Towing 23.5/240

[Homespun]

Back again with another newb question.

I have gotten curious about towing either a Hunter 23.5 or 240. As I stated in another thread, I have a 2006 V8 Toyota 4Runner, which I believe has a towing capacity of over 7,000 lbs (not that I'd want to get anywhere near that weight). My only experience towing a boat is with a boat/trailer about 2,000 lbs and I don't remember us ever being too concerned about driving on the interstate.

The type of trailering I will want to do involves multiple hour drives (2-6) on interstates throughout Florida. My question: are the trailers that come with these two boats okay for this kind of use? Or are they intended for just short hops? Any of you driven on the interstate for extended periods (hours) and if so how did your trailer handle and what speed did you find was the "cut off"?

Any other comments about trailering would be welcomed. Thanks very much.

 

[Florida sail]

When I owned my Rhodes 22 I would sail in NH during the summers and trailer to my residence in St Pete FL during the winters. I did this for sevral years travelling the interstates with no problems. My trailer was a Triad single axel.

Reef early,

>>ron<<

 

[Florida sail]

In addition: The most important thing is to have a minimum of 10% of your total weight on the hitch. I was able to travel at highway speeds with no difficulty. Using this formula you do not have to have sway bar.

Reef early,

>>ron<<

 

[Rick Webb]

Couple of Thoughts and a Concern

1. Make sure the boat is secured tightly to the bow stop and tied down at the stern. This keeps the trailer from flexing as much and makes a big difference in how it feels behind your truck.

2. It is not just the weight of the trailer it is also the frontal area. For its weight there is a lot of frontal area on a 23.5.

The concern I have is the Toyota is short on wheel base. Around town it is not much of an issue but on the highway the boat is going to push the truck. The boat and trailer weigh in at just under #3,000 add a motor and all the other accoutrements the weight will be heading over #3500 and approaching the weight of a Four Runner.

Put as much of the stuff (weight) in the truck take it slow and be cautious.

 

[Homespun]

Thanks, Rick and Serenity.

Rick, would you say that 60 mph would be unsafe given the weight of the trailer/gear and the tow vehicle? If so, I'm not sure a boat/trailer combo this heavy would work for me because, again, most of the places I'll go will be a couple hours away, often by interstate for the most part (if not entirely).

 

[hman]

I tow my O'day 23 with a 3/4 ton 4wd pickup and do fine in the mountains here in No CA. A little slow on the uphills though. I think a 4 runner is rated at 1/2ton if I'm not mistaken...

My suggestion would be to make sure not only is the boat balanced on the trailer, but that you have a tandem axle to help with stability and weight distribution as well as brakes on the trailer. I know Florida is pretty flat, but the extra braking power is a big help, especially in a panic stop situation. A single axle with no brakes is fine for back and forth from the ramp to the yard, but over the highway, I would want that extra margin...

 

[Homespun]

hman, I believe most of these trailers, while single-axle, do have brakes. Given that information, what do you think?

 

[hman]

I commute 50 miles to work every day down to Sacramento from the mountains, and have seen a lot of trailer accidents along the way. The majority of accidents I've witnessed with boat trailers (mostly power boats) have been because the single axle brakes locked up and swerved pulling the vehicle off the road or into other traffic. Then there's the "flat tire" problem with a single axle, that can cause it to swerve too. Pulling a boat and trailer with a vehicle that has an almost equal GVW can cause the tail to wag the dog so to speak.

I have an EZloader tandem axle trailer with surge brakes, maybe more trailer than a 23 needs, but I've never had a problem towing my boat. Just my thoughts here, I live 60 miles from lake Tahoe and 130 miles from SF bay.

 

[Homespun]

Interesting information. Thanks. I'm definitely concerned now about the ability of my vehicle to tow this boat. The Macgregor 26s that I was also looking at is 700lbs lighter (if I remember correctly), but I still wonder if this would be too much for the tow vehicle.

Thanks again for your opinion.

 

[PotomacDaysailer]

No advice to give, but I have a story.

Many years ago I crewed for a guy who raced his Catalina 22 - one time we went to a regatta at Little Rock, about 5 hours away on the Interstate. The skipper had just bought new tires and the shop didn't tighten the lug nuts on one side. So we're doing 55 (this was back in the double-nickel days) when the left side wheel comes off. The trailer dropped down and sheered off the U-bolts holding the axle to the frame on that side - it was throwing up a shower of sparks like a Vesuvius fountain - the wheel shot off up ahead of us somewhere (we never found it). He managed to keep control of the car and pull off. Put the car's spare on the trailer - fortunately, it fit - and lashed the axle back to the frame, using the one of the boat's winches to strain it tight. He managed to find a body shop that fixed up the trailer next day and we made it to the race but didn't do very well, finished in the bottom half of the fleet.

