2015 Towing 8000-9000lb Boat

[NickTF]

Well some things have shaken out for our family and we may be looking to add 25 to 28 foot pilot house or walk around fishing boat to the mix which will be a full time trailered boat. I would estimate the total load to be as high as 9000lbs. As it sits right now the only modifications i've done include 37" tires (12.50 x 17 d-rated toyo M/ts that do have a higher load rating than the stock duratracs despite their d-rating), replacing the oem muffler with a dynomax race bullet muffler, locker bypass and an AEV corrected speedometer for the large tires. In the near future I'd like to add thuren coils and overland shocks to the front. I'm thinking air bags and daystar cradles are pretty much going to be mandatory unless I want the truck to sag a good amount in the rear. Here in southern delaware/eastern shore of Maryland we are nearly 100% on flat land so not like I will be towing this up significant grades. Any thoughts on use of the truck for this purpose? I really don't see the 37" tires being an issue with regard to gear reduction given the nearly flat grades here where I live and from what I gather those towing similar loads with std 6.4 hemi equipped 2500 trucks appear to be quite happy. In any event, the floor is yours to those who tow these kind of loads with 14+ year power wagons.......

[olyelr]

I tow a 28' travel trailer that is 7000 lbs empty (so most likely 8000+ by the time the wife is through loading ) and the old wagon does plenty good enough for me. In regards to the motor, just let her rev and it will work, just likes to eat fuel (we get about 8-9mpg when towing the tt). As far as the rear sag, with the weight distribution hitch the truck sat perfectly level, but i dont foresee you using a wd hitch so it most likely will be a little low in the back. Now, if you level the truck with thuren coils, well it will look much worse when towing. I would highly recommend bags for the rear.

[Bill2014]

Well - those 37's aren't doing you any favors with towing a heavier load. You are losing 12% torque right off the bat with the tires, so don't expect to beat anyone off the line
Boats trailer setups tend to be right around 10% tongue weight. So 900 pounds tongue weight is going to drop your rear-end around 5 inches and raise your front end at least an inch. This can vary quite a bit depending on the length of your hitch tongue - shorter tongues will reduce your squat a little.
I regularly tow 15,000 pounds with 33's and performance is acceptable - I doubt I could make 37's work in my situation - the tranny wouldn't survive. Use Low range when launching and pulling out.

[NickTF]

I'm a big believer in some form of rear support. I loved my timbrens in my 97 2500 but don't want to totally screw articulation of the rear hence why bags would be in the picture.

I'm not trying to race anyone with a load like that so no worries there.

[NickTF]

Airlift appears to offer a 5000 kit with and without a "jounce bumper". Wouldn't the kit without the jounce bumper provide more articulation when not inflated or is my understanding of the jounce bumper not good?

edit: Sounds like the bags will replace the bump stops so it may be a good idea to run the kit with the internal jounce bumper to reduce change of damage to air bags on bottom out conditions (which the truck will seldom if ever see).

[Explorin Sonoran]

Just like olyelr this is what I tow throughout the mountains of Arizona with no issue. Probably around 8000lbs loaded. Average 8-9mpg as well doing 65mph. I can't speak for the 37s though.

[NickTF]

Explorin, is your front suspension stock? What airbags do you run?

[Explorin Sonoran]

Hey Nick,

All stock, front is a little too high. I need to buy a longer drop shank to get it perfect but it tows just fine. No airbags yet but they are on the list, just a WD hitch right now.

[NickTF]

I see. Looks like a 10" drop hitch will be about perfectly level in my case. Looks like ratings of 14,500 are common for the 2.5" receiver versions but not cheap at around $300. I won't have a WD hitch though so would rely much more on the rear axle. From what i gather a WD hitch may not be the most practical thing for 4 tows a month between 20-50 miles but i'm just beginning my research.

[Explorin Sonoran]

Air bags probably make the most sense for your application, my springs squat pretty hard before I connect the load bars. I wouldn't want to connect a WD hitch that often especially without a power tongue jack.

[NickTF]

4.10 gears and 37" tires equates very similar to 3.73 gears and 33" tires so I don't think i'll have any trouble at all on the flat grounds I'll be towing the boat across. Worst case i'll manually shift to extent rpm but I have a feeling tow/haul mode will be all that's needed given my less than nascar-while-towing aspirations.

[TwinStick]

Practical or not, WD hitch with sway control is the way to go. Period. It only takes about 2-5 minutes more to hook up & the benefit is well worth it IMHO. It only takes 1 time for something to go wrong for a disaster to happen. Wind, Semi-Trucks, panic stops, etc... can & do happen all the time. Hell, I have a little 18' Camper, 3500 lbs & 350 lb tongue weight but I was able to reuse my old WD hitch w/sway control setup from our 10,500 lb Toy Hauler on it, rated at 12,500lbs. Works excellent. This camper does not move at all when passing semi trucks or when they are blowing by me. I can be doing 70 mph & mash the brakes to the floor & it stops straight.

