Trailer hitch ball size??

[Captain Steve]

Still in the search for a Ranger 25.
Phase 1 - dream about a Ranger 25---- complete
Phase 2 - find tow vehicle----- complete
Phase 3 - sell sail boat---- complete
Phase 4 - you are now free to roam about the country to find one------ pending


Bought a Ford Expedition to tow it home, when I find it, but I don't know what size ball I will need on my draw bar.

Anyone know???

 

[JamesTXSD]

Most boat trailers that size require a 2 5/16" hitch ball. What year is your Expedition? A friend with a 2013 has a 9,200 pound towing capacity, but requires a weight distributing hitch; otherwise, the towing capacity is 6,000 pounds. A Ranger 25, all up on the trailer is likely going to top 10,000 pounds.

 

[RProffer]

The size of the ball goes along with the max capacity of the hitch, and that goes along with the max towing capacity of the truck. For a Ford, you should have a F250 or F350, preferably a 4x4 F350 with a diesel engine. I just did a quick search on a Ford Expedition and it said it's max towing capacity is 9000 lbs for a 2014 non-EL 4x4. A 2014 EL 4x2 has towing of 8700 or 8900, and a non-EL 4x2 is 9200. The dry weight of a R-25 SC is 5700. By the time you add accessories, fuel, water, food, trailer, etc, etc, you will be touching 10,000. I recommend getting a 10,000 or better class 3 hitch. I looked on two websites and they did not offer ANY hitches for 2013 or 2014 Expeditions. That is weird that Ford advertises towing capacities but two websites do not offer any hitches for it. Does the Expedition already have a hitch, and if so, is it a class 3 hitch (or better) with a 2" receiver?

 

[Captain Steve]

its a 2004 Expedition with a class 3, 2 in receiver. Am looking at 9000 lbs tow weight. True, it will be close to max but I think I can keep the weight below when I go on the road.

 

[Crewdog]

The Ranger Tug is too beautiful a boat to risk using an undersized vehicle to tow with, and I'm sure all of us on this forum would be heartbroken if something happened to you or the boat.

I'd say go with a class IV hitch and a 3/4 or one ton diesel truck of your choice of manufacturer, equipped with a heavy duty tow package and appropriate built in trailer brake controller, transmission cooler and gauges.

Good luck!

Bill

 

[walldog]

its a 2004 Expedition with a class 3, 2 in receiver. Am looking at 9000 lbs tow weight. True, it will be close to max but I think I can keep the weight below when I go on the road.

Steve,

Please rethink towing a 25 with the Expedition. Go find a 25 on a trailer and stand by it. That is a really big boat on a trailer. It has a lot of wind resistance and you will always have more weight in it than the dry weight. Pulling it is not the problem, controlling it at speed is the problem. You are now searching for a 25, but do not rule out the 27s, not much difference in dry weight, height and width, just a bit longer. I have a lot of experience towing heavy loads with 3/4 and one ton trucks, I personally would not tow a 25 with an Expedition. Everything has to work right to be safe for you, your passengers and other folks on the road. You live in California not the flat coastal lands of Texas and Florida so you have another issue that will limit your travel plans, mountains. Here the issue is not getting up the hill, it is going down the hill.

Here is a recent quote from Tim of "Gratitude". A search of this site for towing or trailering or tow vehicles will give you a wealth of information.

OK, my turn. We picked up our new 27 from the dealer with my new F150 EcoBoost. On our way to the boat ramp, I couldn't feel the trailer brakes working, so I thought it had to be a problem with the new Float-On trailer. After our new boat day on the water, I took the boat and trailer back to our dealer. They put the boat on blocks and sent the trailer back to Float-On, only to find out it wasn't the trailer, it was the truck. Ford doesn't think anyone is going to really use their truck for towing so they don't put the trailer brake fuse and relay in the panel. That fixed and everything seemed good. Except the boat was pulling to new F150 with a tow (yea right!) rating of 11,200 lbs all over the road, and no I wasn't singing to Easton Corbin lastest country song! So back to the Ford dealer for a new F250 6.7 diesel. Now we're all set. I'm really happy Seagate Marine doesn't lock the gate when they see me coming. That's what make Tugnuts so great, we all have a chance to lean from our mistakes and share with others so they don't make the same ones we did.

