Hello  All,

 

I am looking at new truck to  tow my 2004 250CR Cruiser.  Guessing at the total weight with FULL Gas and water should be close

to 9000lbs. 

 

I was considering the Dodge 2500 Diesel.   But the cost of Diesel is alot higher.   This truck would also become my primary vehicle

I keep my boat at the dry dock so I only need to tow it about 1 block to launch it.   Possibly make a 4 hour drive to Apostle ilands once

a summer.

 

I noticed the  2008 F-150  with 5.4L  145 inch wheel base and  3.73 axle is rated at  9500lbs.   This would make a more praticle vehicle for

everyday driving.

 

Question:   Has anyne used these F-150s  for towing this size boat.

 

 

Jerry,

 You'll get alot of differing opinions on this I'm sure but here is my .02 cents.  Looking at your towing situation I would think getting a diesel isn't going to be a neccessity.  Especially with the newer model trucks which are pushing 10,000 or more lbs of towing capacities.  I would think you'll be alright but I wouldn't expect to break any speed records.

 You should also expect to that wear and tear may be a little more evident in terms of brakes and suspension parts than normal.  Just be careful that you look at your total loaded weight or GCVWR and you don't go over that.  So that 4 hour trip if you've loaded down the bed and got all your goodies you might be ok on towing weight but what about total weight of the truck and boat combined.  Just something to think about.

Can't give you any feedback on an F-150 because I'm towing my 236LS with a F250 and forget it's even behind me!

 But in short, I think you'd be fine with any of the newer model 1/2 ton pickups.

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Ryan,

 

Thanks for your opinion on this,  Thats what I felt  .   Can I sk you what you have for a motor in your F250  . 

 

 

Jerry, I agree with Ryan,  your situation is one of those where "less is more" as far as tow vehicles goes. Keep it slow and safe during the Apostles tow and she'll do just fine. If  the 150 squats a bit too much from the tongue weight, a set of air bags or Timbrens will get her back to level easily. You might also consider leaving the holding, water, and fuel tanks as low as possible to buy yourself a little room on the weight.

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"Toy Story"

Y2K 266BR
454 Mag B-3

Jerry Brayton:

Ryan,

 

Thanks for your opinion on this,  Thats what I felt  .   Can I sk you what you have for a motor in your F250  . 

 

 

I've got the 6.0 Powerstroke and love it.  Got about 22,000 miles on it since Nov 2006.  It's hard to beat towing with a diesel but I will say one of the biggest upgrades from a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton truck is the tires, brakes and suspension.  Your boat will wag your truck a good bit when you're on the road and you'll definately feel it back there.  And those O crap braking situations we'll be a little nerve wracking I'm sure.  With the 3/4 ton you get a higher load range tire which alot of people don't think about.  But tires are a major factor in how your rig will tow heavy loads.  I agree with the statement about the bags.  Ken Cipra put a set on his Tahoe and really liked how they leveled things out.

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Bigger brakes and tranny in a 3/4 ton.  Also, eventhough you are at 9K with gas, don't forget passengers and gear of which you are getting closer on tipping the scale in a 1/2 ton.  They base trailer towing assuming a  driver only at around 200 lbs, no passengers or gear.   

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Un-Civil-ized 2002 230BR, MX6.2 BIII on a Prestige Trailer. Moonstone/Amethyst with silver diamond graphics

Hi Jerry, i have a 07 250cr w/496 and had it weighed it was @ 7800lbs with almost full fuel and no water, i pull mine with a 01 silverado 1500 with a 5.3, when i tow i only go 50-55 tops, if i were to go across country i would try to find a different truck, that would be alot of wear and tear. i also installed cross drilled rotors on the fron brakes-BIG difference!!!!! The !!!!!!!!!!!!MOST!!!!!! important thing is to make sure your truck has an auxilary trans cooler i dont care if you are towing it 1 block or 1000 miles, and if you do alot of towing i would have the trans fluid flushed every year. Dan

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Danny and Jennifer Phillips
2007 250CR 496MAG MPi
"MONEY 2 BURN"
Portage Public Marina
Burns Harbor, IN

Jerry,

Just for your info. you can get a F-150 with a 10,500 towing cap. it comes with a 9.5 inch rear end instead of the normal 8.8. My brother has a new F-150 and i used it last year to pull my boat. I ran 70mph and could not tell the boat was behind me and where i go the lake is 180 miles from my house and nothing but steep hills and curves. And i have a friend that has a 2006 F-150 and he pulls a 28ft enclosed trailer with a race car and has had no problems. This is just my opinion. Good luck on picking your new truck

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Jason, Amanda and Madox Belcher
225BR, Corsa thru hull exhaust
"Mad Madox"

One thing to consider is a 2 wheel drive F-150 is going to be a little light in the rearend. That coupled with the weight of the 250 and a slick or steep ramp may cause traction problems. I'd consider the F-150 as long as it was 4 wheel drive. For towing our 266CCR, we went from a Tahoe to a 3/4 ton Suburban and it made a big difference in towing.

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Phil Belcher
2003 266CCR
496 MAG, Bravo 3

 

Thanks to all who replyed to my Post.   I took all your opinions in mine and have found a nice used 2005 Dodge 2500  Diesel 

so I should not have to worry about towing my boat anywhere I want to go.   Of course Diesel is getting around $4.00 per galloon,.

 

Has anyone used the computer chip that is available for these Diesel motors to add 12 % more gas milege ,

I have a friend who put this in his 2004 dodge diesel and said he gets 22 miles per gallon now.

 

 

 

 

 

Dany,

You mentioned the weight of your boat is  7800lbs.   Does this also include the trailer?   I was guessing at 9K for the 250CR.

MY boat shows a dry weight of  5600lbs  not counting the dual axle prestige trailer.  Quessed at 2000lbs.   500lbs fuel+water,

Which leaves around 900lbs for  people, and belongings  to total 9000lbs.

 

Just my Quess  

 

 

 

 

i actually weighed my set up at a truck stop on a semi scale, also one thing i did is backed the wheels off of the scale and dropped the trailer from the truck to check the tounge weight(make sure the trailer is level), i did this because it was sagging my truck BAAAAD!!!! well come to find out it had 1100lbs of tounge weight. toung weight should be about 10% of total weight, i adjusted the bow stop and now have 700 and change truck only squats about 3inches and made a HUGE difference in towing and braking

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Danny and Jennifer Phillips
2007 250CR 496MAG MPi
"MONEY 2 BURN"
Portage Public Marina
Burns Harbor, IN

Really, for a boat trailer, 6% or so is all you need on tongue weight so you could lighten it a bit more even.  Travel trailers are more in that 10% range.

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O'
"Little Mascara 3"
2003 266BR,496 MAG w/Bravo III

Mike, i did not want to move it anymore back because the transom is hanging free about 1inch past the bunk

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Danny and Jennifer Phillips
2007 250CR 496MAG MPi
"MONEY 2 BURN"
Portage Public Marina
Burns Harbor, IN

jerry i have an 02 2500 hd gmc diesel. I was getting around 15 to16 mpg in town. I used super chips programmer 300.00 bucks, true flow air filter 60.00 bucks, and a 5" exhaust 800.00 bucks. i now get 18 to 19 in town and 22 on the hwy. the power is of the hook!!!!!!!!! When i tow my boat 252 ex 5800lb wet i only get 14 mpg. The chip will help in your daily driving and the power is amazing when you are towing. we use alot of dodges in our fleet with cummings diesels, they are very good trucks with good engines. just my .02

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robbie robister
Greenville NC
08 252 ex 350 mag