Will my truck tow this boat safely?
09-25-2016, 03:00 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Will my truck tow this boat safely?
Hello,
I am on the market for the boat, but before buying one, I need to understand towing capacity of my truck.
I have a 2015 3.5 EcoBoost F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew 145 wheel base, short box with tow package and 3.55 electronic lock rear 7000# axle. Truck came with integrated trailer brake controller.
Hitch has a sticker:
Weight distributing 11,000/1,110
Weight carrying 5,000/500
Door jam sticker shows:
FRONT GAWR: 3375 lbs
REAR GAWR: 3800 lbs
GVWR: 7000 lbs
Another sticker says to never exceed 1798 lbs occupants and cargo weight.
The boat I am after is Rinker Captiva 246 BR
Dry weight: 4950 lbs
Fuel tank: 75 gal = 510 lbs
Water tank: 10 gal = 80 lbs
Wet weight = 4950+510+80=5540 lbs
Trailer weight estimate = 1500 Lbs
Total weight = 7040 lbs
Ford trailer towing selector suggest 10-15% tongue weight. In my case 7040*15%= 1056 lbs (error on the high side)
As I understand, to tow it safely I need weight distribution setup to bump tongue load to 1100 lbs.
From payload standpoint 1798(max allowed) - 1056(tongue load)= 742 lbs left for passengers and gear. Which is enough for two adults and two kids.
Sounds like this setup would work, but will be on the limit of the capabilities. To ensure safety I can have passengers ride in separate car and don't have full gas tank/water tank on the boat.
Please confirm if my calculations correct.
P.S. Another boat option is Rinker 276, but I estimate boat +trailer weight to be around 7859 lbs, which would exceed tongue weight (7859 lbs*15%=1178 lbs).
I understand that F-250 would have been a better option, but I am not planning to buy another truck anytime soon.
I am on the market for the boat, but before buying one, I need to understand towing capacity of my truck.
I have a 2015 3.5 EcoBoost F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew 145 wheel base, short box with tow package and 3.55 electronic lock rear 7000# axle. Truck came with integrated trailer brake controller.
Hitch has a sticker:
Weight distributing 11,000/1,110
Weight carrying 5,000/500
Door jam sticker shows:
FRONT GAWR: 3375 lbs
REAR GAWR: 3800 lbs
GVWR: 7000 lbs
Another sticker says to never exceed 1798 lbs occupants and cargo weight.
The boat I am after is Rinker Captiva 246 BR
Dry weight: 4950 lbs
Fuel tank: 75 gal = 510 lbs
Water tank: 10 gal = 80 lbs
Wet weight = 4950+510+80=5540 lbs
Trailer weight estimate = 1500 Lbs
Total weight = 7040 lbs
Ford trailer towing selector suggest 10-15% tongue weight. In my case 7040*15%= 1056 lbs (error on the high side)
As I understand, to tow it safely I need weight distribution setup to bump tongue load to 1100 lbs.
From payload standpoint 1798(max allowed) - 1056(tongue load)= 742 lbs left for passengers and gear. Which is enough for two adults and two kids.
Sounds like this setup would work, but will be on the limit of the capabilities. To ensure safety I can have passengers ride in separate car and don't have full gas tank/water tank on the boat.
Please confirm if my calculations correct.
P.S. Another boat option is Rinker 276, but I estimate boat +trailer weight to be around 7859 lbs, which would exceed tongue weight (7859 lbs*15%=1178 lbs).
I understand that F-250 would have been a better option, but I am not planning to buy another truck anytime soon.
09-25-2016, 03:22 PM
#2
Senior Member
First - congrats on doing your homework. Many come on and say "I bought all this, and it's fine, right?" when it isn't.
Second kudos for the "I found my stickers and here is what they say" versus "Ford's manual says I can tow Mt. Olympus".
A boat is different due to the weight being at the back. Instead of 10 - 15% tongue weight (use 13% for calcs), it's closer to 5 - 7%. Therefore, with a WDH, you should be fine.
