Towing a 25 cruiser
- Thread starter akroyd
- Start date
Greetings & welcome, I attempted to tow our 25' cruiser with a GMC 1/2 ton pickup. The engine was the v-8...5.3 liter. My experience was not favorable. It was like the tail wagging the dog and I should mention we live in the northwest where the terrain has its ups and downs. We didn't feel safe towing with the 1/2 ton truck. I bought a Dodge 1 ton (you don't need a 1 ton) truck because we have a travel trailer we pull also, but not in tandem with the boat. The truck is excellent and I would not suggest to anyone that towing the 25' cruiser with a 1/2 ton pickup is safe. The only caveat is if you live a short distance from where you intend to launch your boat and if there is not remarkable change in elevation and 1/2 ton might barely be okay, but not for long distance hauling. Hopes this helps and I know you'll enjoy your boat and the CBRAT group.
Ken aka: wood duck
Ken aka: wood duck
I would be relucatant to tow any distance with a half ton. The Tundra and Titan seem to be a bit heavier duty vehicles than most of the US one tons.
Truck weight is important. Diesel is better for mileage and towing power up hills. Braking is also important. If you do a lot of mountains, consider upgrading to electric over hyraulic brakes. You need brakes on both axles.
Most of us who have used weight distributing hitches on the 25's have found that there is a great improvement in handling. You have to use an "equalizer" brand to work properly with the surge brakes, and no anti sway bar.
Enjoy the boat, it is a great cruiser.
Truck weight is important. Diesel is better for mileage and towing power up hills. Braking is also important. If you do a lot of mountains, consider upgrading to electric over hyraulic brakes. You need brakes on both axles.
Most of us who have used weight distributing hitches on the 25's have found that there is a great improvement in handling. You have to use an "equalizer" brand to work properly with the surge brakes, and no anti sway bar.
Enjoy the boat, it is a great cruiser.
I've towed a CD25 from New Jersey to Maine and Florida with a half ton Suburban.
Yes, it's less than perfect, but it can be done safely. If you have the long wheelbase pick-up, that will help greatly.
Start with 5% to 10% tongue weight, depending on your suspension. The more the better. I'm riding on the factory auto-ride air shocks. Also go for "load range E" tires that you can jack up to 80 pounds air. This puts more of the weight on the truck for better stability.
Maybe to state the obvious, tow with low fuel and water levels, and keep as much gear and provisions in the truck until launch time.
Also note that a regular class 3 hitch is only rated at 500 lbs vertical load, so you'll need to either go for a class 4 hitch, or a load distributing type.
Yes, it's less than perfect, but it can be done safely. If you have the long wheelbase pick-up, that will help greatly.
Start with 5% to 10% tongue weight, depending on your suspension. The more the better. I'm riding on the factory auto-ride air shocks. Also go for "load range E" tires that you can jack up to 80 pounds air. This puts more of the weight on the truck for better stability.
Maybe to state the obvious, tow with low fuel and water levels, and keep as much gear and provisions in the truck until launch time.
Also note that a regular class 3 hitch is only rated at 500 lbs vertical load, so you'll need to either go for a class 4 hitch, or a load distributing type.
journey on
New member
Can you tow with a 1/2 ton pick-up?
Yes, but you need load leveler bars. You can do one of these things:
1. use electric/hydraulic brakes and load levelers
2. use surge brakes and special leveler bars (of which i forgot the name)
3. or use surge brakes and any bars with long chains. Used this method for years and never had any trouble.
By the way, long wheel base is great but not necessary.
1/2 ton trucks have soft springs. My son has a Toyota Tundra, and while it's a fine truck, it's a 1/2 ton.
Yes, but you need load leveler bars. You can do one of these things:
1. use electric/hydraulic brakes and load levelers
2. use surge brakes and special leveler bars (of which i forgot the name)
3. or use surge brakes and any bars with long chains. Used this method for years and never had any trouble.
By the way, long wheel base is great but not necessary.
1/2 ton trucks have soft springs. My son has a Toyota Tundra, and while it's a fine truck, it's a 1/2 ton.
Can't blame you for being confused. I've read through the entire thread again and it comes down to that old saying about opinions. :wink:
Seems it's possible, based on some of the experiences noted above, but not ideal. My father-in-law tows his 28' travel trailer w/ his F-150. No problem. I tow my 25 with an F-250 Super Duty diesel. Again, no problem. Could his truck pull my boat? Sure, based on max tow capacity noted in his manual. But it'd be at the upper limit of the 10K lb. capacity of the truck.
Seems it's possible, based on some of the experiences noted above, but not ideal. My father-in-law tows his 28' travel trailer w/ his F-150. No problem. I tow my 25 with an F-250 Super Duty diesel. Again, no problem. Could his truck pull my boat? Sure, based on max tow capacity noted in his manual. But it'd be at the upper limit of the 10K lb. capacity of the truck.
Well, our buddy, Dave (Fan-C-Dory) hauled their 25 from New York to Texas with a Dodge 1500... so it can certainly be done. It wouldn't be my tow vehicle of choice, but each person has to weigh their usage.
At the RV park we are in right now, our next door neighbor showed up today with a full size Chevy van hauling a 16,000 pound park home type trailer! :shock: When I asked him about it, he said, "I tow it 20 miles a couple times a year. I go slow and leave plenty of room to stop. If I ever came to a hill, I know I wouldn't make it; but it works for here."
That would scare the bejeebers out of me!
In the words of the great philosopher Dirty Harry, <insert squint and gravelly whisper> "So, do you feel lucky?"
