Cutwater 288 towing vehicle

[Nwdiver]

Cutwater posted the dry weight of the c-288. Here’s the numbers I came up with

ITEM
Dry weight 10000
Gasoline 1300
Diesel 40
Water 340.3
Holding tank. 207.5
Personal gear. 400
Tender. 150
Trailer. 2800

Total tow weight. 15237.8

Ram 2500 towing maximum 16550 1312.2 Margin lbs
Ram 2500 payload maximum. 2820 18.50660857. Tongue weight %

Any comments or problems with the above

 

[scross]

Your gear is sure a lot lighter than our gear! The optional equipment, dinghy, grill, galley gear, safety gear, etc. on our R-25 Classic came to 2,000 pounds! We tow with fuel at 1/4 tank or less and fresh water and black water tanks empty to lighten the load.
The other number that caught my eye was your tongue weight. At 18.5% (2820 pounds) that sounds pretty heavy. It’s my understanding from talking to trailer manufacturers that, for triple axle trailers, you want tongue weight in the 6% to 9% range. That would imply a tongue weight near 1,050 pounds. And the trailer should be level to the ground, not nose down, when towing to keep the weight in each axle evenly distributed. Suggest you check your tongue weight with the trailer manufacturer.

 

[Nwdiver]

I haven’t got either the trailer or boat, that number is just the available cargo weight for towing, I expect it to be much less then that, if not, I am seriously going to have to go on a diet

Thanks for the info on the personal gear, it is a SWAG, I actually have no clue how much junk I will load aboard. Once I can actually weigh the boat, I probably have to do the same with the gas on mine as well

 

[S. Todd]

Our triple axle aluminum trailer under our R-29S weighs more like 3750 lbs (in consultation with the Ranger Tug dealer and the trailer manufacturer we ordered an 18,000 lb trailer {3 - 6,000 lb axles rather than 3 - 5,000 lb axles}). I would much rather have 10 to 20 percent additional capacity on a trailer than be pushing the trailer to its limit.
Your payload capacity figure for the truck is not the tongue weight limit (unless the truck drives itself with no other gear or passengers in the truck which all count toward payload capacity) (the drawbar alone may weigh 35lbs)( add some mud flaps, a bed liner and cover, spare tools, etc.).
I agree with NWdiver on the gear weight issue. Primary anchor and chain (100 lbs?), secondary/storm anchor and chain?; refrigerator stocked?; additional drinks and groceries?; clothes; fenders & docklines (I think ours total 100 lbs); tools and spare parts (100 lbs); spare fluids; etc.?
We always try to tow without fresh water in the tank (but frequently do not drain the hot water heater), anything in the black water tank, and with less than a half tank of fuel (but sometimes this is difficult to estimate because you need to cruise back to the trailer).
I am a believer in towing at no more than 80% of the trucks capacity for long life of the tow vehicle (80% of 21,000 lbs for our F350 diesel dually is 16,800). Obviously, if your trip to the ramp is a lesser distance you can live with whatever margin you are comfortable with.

 

[Nwdiver]

The trailer weight I got was from the trailer manufacturer at the Seattle boat show, they have one already configured for the c-288. As for the rest, I agree with you, am being lazy and not counting the passengers either 😀 some of my initial numbers were a little off, I received a preliminary boat dry weight of just under 9,000 lbs, but it seems to have gotten a little more “robust” since then at 10,000 lbs. so far I haven’t heard any show stoppers, but will have to be careful how much fluids I add in. I will make sure my fishing buddies limit the weight of alcoholic consumables (beer) that take aboard. Don’t worry, this captain pilots sober

 

[knotflying]

Nothing worse that having a max load and driving white knuckle plus the stress put on the engine and transmission.