Second kudos for the "I found my stickers and here is what they say" versus "Ford's manual says I can tow Mt. Olympus".
A boat is different due to the weight being at the back. Instead of 10 - 15% tongue weight (use 13% for calcs), it's closer to 5 - 7%. Therefore, with a WDH, you should be fine.
The following users liked this post:
fender1983 (09-25-2016)
09-25-2016, 03:27 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
First - congrats on doing your homework. Many come on and say "I bought all this, and it's fine, right?" when it isn't.
Second kudos for the "I found my stickers and here is what they say" versus "Ford's manual says I can tow Mt. Olympus".
A boat is different due to the weight being at the back. Instead of 10 - 15% tongue weight (use 13% for calcs), it's closer to 5 - 7%. Therefore, with a WDH, you should be fine.
Second kudos for the "I found my stickers and here is what they say" versus "Ford's manual says I can tow Mt. Olympus".
A boat is different due to the weight being at the back. Instead of 10 - 15% tongue weight (use 13% for calcs), it's closer to 5 - 7%. Therefore, with a WDH, you should be fine.
In this case the bigger boat is still an option
Thanks!
09-25-2016, 03:28 PM
#4
Senior Member
Boat dealer should have a tongue weight scale for you to verify.
When can I go for a ride?
We are looking / thinking about a boat, but Michigan has short summers and boats are not inexpensive.
When can I go for a ride?
We are looking / thinking about a boat, but Michigan has short summers and boats are not inexpensive.
09-25-2016, 03:57 PM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Next year maybe in two years.
We are from Michigan too. I haven't completely decided on the boat for the very same reason. For this much money I can buy property up north and use it more often, but boats are nice.
Would be nice to have something big enough for Lake St.Clair and still trailerable for up-north trips.
maybe in two years.We are from Michigan too. I haven't completely decided on the boat for the very same reason. For this much money I can buy property up north and use it more often, but boats are nice.
Would be nice to have something big enough for Lake St.Clair and still trailerable for up-north trips.
09-25-2016, 04:04 PM
#6
Senior Member
Small world. We have a family place on Anchor Bay, but boat is 50+ years old and not functional.
09-25-2016, 04:34 PM
#7
The boat you quoted will be fine without WDH, as tongue weight should be under 500. The reason the sticker says 500/5000 is the general rule of 10% hitch weight to towed weight. Ford does not want more than 500lbs on the hitch pushing down.
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09-26-2016, 10:42 AM
#8
Gearhead
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Metro Detroit - missin FL
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All the lakes around Michigan and only 15 or 16 weeks / weekends to use a boat. Been there, done that back in the 70's and 80's with boats at Belle Maer Harbor on Lake St Clair (grew up on a lake in Brighton MI). Exactly the reason I got out of there and moved to Florida 25 years ago. And now.....no boat. 
Trying to convince myself to buy another twin outboard center console again. Now I actually have the time to use one on weekdays and avoid the weekend craziness around the boat ramps and waters. Might still just still charter boats (I can do a LOT of tarpon, king, red, sail and dorado charters for what I would dump in a boat) but it's still nice to own one. There are literally thousands of mid-20's boats being dragged around with half tons and suv's down here and I can't remember of a reported crash with them involved. Every 2 or 3 weeks it seems they are reporting about some rv/travel trailer getting wadded up on the interstates. Maybe the boaters do more weekly towing and the RV'rs are only towing a couple times a year in comparison? Practice makes perfect.
Trying to convince myself to buy another twin outboard center console again. Now I actually have the time to use one on weekdays and avoid the weekend craziness around the boat ramps and waters. Might still just still charter boats (I can do a LOT of tarpon, king, red, sail and dorado charters for what I would dump in a boat) but it's still nice to own one. There are literally thousands of mid-20's boats being dragged around with half tons and suv's down here and I can't remember of a reported crash with them involved. Every 2 or 3 weeks it seems they are reporting about some rv/travel trailer getting wadded up on the interstates. Maybe the boaters do more weekly towing and the RV'rs are only towing a couple times a year in comparison? Practice makes perfect.