The 260 weighs in at about 3850 lbs empty, the trailer would put the towing weight at just over 4000. My truck has a 7000 lb towing capacity listed in the manual. An anti-sway system is recomended. What is an anti sway system? is it part of the truck or trailer? Fortunately I live in south Florida where it's flat so I might be alright with my Frountier 4cylinder.Has anyone experience in towing this size boat with a small truck? Looking for suggestions and ideas -
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C Smith
Boat is mighty big
I tow a 260 with a Chevy Silverado. I am not sure that a 4 cylincer truck will be able to pull the boat out on a ramp with any incline. Also, I sometimes feel that the boat is moving the truck around a little much as we go down the interstate.
I tow a 260 with a Chevy Silverado. I am not sure that a 4 cylincer truck will be able to pull the boat out on a ramp with any incline. Also, I sometimes feel that the boat is moving the truck around a little much as we go down the interstate.
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Nils Anderson
More like 5400 pounds
Our loaded 260 weighed in at 5400 pounds at a Truck Stop scale. The best anti-sway is having 60 percent of the mass forward of the axle as approximately measured by a 12-15 percent tongue weight - over 600 pounds in this case. Can your vehicle handle this? We tow with a GMC Sierra 1500 which is better than the Ford Explorer (205HP V6) we towed for two years; the minimum I would recommend. Both vehicles have air-lift rear suspensions to level the vehicle due to the 600 plus tongue weight.
Our loaded 260 weighed in at 5400 pounds at a Truck Stop scale. The best anti-sway is having 60 percent of the mass forward of the axle as approximately measured by a 12-15 percent tongue weight - over 600 pounds in this case. Can your vehicle handle this? We tow with a GMC Sierra 1500 which is better than the Ford Explorer (205HP V6) we towed for two years; the minimum I would recommend. Both vehicles have air-lift rear suspensions to level the vehicle due to the 600 plus tongue weight.
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Rob McLaughlin
Tires
I pull my H26 with a Ford Explorer, which has the chassis of the Ford Ranger - probably similar to your Frontier. I had some sway problems in the beginning and found that I was not paying enough attention to tire pressure. Had to fill the trailer tires to max (50lb) and the truck tires to max. This was better, but still swayed (especially when a semi passed me!). When I needed tires, I stepped up to an LT tire from a P tire. The LTs can be filled up to 50lb as well. This helped me a lot, though it made for a bit rougher ride when not towing, even if I air them down a bit. Good luck!
I pull my H26 with a Ford Explorer, which has the chassis of the Ford Ranger - probably similar to your Frontier. I had some sway problems in the beginning and found that I was not paying enough attention to tire pressure. Had to fill the trailer tires to max (50lb) and the truck tires to max. This was better, but still swayed (especially when a semi passed me!). When I needed tires, I stepped up to an LT tire from a P tire. The LTs can be filled up to 50lb as well. This helped me a lot, though it made for a bit rougher ride when not towing, even if I air them down a bit. Good luck!
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Nils Anderson
Rob - tongue weight?
Rob, You're right, stiffer tires help reduce sway. But, is your tongue weight less at least 600 pounds? This could be contributing to your sway problem. We never sway when trucks pass us going 5-10 above our 75mph; even when we used to tow with the Explorer.
Rob, You're right, stiffer tires help reduce sway. But, is your tongue weight less at least 600 pounds? This could be contributing to your sway problem. We never sway when trucks pass us going 5-10 above our 75mph; even when we used to tow with the Explorer.
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Dana
Towing
I wouldn't recommend towing that boat with a 4-cylinder vehicle - you will tear the trasmission out of your vehicle and you won't have the control you need when driving down the highway. Anti-sway equipment uses sway bars which attach near your hitch and extend out and attach to your trailer frame creating a triangular set-up to stabilize your equipment as hitched together. These are very common with travel trailers. We use an F150 to pull our Hunter 22 and have traveled all over the USA with our 24 foot travel trailer - no problems.
I wouldn't recommend towing that boat with a 4-cylinder vehicle - you will tear the trasmission out of your vehicle and you won't have the control you need when driving down the highway. Anti-sway equipment uses sway bars which attach near your hitch and extend out and attach to your trailer frame creating a triangular set-up to stabilize your equipment as hitched together. These are very common with travel trailers. We use an F150 to pull our Hunter 22 and have traveled all over the USA with our 24 foot travel trailer - no problems.
