Truck Tow Capacity - Boating & Fishing Information and Reports Forum

reelmagic · #1 (**permalink**) 10-19-2007, 08:22 PM

Moving up to a 31' boat in the next 6 months. Lets just say it will weight about as much as a Yellowfin, about 8000lbs with the trailer and gas. I have a Toyota Tundra 5.7litre 6 speed with 10.400lb tow capacity. Looking for someone that has an experience with this truck towing a boat. I am interested if this truck will pull this boat down a highway without turning 3500 rpms. I hate to move up to a diesal for a twice a year excursion. Had bad luck with Ford transmissions and front ends so a Ford Diesel is not an option.

Greg Manning · #2 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 01:43 PM

Any 31' boat and trailer is gonna need a 3/4 ton and preferably diesel for much towing. You may be able to get by if the tows are short and only a couple times a year. The new Ford tranny is supposed to be decent...don't know about the new motor. I just switched from an older 7.3 PSD Ford 6 speed to an Allison/Duramax. I like it so far. I agree that if you are pulling it on very limited basis I wouldn't want to buy a new truck either. The Toyota is gonna move it but it will be a lot of stress on that truck in my opinion.

Kern O · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 01:48 PM

My first concern would be the size of the differential. If it has an 11 inch or bigger ring gear, you should be ok in that area. My Jupiter 31, on the trailer and empty, was 10,560 pounds, so you will be close. The biggest concern to me is brakes. I've started using the BrakeRite electric over hydraulic actuator with the Kodiak discs and it works so well that the truck stops better with the trailer than without.

I don't care if it takes me 3 blocks to get up to speed, but I do want to be able to stop.

Kern O · #4 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 01:52 PM

Oh, The trailer under the Jupiter was Tandem axle, which saved about 300 pounds. I had it built with "E" rated 16's and two axles because I have to trun the boat around at the end on my street. With triples, it looks like the tires are going to peel right off the rims. The 16's worked great and I towed from Florida to California with no problem. The new boat was 12,060 on the trailer, so I bit the bullet and went triple axle.

Sea Deuce · #5 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 01:33 PM

Greg,

Is yours a 2 door, ext cab, 4 door? What type of gas mileage are you getting with and without towing? I really need to get a truck that gets better gas mileage towing. I go from 20 MPG to 10 MPG towing in my Toyota FJ.

Greg Manning · #6 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 03:42 PM

Mine is a crew cab short bed. I am getting 19.5 highway...a little over 16mpg overall and roughly 12 towing. Hard to compare the towing numbers because that is with 10-16000# between cows/horses/hay and the boat. That is a good looking LC...I like it without the different colored roof panel.

trapit · #7 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reelmagic

Moving up to a 31' boat in the next 6 months. Lets just say it will weight about as much as a Yellowfin, about 8000lbs with the trailer and gas. I have a Toyota Tundra 5.7litre 6 speed with 10.400lb tow capacity. Looking for someone that has an experience with this truck towing a boat. I am interested if this truck will pull this boat down a highway without turning 3500 rpms. I hate to move up to a diesal for a twice a year excursion. Had bad luck with Ford transmissions and front ends so a Ford Diesel is not an option.

Diesel's are fun to drive now as opposed to just a few years ago. Throw a chip in them and watch'em go...if the reason you don't want a diesel is simply driveability, those days are gone. I'd do 3/4 ton with a diesel...I know you said ford is out, but i'd give um a chance. We have 3 2008 super duty's with the new twin-turbo diesel...they pull awesome. Even chevy people have said that the fords pull better and don't get pushed around as bad as chevy's. I have a 120hp chip in my personnal 1, and shewill get it. Even if you don't do ford, chevy puts out a good truck. stay away from the new dodges...they have some probs
http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u...1021071655.flv

Sea Deuce · #8 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Manning

Mine is a crew cab short bed. I am getting 19.5 highway...a little over 16mpg overall and roughly 12 towing. Hard to compare the towing numbers because that is with 10-16000# between cows/horses/hay and the boat. That is a good looking LC...I like it without the different colored roof panel.

This FJ is a TRD edition. They only came in Black Diamond with the matching roof.

It also has larger tires, gunmetal wheels, bilstein shocks, etc.

Yea...if you were only towing 5,000 lbs then the MPG would definately go up I would think.