Tim
Gratitude
Boatdreamer

Posts: 66
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:00 pm
City: Stuart
State/Province: FL
Ranger Model: R-27 Tug
Non-Ranger Model: 17 Keywest
Vessel Name: Gratitude

Please do not be discouraged, trailering these fine boats over the country and using them in all the the great waters on the different coasts is a great life. Do it while you can.....just do it safely.

Best Wishes, Herb

 

[JamesTXSD]

Not trying to rain on your parade. Here are weight/tow ratings for the 2004 Expedition...

Weights (pounds)

Base curb weight
4.6L 4x2 5218
4.6L 4x4 5499
5.4L 4x2 5394
5.4L 4x4 5671

Max towing capacity, properly equipped
4.6L 4x2 5000
4.6L 4x4 5000
5.4L 4x2 8950
5.4L 4x4 8650

GVWR
4.6L 4x2 6900
4.6L 4x4 7100
5.4L 4x2 7100
5.4L 4x4 7300

GCWR
4.6L 4x2 10,500
4.6L 4x4 10,700
5.4L 4x2 14,500
5.4L 4x4 14,500

Perhaps more R-25 owners will chime in with actual weights. Our C-Dory 25 weighs in at 8,700 pounds on the trailer, with much of our cruising gear in the truck bed (to keep the weight on trailer as light as possible); we tow with a GMC 2500 HD w/Duramax diesel. The Ranger 25 is a lot bigger/heavier on the trailer. Realistically, I don't see any scenario where the Expedition is enough tow vehicle to safely travel with an R-25.

 

[Favunclerich]

Roam is a 2008 R-25 with a 110 HP Yanmar. She weighs 7000 pounds empty and has most options, but no generator or air conditioning. Yes, I know the brochure says 5700 pounds, but that was measured on the original boat with no thrusters, an 80 HP engine, no instruments, no mast, no bimini, no windlass, no anchor, etc. With a generator and air conditioning and 150 HP engine, some R-25's could weigh a few hundred pounds more.

My Loadmaster trailer weighs about 1700 pounds empty.

I try to trailer with no water or waste and only about 1/4 tank of fuel, but the boat still holds a moderate amount of, tools, spare parts and cruising gear. We go over the scales at about 9400 pounds total. Denny has stated elsewhere on this site that he feels a 10% margin is in order and I agree with him.

Before I bought this boat, I too considered a vehicle with less towing capacity, but am glad that I bought a 3/4 ton diesel Silverado pick-up instead. I've towed Roam over 20,000 miles without issue. I agree with the others that at least a 10,000 pound towing capacity vehicle is appropriate. The only circumstances under which I would risk towing with less capacity would be for very short distances on level ground and without much crosswind.

 

[knotflying]

Perhaps going on side streets from your house to a ramp you will be fine, but any long distance trailering and you won't be happy. There is nothing worse than trailering something with an undersized vehicle and wondering which part of the tow is in charge, your vehicle or the boat. You will never be sorry having a tow vehicle that is too large. Your experience towing with an undersized vehicle will be uncomfortable if not borderline dangerous.

 

[Captain Steve]

Thanks, everyone. I am retiring in July 2015 and my wife says we had better get the diesel pickup. Will start looking for an older model like the Expedition I picked up for 6700.00. I plan on keeping the Ranger at dry storage with a lift in & out but have plans for travel.

 

[knotflying]

Thanks, everyone. I am retiring in July 2015 and my wife says we had better get the diesel pickup. Will start looking for an older model like the Expedition I picked up for 6700.00. I plan on keeping the Ranger at dry storage with a lift in & out but have plans for travel.

Good move on the truck, you won't be sorry.

 

[nzfisher]

Captain Steve- As folks have implied above pulling the rig and stopping the rig are tow different animals. Make sure that once you set up the boat on a trailer you do a panic stop somewhere safe just to see how long it takes to stop the rig. Experiencing this will make you a better, safer driver as you will be surprised how long it takes to slow the rig down. I pull an R25 with a diesel duelly truck for this reason.