boat trailer options

[bill j]

Being from central Texas, I end up towing my Cutwater a lot to the east and west coasts. Is it worth considering a fifth wheel boat trailer over the standard rear hitch boat trailer? Would that redistribute the weight and make towing easier on my Ford 250 diesel truck? Anyone have any experience in this area? thanks - Bill

 

[JamesTXSD]

We use our truck (GMC 2500HD w/Duramax) to tow our boat (CD-25) or a 5th wheel RV. I notice that the "road manners" are more pleasant towing the 5th wheel, compared to the boat, even though the 5th wheel is significantly heavier. You are putting the weight over the rear axle instead of on the back of the frame, so that is to be expected.

The BIG downside of a 5th wheel tow is the fact that you lose the truck bed for storage. We are out for months at a time with our boat; being able to use the covered/lockable truck bed as our storage for spares and other-season clothes makes our time out more pleasant. Yes, you can buy storage pods for inside the truck bed and around the 5th wheel hitch, but you are giving up a lot of storage space.

We don't notice any sway with the boat back there, but the ride is better with the 5th wheel.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Another Texas guy who tows to either coast from the very southern tip of Texas... we have to drive north for about 7 hours just to get to "central Texas." 😉

 

[tlkenyon]

I have never seen a 5th wheel boat trailer, but it makes a lot of sense given some of the tongue weights and loads. Do they even exist?

 

[JamesTXSD]

I have never seen a 5th wheel boat trailer, but it makes a lot of sense given some of the tongue weights and loads. Do they even exist?

You'll see it frequently on bigger boats...

Seems that most of them use a gooseneck connection, as opposed to an actual 5th wheel hitch, but the premise is the same.

Jim B.

 

[STELLA L]

I was a full time R.V. person for 9 yrs with a 36 ft 5th wheel. I frequently pulled a boat behind the 5th wheel. In my opinion there is no comparison when it comes to 5th wheel connection vs conventional trailer hitch. We sat around many a campfire during those days and listened to some horror stories of bumper hitch pulls. The control w 5th wheel over the trailer load is so much better and you eliminate sway from bad roads, wind, etc. Another advantage of the goose neck connection is that once you unhook the trailer you can still have a flat truck bed as opposed to the rails of the 5th wheel hitch. If I were pulling my boat a lot I would definitely do the goose neck.

 

[Levitation]

Your C26 will pull just fine on a bumper hitch if:
A 2500HD class truck - brand does not matter with the late model trucks, say 2008 and newer.
A Class V 2" Receiver - a real one if you are buying a used truck - not somebody's hype. Go to an RV service center and have them show you that it is Class V 2" Receiver (go to Drawtite web site).
Pump the tires on both the truck and the trailer to their maximum pressure rating
Have the trailer properly balanced - approx. 1000# on the hitch - go to an RV service center and have them weigh the hitch.
Do not fall for the siren song of the compensating hitch. It is not the best thing since sliced bread.
The bed hitch is better probably, but not common on boats/trailers under 15,000 pounds.

There are numbers of Tug owners on here pulling 25's and 27's with 3/4 ton and 1 ton pickups (one) with bumper hitches over long distances without problems. Roam has pulled over 20,000 miles, including Michigan to Alaska and back. Illusions and Kismet are also high mileage. We will be making our 4th run Michigan to Florida next month with a bumper hitch on a Duramax 2500HD.

don't worry mon, be happy :mrgreen: