Size of truck to haul R-25

G

gmetz

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
15
Fluid Motion Model
C-248 C
Hull Identification Number
2586666
Vessel Name
Gael Force
Hello fellow tug-nuts:
For those of you who haul your R-25, what is the size of the the truck that you use? We have talked with several "experts", and they all suggest we buy a diesel dually and at least a 350 either Ford or Chevrolet Silverado? What do you think ?
Thanks,
Gretchen
 
Ive done at least 15 thousand miles with my 3/4 ton crew cab Duramax with nearly effortless towing @ 11 MPG. Dually not necessary at all in my opinon .
Marc
 
welcome aboard gretchen. marc gave you some good advice regarding a dually. poorer milage and not at all neccesary for a 25. i also have a duramax with 100000 miles and it has worked well for me. keep in mind that any advice you get will come with personnal biases. basically ,, any of the big three, ford, chevy, or dodge diesels will all serve you quite well,, certain year dodges [if you are looking to buy used] are better than others,, find out from a dodge guy.. don"t base your decision solely on claimed mpg.. everyone from owners to dealers to sellers tend to inflate that figure.. good luck in finding that truck!!! steve ,,, usually cluless but have been driving pickups 4 decades and prpbably have owned at some time or other one of each 🙂
 
I don't have any experience hauling a tug, but I have pulled a 9,000lb. Travel trailer with a Ford 250 with Triton V-10. I think the V-10 is the only gas engine with the pulling capacity to haul the Tug in a reasonable vehicle. It is rated to tow 12,500 lbs. I got about 9 mpg towing and towed through the Rockies with no trouble. I did add Air Bags to the rear axle to adjust for the added tongue weight. Diesel is certainly more economical, but a more expensive outlay for the vehicle. Certainly, with the cost of diesel these days, the margin is less. I have been thinking about the same vehicle again and getting a 4x4 instead of the 4x2 that I had. Does any one tow with a 4x2 or is everyone using 4x4? I am concerned that on a slippery ramp, you might want 4 wheel drive. Any comments on that?
Thanks
 
I use a 3/4 ton 2005 Dodge turbo diesel. I have not towed the Ranger 29 yet with it, but my old boat was 10,000lbs and the dodge was not aware that it had a boat behind it. If I was doing 50mph up a mountain pass, and wanted to do 65mph. The truck will just accelerated right up the hill.
Ranger uses the same truck as me but it is a 06. They also have a 08. Andrew said the 06 tows better then the 08. The 04 to 06 dodge is the best way to go in my opinion. Dodge had worked out some problems they had in earlier years with lift pumps and transmissions.
I will always have a dodge when it comes to towing. Best truck I ever had. The newer ones with the 6.7 are loaded down with smog. They still tow just fine but not as good as the 04 to 06.

I put the super chip in mine. I also put in the k&n cool air intake. Maybe $500.00 worth of upgrades.
Now this is the kicker. I swear up and down I get 28 miles to the gallon on the highway not towing. 20 to 22 around town.
When towing I get 22 on the highway. Less if i am pulling a grade.
The chevy and fords are also very good trucks and are a bit more plush inside. I do not need plush. I will take the fuel mileage and rough power over plush any day. Chevy and ford have rough power also.
A dully would be way more truck then you would ever need for the Ranger 25. I will be pulling around 12,500lbs starting next week when we pick up our 29. I know that the dodge will just laugh at that.
I live up in the mountains in Colorado. There are more dodges around here then any other truck. These guys are pulling 16,000 to 20,000lbs. Backhoes and other equipment. Everyone loves there dodges around here.

Hope this helps,
Stuart

P.S. In case anyone has not noticed, 😀 I am a Dodge fan!
 
I would only have a 4x4. It just takes one slippery ramp and if you don't have it you will be kicking yourself. 😉
 
Again, the concern is not about towing it, it is getting it out of the water and then stopping it in an emergency. If your vehicle is not rated to tow the weight of your boat, and you get in a wreck, your insurance is more than likely not going to cover you.

We towed our R-25 with a one ton Dodge Dually. We had the very large Cummins motor, six speed manual transmission, and exhaust break. We averaged 12 mpg towing Solitude.

