Does anyone have any problems trailering such a wide boat? Leagel and practical? Also whats the trailoring wieght of the boat,gear and trailer? around 4000 pounds? Will a chevy s-10 with a 4.3 liter engine pull it ok? Do you need special rear view mirrors to see behind the boat?
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Ray Bowles
We own and tow a 95 H26 which is the same.
The trailer is a Hunter model dual axle with surge brakes and extendable tongue. The trailer weighs close to 1600#. Our boat without additional gear is 3000#. Therefore the trailer/boat loaded weight is 4600 lbs. This is quite a bit more than the weight of your S10. Therefore if you try a panic stop the trailer/boat assembly will simply push the truck anywhere it wants. The same would be true when decending a hill. When trying to hold the trailer back it simply will push the truck. Electric trailer brakes that operate off the truck brake pedal will do a lot to help prevent the hill pushing but very little in a panic stop. In addition to all this frightening crap I'm sending you is the additional problem of the extra gear such as the outboard, loaded fuel tank, coolers, play toys, bedding, etc. etc. I cary as much of this in my truck bed as possible just to reduce the trailer weight. I have towed my 26 better that 1600 miles now with a 94 Ford 1/2 ton 4x4 with a 6 cyl motor and manual 5 speed trans. This has worked very well but is at the absolute bottom of the scale for towing this size package. We have a slip where we keep the boat almost the entire season so I don't have to tow so much. Works well for us. Maybe if you did something like this you could borrow a truck to tow her there and home in the fall. Ray S/V Speedy
The trailer is a Hunter model dual axle with surge brakes and extendable tongue. The trailer weighs close to 1600#. Our boat without additional gear is 3000#. Therefore the trailer/boat loaded weight is 4600 lbs. This is quite a bit more than the weight of your S10. Therefore if you try a panic stop the trailer/boat assembly will simply push the truck anywhere it wants. The same would be true when decending a hill. When trying to hold the trailer back it simply will push the truck. Electric trailer brakes that operate off the truck brake pedal will do a lot to help prevent the hill pushing but very little in a panic stop. In addition to all this frightening crap I'm sending you is the additional problem of the extra gear such as the outboard, loaded fuel tank, coolers, play toys, bedding, etc. etc. I cary as much of this in my truck bed as possible just to reduce the trailer weight. I have towed my 26 better that 1600 miles now with a 94 Ford 1/2 ton 4x4 with a 6 cyl motor and manual 5 speed trans. This has worked very well but is at the absolute bottom of the scale for towing this size package. We have a slip where we keep the boat almost the entire season so I don't have to tow so much. Works well for us. Maybe if you did something like this you could borrow a truck to tow her there and home in the fall. Ray S/V Speedy
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Mark
Power?
Sorry Ray I but can't see the need for a "BIG" and powerfull motor. We tow our 260 with a 4 cylinder turbo Discovery (Land Rover) It pulls it along perfectly at safe speeds around 90-100 kph. Perhaps going up a really steep hill we may have to drop back to fourth but generally its fine. For pulling her out of the water we engage the next gear range and it pulls like a tractor. To me its a bit like sailing. Steady as she goes (and survive)
Sorry Ray I but can't see the need for a "BIG" and powerfull motor. We tow our 260 with a 4 cylinder turbo Discovery (Land Rover) It pulls it along perfectly at safe speeds around 90-100 kph. Perhaps going up a really steep hill we may have to drop back to fourth but generally its fine. For pulling her out of the water we engage the next gear range and it pulls like a tractor. To me its a bit like sailing. Steady as she goes (and survive)
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Ken Shubert
Bigger is Better !
When you're going up hill in that 'truck lane', pulling hard at 10 MPH and overheating, that 7 Liter turbo diesel sure would look good. Sometimes under certain road and wind conditions, the trailer may swing side to side and I certainly wouldn't want a tow vehicle smaller than my boat. Maybe renting a tow vehicle would be an option for a once-a-year adventure? Ken S/V WouffHong
When you're going up hill in that 'truck lane', pulling hard at 10 MPH and overheating, that 7 Liter turbo diesel sure would look good. Sometimes under certain road and wind conditions, the trailer may swing side to side and I certainly wouldn't want a tow vehicle smaller than my boat. Maybe renting a tow vehicle would be an option for a once-a-year adventure? Ken S/V WouffHong
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Glen Koops
H26 Towing
I would strongly advise a larger, heavier vehicle. I use a Dodge Ram 1500 with a large V8 engine to tow my H26, and am considering moving up to the 2500 with a diesel engine. With a small truck I doubt that you could keep the rig under control going down long hills.
I would strongly advise a larger, heavier vehicle. I use a Dodge Ram 1500 with a large V8 engine to tow my H26, and am considering moving up to the 2500 with a diesel engine. With a small truck I doubt that you could keep the rig under control going down long hills.
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Dick
Ramp sliding
Another thing to think about. Some of these ramps are pretty steep. A few times this season I have been backing my H26 down the concrete, coregated ramp at the marina where I keep my boat and started sliding. The front wheels of your vehicle lock up before the back and you loose steering control. Can't stop it until you stand on the breaks to get the back to lock up also. I could see it dragging the S10 down the ramp with all 4 wheels locked up. This happens with a Chevy 3500 4 x 4. Next time I might try letting it back down with the drive in forward.
