Ok maybe a stupid question but kind of looking for re-assurance if anything. My manual states that my '05 supercab, 6'5 box, with 5.4, and 17" wheels with 3.55 gearing can tow 8,300.

The boat im looking at purchasing according to sea ray weighs 6,050 pounds dry with the standard 4 cylinder motors. The boat im looking to purchase has the twin v6 motors. Im guessing thats an extra 300-500 pounds putting me at 6500. The boat has about 90 gallons of gas putting the boat right around 7,000 pounds right now. plus tandem aluminum trailer (rated at 8,500 pounds) which im guessing is like another 500 pounds. Some of these numbers are conservative but just looking for opinions on attempting this. i've towed 28 campers weighing in around 5,000 pounds no problem but not 7500 pounds.

advice? truck has 141,000 miles on it and in great shape in my opinion, truck runs and drives flawless.

PS I checked with shipping companies and they want atleast 1,200 bucks to tow it home, im estimating using 200 bucks in gas so not sure risking blowing a transmission is worth it or not...

Thanks

Robert

 

while im no expert on towing, I would say you should be fine. Ive seen guys with that much and more behind their 5.4s with no problem. If you're still worried about it, try and find a rental company that has Superduties for rent, drive it there, pick up your boat and bring it home. Do it in a day and it shouldn't cost more than 80-100 dollars. Still beats the heck out of 1200.

 

You'll be fine. Remember to bring some tire changing tools, jacks, etc for the boat trailer to cover you from un unkown hiccup. Extra tie down straps are a good idea as well.

 

i've asked around and can't anyone that will rent a super duty in/around milwaukee, WI

if anyone knows a company that does that'd be great !

 

The tongue weight will probably put you over max payload rating - you need to go get it solo with NOTHING loaded in the truck. You have a brake controller and weight distribution hitch, right?

Lock it OUT of overdrive and keep the speed down.

I'm betting by the time you are done your tow will be pushing 9000#.

 

x2 on everything said above, and i think the weight of the trailer being 500 pounds is way off, id bet that trailer is over 1000 pounds. worse things have been done to an f150 it will be fine. unless the payload is terrible and the tounge weight puts you close to the bump stops

 

You should be ok. Keep it around 60 and don't rush things.

 

I think over drive is out on this pull.

 

If towing from Denver, Co. TO Russel, Ks. .... likely OD would be ok on some long downgrades.

I wouldn't swear to it without some research, but I'ld bet that any tandem axle aluminum trailer rated at 8500 pounds load is going to weigh at least 1500-2000 pounds itself. The two axles with brakes, wheels, tires, and springs will eat up 500 pounds in a hurry.

 

You should be just fine. And the trailer will be around 1000 pounds alone assuming it has 500lb axles. A brake controller is going to be your best friend on this. If need be have a shop put some add a leafs in. The truck will def tow it but the problem is how will it handle the weight? Adding some extra leaf springs will help out a lot. Def turn off O/D and keep your speed steady. I have towed a lot of things with my 150 from a little utility trailer to goosenecks with bobcats on them. Its all about how well the *** end of your truck can handle the weight.

 

I haven't read that part of my manual, but I'll check it out now. When I registered my truck the first time my insurance company said I wasn't allowed to tow anything over 7000 lbs.

 

This is in Milwaukee.

http://www.badgertruck.com/dsp_custom.cfm?id=7

 

go to home depot, i think they have super duties you can rent

 

I don't know if the Home Depot trucks are properly equipped for towing.

 

If the hitch is at the correct level the tongue weight will be less on that tandem axle trailer than on a single axle as long as it was designed for this particular boat. My 22' boat with a tandem trailer puts alot less tongue weight on my truck than the old 20' I had with a single axle. He should be able to get the toungue weight for this boat/trailer setup from the boat builder. The weight of the boat should be spread over the two axles not towards the tongue. If it's forward of the axles then the trailer wasn't design correctly for the boat.