I was once towing my Catalina 25 (weight 9,500 lbs.) with a Suburban 2500. A truck turned in front of me in the rain. I was glad when he realized what he had done and got out of my way. When I stepped on the brake, the anti locks kicked in but I was not stopping.....

Regardless of what people tell you, the R-25 and trailer weighs over 10,000 lbs when loaded with a half tank of water and half tank of fuel. I will be more than glad to send you the weight certificate.

Like Steve pointed out, we will all have our own opinions on what works best. You have too be the one that decides what works best for you.
 
an answer to yuukis, i tow with a 4by 2 because when i left colorado 20 years ago i swore i had owned my last 4by, i havent met a ramp i couldnt pull,,,,yet,,, the operable word being yet, when i warned you all about mpg claims you only need to read stuarts post to see what i am talking about :lol: :lol: :lol: just kidding stu, if you want to believe that you get 28 mpg in a 3/4 ton thats oooka/ love, steve and tina
 
David is right. Stopping is very important. Just want to add that I have and will be towing way under what my truck is rated for. No need to take any chances.
I am not sure what the break system is on the Trailer for the 25. That should be looked into and understood in great detail.
The 29 trailer has electric over hydraulic breaks. Very nice stopping power. 🙂

Stuart
 
I am another Duramax 2500HD owner... I have hauled my R25 through the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia without any problems... Mine is also a 4X2 because the ramps consist of 1/2 of 100th of 1% of the miles you will drive and there is a significant penalty for spinning all that hardware every mile you go... I don't intend to haul the boat into snow and ice... And I am carrying a 5 gallon bucket of dry sand for that once a year slippery ramp... My daily drive here in Michigan winters is a 4X4 half ton Chevy... It is using the proper tool for the job...

cheers
 
notaclue":t6daigl3 said:
an answer to yuukis, i tow with a 4by 2 because when i left colorado 20 years ago i swore i had owned my last 4by, i havent met a ramp i couldnt pull,,,,yet,,, the operable word being yet, when i warned you all about mpg claims you only need to read stuarts post to see what i am talking about :lol: :lol: :lol: just kidding stu, if you want to believe that you get 28 mpg in a 3/4 ton thats oooka/ love, steve and tina
Click to expand...
I can't wait to put you in the truck sometime and show you Steve. Someday you will eat those words. I have no reason to not tell the truth. I do not work for dodge, I only own one. I got 25mpg out of it when it was stock. I am not the only one ether. I learned this from other people that made the modifications. The owner of the local 4x4 high performance shop that drives the same truck as me was the first person i learned it from, and since then I have met many others that have done the same. I got 24mpg out of my old 99 dodge stock. My buddy with a 99 dodge in ventura Ca. He is a wooden boat builder and has been for the last 50 years, Has made a few minor modifications to his and he is getting 27mpg. Doug Schumpert in Ventura.( Dougs boat works ) Give him a call.
You need to take that boat down the nile river for then you could literally be cruising in your comfort zone DENIAL :lol:

That is ok. I understand. I have seen this many times before with duramax owners. THEY JUST CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH! 😉
All kidding aside... Yes I have 4x4 because I do live in snow and ice. I do not boat in it though. Nor do i tow a large boat in it. By the time winter comes my boat is sitting somewhere warm. I have never had to put the truck in four wheel drive to get the boat out of the water. So I am not sure how important it is to have a 4x4.
I towed that old boat 10,000lbs all over the southwest. Colorado, So Cal, to Mexico and it was no big deal.
the trailer had electric breaks and I never had on bit of trouble stopping. Had to lock it up once and everything worked they way it was supposed to.
4x2 or 4x4 ? Well that just comes down to a personal decision and how is one going to use the truck.

Hey Steve.... Want to go for a ride? :lol:

Best to all, Stuart
 
Hi all you tugnuts:
Wow, thanks for all the info/input, it is really helpful and I know my husband and I will be able to make a more informed decision. I also know now, that anything I need to know about our boat and related subjects this is the forum to come to! 😱
Gretchen/Richard
 
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