jeffinthebag

Your truck does not need a brake controller. 98% of the boat trailer out there are using surge brakes. Sal****er and freshwater isn't to kind to the electrical systems of submerged trailers. There are a few electric brake trailers out there for boats but the require a lot more maintance. So most have surge brakes. And as long as your not going hundreds off miles weekly, your fine. Start of slow and slow down slow and watch the trans temp.

Ddawg 99 f.150 5.4

I wish but it's his daily driver and he thinks my truck will do fine lol

Ddawg 99 f.150 5.4

Alright and yeah that makes since that boat trailers don't have electric brakes and I have experience towin but not nothin that heavy yet

venatic

I don't think I'd be pushing 70 on the interstate either. Take your time and you'll get where you're going. I'd also keep it out of overdrive so you keep the rpms up on it.

Ddawg 99 f.150 5.4

Well in the upstate since there's a lot of hills I'll probably just run 55 but in the lower half of the state it's flat ground so I think it'll be fine to run 70 IMO.

luke1993

Never towed anything before but I will say this is getting to the water 15 minutes early worth putting everything at more risk by going 70mph? This is just my opinion but keep your speed lower its not a race. 60mph to 65mph is plenty when towing anything. you have more control and have more reaction time braking. A second of paying attention and being more cautious can save your life. Like I said I have never towed anything in my life. This is my opinion.

tomb1269

Ddawg 99 - like several others have stated travel at a reasonable speed and take frequent breaks. When you stop (particularly in the hills) leave the truck running to curiculate the fluid and minimize hot spotting in both the engine and the trans. With 8000 lbs of boat you will want to turn off overdrive and as you come up to the base of a hill throttle up, i.e. apply firm throttle pressure, enough to see the truck pickup a couple of MPH (maybe 5 at most like 65 to 70). Hold the throttle firm and let the speed fall off going uphill. The hardest thing is trying to anticipate the cars around you so that you can accelerate some but not get blocked/slowed be someone in a sedan halfway up the hill. Down hill is easier on the trans but much harder on the breaks, keep your speed down. When you top the hill and start down do not give it throttle let gravity do the job. When you hit 67/68mph then apply even firm and moderate breaking to bring the speed back down below 65 (maybe even down to 60). You do not what to stay on the breaks for any lenght of time as you will risk overheating, firm pressure 15 to 20 seconds release, let it roll and repeat to allow for brake to dump some of the heat. I try to stay off the brakes as much as possible and let the engine do the work.

tareed94

If your dad says its fine I'd go with it. Sounds like he's been towing for a while so he probably knows it'll handle it. Maybe get a few tips from him or do a small pull through the mountains with him your first time with that much weight.

Ddawg 99 f.150 5.4

Thanks for the help guys i really apreciate it! Today we hooked that boat up to my truck and took it to the lake which is like 30minutes away. The truck did alot better than i thought but she'd scream gettin on the highway but other than that i couldn't be happier with how it handled it with the overdrive off she didn't have to downshift at all unless we hit a really steep hill and she pulled the boat out of the water in 2wheel drive without any trouble. I gotta say this ole truck impressed me for its age.

SkiSmuggs

No! It is never safe to run 70 when towing! The tires are probably only rated to 65 mph and stopping/maneuvering takes more time and distance when towing. California sets the speed for towing at 55 because of that.