 

[BB marine]

Based on your questions I am assuming you own the Ram 2500 truck? I am also going to assume it is the Cummins diesel model. You are questioning if this truck is capable of towing your 288 Cutwater? Probably fine. Your numbers are close but still not over loaded. I don't think you will have an issue with power, I don't think you will have an issue with brakes. The 3/4 ton trucks across the board Dodge, Chevy or Ford have over kill for brakes. I would assume the truck has load range E tires so that is not going to be an issue. I would be more concerned with the trailer. Make sure that the trailer is not marginal. As Todd stated 5K axels are marginal. Yes you will have 1500 to 2000 on the tongue but I like to have a larger margin of capacity on the trailer. Higher rated tires, brakes and suspension on the trailer. If I have my choice a truck that is close to capacity but still above. Or the trailer close to capacity but still above I would put the few extra dollars into the trailer and go with the truck I own. If I did not own a truck and I was going to purchase a truck to tow the boat, different story. Don't purchase a truck with marginal capacity. Purchase a larger capacity truck.

When I purchased my C26 in 2016 the factory trailer was to close for comfort. It was a tandem axel that I believe was too small. I went with a larger custom built trailer rated 5000 lbs more than the factory trailer. Over kill? Maybe! 6 years of towing , 1000s of miles over the road not one issue, never had a blow out er brake issue.

 

[dgiles]

Engine and transmission are the same for the 2500 and the 3500. Neither are going to be strained.....

 

[Nwdiver]

The numbers listed are actually for a ram 2500 equipped with a 6.4L hemi gas engine with 4:10 axle ratio. The truck should be in my driveway sometime next month, baring supply chain issues or wars. I know diesel gives you better tow ratings, but it also subtracts 1K from payload and adds $10K to the price.

Am not sure what’s on the trailer. Cutwater has been having availability issues with their normal trailer suppliers, so I will see what I get and who makes it. The delivery for the boat including trailer is mid June (initially mid March). Hopefully it won’t slip any further

 

[scross]

Nwdiver,
I’m looking at a very similar 2022 Ram Tradesman 4x4 Crew Cab with the 6.4L engine and the 4.1 axle. The tables say that this configuration should tow a maximum of 16,880 pounds.
This new truck will be my daily driver and for towing a C-28 about 1,600 miles a year. Truck first, boat search starting after truck is in the driveway.
How long ago did you order your truck? I understand you still have a month to go before delivery. Thanks!

 

[Nwdiver]

January 7th ordered, B1 (all parts available) February 23, expected delivery March 18th

https://hdrams.com/forum/index.php Might help with information on how long it takes to order a new truck

My truck has a few more options then normal, so the truck is a bit heavier. I also added 4X4 after watching too many YouTube videos of trucks being pulled into the water at boat ramps

 

[Levitation]

Just some comments.
Your intended Ram/Cummins will pull your boat just fine. No sweat.

Knowing (from bitter experience) how weight accumulates in boats (and tow trucks) it is more likely than not that many 28 foot and 29 foot, boat and trailer combinations, violate the trailer load limit (on the door post of the drivers door).
Go a a boating season or two and 2000 pounds of extra gear in/on the boat is almost sure.
With a boating season under the all weather tires, most trucks will also go over limit.

A third point is that when you take the GCWR of your truck (on the door post) and add it to the GTWR of the trailer (on the trailer data plate) and that number exceeds 26,000# federal law requires a CDL.
If you pull a 28/29 footer with a dually, you are guaranteed to be over the limit. Maybe an outboard boat will skate underneath the limit. Maybe, not (shrug)
The CDL can be a hidden issue for those who opt to increase axle size, and such, on their trailer purchase if the mfg. increases the GTWR accordingly.

This does not seem to be an enforcement issue for pleasure boaters in general. Nor for our RV brethren. And I doubt that most trailer boaters have to lose sleep over it.
But have some dum-dum blow through a stop sign right in front of you and there is a dinged fender, you may get dinged for a CDL violation.

 

[Nwdiver]

January 7th ordered, B1 (all parts available) February 23, expected delivery March 18th

https://hdrams.com/forum/index.php Might help with information on how long it takes to order a new truck

My truck has a few more options then normal, so the truck is a bit heavier. I also added 4X4 after watching too many YouTube videos of trucks being pulled into the water at boat ramps

New tow vehicle made it home, now waiting on boat