Towing Questions:

[John R]

Curious for those of you with 23CCs and Cuddys what your loadup weight is with trailer/boat/motor/gear and what vehicles you tow with? How comfortable are you towing short to mid-range distances and your thoughts on the trailer braking systems you use....

Thanks....

[Scott]

Hey John......looking at a 23 ????? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Ok a 23 CC with say half a tank of fuel , a 200 Hp Mercury Black Max (I think around 350 lbs) and an older EZ-Loader 42 roller trailer thats built like a brick sh.......you know what I mean, tandem axle with surge brakes... thing weighs a ton

Towed with a Chevy Tahoe 4door 4x4 5.7L (350) Vortec engine....with the Trailering package etc.

Towing .... The truck pulls like nothing is behind it (speed up to 55… no highway driving and max distance about 50 miles)....

Very happy with its performance [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Oh Yeah stopping the thing....no problem...but I also drive it a tad more conservative when the boat is behind me...and have never had to "stomp" on the brakes.

[FELLOW-SHIP]

HA JOHN R
AS YOU KNOW I GOT A 23 CC THE ORIGINAL WEIGHT APPROX 2,650 I GUESS MINE IS A EXTRA 200 OF PLYWOOD AND EPOXY IN IT. PLUS 100 GAS OF GAS ON THE AVERAGE THAT’S ABOUT ADDITIONAL 850 LBS, T-TOP AND LEANING POST NOT MUCH 100 LBS. ONE 225 30” SHAFT 500 LBS. I HAVE A LOADMASTER TORSION AXEL ALUMINUM TRAILER WITH SURGE DISK BRAKES THIS IS A DRIVE ON OR FLOAT ON TRAILER I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WEIGHS WOULD HAVE TO LOOK IT UP. PLUS FISHING STUFF AND ICE 150 LBS. AND ME AND MY BROTHER ANOTHER 400 LBS. WE USUALLY TRAVEL 20 MILES TO THE BOAT RAMP GOING 60 MPH NO PROBLEMS ON THE RIDE I COULD GO FASTER BUT I DON’T. I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 WITH A SMALL V8 AND LIMITED SLIP REAR END WITH THE TOWING PACK. WORKS GREAT FOR ME. I HAVEN’T HAD ANY PROBLEMS YET BUT I USUALLY PUT IN AT GOOD RAMPS. YOU ALSO ASKED ABOUT BREAKING ABILITY WITH THE SURGE DISK BREAKS I CAN STOP THIS RIG BETTER AND FASTER THAT I COULD WHEN I USE TO TRAILER A 18 ‘ HYDRA SPORT BOAT WITH A ONE AXEL TRAILER AND NO BREAKS.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Blackwater21]

I use a Dodge 2500 4x4 with the cummins turbo diesel paired with a manual 5 speed. I tow around 65 mph on the hwy about 200 mph round trip once a month. I don't use brakes on the trailer(false security) that is why i always tow witha 3/4 or 1 ton truck.

[TarponTom]

JohnR
I tow my 23 with a Dodge 1/2 ton 4X4, 5.9 V8. Does a great job with the boat even when loaded. I do however turn off the overdrive when on the highway. Even small inclines makes it shift down to maintain rpm's. The four wheel drive is great insurance on nasty ramps. I have a Slide-On aluminum trailer that I have used for three different boats now. No brakes. Just dont need more problems to deal with. An aluminum trailer with large wood bunks (like mine) can be a problem in high current or boat traffic areas when retrieving the boat because it floats real good.