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George Kobernus
Towing H260
These are the kind of numbers you need to consider when selecting a tow vehicle. The certified boat/trailer weight on my 2002 H260 is 5740 lbs. This includes 20 gal of water. Tongue weight is exactly 600 lbs. My tow vehicle is a 2002 E-150 Ford Van with 5.4ltr V-8, with factory trailer package. The vehicle weighs 5720 lbs. Max towing capacity is 6800 lbs. The most important number, the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), for my vehicle is 12,000lbs for 3.55 axle ratio and 13,000 for 3.73 axle. That means that I'm within Ford's recommendations but not by much. Load up the van and trailer with "STUFF" and I'm overweight. If you just plan on going back and forth to the ramp a couple of times a year you can go with less vehicle, but serious towing needs a serious truck. You know the trailer is there every minute - especially on bumpy roads. I'm buying a Equal-i-zer hitch to help with that. http://www.equalizerhitch.com/ Buy your vehicle from a guy that understands what it takes to properly tow a 6000 lb trailer.
These are the kind of numbers you need to consider when selecting a tow vehicle. The certified boat/trailer weight on my 2002 H260 is 5740 lbs. This includes 20 gal of water. Tongue weight is exactly 600 lbs. My tow vehicle is a 2002 E-150 Ford Van with 5.4ltr V-8, with factory trailer package. The vehicle weighs 5720 lbs. Max towing capacity is 6800 lbs. The most important number, the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), for my vehicle is 12,000lbs for 3.55 axle ratio and 13,000 for 3.73 axle. That means that I'm within Ford's recommendations but not by much. Load up the van and trailer with "STUFF" and I'm overweight. If you just plan on going back and forth to the ramp a couple of times a year you can go with less vehicle, but serious towing needs a serious truck. You know the trailer is there every minute - especially on bumpy roads. I'm buying a Equal-i-zer hitch to help with that. http://www.equalizerhitch.com/ Buy your vehicle from a guy that understands what it takes to properly tow a 6000 lb trailer.
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Kevin Jamison
Hitch question
My vehicle gives a greater GVWR when using a "weight distributing hitch." Is that what the Equilizer is? And does it interfere with the trailer brakes?
My vehicle gives a greater GVWR when using a "weight distributing hitch." Is that what the Equilizer is? And does it interfere with the trailer brakes?
My suggestion
When picking up my ’98 H26 from the dealer (empty), I trashed the transmission on my Ford Aerostar (built on a 1/2 ton frame and not in overdrive). One new Dodge pickup later - the boat, with gear in it for four of weeks cruising hit the scale at 6995 lbs. That’s not including the tongue weight and all the junk in the back of the pickup. So, I would say unless you live a couple of blocks from the ramp, don’t chance it. But here’s a suggestion… If you have to buy a new rig to haul the boat, why not keep your rig, sell the boat and buy a larger boat that stays in the water. That’s what I did (except I never got around to selling the H26 or the pickup).
When picking up my ’98 H26 from the dealer (empty), I trashed the transmission on my Ford Aerostar (built on a 1/2 ton frame and not in overdrive). One new Dodge pickup later - the boat, with gear in it for four of weeks cruising hit the scale at 6995 lbs. That’s not including the tongue weight and all the junk in the back of the pickup. So, I would say unless you live a couple of blocks from the ramp, don’t chance it. But here’s a suggestion… If you have to buy a new rig to haul the boat, why not keep your rig, sell the boat and buy a larger boat that stays in the water. That’s what I did (except I never got around to selling the H26 or the pickup).
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John Scharer
Another option
I have a 98 260 that I bought new and have trailored it to Florida and the Cheaspeake a few times a year. I agree with everyone that using your current vehicle for anything other than short distances would be a mistake. You need the power of a V-8 to do the job. When we first got the boat we had a Nissan Quest which obviously would not work. What we did was rent a truck to tow the boat to Florida or the Cheaspeake. We rented a Ford "dualie" and it was a breeze towing the boat, you did not even notice that it was there. It obviously costs to rent the vehicle but is alot cheaper than buying a new vehicle or ruining your current vehicle just to tow your boat. In 2000 we bought a Ford Expedition with a tow package and it has worked great.