 

[Paco T]

Hello, new to the forum. Great place for info! so here are my 2c
I've had a Catalina 22 for almost a year o a single axle trailer. It might not be safe due to my wheel base, but i have been using an 01 Jeep Cherokee. All the equipment and outboard is kept on the back of the car. I try to have the boat as light as possible. I have new tires on the trailer and Jeep and keep them at there appropriate pressure. I have not towed on the high way and to be honest don't feel comfortable doing it. The fastest Ive taken the rig is 60 for a few minutes but mostly 55. Most of the driving is on back roads where traffic is very light. It would be nice for the trailer to have brakes but so far the brakes on the Jeep have done the job, did I mentioned the brakes are also new!. Few weeks ago, drove to St Augustine 75miles. Did most of the driving at night when is not too hot and traffic is light. I take it at least ones a moth to Cedar Key, witch is 1 h drive from the house. One time while backing the trailer on the cedar key ramp, my brother back the trailer too fast and the Jeep almost ended up in the water. He managed to place it on Drive and was able to stop it.
Where in Florida were you planning to go? Your Four runner is larger than the jeep, and if you get a trailer with brakes and are very careful with maintaining the trailer in good shape and driving slow your chances of having a bad day may be reduced.

 

[Homespun]

Paco,

Thanks for your information. It's helpful. I also live in Gainesvillle. If you ever need crew for your trips to Cedar Key, let me know. I'd be more than happy to come along.

As to where I'd want to take the boat, it would be St. Augustine/Jax, but also down both coasts and all the way to the Keys. I didn't know you could even sail Cedar Key, to be honest. The charts looked extremely shallow. That's really good to know that you can sail that area, b/c it's only about 45 minutes from my place.

How often do you take your boat out?

 

[kenkindy1]

Towing a 240

If your truck is rated to 7500 then the 4000 lb Hunter 240 on the trailer will be fine to tow. I towed mine short distances with a Ford Ranger 3 liter v-6. I've since upgraded to a 1/2 ton Silverado. NO PROBLEMO. I tow mine 10 hours one way on the highway when we take her to Lake Michigan for vacations. You can't beat a water ballast boat for towing. Go for it.

 

[rb437]

Check your owners manual for towing capacity. This will tell you how much weight your vehicle can safely pull. A panic stop is another matter. The brakes not only help you stop, but in a panic situation they can help keep the boat behind you where you want it. If you can be sure that you will never need to stop quickly then you don't need trailer brakes. In most states a trailer with a capacity above 3000lb is required to have brakes. After repeated saltwater use the brakes are usually the first thing to go. If you are going to tow on the highway it is wise to have brakes that work. To ride properly the trailer should be level when hitched to the truck. If the tongue is to high, the trailer will tend to sway. If it's too low the weight on the hitch will be greater than necessary. Also consider your vehicle weight capacity. ie: If your truck is designed to carry 1000lb of passengers / luggage / gear / etc. and you hook up a 3000lb trailer with a 300lb tongue weight you only have 700lb left for everything else in the truck. Finally, very important, tire pressure, check it. set it to the max recommended setting. Over loaded or under inflated tires overheat and come apart and greatly reduce your sailing time.

 

[Paco T]

Homespun,
Cedar key its a bit tricky to sail. You definitely need a chart plotter to get around and watch the tides.
Every time I go, once a month, I see a guy that tows his hunter 26. He has a big diesel truck that is about the same size as the boat!. He sails in Cedar Key all the time and by himself!. I think he lives 20 miles away from the ramp.
The only issue you might have with the Toyota is getting the boat out of the water in low tide. If you plan it so its half or high tide, you'll be fine. It gets very slippery in low tide. My Jeep is 2wd.
The other place you can tow to is Lake Santafe. But you'll have to go across town!

rb437 has a good point and every body that has posted on this thread. When we go on weekend trips, my wife, daughter and supplies go on a second car. In case anything happens they can get back home and I can stay fixing whatever brakes. It also eases the load on the towing vehicle.