Another thing to think about. Some of these ramps are pretty steep. A few times this season I have been backing my H26 down the concrete, coregated ramp at the marina where I keep my boat and started sliding. The front wheels of your vehicle lock up before the back and you loose steering control. Can't stop it until you stand on the breaks to get the back to lock up also. I could see it dragging the S10 down the ramp with all 4 wheels locked up. This happens with a Chevy 3500 4 x 4. Next time I might try letting it back down with the drive in forward.
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Steve
Towed weight
We have a 94 H26 and I weighed it following a 9 day trip in the San Juan Islands of NW Washington. The weight of the boat, trailer, motor, and all cruising supplies (water, food, clothing, etc.) was 5400 lbs. I expect that this is a typical weight. I tow it with Suburban 1500 4 WD and would not feel safe with a lesser vehicle, especially on hills - downhills in particular. I have towed the boat across country twice; Boise, ID to OH and then OH to OR in addition to five trips from NE OR or Boise, ID to the San Juans and never been stopped because of the width. The trailer/boat is more than 8.5 ft wide and technically requires a permit but I've never had a problem and have never heard of anyone else having a problem.
We have a 94 H26 and I weighed it following a 9 day trip in the San Juan Islands of NW Washington. The weight of the boat, trailer, motor, and all cruising supplies (water, food, clothing, etc.) was 5400 lbs. I expect that this is a typical weight. I tow it with Suburban 1500 4 WD and would not feel safe with a lesser vehicle, especially on hills - downhills in particular. I have towed the boat across country twice; Boise, ID to OH and then OH to OR in addition to five trips from NE OR or Boise, ID to the San Juans and never been stopped because of the width. The trailer/boat is more than 8.5 ft wide and technically requires a permit but I've never had a problem and have never heard of anyone else having a problem.
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Ron
Depends On How Often You Trailer
I pull my H26 on an extended trip (6-10 hours) once or twice a year and do it with a Chevy Blazer. It trailers well with the standard double axle trailer, but I would strongly suggest you add a tranmission cooler to provide insurance on your tranny. While the Blazer is a somewhat small for pulling 5000+ lbs. , I don't want to drive a big SUV or truck 50 weeks a year just to pull my boat two weeks a year. If you are going to trailer a lot, a bigger vehicle would probably be better, but I've never had any real problem with my Blazer.
I pull my H26 on an extended trip (6-10 hours) once or twice a year and do it with a Chevy Blazer. It trailers well with the standard double axle trailer, but I would strongly suggest you add a tranmission cooler to provide insurance on your tranny. While the Blazer is a somewhat small for pulling 5000+ lbs. , I don't want to drive a big SUV or truck 50 weeks a year just to pull my boat two weeks a year. If you are going to trailer a lot, a bigger vehicle would probably be better, but I've never had any real problem with my Blazer.
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Steven de Filippis
i have a 23'
i have a 23 and am still too afraid to trailor, i usually have a towing company move it for me if i need to change marinas, etc.
i have a 23 and am still too afraid to trailor, i usually have a towing company move it for me if i need to change marinas, etc.
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Ken Koons
truck and boat
I just traded a 3.0 liter V6 Ranger for a 5.3 Liter Chevy with the towing package that I use to pull a 98 Hunter 240. The suspension on the Ranger was too light and I added a set of Heavy Duty shocks to the rear of the Ranger. The Ranger did fine, but I had a case of new truck-itis. Of course the 240 with trailer is only around 3300 lbs.
I just traded a 3.0 liter V6 Ranger for a 5.3 Liter Chevy with the towing package that I use to pull a 98 Hunter 240. The suspension on the Ranger was too light and I added a set of Heavy Duty shocks to the rear of the Ranger. The Ranger did fine, but I had a case of new truck-itis. Of course the 240 with trailer is only around 3300 lbs.
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Jim Loats
I wouldn't use an S-10 to pull a 26/260
Will a chevy s-10 with a 4.3 liter engine pull it ok? Yes it will pull it but you may not want to "use up" your truck like that. I used my S-10 to pull my H26 to and from the reservoir for winter storage. It was VERY slow on hills and didn't feel safe. The previous owner had to replace his transmission on his Toyota after bring the boat back from Texas. I now have a Chevy K2500 with a pop-up camper. With the boat we are FULLYLOADED. We trailored to Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison (over Monach Pass) last year and it all felt AOK, if slow. The truck has a towing package. Do you need special rear view mirrors to see behind the boat? I use those slide on kind that are made for this truck. The point of all this is to have fun. So set yourself and your rig up properly so it all works safely and happily. Then you relax and enjoy!!! Jim S/V Grizzly Bear
Will a chevy s-10 with a 4.3 liter engine pull it ok? Yes it will pull it but you may not want to "use up" your truck like that. I used my S-10 to pull my H26 to and from the reservoir for winter storage. It was VERY slow on hills and didn't feel safe. The previous owner had to replace his transmission on his Toyota after bring the boat back from Texas. I now have a Chevy K2500 with a pop-up camper. With the boat we are FULLYLOADED. We trailored to Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison (over Monach Pass) last year and it all felt AOK, if slow. The truck has a towing package. Do you need special rear view mirrors to see behind the boat? I use those slide on kind that are made for this truck. The point of all this is to have fun. So set yourself and your rig up properly so it all works safely and happily. Then you relax and enjoy!!! Jim S/V Grizzly Bear
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