Thinking about a new truck...
 

So at the end of last summer I bought a new to me 2006 Formula 330SS, i keep it on a lift at a marina in the FL Panhandle. I'm on the hunt for a trailer and a truck. I would like to be able to get it on the hard a few times a year to do maintenance and stuff. Launch ramp is about 5 miles from the house, flat roads, nice big ramp so no issues there. I also have plans once a year to drag it over the east coast to do a Bahama's trip or a keys trip or something like that. Right now I have a 2008 Silverado 1500 with the little v8 and 2WD. I'm well aware this won't cut it. So I'm think about a 2010 or newer Denali HD 2500 with the Duramax. This will also be my daily driver. I don't want to drive a dully around. What do you guys think? Would this do it? I don't know anything about diesels and have never owned one before. What kind of mileage can I expect driving it around town? I'm not dead set on the Denali, is there something that better?

Also i'm hoping to track down or make a deal on a trailer at the Miami boat show, if anyone has a line something please let me know. 3 axels, brakes, 15000lbs, aluminum.

Thanks,
Aaron

You really need a dually for a boat that big. A SRW 3500 will pull it too, diesel.

Wannabe

I'm told the boat should be around 11,000lbs dry...

you can get a SRW 3500 Denali but I don't think it adds much as far as stnd tow capacity. 5th wheel maybe higher though.

I'd really consider getting an older dedicated dually with tall gearing for the pulling, and a gas vehicle for your daily driver. I really don't see a good reason to spend the coin for buying and maintaining a diesel for daily driving when one is not needed for daily activities. That's my take on it after running a quarter million miles in my daily driving diesel truck. If I had it to do over again....

alindquist, you are right on the money with your original thought about a 2500 denali. you do NOT need a drw to tow your boat and the miniscule amount of time you will actually be towing it. the denali is a great truck loaded with options and if it's your daily driver then i would want something nice as well. i have never pulled a boat with a drw truck (not that they aren't a more stable ride) but you simply don't need one and a lot of my boats are in the 14k range with trailer. you really don't even need a diesel but they tow like nothing other. get something you are comfortable driving around in on a daily basis, 2500 hd that is.

Chart, buying a beater to tow it has certainly crossed my mind, i just don't really have the space or the time to keep up with two trucks. Also a DRW as a daily driver just seems like a pain in the ass.

However since you guys are diesel experts does anybody know what I can expect for mileage in town, on the highway, and towing the boat? I'm having a hard time tracking down any reliable information. Specifically with a newer 6.6. I'm not dead set on the GM, Ford or Ram would possibly work too, which one would get the best mileage?

ive owned both 2015 srw denali hd 2500 .. and a 2015.5 denali drw 3500 .. theres no comparisom in stability and pulling ect .. drw simply out performs the srw .. put 14000 pounds behind both and youll know that drw is the way to go .. you can pull anything with anything .. but pulling something that large with confidence . not blu knuckled is a great feeling .. and alot less tiresom at the end of a haul .. i had to ad bags to the srw denali just to keep it from jerking up n down .. it was nearve racking at best .. i simply love the longbed 3500 drw hands down over the srw.. just saying .. and thats all best of luck and enjoy the new boat .. even when its on the trailer ....

Just get a short bed srw 350. For the amount of towing you're doing its fine. I have a 2015 Platinum short bed 350 and tow 12000+ with it about once a week, usually 100+ miles each way, and it does it like a champ. That's on a bumper pull 24' trailer. On Fords the only difference between f250 and f350 srw is a 2" block on the 250 vs 4" on the 350, and the 350 has an extra leaf spring. For that they charge an extra $1000 on a new truck and it gives an extra 1000 pounds of payload. My truck comes in with around a 3000 pound payload.

Whatever truck that you decide on. Make sure it has enough cup holders.