Vehicle hitch question

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HueyDr

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Jun 21, 2006
4
- - Milwaukee
I have been actively looking for a 25' Catalina for about 3 months now and, like an idiot, only yesterday while looking at a boat did I think about hauling it. I have got a Tahoe and thought that it would be fine since we don't have mountains to worry about here. I had figured on getting either surge or hydraulic trailer assist brakes. Now, I am wondering 1. If the Tahoe is up to the job and 2. Can I use the standard hitch or do I need to upgrade to a larger frame hitch. The hitch has the standard 200 lb. weight limit. Any ideas out there?
 
D

Dan

Have a look here

Have a look at this web site. This site is dedicated to the C25. There have been several threads about towing and tow vehicles from guys that do it all the time. A search might answer your questions. There are also several C25’s for sale under the Swap Meet section. I really hate giving the answer, "go here and do a search" but in this case it might be appropriate. If not, I apologize. Dan
 
B

Bill

Next Step

The current C25 has a weight of 3200lbs. If menery serves, the tongue weight of a trailer should be 10% of gross (trailer incl)weight, up to 300lbs. I would venture to say you will need a Class III hitch, rated for 300 lbs.
 
Jun 3, 2004
730
Catalina 250 Wing Keel Eugene, OR
Hitch

If your Tahoe is like my Yukon then the hitch on the vehicle is plenty strong. People at our club haul C25s with Tahoes. You will want surge breaks.
 
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wayne williams

use an equalizer hitch

I have a load equalizing hitch and would never tow without if you have to travel at highway speeds. It stops trailer weaving and bouncing and makes towing a breeze. Talk to a trailer salesman that knows his salt. I also went with electric brakes since they are adjustable from the drivers seat. This combo is hard to beat. I towed a loaded 7x14 twin axle with elec brakes on both axles. I have towed it all over the country and it tows like a dream.
 
Jun 3, 2004
730
Catalina 250 Wing Keel Eugene, OR
Electric brakes?

The trailer web sites that I have read advise surge brakes for boat trailers because electric brakes suffer from getting submerged during launching and retrieving. Not a problem for you?
 
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wayne williams

electric brakes

My apologies. my trailer was for a center console boat i owned and the marina lifted it off the trailer and set it in the water. trailers were never submerged. The trailer dealer has a good point. I was not thinking about submerging on a regular basis. Ask your dealer about load equalizing hitches. wayne
 

HueyDr

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Jun 21, 2006
4
- - Milwaukee
Thanks everybody

Wow, What information! All of this really helps. I was worried I was going to have to drop an extra nickel for this, but it isn't that bad. After taking your informtion and doing some web searching, I think I can get a nice system fairly inexpensive. At least I know the truck can handle the weight of the boat and trailer.
 
Jun 2, 2004
1,077
Several Catalinas C25/C320 USA
Hitch

If you have a GM hitch, it will have a sticker on it telling you how much tougue weight and tow weight you can tow with a weight dist system and without one. What year C25 are you looking at...if you are looking at an older C25, it plus trailer, would be too much for a Tahoe...that's 3/4 ton truck country. Newer models are much lighter.
 
H

HueyDr

thanks for all the help

This is all great information. I have a class III that came with the Tahoe. At a minimum I think I will need a sway bar see how things go and up it to a classIV if need to. The hitches are not as expensive as I origianlly thought. Still its money.
 
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