Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
02-08-2005 | 08:00 PM
#21
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Posts: 935
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From: Southwest, FL
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Chuck, I could not pull up the pics. If you are interested in mine, I might be pulling the shrink wrap off soon as it looks like I'll get covered storage here again soon. This is the first Winter it's been stored outside in shrink wrap. All the other years it has been stored indoors (garage or boatel). Stay in touch...
02-08-2005 | 08:35 PM
#22
21 and 42 footers
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,207
Likes: 146
From: Richmond VA
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Chuck,
I think we spoke about a 312 I bought in NOV. I have tried to get a friend of mine to look at your boat, but he's dragging his feet on buying anything yet. (I love the older Formula colors) Tow with a 3/4 suburban 6.0L gas. Does fine at 70 on the highway. As other have said.....the boat/ engine packages you listed might get to 70. A friend had a 89 272/ 330's with Stainless Marine exhaust and a few minor mods and got 71/73 mph. Good luck!!!
I think we spoke about a 312 I bought in NOV. I have tried to get a friend of mine to look at your boat, but he's dragging his feet on buying anything yet. (I love the older Formula colors) Tow with a 3/4 suburban 6.0L gas. Does fine at 70 on the highway. As other have said.....the boat/ engine packages you listed might get to 70. A friend had a 89 272/ 330's with Stainless Marine exhaust and a few minor mods and got 71/73 mph. Good luck!!!
02-09-2005 | 03:50 AM
#23
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Posts: 12,314
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From: Maryland
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Originally Posted by chuck21401
Offshore,
Thanks for the message and would like to take a look once the boat is unwrapped if it doesn't sell before then. Of course need to have one toy at a time so my plan is to "dewinterize" my boat after Easter and start advertising again.
I thought about rack storage on the South River, received a quote from a marina in that area. My concern though is security, a 311 would be on the bottom rack. I read the local paper and it seems like props and outdrives disappear quite a bit in that area.
Another option would be a lift, probably about the same price. Finding a lift slip (or even a boat slip) at a reasonable price in the Annapolis area is tough these day.
But both worth researching. I think I'd prefer a lift or towing to rack storage. With rack storage you need to get back to the marina before closing time in many cases.
Decisions, decisions, but I suppose I could have worse problems then deciding which bigger boat to buy.
Thanks for the message and would like to take a look once the boat is unwrapped if it doesn't sell before then. Of course need to have one toy at a time so my plan is to "dewinterize" my boat after Easter and start advertising again.
I thought about rack storage on the South River, received a quote from a marina in that area. My concern though is security, a 311 would be on the bottom rack. I read the local paper and it seems like props and outdrives disappear quite a bit in that area.
Another option would be a lift, probably about the same price. Finding a lift slip (or even a boat slip) at a reasonable price in the Annapolis area is tough these day.
But both worth researching. I think I'd prefer a lift or towing to rack storage. With rack storage you need to get back to the marina before closing time in many cases.
Decisions, decisions, but I suppose I could have worse problems then deciding which bigger boat to buy.
02-09-2005 | 07:01 AM
#24
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,772
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From: In the Mountains
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
The "insurance issue" is for real.
Insurance companies will do just about anything to avoid paying a claim. It was my agent who pointed out the "fine print" about the towing capacity clause. Check that very very carefully as most companies have already gone that route.
Insurance companies will do just about anything to avoid paying a claim. It was my agent who pointed out the "fine print" about the towing capacity clause. Check that very very carefully as most companies have already gone that route.
02-09-2005 | 07:12 AM
#25
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 706
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From: Vermont
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Originally Posted by t500hps
Chuck,
I think we spoke about a 312 I bought in NOV. I have tried to get a friend of mine to look at your boat, but he's dragging his feet on buying anything yet. (I love the older Formula colors) Tow with a 3/4 suburban 6.0L gas. Does fine at 70 on the highway. As other have said.....the boat/ engine packages you listed might get to 70. A friend had a 89 272/ 330's with Stainless Marine exhaust and a few minor mods and got 71/73 mph. Good luck!!!
I think we spoke about a 312 I bought in NOV. I have tried to get a friend of mine to look at your boat, but he's dragging his feet on buying anything yet. (I love the older Formula colors) Tow with a 3/4 suburban 6.0L gas. Does fine at 70 on the highway. As other have said.....the boat/ engine packages you listed might get to 70. A friend had a 89 272/ 330's with Stainless Marine exhaust and a few minor mods and got 71/73 mph. Good luck!!!
