Tow 24-25' Baja
 

I realize there is a thread on "Towing" etc. but I need more specific information. I needed to know from you fine folks if a Ford F-150 can tow 24-25' Baja. If so, can you do it with 2 wheel drive or do you need 4 wheel drive for the wet ramps. Or, does one need to go up to a F-250? Do you need four wheel drive in a pick-up due to the light weight in the rear? I do not want to "just get by" with this. I want to be able to pull all day long, high heat, hills, etc. and not have to worry about overheating or struggling at the wet ramp. Any and all input would be greatly appreciated. I am not against Chev/GMC, I just do not know what the numbers are on 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton. Thanks in advance !!!

I just got a 25' Baja and would recommend a 3/4 ton truck. I bought a dodge 2500 w/ cummins and would want nothing less. Fuel mileage is still pretty decent and it's not bad to drive when not towing.

I have a 95 Outlaw SST, 24ft, and I tow it with a 2004 Z71 Half Ton [GMC]. I think if I was gonna be trailering all the time I would step up to a 3/4 ton, but, for what I do [up and down the launch ramp at the cottage] and the occasional poker run it works fine.

I think a big thing to consider is the trailer as well, I currently have a bunk style "Performance" aluminum trailer, it has a nice long tounge and brakes on both axles, that makes a BIG difference! Previously, I had a smaller 21 ft Larson Senza with a single axle [no brakes] Karavan trailer and it was a NITEMARE to pull compared the [bigger] Baja.

If you ARE considering a GM truck, go with the duramax/allision set up, its pretty much bulletproof............just do it SOON, before they are all built in Mexico

Good Luck!
Michael

i pull my 24 Outlaw with a Chevy Z71 Tahoe and it pulls it just fine....granted i dont tow it over 3 hours anywhere but it sees its fair shares of TN hills and has no problems.

Fords on the other hand, well thats a different story...LOL (jk)

I pull my 25' outlaw with 99 gmc nbs 2wd with a 5/7 drop with no problems so far. Still run with trafic on the interstate 75mph if i dont worry about fuel mileage.

24ft Baja 236 F-250
 

I Have a 24ft baja 236 with a venture aluminum bunk trailer dual axle w/ brakes. Pulled by an F-250 Superduty and i forget the boat is there!

I sometimes forget my boat is back there too..............until I come to a steep hill!, then going from Overdrive to 2nd gear in a matter of seconds is a "gentle"? reminder, LOL

Michael

If money was no object, then I would get one of those "conversion" deals, where they convert a Ford 450/550 or Kodiak/Topkick to look like a "regular" dually. I have seen some pretty cool ones by Freightliner too!

You can buy a good used road tractor for alot less than a new dually, probllem is A: its too damn big to drive "daily" so it sits while you drive [and pay for] something else, unlike a regular truck that you can drive "everyday"

B: You need enough room to keep the thing, most people frown on you parking them in your driveway, LOL!

But, I have seen some really cool conversions done, a lot of the serious RV guys use them to haul big 5th wheel trailers around as well.

I guess it all comes down to money!

You will be just fine with a 1/2 ton 4x4 pickup. I prefer the GM 1/2 trucks more than the Fords. They seem to have a little more poop under the hood when compared to Ford.

It really comes down to what your truck is rated to tow.

I pulled our 272 (basic same size & weight as 25) with a 1/2 ton GMC Yukon Denali and I knew it was back there. We switched to a Ford Excursion V-10 (3/4 ton) and it was a world of difference. You did not know it was there period and the wife actually drove some on longer trips because she was comfortable with it.

More truck is better. I own as a daily driver a 2007 F-150 V8 with 3.73 gears and I am really not impressed with the power and we have a 20 foot tow hauler enclosed trailer that we take the motorcycle in and it does not do well with it. To be safe I would have to add a weight distribution hitch but since we have the Excursion and the F350 I just use those and life is easy.

Make sure you have good brakes on the trailer also.

Safe towing

Well that must suck.:lolhit:
:Whatever:

Seriously, unless you plan on hauling your boat 75% of the time or better, stick with the 1/2 ton. Save on gas, maintenance costs, and ride. That's not a heavy boat by any means. You start hauling a boat with twins, or multiple bedrooms and we'll talk 3/4 ton or 1 ton.

Just my $.02.... don't take offense.:kiss:

I have a 25 OL and pull it fine with 1/2 ton truck. I have pulled it 13 Hours from NJ to MI with NO issues and about every weekend pull it 2 hours to and from the cottage, still no issues. Bigger is better but not necessary in this case.

Thanks!!
 

Thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it.

now, not to poop on chevy because of all the wonderfull power we have for the marine industry from them but... i am a ford tech. i had a chevy before making the transition to a ford store. i swore i would never sell it. it was a 1998 gmc sierra 1500. it did everything i needed. i kept it in tip top shape. so i get a baja outlaw 24 in 07 and im pulling up a hill and snap pop crash. my driveshaft is laying on the ground with the pinion still hooked to it. i locked it into 4x4 and limped it home on the front axle (i threw the driveshaft in the bed). anways the ring gear sheared from the carrier and the pinion bound and broke. i replaced the gearset but i got out my measuring tape. the ring gear is 8.5 inches. a ford explore has a 8.8 with a v6. almost standard on the f-150 is the 9.75 and i got a superduty f-350 SRW. it is also a 4x4 and a diesel. and i still know the boat is back there. but instead of getting 7-8 mpg pulling on the highway at 65 i can run 70 75 and get 15mpg (with a few mods) if you are going to pull 5000lbs make sure your truck can handle 10000. nothing exceeds like excess. chevy has a good hd1500 with a 14 bolt and their duallys have an even bigger axle too. dodge and ford are just heavy built big axled machines. that truck is still on the road today though. it has 198000 on it and still looks great!

I pulled for years with a 150 shortie hi po v8 38'' tires was great, also now have a v8 limited explorer great. my co van e250 was so so.I will go back to a pick up if the wife trades her explorer, was going to use the sahra but a wrangler even beef up is :eek:, just good for the yard.:evilb:

We're pulling our 26 Outlaw with a 1997 GMC Suburban, half-ton, 2-wheel drive, towing package. Given that we're right at the top end of the tow rating I probably wouldn't recommend it, but it does fine towing our boat up and down the hills in central KY. We have limited slip and haven't so much as spun a tire pulling up a steep, wet ramp. 4wd would be nice, but does reduce your towing capacity and IMO isn't a deal breaker. So long as you have limited slip you'll be fine with 2wd unless you get on soft, wet ground (speaking from experience here).

A 3/4 ton 4wd truck would be ideal if you're truck shopping, but a 1/2 ton truck will do the job.

I pull my 25 Outlaw with a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. No problem at all. Picked up the boat in dubuque and towed it to northern Illinois.

I tow my 24 Outlaw with a 2007 Nissan Titan. Tows it pretty good.