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KEN 258 -- What kind of tow vehicle did you have for your 238?? Looks like a Dodge Durango. How beefy was it to tow?

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Alexj



1995 Four Winns Horizon 190
OMC 5.0 RL

And how is your F150 at towing the 258?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

I have always been a Dodge Guy! But after owninf this Ford, I will most likly stay with the blu oval. The truck handles the load alot better than I expected it to. I am more than pleased with its capabilities. Mileage is less than to be desired, but what vehicle really is good on gas when hauling our toys! I cant say enough good things about this truck. We tow 2-3 times a week and about 1k a summer in trips.

As for the Durango. It proved its self to be a work horse. The power was fine, the suspension was pretty fair for the tongue weight. But at freeway speeds, the sway was pretty white knuckling!!!! I only live 2 miles from my local ramp, so it was fine for that run, but a few trips to northern Michigan, it was a very slow ride! I didn't expect to purchase the 238 at the time, so the durango was a GREAT vehicle to tow my Sunsation around. SO I only had the 238/Durango combo for one summer.

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Boating is not an expense, it's a lifestyle!!

Yes, sometimes it can be a pain moving the carpet, coolers, etc.... to get the genny and the grill out of the bilge, but ya gotta deal with what ya have!!!

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Boating is not an expense, it's a lifestyle!!

This weekend we had calm water, I didnt even run a strap across it!

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Boating is not an expense, it's a lifestyle!!

Ken258 -- Sorry about being off topic, but is that a plane in the bottom photo? Does it come in first and leave last or do you just push him out when he wants to go home.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

Does the F150 have that much less sway than the Durango?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

yes that is a plane!!!!

And no, we do not walk him, he manuvers on his own!!!!!!!!
Ties up in the raft up quite a bit too!

I get ZERO trailer sway with my F150. Again, I have ALWAYS been anti ford, but have nothing but good to say about this truck! I have used them all at the marina towing. And this is the best, hands down 1500 I have ever used! As for 2500/3500 I really liked the Dmax Dually, But the Dodge Cummins with Propane hooked to it was the most "FUN" truck!!!

Propane is like nos to a diesel!

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Boating is not an expense, it's a lifestyle!!

For his application it might, it's more dependent on the tongue weight, and trailer/boat combination rather than just the vehicle. Translation, the F150 may not be the ideal tow vehicle for your application. It may be no better than a Dango, and then again it might.
Test first, then buy.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Very Good point, I always make sure I am set up as appropriate as I can make the load!!!

These four winns trailers, at least the 1/2 dozen or so I have pulled, have always felt stable back there. I do feel they do a good job with balance!

Alot better than a few others I have owned and or towed!

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Boating is not an expense, it's a lifestyle!!

As for the truck though, The power band is definitly there, and the stability in a heavy cross wind (IE Mackinaw Bridge) I am more than pleased with! I also have STOCK little tires! My Dodge with 305's had alot of sway!!!! But that was a whole other animal!!!!

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Boating is not an expense, it's a lifestyle!!

Yeah the FW trailers tow nice.. They just don't launch for shit! OMG I am still having issues launching my 248... I put an RC30 power winch on (rated for 11,500 Lbs) and it sounded like it wanted to crawl into a hole and die..

Back to the drawing board!

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Brett DiMichele

That doesnt sound good!

What are the issues you are habing? I hope you get it solved!!!

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Boating is not an expense, it's a lifestyle!!

I won't be buying for a while...just curious. I can't get rid of a problem free vehicle, especially if its under warranty still. I might try my other drop hitch and see if that changes anything, although the trailer is sitting level though. I get some moderate sway above 70+, but I really shouldn't tow that fast anyways.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Yeah, 70+ is really pullin'.

As far as difficulty launching a 248 on a FW trailer, It sounds more like operator error to me. I have launched ours, a friends 268, and a 248 this past weekend. It can be a one man job, and very easy to do, with practice. The trailers are set up just right for launching, unless some modifications have been made to the original design, it should be a piece of cake.

Practice makes perfect. The more you launch, the easier it gets.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy