23' CC Trailers

[Capt Chuck]

Welcome to CSC swalton!

I don't know your home port, but if you are towing in Fla the new regulations require brakes on all 4 wheels if your over 3000#. Be sure to check your State requirements.

Good Luck with your new rig

BTW Tucker, the Monroe County Sheriffs (Keys)now have portable scales that look like door mats that they place in front of your trailer tires and you drive onto them and that gives them the combined weight of the trailer and contents and if you exceed the 3000lbs than yes you can be cited for it. I hear it's $500 ?

[Fr. Frank]

BTW Tucker, the Monroe County Sheriffs (Keys)now have portable scales that look like door mats that they place in front of your trailer tires and you drive onto them and that gives them the combined weight of the trailer and contents and if you exceed the 3000lbs than yes you can be cited for it. I hear it's $500 ?

First of all there are several exceptions to that law. If you can stop your combination vehicle in 40 feet or less from 20 mph using the towing vehicle brakes, you do NOT have to have any brakes of the trailer at all, regardless of the weight of the towed vehicle. [FS 316.262(C)c-4] Most dually pickups with ABS, pulling 5000 lbs or less of trailer weight can do this. Some single rear wheel pickups can do it as well.

Just for grins, I tried stopping my 20' Seafari in 40' or less in a parking lot using my '02 F250 Crew Cab diesel with 4 wheel ABS. Total towed vehicle weight is about 3400 lbs on an older tandem axle trailer with no brakes. In 5 tries, I stopped in 40' or less 3 times. Best was about 37'. Worst was 41', twice.

As far as the fine goes, it's not $500, unless you're using an apportioned commercial tow vehicle pulling a permanently licensed trailer.
Rather, the law specifies a flat fine of $60, plus additional costs of $4 to $35, depending on county and circumstances. [FS 318.18(C)b]

Here's the good news: trailers manufactured prior to 2009 are "grandfathered" and are exempt from the new brake regulations, but still bound by the existing law in effect on the date of their manufacture.

[DonV]

My two cents worth.....the cost of SS disc brakes on all four wheels is worth every penny if you tow long distances. I don't tow my 23'er too often at 20 mph going down I-75, across Alligator Alley or down US1. To me 20 mph seems like a rather goofy government regulation. After one very close call I'm very happy I had the upgraded brakes added when I ordered the trailer.

[kerneltugboat]

I think the all Stainless Kodiaks are worth every penny, even if you trailer short distances, it my opinion it is the sitting doing nothing after being dunked in saltwater that does most of the Damage. I bought a 12K Hi-Tech All stainless Hardware Float-On 8 years ago and had zero issues with the trailer or Brakes. My dad bought the 7K Hi-Tech about 6 years ago, but could only get the e-coated brakes at the time and they were done after 4 years, Kodiak has a kit with all Stainless Calipers and pins, with Cadnium coated rotors and mounting hardware that may be better than the e-coated, but not as good as the all stainless, but much cheaper especially if you have to do both axles.

[Blue197320]

how many of you tow your 23 with a half ton rated truck??
mine is rated to tow 7200 pounds. according the reelscape his is 6600. i think thats a little close to the limit. around town a few miles to the ramp is probably ok but on the highway forget it.

[Fr. Frank]

I would not hesitate to tow regularly and long distance up to the rated capacity of the vehicle. Manufacturers already put a fudge factor into their ratings.

Consider: I have a 2002 F250 Crew Cab 2wd with the 7.3 diesel. The "regular" tow rating on this truck is 12,600 lbs. But my truck also has the twin I-beam front suspension, instead of the mono-beam suspension. Zap! Instant bump up to a tow rating of 16,400 lbs.

BUT WAIT! There's more.
I also have the 3.73 limited-slip rear diff, and now throw in the "Command Tow package" with welded "factory" Class V hitch, and heavy-duty torque converter and tranny cooler and we're at a grand total of just over 22,000 lbs maximum tow rating. (Admittedly, over 16,000 calls for for a gooseneck or 5th wheel trailer)

And just for the record, I have pulled a Bayliner Avanti 36' flybridge over 50 miles from New Port Richey to Lecanto with this truck using a 2 5/16" ball and a forged-steel 2" drawbar. Boat weighed 21,000 lbs, and sat on an aluminum triple-axle rental trailer that we figured at another 2200 lbs. I had no problems pulling or stopping. (I did only get 7 miles per gallon, though).

[Blue197320]

i have the power to move it, the thing is, my truck is a regular cab short bed. its a light truck with a short wheel base. id just be a little worried the boat would have its way with it.

[MasterBaiter]

I do.
I tow with an F-150 that is usually loaded pretty good for several weeks in the Keys. I'm pretty sure the limits of my truck are pushed on the trip. It seems to do OK. There have been a few hard braking times but if you remember you are towing and leave extra space you should have no problems.

[swalton12]

Thanks for the welcome and thanks to all for your help. You all have been more helpful than the dealer. They seem to think a 5kGVWR trailer will be more than adequate, but you guys seem to mostly have 7k trailers. It will be for a longer haul around 600 miles intially. Any opinions on Venture trailers anyone? To bad there aren't a lot of good used trailers out there!

[Blue197320]

i bought a 7000 pound continetal aluminum with brakes for 2k not that long ago. just keep a look out you will stumble across one.