Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

What would be the minium vehicle to tow this boat. Short distances with occasional trips one way of 300 miles or so.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

I tow mine with a 2500HD and you can't even tell it's there. I think your pushing it with anything less the boat is 7000lbs add water, gas, gear and at trailer and i bet your close to 9000lbs.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

I think it's closer to 10K with fuel gear and trailer. I did it with a 1/2 ton for years, but if the trailer brakes fail,you're screwed. And if you go over the vehicles tow rating, insurance no longer applies. I have had 2 duallies now and will never have anything smaller again.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

My 2004 GMC Duramax 4x4 crew cab dually is going up for sale here this week. I know it will pull that boat in all the comfort you need.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

Minimum would be 6.0L Gasoline 2500HD GM.

There is no such thing as as "too much truck."

My pick would be a 2500HD GMC with Duramax Diesel and Allison 5A Transmission.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

I pull mine with a 6 litre HD and love it.....

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

My 2002 Chevy Avalanche 2500 pulls my 35 Sonic with Eagle trailer with no problems.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

I use a Ford 2000 F150 on dubs to pull my 33rs with no problems. But living on an Island I'm never more than 8 miles from a ramp.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

I have pulled a 31 when I had it and I am now pulling a 358 with a 2001 GMC 2500 HD 4x4 with Duramax Diesel and Allison 5 speed. It has pulled both boats with absolutely no problems. I did add wider tires with more load carrying capacity to aid in traction. The duramax has so much torque that I sometimes use 4 wheel drive on wet roads because it wants to spin if you take off very hard. Braking on this truck is also much better than an older Chevy 3500 dually that I used to pull with.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

This is what tows my 26...first time I towed with it on the Thruway, when I got the truck, I couldn't figure out where all the other guys in the caravan were with there boats..that were following me, until one called on the cell and said "how freaking fast are you going" I said "65-67 MPH" come to find out I was doing over 80 mph. I tell ya, you can't feel that boat back there...some different from the GMC 2500. I may need a bigger boat for this truck!! It never ends, its a viscious cycle!!! LOL
Oh yeah, the moral to the story is the speedo was way off from the 38" Super Swampers.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

Here's the retired GMC 2500.....

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

Ford F-250 diesel 380 miles roundtrip a weekend all summer no problem with my 2002 31ss. Hardly know it's there:)
Scott

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

"no such thing as to much truck"

truer words have never been spoken!
04.5 Duramax/Allison here pulling 353 Formula and Eagle. 12K + lbs.

I will never tow anything more than a 20' bowrider with a gasser again.

Of course that 20' er was six boats and 15 years ago. :D

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

I pull my 30ss with a 6.0 litre 2000 chevy In and out all day long.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

If your ever planning on going bigger in the future, flip the bill for a diesel now. You'll get by just fine with a 2500 series truck with the bigger gas motor to tow your 31 now, but anything bigger and you'll wish you went with the diesel. My thoughts are, spend your money once for a vehicle that will do the job now and in the future. I'm in Pennsylvania and when I hit the hills, I'm thankful there's a diesel under the hood, abosolutely love it and the gas mileage is great. As for which diesel to get, I think they all have good engines these days, it's personal preference. I've always been a Chevy person, but opted for the Ford since it gave me more leg room with the adjustable pedal option. Chevy by far has the best extra cab room. Good Luck!

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

Yep! what he said.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

I pull my 04 31ss with a z71 Tahoe it works just fine unless you want to go where there is an area like austin texas with a lot of hills then fugetaboutit. Braking is going to be a little hairy if wet and make sure they are disc. I would recommend a 3/4 ton diesel as the others have said.
Cass

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

I used to have a 2wd 1995 Ford dually that pulled well except getting up the wet ramp. Now I have a 2004 F250 Crew Cab 6.0 that pulls the boat better than anything else I have been around.

Really depends on where you boat. Like Shewbart said, places with hills like Austin can really cause trouble for transmissions and brakes if you are towing with the wrong vehicle.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

I have weighed my 2004 31 SS and it came in on the trailer with full tank of full, 5 gallons of water plus gear on board and the 3 axle rocket aluminum trailer with disc brakes - just at 10,000 lbs. The trailer alone was 1,500 hundred.

I've towed it for 20 miles on non-highways with a Tahoe Sport version with heavy duty suspensionn - don't recommend for any distance on the freeways. They I've towed with my GMC Yukon Denali (6 litre) - great for short distance, again not rated for 10,000 lbs.

Should be a minimum 2500 and preferably a 2500 diesel.

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

islandracer, I have a 2001 2500 GMC with Durmax diesel and 5 speed Allison transmission. I had 95 31SS and I currently have a 2005 358 and the truck has done a great job of pulling either one. Didn't you buy the 31 that was suppose to go to the Miami boat show last year?

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

Viper7,

You're correct in that the duramax diesel is an excellent choice in towing.

No, my boat went to the Marland show in early March '04 and I closed on it later March. I did check out during the Miami boat show, but it was at the factory having work done and not at the show.

I certainly enjoy the ride!

Re: Tow Vehicle for '04 31SS
 

I just pulled a 31ss on a triple axle manning trailer 600 miles from Michigan to Pennsylvania with my 02 Ford diesel F350 with 12k miles on it, so it's pretty much new. Pulled great, but I wouldn't want anything less than a diesel when I hit the hills in Wester PA, even the diesel had to work to keep her going. Near home in start and stop areas where I had to start from a dead stop at the bottom of the hills, I had the turbo kicked in all the way to the top, it was really working. If you have any decent size hills in your area, opt for the diesel, you won't be sorry. Good Luck!