__________________
"All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz and I'm fine"
"All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz and I'm fine"
02-09-2005 | 07:24 AM
#26
21 and 42 footers
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,207
Likes: 146
From: Richmond VA
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Originally Posted by powerguy
t500hps - Do you ave the trailer hitch that came from GM on your 2500 Suburban? if so, I thought that the rating of that hitch is only 6000# without weight distribution.
Also, I have called my Ins Co twice to ask about being 10%-20% over the "rated" towing capacity and have been told that if I wasn't doing something stupid they would have any problems with it. However, I don't think the lady answering the phone has been coffee pot duty yet until she has more experience!
02-09-2005 | 08:21 AM
#27
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Posts: 935
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From: Southwest, FL
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
I've worked in the car/boat business for years. Let me tell you, those factory hitches are almost ALL rated at 5-6K LBS without using weight distribution. The weight distribution number is the 10-12k LBS number everyone likes to dwell on. The reality is, if you are towing a twin engine boat, you need a Class V. The Class V will enable you to tow up to 12k LBS off of the hitch WITHOUT using weight distribution. A Class IV, in most cases, will allow up to 10k LBS off of the hitch w/o weight distribution.
I'm sure most of ya'll have seen the pic in the "blooper" section of the picture gallery of the truck hanging off of the cliff buy his hitch/trailer. Try that with a factory hitch and a 10-12k LB boat behind you and see you at the bottom!
Some of the manufacturers have actually started offering real Class IV & V hitches now (finally).
I'm sure most of ya'll have seen the pic in the "blooper" section of the picture gallery of the truck hanging off of the cliff buy his hitch/trailer. Try that with a factory hitch and a 10-12k LB boat behind you and see you at the bottom!
Some of the manufacturers have actually started offering real Class IV & V hitches now (finally).
02-09-2005 | 11:59 AM
#28
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Posts: 706
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From: Vermont
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Originally Posted by formula1
I've worked in the car/boat business for years. Let me tell you, those factory hitches are almost ALL rated at 5-6K LBS without using weight distribution. The weight distribution number is the 10-12k LBS number everyone likes to dwell on. The reality is, if you are towing a twin engine boat, you need a Class V. The Class V will enable you to tow up to 12k LBS off of the hitch WITHOUT using weight distribution. A Class IV, in most cases, will allow up to 10k LBS off of the hitch w/o weight distribution.
I'm sure most of ya'll have seen the pic in the "blooper" section of the picture gallery of the truck hanging off of the cliff buy his hitch/trailer. Try that with a factory hitch and a 10-12k LB boat behind you and see you at the bottom!
Some of the manufacturers have actually started offering real Class IV & V hitches now (finally).
I'm sure most of ya'll have seen the pic in the "blooper" section of the picture gallery of the truck hanging off of the cliff buy his hitch/trailer. Try that with a factory hitch and a 10-12k LB boat behind you and see you at the bottom!
Some of the manufacturers have actually started offering real Class IV & V hitches now (finally).
__________________
"All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz and I'm fine"
"All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz and I'm fine"
02-09-2005 | 12:16 PM
#29
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 22
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From: Virginia Beach
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
i have a 2000 271 fastech, I pull it with a new 04 F150 Lariat with the 5.4L engine, no problems at all. My boat with a 502 Mag MPI with stainless marine exhaust is running about 67 in the chesapeake bay.
02-09-2005 | 12:25 PM
#30
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Posts: 1,803
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From: Ma. / Lake Winni., NH
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
True story - back in the day I worked for a Formula dealer one summer when I was in college. I sold a guy a new 357 on a GALVANIZED triple axle trailer and he showed up a couple days later to pick it up... driving an F-150!!!! I wished I had a camera, he wouldn't heed our warning, so we told him he was on his own if he pulled out of there dragging that beast behind him. Sure enough - he did, and I had heard a short time later he cooked his drive train and bought a 350 to replace it - what a dope! 
Moral - go big, as big as you can! You'll never say, "I think I bought too much truck"
Moral - go big, as big as you can! You'll never say, "I think I bought too much truck"