 

[dscribner]

Homespun,

My Lancer 25 on the trailer weighs in around 5000 lbs. Hood to stern, we're 50 feet long. My first trip with her (to get her home from the marina) was 125 miles on I-95 from Mattapoisette, MA to Biddeford, ME. We borrowed my father-in-law's Dakota with a 3.9 liter V6 and towing package. She towed like a dream. A little slow on the hills, but 55 MPH almost all the way. There were no brakes on the tandem axle trailer, but I didn't know that at the time. I was careful to brake slowly and accelerate slowly. Since then, I've added brakes and replaced all the hubs. I now tow her with an F150 5.4 V8 and it is almost effortless, until I have to struggle to get my wallet out at the gas pump.

I'd say,

1) Inspect your tires and slime them to minimize leaks.

2) Grease the hubs and check your brakes before you leave.

3) Be sure that your trailer has safety chains and brake strap.

4) Tie your baby to the trailer at the transom and about 6 feet from the bow.

5) Have a blast.

 

[Rick Webb]

60 MPH May be the Max with Your Vehicle

Especially on I-95 with semi trucks blowing past you at 80 MPH. I don't think it is undoable just be aware of the limitations and take it easy with the higher speeds.

 

[caguy]

Having just towed my Catalina 27 2300 miles through lightning, hail, wind, and lightning, without pardon the pun, a hitch. I think you should be fine. I have an F250 and the boat has tandem axles with brakes on one axle only.
I was able to travel between 60-70 mph and dropped to 45 on the long steep grades. I hit 75 on some down hills anticipating the next hill. I learned to take cues from the truck drivers especially under less than perfect driving conditions.
I recall driving I40 in Missouri through corn fields as far as the eye can see. The wind started to pick up and in a distance I could see the wave coming across the corn field from about 5 miles out. All of the truck slowed down and so did I before the blast of wind hit. I was almost like being on the water watching that wave coming.
When the weather got really bad most of the drivers pull into rest areas and wait it out. I had to do that a couple of times.
The thing that made me most nervous was watching the lightning strike the ground less than a half mile away, and me riding around with 33' of aluminum pole strapped to the boat.
One of the things I learned was a respect for higher octane gas. Most of trip I ran on 86 octane but switched to 91 when I hit New Mexico and Arizona. It really made a difference and allowed me to keep the truck in overdrive much more of the time.
Another thing I learned that cruise control does not work well when towing a load. It will drop out of overdrive to accelerate but then does not drop back into overdrive readily. I found that simply by getting the speed up in third gear I could just take my foot off the gas for a second and drop into over drive without sacrificing speed. The cruise control would not do that.
I also learned not to pump the brakes in a panic stop. The trailer becomes really herky jerky. First panic stop landed me in the middle of an intersection.
Watch the cars and trucks in front of you to help you anticipate dips and bums in the road. I have known this for some time but used it on this trip religiously.
Always make sure that you have an exit strategy in parking lots unless you are really good at backing up.
Don't forget to watch and make sure you clear your trailer's wheels when turning.
Check your trailer's tires for cracks especially on the side walls and between the tread. Even if the tread looks new the cracks will expand and blow out when they heat up.
Check your valve stems the also rot out with the sun.
Strapping the boat down is important. In the back I used the winches and cleats to attach a tow web strap. On my Mack I have a cable that runs trough the bow eye and is connected to the trailer winch post. This one came with a chain. Check your trailer winch strap for sun rot. I cut off about 18'' every six months to get rid of the exposed section.
Another trick was to use the GPS Nuvi to find cheap gas. I managed to more often than not find Costcos en-route.
Given the weight of your boat and the flat land conditions you shouldn't have any problems. The most important part is having the ability to stop suddenly. I towed my Mac 25 home with my Vanagon.

 

[Jfelkins]

Great Thread

Thanks for this. I just bought an Oday 23 and trailered it for the first time. After a failed attempt we finally got it on the trailer correctly. I adapted a pontoon boat trailer. The trailer is double axle with brakes and I'm pulling it with a 1/2 ton Suburban. Does that seem ok to ya'll? I don't know about my trailer mod. Some day I want to be able to go to the gulf (7 hours) or to the great lakes (9 or 10 hours).

 

[Homespun]

Thanks Rick, dscribner and caguy for the additional information. Really helpful! I'm starting to come back around to thinking I can tow the 3000-3500 lbs with my 4Runner based on info here as well as info gleaned from a few forums specific to vehicles/towing. Seems a lot of 4Runner owners routinely tow this amount and much more. Some have added suspension kits, sway bars, etc. and others feel it is unnecessary unless you are nearing 5k 6k lbs. I'm not exactly a "car guy" so a lot of this is new to me. If I can find a 23.5 or 240 on a tandem axle I'd feel a lot better, though.

Paco, how much does your boat/trailer combo weigh? Thanks.