Our 25 is about 8,700 pounds on the trailer. We tow with a HD2500 diesel pickup; it's a good match.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
At the RV park we are in right now, our next door neighbor showed up today with a full size Chevy van hauling a 16,000 pound park home type trailer! :shock: When I asked him about it, he said, "I tow it 20 miles a couple times a year. I go slow and leave plenty of room to stop. If I ever came to a hill, I know I wouldn't make it; but it works for here."
That would scare the bejeebers out of me!
In the words of the great philosopher Dirty Harry, <insert squint and gravelly whisper> "So, do you feel lucky?"
Our 25 is about 8,700 pounds on the trailer. We tow with a HD2500 diesel pickup; it's a good match.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
I'd say it depends on the truck. Not all 1/2 ton trucks are created equally and there is not a direct relationship between towing capacity and payload capacity. A CD 25 typically weighs around 8000# on trailer (from what others have reported on this site). I'd not be concerned at all about towing this with my Tundra (rated at 10,300 # towing capacity and generally described as a 1/2 ton truck).
Here I am ! Yep, I towed the Fan-C-Dory with my 1/2 ton this summer - over 3000 miles. Was it comfortable - no, but I wouldn't be "comfortable" pulling one of these things with less than a 1 ton diesel dually. My 1/2T - Dodge last generation - has the same engine, transmission, and coolers as a 3/4 AND 1 ton gas of the same generation. My frame rails are smaller, along with the rear end, and brakes. I had ~ 1/2+ ton of "stuff" in the back of the pickup, along with the tongue weight of ~ 1/2 ton. I was over loaded (according to specs.) but not seriously. I had 4 wheel disk brakes on the trailer, but could I stop the trailer if the trailer brakes failed - no (not easily and not today)), but neither can a 3/4 or 1 ton, especially single rear wheels and lightly loaded. I definitely, if I do more of this, will get a BIGGER truck (1 ton +) and electric over hydraulic brakes.
Pat Anderson
New member
We tow Daydream with a low mileage 2004 Nissan Titan, and think it is great. We towed 2,200 miles round trip between Western Washington and Lake Powell the last two years without any discomfort at all (well, except for losing one wheel on the trailer somewhere this year, but that is a different story). We have no fancy hitch, load leveler bars, or anything else, and it was definitely not the "tail wagging the dog," the trailer towed straight and true, even with a bit of my occasional bonehead driving tricks . The 5.6L engine has ample power for whatever is required (mileage is in the toilet, but that is given). It has the "tow package," whatever exactly that is - the main thing we see is a "tow mode" switch on the dash, which changes the shift points for the automatic transmission.
We needed a new tow vehicle anyway when we bought the Titan, we were trying to tow Daydream with a 1997 Ford Expedition, which was definitely not up to the task, and got the Titan used for a decent price. If I had a Titan or Tundra, I would sure not feel compelled to go out and spend a ton on a big diesel truck just to tow Daydream. Now, when we get our 5th wheel, maybe we will do just that, but for now this is one half-ton truck that I have no doubt is up to the task of towing a CD25.
We needed a new tow vehicle anyway when we bought the Titan, we were trying to tow Daydream with a 1997 Ford Expedition, which was definitely not up to the task, and got the Titan used for a decent price. If I had a Titan or Tundra, I would sure not feel compelled to go out and spend a ton on a big diesel truck just to tow Daydream. Now, when we get our 5th wheel, maybe we will do just that, but for now this is one half-ton truck that I have no doubt is up to the task of towing a CD25.
Incidently, if you do want to consider a SUV the older Ford Excursions with the 7.3 L diesel are real work horses, and are in-expensive. Mine has over 160,000 miles on it and I expect at least another 100,000 trouble free miles. I find that the ride is better than most trucks. I keep a narrow air matress on one side, and nap back there when the Admiral is driving. We towed our 25 over 15,000 miles with this truck, and it has the "Beef" to tow the Tom Cat.
T.R. Bauer
New member
I would extend that to any Ford built after 1999 with the 7.3. I love mine. I have a 2000 F350 dually (13100 GVW) and haul a 12 foot 5000 pound camper on the back of it while towing a CD 22. Most of the time I wonder if the boat is even back there. For those of you that are mortified, I am well within GCWV and have an aftermarket superhitch that tows a zillion pounds even at 4 feet out.
While I know you can tow a CD 25 with many half-tons, the deciding factor for me would be how far you're going as little pickups are often very "busy" to drive when towing that much.
Good luck!
While I know you can tow a CD 25 with many half-tons, the deciding factor for me would be how far you're going as little pickups are often very "busy" to drive when towing that much.
Good luck!
Becareful to make sure the hitch is rated for the weight. A hitch on a half ton may only be rated for a max of 5,000 lbs. My 1/2 ton Tahoe towed it - but I was exceeding the hitch rating and vehicle rating. This could result in the hitch coming off as well as liability for the owner if involved in an accident. My 3/4 ton truck and hitch are now rated correctly for the load I am towing.
journey on
New member
Whatever type of truck you buy, remember that a Class 3 hitch is good for 6000# and a Class 4 hitch can handle up to 10,000#. They both have the same receiver size (2" X 2") And they both bolt on, so be careful. Any size truck can come with either hitch, so check.
The problem with having a truck big enough so that you don't notice the boat (and that's got to be a BIG truck,) is that you still have that truck without the boat. Gas mileage, stiff springs and all. And don't forget to price tyres.
Boris
The problem with having a truck big enough so that you don't notice the boat (and that's got to be a BIG truck,) is that you still have that truck without the boat. Gas mileage, stiff springs and all. And don't forget to price tyres.
Boris