I have a 98 260 that I bought new and have trailored it to Florida and the Cheaspeake a few times a year. I agree with everyone that using your current vehicle for anything other than short distances would be a mistake. You need the power of a V-8 to do the job. When we first got the boat we had a Nissan Quest which obviously would not work. What we did was rent a truck to tow the boat to Florida or the Cheaspeake. We rented a Ford "dualie" and it was a breeze towing the boat, you did not even notice that it was there. It obviously costs to rent the vehicle but is alot cheaper than buying a new vehicle or ruining your current vehicle just to tow your boat. In 2000 we bought a Ford Expedition with a tow package and it has worked great.
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Crazy Dave Condon
get hold of my email- I wrote the book on this
You can get my email and if you want, email me and we can set up a time for us to talk. I wrote the book on this boat and trailering. The only request is that you do not tell who or where I am. I have alot of informaiton for you
You can get my email and if you want, email me and we can set up a time for us to talk. I wrote the book on this boat and trailering. The only request is that you do not tell who or where I am. I have alot of informaiton for you
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Ted Friend
Towing H260
I tried everything to reduce swaying, including air bags on the rear suspension and fully inflating tires. The most effective is simply taking the engine off and carrying it in the towing vehicle. That increases tongue weight without having to fill the water tank up - which increases overall weight. It takes a few minutes to unhook and hook up the battery, but it is well worth trying if you are having sway problems before spending money on hitches and an air suspension system for the towing vehicle. However, I do like the airbags that I installed on our Ford Expedition.
I tried everything to reduce swaying, including air bags on the rear suspension and fully inflating tires. The most effective is simply taking the engine off and carrying it in the towing vehicle. That increases tongue weight without having to fill the water tank up - which increases overall weight. It takes a few minutes to unhook and hook up the battery, but it is well worth trying if you are having sway problems before spending money on hitches and an air suspension system for the towing vehicle. However, I do like the airbags that I installed on our Ford Expedition.
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Nils Anderson
Excellent Solution, Ted
The single best thing you can do to reduce sway is to get that heavy weight off the end of the pendulum. I didn't want to remove our 100 pound 9.9 4-stoke each time (disconnecting remote cables, battery, starter, etc.) but I did move half the weight, two batteries, just forward of the head under the port couch. Sometimes I move the gas can if it is still full - a good sailing weekend. When it is empty, it was a bad sailing weekend - I leave it. Glad you like the air bags. This is my second vehicle with them and I love them too. At night it's great to light up the road, not the trees, and not get flashed with brights from the other direction, not to mention increased steering control. - Nils
The single best thing you can do to reduce sway is to get that heavy weight off the end of the pendulum. I didn't want to remove our 100 pound 9.9 4-stoke each time (disconnecting remote cables, battery, starter, etc.) but I did move half the weight, two batteries, just forward of the head under the port couch. Sometimes I move the gas can if it is still full - a good sailing weekend. When it is empty, it was a bad sailing weekend - I leave it. Glad you like the air bags. This is my second vehicle with them and I love them too. At night it's great to light up the road, not the trees, and not get flashed with brights from the other direction, not to mention increased steering control. - Nils
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Kevin Jamison
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Crazy Dave Condon
Contact Phil Herring
You already have a boat and that is ok to call or email me. I am a dealer but I refrain from telling folks who I am or where I am at out of respect for this forum. Contact Phill Herring in the Chandlrey and ask him for my email which Is ok with me in this case or contact Joyce Perry at Hunter Marine and she will advise you. When you do find me, please do not post where I am or who I am. Thanks.
You already have a boat and that is ok to call or email me. I am a dealer but I refrain from telling folks who I am or where I am at out of respect for this forum. Contact Phill Herring in the Chandlrey and ask him for my email which Is ok with me in this case or contact Joyce Perry at Hunter Marine and she will advise you. When you do find me, please do not post where I am or who I am. Thanks.
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Rick Macdonald
Dave - why does tow talk have to be private?
Dave - I understand and respect your anonimity but in this case why does information and advice about towing have to be given in private?
Dave - I understand and respect your anonimity but in this case why does information and advice about towing have to be given in private?
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Crazy Dave Condon
very simple
I do not have the time to write everything as I am working on the average of 15-17 hours per day and I can get alot of information to the person via a telephone call. I do not even have time to go sailing much anymore.
I do not have the time to write everything as I am working on the average of 15-17 hours per day and I can get alot of information to the person via a telephone call. I do not even have time to go sailing much anymore.
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