Do I have enough truck?
 

I bought a new GMC 2500 HD Duramax last summer knowing I was going to a bigger boat. I'm going to be pulling a 36 Nor-Tech, 9500 pounds and a 10'9" beam. I know the truck has enough power but I'm starting to worry if I really need a dually. I didn't get the dually because I spend alot of non towing time in the truck. What do you guys think? I will be trailering every weekend ( May thru Oct.). Thanks

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Dually

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

With that kind of width, absolutely a long bed, crew cab dually WITH rear air-bag suspension.

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Crew cab dually, GMC Duramax. Steve

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

try it first and see how it feels, but you probably will end up with a dually...

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Dual rear wheels will be required. Joe Murray

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

I'll start the bidding on the 2500 at $5,000.00 :D

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

yous guys are a joke $10.000 :evilb:

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

I think you've got enough truck to pull the weight...it's the ride you're concerned about.

If your trailer is a gooseneck, I'd go with the dually...displaces the weight over eight tire side walls instead of four.

If you've got a hitch, it depends on the class rating. Considering your tongue weight should be 10% of the total weight, therefore 950 pounds, you should have a class III or IV hitch. Then, depending on the ride, that is, if your truck really sags, you'll most likely want a weight distributing hitch. Beefing up the suspension to compensate for the sag will not keep from overloading the hitch...the weight distributing hitch does exactly that, distributes that 950 pounds between the truck and the trailer, instead of all that weight being at one point...on the ball.

My experience comes from having pulled a 12,000 pound gooseneck horse trailer and 10,000 pound boat with weight distributing hitch behind a Ford F-250, single rear wheels, with the 7.3L diesel. The boat towed great, but could've used a dually for the horse trailer.

sg

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

i agree with TGOR...very well said

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

I am going to step out and offer $10,500. Dually is a must...that boat catches a lot of air if you catch a good crosswind....you will not be white knuckleing it with 4 wheels back there. I would not recommend air bags as you will not have that much tongue weight if the boat is properly set up on the trailer. I have had a lowered dually and air bags are a must if you go that route.

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

I recommend air bags on EVERY truck. I like the way mine handles without a load back there with the air bags. Its like having an adjustable anti-sway bar on the rear end. When was the last time you saw a 2500 Avalanche drift a corner without rolling a tire? :D :D

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Chuck:

I think you have enough truck but you really need to try it on the road. A weight distributing set up with anti sway is the way to go. The dually will be more stable but I am not sure at what cost (around town driveability). It also depends on how much towing you do and where. If you go long distances for poker runs (500 + miles) alot then you may consdier a dually.
Having a good brake set up on the trailer is key also.

Sutphen: do a search on google for Firestone air bags.

Wannabe

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Firestone Ride-Right http://www.firestoneindustrial.com/OE/index.htm

Air-Lift http://www.airliftcompany.com/

Above are the leading manufacturers. I have Air-Lift 1000s on my 2500 Avalanche, and had the same set on my Tahoe. Separate air-fill nozzles for each side is a must if you do not install a compressor. If you install a compressor, you want to be able to fill each side individually, as you do not want load shifting to send air from one bag to the other on a single loop system.

I paid $300 installed for my Air-Lifts without a compressor from:
Outlaw Motorsports
540-829-0300
Ask for Mark. Owned by and Run by OSO members.

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

You can do a Weight Distributing Hitch with Surge Brakes.
You CANNOT use anti-away bars with Surge Brakes.
You MUST have electric brakes to use anti-sway bars.

More than likely, this calibre of trailer will have electric brakes.

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

No, you never have enough truck :)

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Depends on how far you are trailering. A friend of mine tows a 45 Sonic with a single rear wheel shortbed extended cab Dodge Ram 1500. Of course he only takes it to the ramp 1/2 mile from his house.

Any long distance towing DUALLY :D

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Yeah, but what does he do when he wants to pull it OUT of the water??? :eek:

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Four wheel drive low. I never said he was smart just rich.

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Screw dually!!!
I have a 2500 HD and my boat weighs 10,000# Single rear wheels. Pulls it just fine. In fact, I pulled the same boat with my brothers dually, duramax, crew cab and there was hardly a difference in ride comfort. Both trucks would bottom out on the bumps. So this year I added air bags to the rear. Should solve the problem. You'll be fine as long as you stick with the original 10 ply tires. (Load Range E), and keep them pumped up to 80 psi, or whatever it says on the sidewall.

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

My dad had a 99 1500 Dodge with the 360CI motor. Motor was fine, Tranny dropped after 51,000 miles. We sold it at 49,500 and truely didn't know it had a problem. All he ever towed was a 20 ft bassboat.
Later found out that Dodge had alot of problems with the trannies in those.

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

He is pulling a HUGE cat, with a lot more outboard weight than your straight-line COG V-bottom.

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Really depends on distance,yea sure,if your running all over country to poker runs a dually would be nice but to run down to local lake would be a waste. As far as traction on a boat launch,my last dually spun the wheels easier than any single tire truck ive ever had,ended up putting a detroit locker in it. I would consider 4wd more important than dual wheels for pulling boats out of launch,Smitty

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

I bid 11000 on your current truck. -)

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Got one today!!!!

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Congrats GL, thats a pretty one!

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Blahhhh, Blahhhhh, Blahhhhh.

Cigarette+ 1 ton GM ... As close to an Elle Mc. BJ, a Big Mac with Diet Coke and fries on a hangover you can get.

Think about it!!!!

:D:D:D

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

You need to get rid of the cheap cheasy door handles and get the Escalade versions and paint to match. Here is a pic of mine.

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

Thanks for the bids guys, and all the recomendations. I think I'm going to shop for a dually this week. There is going to be some great incentives after all the bad news this week on the new truck and suv all over the airwaves. The hit on the 2500 shouldn't be that bad though, they are still bringing 31 to 33.5 at the auctions. Some of you bidders may have to go just a little higher :D . Help a brutha out!!!! :drink:

Re: Do I have enough truck?
 

hell i will go 25000 :evilb: that should shut the rest of them up