Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

[Hai Nhi]

Good morning.

So I'm in the process of getting my 280. Hopefully everything checks out because it seems in good condition.

Some of you here suggested that I should get at least a 3/4 T diesel. I looked at a couple of Ford 6.7L (2011-2012), even used ones costs quite a bit.

One option I was thinking, just wanna run through the forum for advices/opinions:

+ Keep my F250 gas 3/4.
- For local trips (15-30 minutes marinas), I can take the boat there myself. Wifey will take the kids on her suv & meet me at the launch.
- For mid range trips (less than 1 hr): we would either have some of our siblings to tag along. They can at least take the one of the 2 boys, or both & meet us at the launch.
- For long trips: same. Or rent a bigger truck (not sure where yet).

My reasoning is that: I would do that for this summer to have a feeling if spending +$30-$40k extra for another truck is actually needed (or I might end up selling the boat after all the stress of a first season, hahaha). And for the current truck, I can use the load distributing hitch, maybe upgrade to the electric over hydraulic break, and drive extra careful. Also, travel light (pump fuel near destination, no extra gear on the boat, etc...). The trailer is an aluminum by the way.

What you guys think?

Thanks

Nhi

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

you do NOT need a diesel or a weight distributing hitch.... a 3/4 ton gas truck will tow that boat coast to coast... maybe a little slower up the hills but it will do it... MAKE SURE you have the tires and hitch for the job.... Load range E tires and look at the receiver and make sure it's rated for the weight of the boat/trailer with a "load carrying" hitch.

Make sure brakes on the truck and trailer work as they should and ur GTG

A 3/4 ton truck (gas OR diesel) is designed to pull loads like that.

EDIT: make SURE you have plenty of tongue weight... better to squat the truck than to get into a sway situation at speed

On a boat this size DON'T guess... take it CAREFULLY to a scale... PAY if you have too and find out for sure what your weights are.... My 28'er has 12% tongue weight and it tows like a dream even at 80 mph.... I did pull it once 40 miles with a half ton truck when my dually broke down and it squatted a lot but was still very stable and smooth.

 

[rbh]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

Good morning.

So I'm in the process of getting my 280. Hopefully everything checks out because it seems in good condition.

Some of you here suggested that I should get at least a 3/4 T diesel. I looked at a couple of Ford 6.7L (2011-2012), even used ones costs quite a bit.

One option I was thinking, just wanna run through the forum for advices/opinions:

+ Keep my F250 gas 3/4.
- For local trips (15-30 minutes marinas), I can take the boat there myself. Wifey will take the kids on her suv & meet me at the launch.
- For mid range trips (less than 1 hr): we would either have some of our siblings to tag along. They can at least take the one of the 2 boys, or both & meet us at the launch.
- For long trips: same. Or rent a bigger truck (not sure where yet).

My reasoning is that: I would do that for this summer to have a feeling if spending +$30-$40k extra for another truck is actually needed (or I might end up selling the boat after all the stress of a first season, hahaha). And for the current truck, I can use the load distributing hitch, maybe upgrade to the electric over hydraulic break, and drive extra careful. Also, travel light (pump fuel near destination, no extra gear on the boat, etc...). The trailer is an aluminum by the way.

What you guys think?

Thanks

Nhi

Morning, we have a mid 80's 270 and it is 10 foot on the beam and 31 foot over all length, weight with trailer 11500+-
Here is what I can tell you, we towed with a f250 3/4 ton tire load rating was D or E I believe and there was a lot of push and pull/up and down when you hit dips, cornering you could feel the boat sway the truck not to bad, but you could feel it.
Thats why we went with a dually f350 4x4, no issues after that.
Play with the brake controler if its electric do not set it up so much that it stops the truck, should be a little more braking from the truck then the trailer 51/49+-%
When pulling put the bimini/camper top down, the low branches will whack the heck out of it.

I take it the beam is 10 foot? remember to get the wide load permit and carry and mount red flags at the stern, port and starboard.
And take the corners wide.

 

[Piratehooker]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

Do u know what it weighs? You should be fine with your existing pickup. Like smoke said, good tires and brakes on the truck, maybe a set of airbags for the rear if necessary, but diesel is not required. It's always nice, but never required.

 

[rbh]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

To add launching and retrievel can be a pain in the butt, so practice.
It is a 2 man job for sure and at times a 3 man job depending where you launch

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

How much is the F250 that you currently have rated to tow????

You probably need about 11-12K lbs towing capacity :noidea:

If I were me, I would keep it and see how it does on the local trips, etc.

