FL335i

wanted some input on towing big boats with a 1500. My 2014 Silverado is rated for 9,600# of conventional towing. I have the 5.3L V8 with 3.42 gears. The biggest boat I'm looking at possibly getting is a 29' dual engine like a baja outlaw. I ran the numbers on that and to be within my limit, it would have to have an aluminum trailer. 6,900 for boat. 1,000 for fuel. Aluminum tandem axle trailer is 1,000. Steel trailer is 2,500. So I'd be towing between 8,900 # and 10,400 # (which I will not tow more than 9,600). I live in Tampa and want to trailer it down 1x yr to the keys or south FL for vacation. And I have friends that live in Sarasota, so I might trailer it down there 1-2/yr. The point is how bad with the aluminum trailer would it be? 60-70mph highway would be ideal. 65 target. In FL, both axles must have brakes, per law on any trailer that is over 3k #'s. My truck has the 7 pin harness for trailer brakes, but did not come with the actual trailer brake module. So I can easily add one plug and plug aftermarket right there in the driver dash area.

1stoutlaw

You are going to be so safer/better off with a 250/2500 whatever brand----29' boat usually has triple axles !!!!! You might be able to pull it---but never stop it----most guys in Florida have brakes only on 1 axle--that is enough headaches in the salt water................

VoodooRob

I wouldn't pull that big a boat with a 1500

FL335i

^ yeah... agreed. And I mis-calculated the axles. It should have 3 axles. Out of the question for a 1500. I'm thinking the biggest would be like a 27' boat like the Donzi 26 ZX. I need to stick to my plan. 25' outlaw with 502 single engine. 2 axle trailer. Even if the trailer is steel I'll be within safe limits for towing. Life is funny. I used to own a '07 F250 6.0 Diesel 4x4. Was right out of college and broke. Stupidest thing I did in a while. In my defense I put down 50% on the truck. Now that I have progressed in life and have more sense, I drive a 1500. So I own the diesel truck and can't afford to tow anything. now I have the 1500 and could use the 2500 (maybe). Back to the 25'-27' single engine boat hunt.

turbo rr

iTrader: (3)

There is nothing worse than towing a boat with out enough truck.....ask me how I know.

BajaFresh

I had a 29 Outlaw on a triple axle steel trailer and towed it with a 2500 8.1 4x4 then a 2500 crew cab long bed Duramax 4x4. Tows like a dream with the diesel.

I towed it once with a 1500 crew cab 5.3 for about five miles on a straight surface street just to try it out. It was white knuckles all they way at 45 MPH. No friggin' way would I want to tow any distance with it!

I don't care for the Chevy half tons when they went back to drums on the rear. Even towing "only" a 25 Outlaw I'd add air bags and electric over hydraulic brakes on the trailer.

Nate5.0

I wouldn't.

Too much weight and size for a 1500 to me

BigSilverCat

I would buy the bigger boat and borrow friends trucks if you try hauling it and it feels like its too much weight, then look for a bigger truck. Get a weight distribution hitch and it would probably tow just fine. Make sure the trailer brakes work.

Sydwayz

iTrader: (1)

Pretty good rule:

Single engine BBC: 1/2 ton truck
Twin engine BBC: 3/4 ton truck minimum, even if the boat is less than 30 feet.

WD hitch isn't necessarily the best answer for a boat & trailer. Yes, I have used them. Yes, they improve stability. But it doesn't make up for not enough truck. A boat's weight isn't evenly distributed across the trailer. You have a LOT (majority) of weight after the axles which translates literally into tail wagging the dog. If you get out of shape, you usually do not recover.

There have literally been thousands of discussions on this topic here on OSO over the years.

wannabe

FL335- You only use the trailer brake module on electric brakes. If the trailer has surge brakes no module is needed.