I am thinking of purchasing a 1988 26 foot chris craft stinger I am wondering if I can safely tow this with a 1997 chevy 1500 Z71 5.7. I am guesing the boat weight is abot 5500 and the trailer is aroung 2000. I am guessing, I don't really know It is a double axle aluminum trailer. Any advice will help Thank you

We didn't talk you out of that boat yet? Ha.

I pulled my 1987 260 stinger from Milwaukee to Toledo with a 5.0 Chevy (GMC) 1500.

My insurance company would have fought a claim... but I took it easy and no problems. It is a risk though...

I can't answer the safety question, and the Chicago Skyway bridge almost did me in, but I made it. And amazingly, I didn't break the truck.

Actually,

I'm glad to hear that you are going to buy it.
It gives me hope that someone will buy mine, since obviously there is a market.

I think you will be fine . This boat NEEDS a 2 axel trailer for sure ! Make sure your truck tires and trailer tires are in good shape and set at maximum air pressure as stated ON THE TIRE . Make sure the trailer brakes WORK ! Joe

That setup would be o.k. Thats about what mine weighs and I tow it all over with my 1500 tahoe. Only problem for me is braking with out any trailer brakes, so you may want to look into that.

A big part of it is gettign the boat in the right place on the trailer to get the truck loaded properly . This will elimimate sway (which will kill ya !)

You do need to think about that "LEGAL" aspect if the load is over the gross rating of the truck . Thats another issue ....

I still havent totally decided to purchase the boat but everthing you said that was going wrong with yours I checked out sunday and it seemed fine. Engines were clean as a whistle. No spider webbing in the fiberglass. Bottom is totally clean. I guess I am asking about towing now because I am still looking for a reason not to buy it. We are down to $1200.500

Oh yea it has trailer brakes too.

Maybe that glass crew was gone by 1988? Serious... it was a limited time that the hull layups were crap. Maybe that was like 86-87, because Dave S loves his '85.

I wish I had gotten mine for 12.5.

I would really like it if it hadn't been for the problems. Love the lines, the shape, and the ride. Smooth ride. Even in Lake Erie snot.

I just hope I can tow it. I can leave it at the river but when we go to cumberland or norris it is about 4.5 hours.