www.iFourWinns.com

I dont't mean to high jack the thread but i was wondering what you all think is a good lower budget tow vehicle capable of a pulling a 12000lb load. I'm wanting to tow my new boat that will come in around 12klbs with trailer and gear. Maybe even slighly more. I'd like to find an older (90's) truck to do the job. Ford, dodge, chevy? Do I need a DRW? Thoughts?

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

My parents pull a 36 ft 5 fifth wheel with a GMC 3500 Crew Long Box 2WD (duramax/allison tranny) without any problems and I thnk the truck has alot more to pull. It's overkill. Depending on how far you are pulling makes all the difference too. There are so many variables that I think we would need a little more input from you
1-Daily driver or strictly boat use?
2-Length of hauls?
3-Regularity of hauls?
4-Passengers?
5-Other possible uses?

12K on a bumper pull is alot especially if you can't use weight distributing hitches due to the surge brakes.... What brakes are on the trailer? Do you have a trailer yet or is a fifth wheel trailer a possibility?

Give us more of the story and we will try and help you out!

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

Any of the Big three 1 tons will do it if set up with the right towing options. SRW (single rear wheel) or DRW will do it.

We had a '96 Ford F350 SRW CC PSD, auto, (7.3L turbo diesel) 4.10 rear end ratio, to pull our 35' 12000 lbs 5th wheel, worked good.

GM did not have a good diesel until 2001 (duramax), so you would have to go with a big block gas motor. Ford, you got the PSD that came out in late '94, other wise go with a gas big block. Dodge, cummins awesome motor, truck dont know!

For that much boat, if you have to tow very far I would strongly recommend a goose neck / 5th wheel trailer

I still haul our 5th wheel (35', 12k lbs) with our current truck, but also tow toys behind it, making it 14,000 lbs. Current truck is a 2001 F350 SRW CC PSD auto, 3.73 rear end, chipped, 4" exhaust, gages to monitor EGT, turbo boost, motor and trans oil temps.

You need to understand axle weight ratings, ratios, vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and combined vehicle weight rating (GCRW), tire weight ratings.

I see some killer deals on these older trucks, very cheap right now. I see used trucks like mine (2001) for as low as $8500



They have WD hitches that can be use with surge brakes, I see them all the time. I have not personally looked into this, but they are available.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

35' with a 14' beam.

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I'll bet the others at the launch ramp love you, on a Saturday morning .........

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Less then 10 minutes on the ramp, barely got the back tires wet. That thing only drafts 3-1/2'. It trys to pull the truck in with it, but thats part of the fun.

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It towing tandem even legal in any state? I I'm pretty sure 14' wide in Maine is a wide load requiring an assitance vehicle...lol

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Guns kill people like spoons make people fat.
2007 Horizon 190 Gxi
97 Pathfinder SE 4x4
73 International Scout II

We have to get a permit, and EVERY cop that you pass does stop you, to see it. One cop even asked if we could pull off the road more, he got a simple answer of NO.

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