Tow Vehicle for 357
 

I'm looking to get a "newer" truck to pull my 89 357 Formula on a steel eagle trailer. Should I go with the 1 ton dually, 1 ton single wheel, or 3/4 ton. I am a diesel guy and will probably go that direction, but anybody have any thoughts on gas jobs? Also, not to get into a manufacturer war, but ford, chevy, dodge? What is everybody else running? By the way i am looking at something in the 2002-2006 range.

Regardless of manufacturer, if you tow with any regularity get the dual rear wheels. I was amazed at the stability when I went from a 2500 (single rear wheel) to a 3500 dually.

1 ton diesel dually would probably be best. I'm a Chevy guy, (08 Chevy diesel single wheel 3/4 ton) but I would'nt shy away from a 7.3 Ford,either.

I was pulling my 34 Vyper with a 2500 suburban and pulled pretty good, but just moved up to a 2008 3500 duramax dually crew cab and let me say there is no way i would ever go back to a single wheel pull truck, the dually is by far a better and safer ride for sure.

I am going to get lambasted for this, but i owned a 1987 SR 357 on a steel myco i towed with a 2004 2500HD ext cab 4x4. it towed well, and with the trailer brakes i could stop on a dime. i towed it from cape code to charlotte NC with no problems other than tires blowing (old tires that sat for 3 yrs)

We bought a 1988 357 last August in Jax, towed to Pa. with a 2005 3/4 HD Duamax, extended cab, long bed. Handled the boat with ease, but I'm sure the 1 ton would be best.

:cool-smiley-027::cool-smiley-027:I have a 89 311 and I tow it with a 06 f-350 9 inches of lift and 38 inch tires and it tows it very well only changes to the motor were cold air intake and programer. I think if you get any diesel you would be fine...

That is still a capable truck under normal conditions.......the extra wheels come into play when a tractor trailer comes by (or you go by him) and those "oh chit" moments when you need alot of brakes.....the lateral stability is much better, the engine/drivetrain are the same.

Great information guys. I only plan on trailere a few times a summer. From Pittsburgh up to Erie and hopefully down to the Chesapeake. Maybe further if I ever get enough time. I hate to get the dually - i'll be using this for a daily driver too. But i want to be comfortable towing when I do. I guess the dually will have to win out?

Just for fun... Here is the 4500 i towed it back from Chicago with. http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...Formula366.jpg

And here is my Dad's restored '68 Pete we used to take it to the mines for storage. http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...Formula398.jpgBoth Towed it extremely well - but the Pete is hard on fuel!!!!

^^^^^^That's a great pic!

Like the Pete, they're so tough looking.
 

That's pretty cool. We pulled my friends 357 back from LOTO with his HD Duramax. With a good trailer under the boat, it towed REALLY well. You really can't hardly see the truck in the pic. Its an 08' HD SRW Duramax Crew Cab. NO complaints from us.Attachment 376091

same here. 3/4 ton is ok, 3500 dually is much better! Last summer I pulled with a monroe truck conversion chevy 4500. I felt like there was nothing in the back!!!!

I've got a 353 that I tow with an 01 F250, 4" lift and 35" tires. I have no complaints, tows and stops fine. Sure a dually is probably more stable (never towed with one), but I prefer the single wheel for a daily driver.

How bad could it be? Save the money for a new truck and just use the Pete for the couple of long hauls. :D

Can you use the 4500 for the local stuff?

Just my $.02 but the 357 is comparable to a 382; over 15k EASY on that steel trailer. Diesel dually is the only way to go. Or the Pete. :ernaehrung004:

Handful has a good point concerning the weight of a 357. I didn't realize they were that heavy. Hooked up to the truck on an aluminum trailer with maybe 50 gal. of fuel, my 353 came in at 11,400lbs. If the 357 trueley weighs 14,000+ with trailer, I would think you'd need an F450 or bigger. Good luck.

6 mpg, no A/C, no power steering, and 13 speed is not much fun for me (a novice truck driver).

I also didn't realize how heavy that thing was - i was thinking closer to 13k with trailer.

Looks like i'll be looking for a dually. Luckily i have some local friends that can put the boat in until i find a good deal. Thanks again for the input :ernaehrung004:

according to NADA the 357 is 9,000 lbs (500 more than the newer 353, and 1,500 lighter than the 382). I would have guessed it to weigh as much as my 382. The steel trailer is over 3,000 easy though....then fuel/gear/etc. My guess with fuel and gear would put the load in the low 14K lbs range.....similiar to my 382 when loaded since I used an aluminum trailer.

BTW: If the truck must be your daily driver......I'd go for single rear wheels in a 1 ton truck.

RE: NADA listed weights
I'd love to know how Formula came up with those weights. By '91 the 357 was listed at 9650. I'd say for the SR1 vintage, the NADA weights are at least 1000lbs lighter than real world.

Oof...no power steering and no A/C. OK, that could make it tough. Never driven a big rig myself, but do you have to use all the high and low ranges with a "light" load?

Oh yeah...beautiful looking setup, including the Pete!

just looked up weights of all 1989 Formula's.....could they have listed these weights without engines?
The 357 w/ swim platform is listed as 37'7''.....the 382 is 38'2". No way that old school 357 is 1500 lbs lighter if it's only 7 inches shorter.

tgrantz, did you store your boat at Bradys Bend ? Looking for a place to store our 357. Took our 29' Fountain last fall, really tight. Kept the 357 at home. If there is a better place, please let me know. Thanks, Bob
Like I said, our HD handled the boat just fine. Trailer brakes better work well for sure.:ernaehrung004:

I agree dually would be best. But if it is also a daily driver the 2500 or F250 will be sufficient. There are tons of 38 cigs being pulled by SRW diesels and the 357 can't be much more of a pull.

I can't imagine the the 357 being lighter than the 383. I'll have to get it on the scale this summer.

Cold Sweat - i go to the mines in wampum, pa. (near beaver falls) Dad and i stored the Pete and the formula in there - just pulled them both in and parked. It was tight winding through but we got it in there.

Does your formula have a steel trailer? I think i'm just going to wait and see what i can get a good deal on. if a dually comes up ill get it if not i'll get the 3/4 or 1ton srw.

Also - where do you boat at?

What do you have in mind to spend?

tgrantz, the trailer is an Eagle with a rear gate, big trailer. The 3/4 HD or 1 ton srw is best if you need it as an every day driver. We had a dually for a while, nice for towing, but not good for every day driving.
We are about 10 min. from the Mon River at Fredericktown. We also like to go to the Yough Lake and Erie if we get a couple days of good conditions.
Send me your email, I'll send you a picture, Bob:ernaehrung004:

thanks again to everyone for the info.

Bob - i appreciate it. its nice to know my 357 is not the only one around the 'burgh.

We may be taking a trip down to ten mile this summer. We'll have to hook up if we make it down there. If you are ever at the Point let me know - we dock in the city pool - we'll gladly share a few beverages.

By the way - if you haven't heard of it - check out my website -
BoatPittsburgh.com. Some cool stuff on there you might find useful.

also - i'll pm you my email.

Terry

Looking in the 15k range. Ill probably trade in my Liberty.

Although - a buddy of mine just bought a new Dodge 2500 gas job and said they are giving them away. he got a great deal and 0%. I wonder if they will do the same with a diesel???