, not Hunter but offered on Hunter's site. Oh yeah, if you ask, they will sell them to you on DVD.
On the Hunter marine site you can find a link to a series of videos called "Trailer Sailor" that feature the H26 and H260. Look under the 260 link under water ballast boats. I think there are 5 of them. One of them has a segment on stepping the mast but it is the previous version H26 and not the 260. Still pretty close though. I think the main difference is the support struts on the 260 vs. the wires on the H26. They were produced by another company, not Hunter but offered on Hunter's site. Oh yeah, if you ask, they will sell them to you on DVD.
Of course, it's risky to contradict Crazy Dave because he is the Godfather of the H260. ,...IHMO etc... However, these are the numbers you need to consider. When I got my boat, I ran the vehicle and boat/trailer combination over a state certified scale. The weigh tickets say my 2003 H260 and trailer weighs 5,400 lbs including 20 gls water. This was when it was new and before I started adding lots of things to it (Probably 200-300 lbs). I'm getting very close to 6000 pounds. I also have a weigh ticket that says the factory set up the rig with a 600 lbs tongue weight. This is where it gets tricky. You have two weights to consider: (1) What the vehicle is certified to tow, and (2) The maximum allowable weight of the boat/trailer/vehile combination. The first is important because you need to have enough horsepower to get up those hills or keep from burning up up your transmission. The second is critical if you are to have enough breaking power to stop the rig. Here's how I put it all together: My tow vehicle weighs 5700lbs empty and is certified to tow 6500 lbs. According to Ford, the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight of my van must not exceed 12,000 lbs. Add two people and all the normal crap in the van and the boat we're getting so close to the max GCMV I don't want to think about it. If you've gone through the same thought process and still feel OK about it, great. But I'd at least run the whole thing over a certified scale and crunch the numbers before taking your trip. Should cost you about $10 to find out what your numbers are. It's cheap insurance. The fact that the trailer has breaks helps some, the Mfgr probably adds some pad to his numbers, and short wheel vehicles handle differently than longer ones. But since these are intangables, I prefer to focus on what I can measure. Sorry to be so long, but I've done some really dumb stuff in my day and survived only by pure luck. Today I'm much more cautious.
Towing weight. . .
Also, remember to account for the fuel in the tow vehicle in your calculations. At about 6 lbs/gal. a full 35 gallon tank will reduce your towing capacity/GCVW by 210lbs. I keep the tank below 1/2 when towing for a little extra performance. Using a second vehicle to carry the extra people, coolers, luggage etc. makes it easier on the tow vehicle. At the scales, my 2001 H260 & trailer (Honda 9.9. no gas, no water, second battery, minimal extra stuff in the cabin, spare tire for the trailer) weighed 5210 lbs.
Also, remember to account for the fuel in the tow vehicle in your calculations. At about 6 lbs/gal. a full 35 gallon tank will reduce your towing capacity/GCVW by 210lbs. I keep the tank below 1/2 when towing for a little extra performance. Using a second vehicle to carry the extra people, coolers, luggage etc. makes it easier on the tow vehicle. At the scales, my 2001 H260 & trailer (Honda 9.9. no gas, no water, second battery, minimal extra stuff in the cabin, spare tire for the trailer) weighed 5210 lbs.
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