Towing My Boat! Help

blackout00 · 06-28-2007, 01:03 PM

Okay guys, I have done a lot of searching on this and just need some good answers. I am getting an 18' Sea Doo Challanger. The boat weighs about 1865 lbs dry and the trailer is between 300-400lbs. This puts me over the limit by a little bit and I was wondering if anyone has experience towing this amount and if so how was it. I am a very conservative driver and have trailered boats, bikes, etc before. Please give me some feedback and let me know how it worked out! Thank you so much.

chobeegators · 06-28-2007, 01:13 PM

I'm not sure of the weight but we moved from arizona to florida and pulled a 5x10 uhaul trailer with our stuff in it. Our jeep is only a 4 banger. The only problem we had was loaded trailer wrong, to much weight in back so it would sway really bad. Also used to haul a trailer holding 425 gallons of water which I believe is around 3400 lbs. but that was only about 3 miles but all up hill. I know that we were asking for trouble with that much weight on our rear axle which is a D35. Our jeep is basically stock by the way. I know I went on and on but those are the things we have pulled with our jeep. Hope that helps with your question.

**Jerry Bransford** · 06-28-2007, 01:19 PM

I know that particular boat and when loaded as you would with gas, gear, drinks, coolers, fun stuff, and it's trailer, it's going to be far heavier than a TJ should tow. Especially when you factor in its' length which will create a long arm/moment (leverage) against the TJ's hitch ball which would give the boat and trailer too much control over the TJ. If you had an Unlimited, then yeah it'd be fine to tow but that's really just too much weight and leverage against the TJ to tow safely. At least in my strongest-possible opinion after 30+ years of towing lots of 17-20' boats behind lots of different kinds of vehicles. That boat and trailer would quickly teach you the meaning of the old phrase 'the tail wagging the dog'.

blackout00 · 06-28-2007, 01:25 PM

Jerry,

I would only be towing the boat home from the dealer and then on a short tow to the river. I really will not be towing it with all the gear on it and the gas will be kept at a minimum when I am towing it. Will this make it any better?? Thank you for your insight...as always it is greatly apperciated!

Scotch740 · 06-28-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackout00

Jerry,

I would only be towing the boat home from the dealer and then on a short tow to the river. I really will not be towing it with all the gear on it and the gas will be kept at a minimum when I am towing it. Will this make it any better?? Thank you for your insight...as always it is greatly apperciated!

That would make it better but you still have a long trailer. That being said I would probably do it. Watch your speed and keep plenty of distance to stop. Hitting the brakes if it starts to "wag" is gona be bad.

I plan to tow my 22' sailboat with my unlimited when I actually decide to not work or wheel the jeep for a weekend. It weighs 1800 lbs and with gear and trailer I think I'm with in the Unlimited's 3500 limit.

**Jerry Bransford** · 06-28-2007, 01:34 PM

That's really a decision only you can make Blackout. I don't know how you can expect to tow your boat without also having the ability to take all the extra gear/skis/toys/coolers any boater usually wants too. I've towed a lot of ski/power boats and they always ended up pretty heavily loaded with gear and gas.

And since not every launching ramp and lake you may want to visit has gas available, you'd be restricted in where you could take your boat if it couldn't be towed there with a full tank of gas. Not to mention it's always far less expensive to fill up at a gas station on the way to the lake than it is to fill up from a marina boat dock which will always charge a premium for gas.

xxxflhrci · 06-28-2007, 01:34 PM

If you are overweight, you are overweight. Personally, I wouldn't want to risk the civil liabilites that you could face if you were in an accident.

blackout00 · 06-28-2007, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

That's really a decision only you can make Blackout. I don't know how you can expect to tow your boat without also having the ability to take all the extra gear/skis/toys/coolers any boater usually wants too. I've towed a lot of ski/power boats and they always ended up pretty darned loaded with gear and gas. And since not every launching ramp and lake you may want to visit has gas available, you'd be restricted in where you could take your boat if it always had to be towed nearly empty.

We have a cabin on the river with access to gas, so that is where all my gear is for our jet ski and other boat, but they stay at the marina there. I just basically need to get the boat home and sometimes move it from the river to my home. That is how I am getting around the gear and gas. Thanks again for all the good responses!

**Jerry Bransford** · 06-28-2007, 01:40 PM

Based on that Blackout, I'd probably go for it myself so long as I wasn't towing it more than that very short distance and the boat was never loaded. But you have to decide for yourself and only if you feel it is safe enough for you.

blackout00 · 06-28-2007, 01:46 PM

Okay, thanks again. I am guessing that I will only be about 400 lbs over the 2000 and if I drive smart that should not be too bad. I know that the length is the big issue here, but my hands are a bit tied!