Ok, I am not expert with all the knowledge with hauling a boat but I have experience with doing so. I have read the threads with those saying that I got this trailer and will I have a problem, and it seems like when your getting into the higher weights some say that it wont pull it. Well, I am about to haul a 24' boston whaler that dry weight is rated at 4400 lbs. I have already pulled it out of the water and seems like stoping and starting was not a problem at all.

I have a 05' 5.4L 2WD SCREW. Will I be able to pull this boat no problem, or am I pushing it? I will also have 4 adults in the cab and not to mention all the crap that we will be hauling. We are going to the Keys for a week so I will be traveling on mostly flat highway with the exception of the over passes that we have to go over. The truck has the stock tranny cooler, is that sufficient?

The rated weight seems like I would not have a problem. Will I? Also the guys boat that I am trailering his boat is some what cheap and wants to fill the tank up when we leave Sarasota, Would it not make sense to fill up in say Miami, closer to our destination? Because to fill it up we would be putting about 120 gallons of fuel in addition to the load of everything, so the fuel would add about 700 or so more pounds. Seems to me that if I cut 1000 off my total load it will save me in the MPGs, or will it not have a huge effect.

Sorry for all the questions, like I said I have trailered boats, but just not alot on the highway. I have some tough skin so you can smack me around alit bit

 

you should be well within your towing limits. don't tow any more than you have to. so fill it up after you arrive. your stock cooler should be OK. i assume you won't be towing long distances at high speed.

 

Thanks for the reply, that is what I thought since I was reading about people going 1k or more miles and I am only going 300 miles.

I plan on doing about 60 mph or 70 mph depending on how the truck feels at those speeds. Is that 2 fast or about good? What would you travel at with all that weight?

I figured that we would be stopping a couple times anyway cause my wife has a bladder of a pea and my friends wife is prego. Thanks for the advice.

 

You will have an easy tow with that set up. Towing a boat is much easier than towing say a travel trailer of similar weights due to less frontal area. I assume that the boat trailer will have surge brakes, just make sure that you do a good inspection of the brakes befor towing as it is common for surge brakes on boat trailers to have isues due to be put into water. And it sounds like that boat has been used in slt water so you really need to be sure that you flush the brakes. As for yor stock tranny cooler it will do fine as you will be towing on flat ground most of the way. Fill up the boat when you get to your final destination. As you said in your post 120 gallons is a lot of weight to tow that you really dont need to. Good luck and have a good trip.

 

You will be pulling 6-7000lbs probably. At that weight the trailer should have brakes and you should be using a weight distribution hitch.
I get that weight from your dry weight, 8-900lbs of fuel (120 gallons), other equipment up to about 500, and the trailer, probably at least 1000lbs.
Most state laws require brakes on weights of 3-5000lbs or over (depend upon state). Your hitch, assuming it is the Ford hitch requires a weight distribution hitch on towing anything over 500lbs tongue weight and 5000lb towed weight. Your proper tongue weight should be at least 600lbs for the boat to tow properly.

PS - Does that 4400lb include engines? Depending upon the type, OB, I/O, IB, that weight may or may not include the weight of the engines.

 

Thanks for the reply, the Trailer does have brakes. So I am go with that. I guess I may need to look into a weight distribution hitch. I think the overall weight with the boat and engine is about 5000lbs. I live in Florida.

What is a good speed on the Highway, is 70 mph too fast? Should I stay around 60mph. I am in not that big of a rush to get to where I am going.

 

If I make sure that I have the tongue weight at about 12%, should I really need a weight distribution hitch? When I has the boat on, the truck and the boat well level. Let me know what you think

 

I have been around boats my entire life and have never seen a boat with a Weight Distribution hitch. I have towed or have been in the TV while towing everything from a canoe to a 28 foot cabin cruiser weighing close to 12000 tripple axle.

 

I was trying to think if I have ever seen a BOAT trailer with a weight distribution hitch. Aren't they more for heady camper trailers that have bigger tounge weights

 

I've seen a 02ish scrrew 4x4 pull a 40 ft offshore race boat, not far I'll bet but it was done. Your fine, well within limits.

 

We pull a 20' Sea Ray 100 miles each way about 40 times a year back n forth to Lake Michigan. Its got a "dry weight" of 5000lbs. Dont add any extra fuel until you have too cuz that will KILL your gas mileage. We like to travel right at 55-60 mph on a regular highway. If we take it long distance we keep it between 60-65, but never ever faster than that. 60 mph feels like were just FLYING down the road with that much weight behind us. Yes if there is alot of traffic were getting passed on the 2-3 lane highways, but we always stay to the right and dont need to rush anything. I average 10 mpg while towing the boat.

 

That dry weight of the boat, is the boat only. No fuel or anything else. The weight of the trailer will be around 1000lbs. Right there you are over the hitch limit without a WD hitch. As far as no boats being trailered with WD hitches, I see them all the time, especially with larger boats with a half ton truck. Not as much with F250 and 350 trucks as their hitches are heavier.

As far as speed, mileage wise you will always do better in the 55 - 60 range.

 

You will be fine. You dont need the weight distribution hitch for a boat. I had a F-150 before and towed boats like that no problem. If your on a flat surface 70MPH is easy, its the hills where you will need to slow down.

 

Read the max rated weights off your hitch - you may or may not need a WD hitch, but I'm betting you do - most Class 3 hitches are only good to 500 tongue or 5000 gross without it.

 

Something to think about. It clearly states in the owners manual, and even on the receiver I believe, that you can't tow over 5k w/o a weight dist hitch. If you get in an accident and someone is hurt you could be in serious legal trouble w/o a weight dist hitch. You will be in clear violation of what Ford states you can and can not do. A lawyer would have a field day in court with this.

Also, as for max speed. Refer to the side wall of the trailer tires. Most likely they state 65mph max.