Trucking a 38' boat

sailingdog · Apr 15, 2009

Most consumer pickup trucks are not capable of anything close to the weight of a 38' LOA monohull sailboat with trailer. Also, a CDL still would be required regardless of whether it was a pickup truck with fifth wheel trailer or a tractor trailer... and I seriously doubt that any standard pickup truck is capable of towing 20,000 lbs safely. A normal pickup truck is probably about 5500 lbs. or so... towing a load nearly four times its weight is not safe.

Steve Dion said:
SD:

The capacity of the modern day "pickup" truck is quite high. These new diesels are capable of towing 20,000-25,000# and they can be modified for a 5th wheel trailer for additional capacity.

My Hunter 36 was hauled from Stockton MO to Stockton CA behind a Dodge 3500 on a 5th wheel trailer. The boat is rated around 16-17,000 plus the trailer.

Personally I would NOT recommend that anyone does this, but the dealer that I purchased the boat from hauls even larger boats than this with this dodge.

I did not see that Todd mentioned a tractor/trailer setup. That is why I mentioned about sailing the boat down the coast.

Scott B · Apr 15, 2009

Max. towing capacity on a GMC 3500 dually is 16,500 lbs. with a 5th wheel.

Ross · Apr 15, 2009

Scott B said:
Max. towing capacity on a GMC 3500 dually is 16,500 lbs. with a 5th wheel.

Do they happen to specify the braking system on the trailer?

TimCup · Apr 15, 2009

Some towing FACTS:

the 2009 F350 has maximum towing (5th wheel) at 18,800 lbs, but that assumes the very rare 4.30 rear axle, Auto trans and a regular cab 2 wheel drive. With the much more popular 3.73 axle, it drops to 16,300.

Supercabs, crew cabs and 4X4's all tow less, as it is based on overall weight...

5th wheel towing adds 2-3000 lbs depending on truck, and manual transmission DECREASES by about same amount.

Whether it's Ford, GM, or Dodoge, they'll all pull about the same, and it'll be alot more than the towing numbers above show. Those numbers are recommended because it's the maximum weight the truck can STOP.

cup

Ross · Apr 15, 2009

Re: Some towing FACTS:

The F-350 super duty is a big truck. My concern with any upper limit load is the ability the start and stop on a steep grade. One of the main roads coming out of Havre de Grace is a 2 mile 8 percent grade with almost no run out room at the bottom.

tommays · Apr 15, 2009

Up here the guys with the Miami Vice Boats use F550s most of the time

txtowman · Apr 15, 2009

your experience

I would like to know how much real world, hands on experience each person that responded to this thread has.

I have 30 years driving trucks commercially. I have hauled just about every thing there is that will fit on an open trailer.

I also have a dodge 3500 dually. I would hook up to that boat in a heart beat.
However, the "truck drivers" you see that have crashed are mostly Idiots that went through a so called "trucking school" and have no idea the dynamics of moving freight.

Also, in a lot of accidents the trucker had time to stop or avoid until a bunch of cars suddenly passed them and entered into his braking space and slowed or stopped short.

just my opinion on this.

TxTowman

watching your 6 O'clock is important too.

txtowman · Apr 15, 2009

towing capacity

The new ford F150 can be had with a #10,000 towing rating. My dually is #9,700. Go figger.

Ross · Apr 15, 2009

txtowman said:
The new ford F150 can be had with a #10,000 towing rating. My dually is #9,700. Go figger.

Some it is advertizing hype. I know a man that was plowing snow with a F-250 4x4 and overloaded the transmission clearing parking lots. Just because the truck is advertised as 250 hp doesn't always mean with a 100 percent duty cycle.

sailingdog · Apr 15, 2009

An F550 is not a standard pickup truck last I checked... not even close.

tommays said:
Up here the guys with the Miami Vice Boats use F550s most of the time

petersea · Apr 15, 2009

txtowman said:
I would like to know how much real world, hands on experience each person that responded to this thread has.

TxTowman,
I have over 36 years of commercial driving. I have done all 48 states and across Canada as well, every where from the flat lands of Texas to the Rockie Mountains. I have a 2 Million Mile safe driving award from one of the companies I worked for. I have pulled flats, reefers, and vans as well as having pulled "doubles" for over one million miles, mostly in New England thru some of the most heavily traveled areas in the U.S. Even have done city peddle work for a major LTL freight company. I NEVER went to a truck driving school. So I guess that would qualify me as having some real world experience.
After all that, I would not pull this boat the distance suggested. Maybe local but not over the road. My question to you would why would you when there are many better options to tow with. As one poster described a company was pulling larger and heavier boat then the 38 with the same set up. Overweight and over mfg spec. I can't help but ask WHY ? I had this same conversation with some one on this site several years ago. One of the basic rules I learned was the "right tools for the job". It is hard enough on the road today with out putting the odds AGAINST you.
And as far as your point about truck accidents being cause by the cars that cut in front of truck taking "their braking space", I for one don't believe that B.S. When I was young and still had some growing up to do maybe, but a true professional will adjust for the inconsiderate driver and protect his space by slowing down a little. Another basic rule is to protect yourself from the idiots and those who don't know better. YOU are the professional driver, the responsibility falls on you. With you having 30 years experience yourself you must have noticed the lack of professional drivers on the road today, Some who can't speak much less read the English language. Quite honestly I don't like what the "professional" drivers has become by today standards but when we except the lowest common denominator instead of demanding the best this is where we end up !
To finish up you and your Dodge 3500 may pull this boat anywhere you want, I won't !

txtowman · Apr 15, 2009

well said

Petersea, thanks for delivering my stuff, and being safe out there. I don't have any awards.

I haven't had any accidents either, have had some close calls though.

I can't see paying someone else a whole bunch of money when I can build it or haul it myself.

I know my sailboat trailer looks like crap cause i modified it from a bass boat trailer, but for $300 I have a $1700 trailer to get me around.

I spent the other $1400 actually sailing and fixing up my boat.

txtowman · Apr 15, 2009

where is PDX anyway?

Steve Dion · Apr 15, 2009

I believe that PDX is Portland!

sailingdog · Apr 16, 2009

PDX is Portland International Airport's code...

txtowman said:
where is PDX anyway?

petersea · Apr 16, 2009

TxTowman, PDX is Portland OR. The originl post was about towing the boat from LAX to PDX. Los Angeles Ca to Portland Or. app. a 950 mile trip. Mostly interstate with a varity of driving conditions but a lot of mountain driving !

txtowman · Apr 16, 2009

huuummm,I see

Yep that would mean the grapevine on interstate 5. I don't have a jake brake, but I would before I made that trip. No way around the mountains on that route. I don't run the northwest much, mostly south and north east.

Stu Jackson · Apr 16, 2009

The Grapevine is only the beginning of it

while the Northern California border and the hills in Oregon are quite large. It's not til you get to Eugene, OR that it flattens out.

Safe journey, to you, the boat and the mast!

Ross · Apr 17, 2009

Re: The Grapevine is only the beginning of it

There is a very good reason for those runaway truck ramps on mountain highways and for the turnouts at the top for truckers to check their brakes.