 

[Hai Nhi]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

Yeah I know it's a 2-3 man job launching/retrieving, at least at the start. I tested my bayliner 245 the first time the other day. It's not bad but before I can get good with it (like one guy on YouTube launching/retrieving his 32' all by himself for 2-3 minutes), I need 2nd/3rd hand help for sure practicing.

My gasser is rated for 12500 lbs. the hitch is rated w that much with load distributing set up. I have one LD set up but still need to buy the adapter ($170 from etrailer.com) that's why I wanna ask if it's better to use one. Because if not, I have to change to a differrent hitch (~$250 from etrailer.com).

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

I think your tow vehicle is fine. I know that you may have some folks tell you that you need the F350 w/ turbo diesel or something, but per the spec's your vehicle should do the job.

Any chance you can get a slip or moor the thing? hauling a big boat around like that will get old. . .

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

I wouldn't bother with WD myself but you might ... matter of preference... WD can be a pain in the butt ..... Me personally, I'd hitch her up for a test pull without it and if all goes well then upgrade to a heavier receiver...

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

Any chance you can get a slip or moor the thing? hauling a big boat around like that will get old. . .

I've been trailering my 28' cruiser for 3 years.... I don't mind it at all... I launch and load alone 95% of the time and I'm generally one of the fastest on and off of anyone on the ramp.... A 30'er loads the same way as a 12'er.... put her in the middle and hook up the strap.

I WILL admit tho that w any size boat, it's darn convenient to simply untie the ropes and go....

 

[Hai Nhi]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

A 30'er loads the same way as a 12'er.... put her in the middle and hook up the strap.

I WILL admit tho that w any size boat, it's darn convenient to simply untie the ropes and go....

What you mean by those two statement?

According to the YouTube video, the guy has a rope tying at the trailer bow stop & the boat bow tye hook (about 10'), back up, stomp on the break a bit so the boat slides off the trailer & float. Get off truck, tie the boat to the dock, go back up and park the truck.

He's doing that just as I type them, about 1.5 minutes.

Is that what you mean?

In my case, I can afford a boat, but not the monthly slip payment. Hahaha. I have a big backyard, and the closest marina to the SF Bay is about 15 minutes from home (salt water though)

 

[Hai Nhi]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

Coming back to the WD: is there any advantage over conventional?

I tow my dump trailer (10000 lbs gross but I overload it all the time) about 3-4 times a month. On heavy load, it's sway sideway on faster than 50-53 mph. That's why I went & get it (plus my hitch receiver is only rated 12500 with a WD), but never had a chance to use it. There's a tool box welded on the v-tongue of my dump trailer. So I can't hook it up without lots of modification.

Nhi

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

I think your tow vehicle is fine. I know that you may have some folks tell you that you need the F350 w/ turbo diesel or something, but per the spec's your vehicle should do the job.

Yeah I agree with tpenfield and others, you don't need a bigger more powerful truck, sure it would be nice but your truck will tow it just fine.

 

[Hai Nhi]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

I think I'm gonna try to keep it too. Unless there's a killer deal to be made, AND I can unload my truck at a good enough price too. They want to pay for only $16k as a trade-in.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

What you mean by those two statement?

According to the YouTube video, the guy has a rope tying at the trailer bow stop & the boat bow tye hook (about 10'), back up, stomp on the break a bit so the boat slides off the trailer & float. Get off truck, tie the boat to the dock, go back up and park the truck.

He's doing that just as I type them, about 1.5 minutes.

Is that what you mean?

In my case, I can afford a boat, but not the monthly slip payment. Hahaha. I have a big backyard, and the closest marina to the SF Bay is about 15 minutes from home (salt water though)

what I mean is that the size of the boat doesn't change how it is loaded.... just need a bigger trailer and a bigger winch

I back in, unhook winch, climb aboard, start engines, and back off trailer. Then I tie up the boat and park the truck.... By the time I get back the engines are starting to warm up and I untie and off I go before the bass boat guys can get their beer loaded up.....

When I get back I reverse the procedure... ease onto the trailer shut down engines and tilt drives.... snug winch and pull out...




By untie and go, I mean it is really NICE to have the boat slipped. No way I want to spend that kind of money though... a couple grand a year PLUS over $1.00 more per gallon for gas.

 

[Hai Nhi]

Re: Towing 2002 Sundancer 280 ...

Yeah. Same thought here. That's why I trailer.

I know trailering has its own cost and stress. But too much money otherwise.

Nhi