As others have said, 37" tires will do you no favors when towing but you should be fine for flatland. Having your tire size changed with a programmer might help with shifting.


While i don't have a newer PW, I have been towing my entire life & drove t-trailers for a few years. I have seen some unreal carnage that easily could have been totally prevented with the use of proper equipment in the first place.
While in Texas we stopped at a gas station to fuel up the Corolla & a guy pulled up on the opposite side of the pumps with an F-150 towing a 30' Toy Hauler similar to the one we had. He had no WD hitch & no sway control & the kicker was....he was using a Wal-Mart hitch, the kind that are only rated at 5-6000 lbs MAX. The tongue where the ball was bolted on, was bent down so far, that the trailers ball mount lip was touching the hitch as well. I mentioned it to him. He immediately dropped the F bomb & told me to mind my own GD business, blah, blah, blah. People are awesome & many have zero regard for you or your families safety. Gotta be on high alert, especially when towing.

[Shaved Ice]

While in Texas we stopped at a gas station to fuel up the Corolla & a guy pulled up on the opposite side of the pumps with an F-150 towing a 30' Toy Hauler similar to the one we had. He had no WD hitch & no sway control & the kicker was....he was using a Wal-Mart hitch, the kind that are only rated at 5-6000 lbs MAX. The tongue where the ball was bolted on, was bent down so far, that the trailers ball mount lip was touching the hitch as well. I mentioned it to him. He immediately dropped the F bomb & told me to mind my own GD business, blah, blah, blah. People are awesome & many have zero regard for you or your families safety. Gotta be on high alert, especially when towing.

Sounds like a call to the Texas Highway Patrol was in order. Unless of course this happened before cellphones.

[olyelr]

Airlift appears to offer a 5000 kit with and without a "jounce bumper". Wouldn't the kit without the jounce bumper provide more articulation when not inflated or is my understanding of the jounce bumper not good?

edit: Sounds like the bags will replace the bump stops so it may be a good idea to run the kit with the internal jounce bumper to reduce change of damage to air bags on bottom out conditions (which the truck will seldom if ever see).

Yes, exactly. That is the reason I paid a little extra for the bags with the bump-stops in them. I dont think they really limit uptravel at all. If they do, it sure isnt very much.

[OffroadTreks]

I don't have the photo anymore but we saw a dumbass pulling a 25-27ft jayco that had a hitch with a coooler on the back. His tow vehicle, a 2 door lifted Jeep Wrangler on 35's. Nose almost in the sky. His whole rig was swaying all over the play. Absolutely insane and dangerously stupid. I remember we saw this thing swaying and bouncing down the high way and when we finally saw the Jeep towing it, we were blown away in shock someone would even dare do it, let alone 70mph down the highway.

[olyelr]

Just like olyelr this is what I tow throughout the mountains of Arizona with no issue. Probably around 8000lbs loaded. Average 8-9mpg as well doing 65mph. I can't speak for the 37s though.

Dang, if you had ramboxes and a Jayco we would be twins! Lookin' good man!

[NickTF]

No doubt people do some amazing things. I try not to be included in that group of amazing

[TwinStick]

No doubt people do some amazing things. I try not to be included in that group of amazing

I think we all try hard NOT to be included in that group. Some people just don't care. I think the mere fact we own Power Wagons is proof positive that we at least have a little something upstairs !

[Reloaderguy]

If the boat trailer has surge brakes you'll need to find a hitch manufacturer that makes specific brackets. Equalizer used to but I'm not sure if they still do. Chain style WD won't work on a single beam surge brake trailer.

[NickTF]

Well I've placed an order for the world's most expensive damn ball mount (yes I know there are more expensive out there). I don't know whether to insert this mount in my receiver or in a damn trophy room!!!!!!! I pull a few trailers with 2" balls frequently hence the reason for the 180 setup. Atleast I will have some piece of mind (8,000lbs on the 2" ball and 14,500lbs on the 2 5/16" ball which the boat trailer is sure to have).

https://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts/We ... 10-25.html

[Bill2014]

Or you could just use a separate tongue and ball for each.

[NickTF]

Or you could just use a separate tongue and ball for each.

Not a ton of options out there for 10" drop mounts rated for 9000-9500lbs with adjustable height options.

[Bill2014]

16000 pounds max Gross Trailer Weight (3000 pounds max tongue weight) Titan by Reese




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[TwinStick]

This is basically my set up: https://www.reesehitches.com/products/R ... _Kit,66074


Notice the solid adjustable shank is NOT included and the 2" ball is also NOT included. https://www.reesehitches.com/products/W ... hank,54970

[agpilot]

https://www.weigh-safe.com/product/weig ... rop-hitch/

I run this on my truck - it's exceptionally well made, here in America.