How much is too much boat for these trucks to pull. I am purchasing a 20' ski boat and have concerns about pulling it with the L. I have a tune in on the truck, but am just asking for opinions on how much I should worry about this.

 

I do think it'll be a problem at all. I just bought a 18 ft. starcraft bay boat for fishing in the jersey bays. I'm putting down approx 420 hp with the addition of a 2.80 upper and long tubes with a 4lb lower. I never had any problems. If it makes you feel any better,one time i had to trailer my uncles 25 foot grady white with twin 200 yamahas for approx 40 miles without anyproblems besides the tires almost popping

 

I tow my waverunner and drive it like there is nothing attached to the back, i think i could still pull off a 13 second run towing it!

I have seen some pics of L's towing boats. You may just want to get helper bags.

 

I wouldn't worry at all. I pull an 18' baja with no problems (no mods done to the truck). It doesnt sit the rear end down too much either, If anything the truck sits level. I was also happy with how easy it pulled the boat out of the water, doesn't spin a tire, even when wet. Good luck with the boat!

 

You won't have a problem. I tow a 20' enclosed race trailer that full of gear and tools is right at 5000 lbs. Then, throw the race car on and it is about 7500-8000lbs. Mine pulls fine, but I did add helper air springs to deal with the tonque weight - it is about 850lbs. I do have brakes on the trailer and have a brake controller on my L, but sometimes I don't use it (various reasons like stuck brakes etc.) and it still brakes well. Brake controller highly recommended if you get much over 2500lbs of trailer. I do use F1s to tow with and increase pressure to about 36psi, seems to help.

Ron

 

I tow a 22 foot Talon with twin 2.5's on a triple axle trailer. Sounds easy, but it is at Lake Havasu where is is frequently 115 degrees. The Lightning does not even care. I first towed it with a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee, who's tow rating is supposedly much higher than the L. The Jeep got so hot I had to turn off the A/C. You're only real concern in towing is trans temperature. If it stays under control, everything else is usually happy. If you've had it re-tuned, the timing might be a little aggressive, so talk to your tuner about it. If it is stock, enjoy the ride.

 

Thanks for the info guys, this makes me feel a ton better.

 

That's why these trucks were built in the first place and this is part of total Lightning performance not a wimpy hot roded truck such as the SSR with a 400lb payload.

5000 lbs towed for 5 years and still smokes many on the road course.

TB

 

The only thing I'd would worry about is when your pulling your boat out at the launch ramp. Sometimes it gets a little slippery in the afternoon and sometimes (depending on the ramp) you almost have to get your truck's rear end into the water to pull your boat out. In fresh water it's not so bad, but if your pulling out of salt water, you better make sure to wash it off real good with a salt-away solution.

 

Mat2ch made a very good point. If the trailer tongue is not long enough to let you launch the boat with the rear wheels of the tow vehicle out of the water, get the tongue extended, even if it means adding a swing away tongue. Fresh water ramps can be slicker than salt water ramps, but at least some of the truck might be salvagable if it slides down the ramp. Not so with salt. You've got posi, but watching the truck slide backward with the e-brake on while you're standing next to the boat is not good. Lots of tow vehicles go in the water every year. Four wheel drive is preferred, two wheel with posi is next and front wheel drive is last in the choice of tow verhicles.

 

I've been towing and launching boats for years. (So many I'm not saying). The real trick is to go in as little as possible or only as deep as necessary. I see guys going too deep and putting their whole trailer under water which makes it harder to position and seat the boat properly. Doing this, I don't even get my feet wet and always keep the truck wheels on a dry surface. Of course this assumes a properly constructed ramp with a proper surface.

TB

 

here is a 22 foot regal and a 20 foot ( i think ) Bayliner behind a pair of lightnings

No problems towing or launching

 

watch ur EGT'S !!!!!! check out my last post about my truck, i warpped an exaust valve pulling a 3000lb 18 foot enclosed trailer. with just a 2 lb pully and di dont think the 3.55's helpped either. with an 01+ u should b fine bc of the gears and ride height. just watch ur temps. -Kyle

 

Don't look at your pulley for the problem but your chip. Your programming is the issue. The stock program on the 99-00 is pig rich and super safe.

I have an 00 with a 2.5lb pulley (2.7) with the 3.55 gears but stock programming and I have been towing 5000lb+ for over 5 years. Engine runs cool and never skips a beat.

TB

 

+1 if a lot of guys knew how hot you're running these things under load you'd slow down and start thinking about getting a pig rich tow tune and running no more than a 2lb pulley. Stay out of the boost as much as possible. The load and heat on these motors is incredible. I don't know how they last. I see 150+ degrees LESS heat at WOT on my race tune going down the track than I do pulling a 3,000 lb trailer up a hill at 65 mph with a dyno tested tow tune and that is a fact. Keep the loads reasonable, boost down, tune safe, etc etc, common sense and you'll be fine. but just b/c they can pull a heavy load at 100 mph doesn't mean you should if you know what i'm saying.