towing a 27ft Larson 270

[chiefshocker]

I just bought a boat, new to boating. I have an f150 rated for 9200#, my new boat is 6000# dry, with aluminum trailer (dual axle with dual disc brakes, surge). I'm planning to add air bags to help with the suspension sag, but curious if i'm pulling too much for the truck. The closest lake is 112 miles, with some hills. I'm in Tucson AZ, and i'd like to go to lake powell in july. (6 hrs lots of hills).

 

[agallant80]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

I just bought a boat, new to boating. I have an f150 rated for 9200#, my new boat is 6000# dry, with aluminum trailer (dual axle with dual disc brakes, surge). I'm planning to add air bags to help with the suspension sag, but curious if i'm pulling too much for the truck. The closest lake is 112 miles, with some hills. I'm in Tucson AZ, and i'd like to go to lake powell in july. (6 hrs lots of hills).

View attachment 225581

Don't spend money on the bags. Your truck calls for a WD hitch for any load over 5k. It will ride better with the WD hitch.

 

[chiefshocker]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

Don't spend money on the bags. Your truck calls for a WD hitch for any load over 5k. It will ride better with the WD hitch.

good idea, where did you read that?

 

[agallant80]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

good idea, where did you read that?

Google ford towing guide followed by the year of your truck. It will list a capacity for weight carrying hitch which is 5k and another capacity for your max tow for weight distribution hitch. I just went through this. Also look at your hitch it will say the same thing on the plate.

 

[chiefshocker]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

Google ford towing guide followed by the year of your truck. It will list a capacity for weight carrying hitch which is 5k and another capacity for your max tow for weight distribution hitch. I just went through this. Also look at your hitch it will say the same thing on the plate.

Thanks, beside the WD issue.. the truck should handle it eh?

Boat Dry 6000
Trailer 1500
Thats about 1800 for fuel, gear etc.

I plan to hit the local weigh scales next week to get an accurate #

 

[agallant80]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

Thanks, beside the WD issue.. the truck should handle it eh?

Boat Dry 6000
Trailer 1500
Thats about 1800 for fuel, gear etc.

I plan to hit the local weigh scales next week to get an accurate #

You will be close but not close enough to make it unsafe. Gear adds up and you have to include the passengers. Can you post the year and options of your truck?

 

[chiefshocker]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

You will be close but not close enough to make it unsafe. Gear adds up and you have to include the passengers. Can you post the year and options of your truck?

2006 f150 king ranch super crew 5.4 triton 4x4, towing pkg, all stock
Trailer is a seahawk tandem axle aluminum 31'

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

IMHO... if you were towing at reduced speeds under 20 miles you would be marginal but likely ok BUT at over 100 miles each way you have too much boat for your truck

 

[SilverSS07]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

IMHO... if you were towing at reduced speeds under 20 miles you would be marginal but likely ok BUT at over 100 miles each way you have too much boat for your truck

Agreed. You're in 3/4 ton territory. I hate to be the guy that says you need a diesel but it would make life a lot easier especially since you're in a lot of hills. Here's some specs for you.

2006 Ford F-150 Specifications

Basically, if you have the 3.73 gears, gcwr is 15,000 lbs (3.55's are 14k). Base curb weight is 5577. Add a bunch of stuff, fuel, and people and the weight of the truck could easily go well over 6000 lbs. After you scale the truck subtract the # from the gcwr and that's how much you can tow.

 

[agallant80]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

Well its easy to say go out and buy a 3/4 Diesel when its not your money but for now lets work with what you have.

You say that the towing capacity is 9,200 GCWR is 15,000 and curbe is 5577 so lets do the numbers with what we have

Truck is 5577 + 36 gal of fuel at 6Lbs gal 216 + 400 in people = 6200LBS so you now have 8800LBS left
Boat 1996-2001 270 6000lbs
Trailer 1500lbs
85Gal fuel @6lbs 510
Gear 400
Total in tow: 8410

You are right there with about 400lbs left over and of course all of this assumes you are correct about the numbers posted for your truck. Only way to know for sure is to pull her on the scales. I would get the WD hitch instead of messing with the suspention considering Ford says use a WD hitch for loads over 5K not mess with the suspention. Also if you do upgrade to a 2500/F250 they all say the same thing for loads over 5K

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

My buddy pulled his Carver Montego 200 miles with the same truck about 12 times a year. the boat, motor, gear and fuel puts the load at 8400# based on the scales. If you watch your gear, your under the limit and should be fine.

 

[chiefshocker]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

Thanks for all your help guys. Just pulled out the paperwork on the trailer the MSO states it weighs in at 1200#. A question about the WD hitch, I've used them on RV's with electric brakes but never with the surge style brakes this trailer has. Is there actual movement at the toungue of the trailer?

 

[agallant80]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

Thanks for all your help guys. Just pulled out the paperwork on the trailer the MSO states it weighs in at 1200#. A question about the WD hitch, I've used them on RV's with electric brakes but never with the surge style brakes this trailer has. Is there actual movement at the toungue of the trailer?

I have the equil-z-ier for surge. I'm setting it up today after I finish my wife's to do list. Read this

Using a Weight Distribution System on a Boat Trailer With Surge Brakes | etrailer.com

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

ALSO check with the manufacturer... many boat trailers are not designed for the forces applied by the wdh

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

One more thing, you MUST actually weigh the boat and trailer.... just guessing based on manufacturers numbers is VERY unreliable

BTW 'who's money' does not factor into my advice..... the advice I give you is the EXACT same as I apply to my own life

 

[agallant80]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

BTW 'who's money' does not factor into my advice..... the advice I give you is the EXACT same as I apply to my own life

Didn't mean it as a dig. Sorry if it was taken that way.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

no worries..... we're good

 

[woosterken]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

one more thought fuel the boat close to the lake?
what about an add on trans cooler?
your truck have the switch to turn off overdrive?if so it takes strain off the tranny on hills

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

If you watch your gear, your under the limit and should be fine.

^+1
Your F150 is an amazing truck. The stock 5.4 do begin to struggle over 8K for power with a 3:55 rear, but the truck will handle the load just fine.

 

[chiefshocker]

Re: towing a 27ft Larson 270

^+1
Your F150 is an amazing truck. The stock 5.4 do begin to struggle over 8K for power with a 3:55 rear, but the truck will handle the load just fine.

BIG THANKS AGAIN, some great help, I'll have the boat weighed shortly to ensure accurate numbers. I still have a little work to do on the fuel tank before i worry about hauling. But that is for another thread.
fred