Serious Thoughts About Safe Towing - G-Series Nautiques

[NautiqueJeff]

There are a number of threads on this site related to boat weight, trailer weight, trailer capacity, tow vehicle capacities, etc. I wanted to post a thread with the information directly from Ram-Lin, Goodyear, and Ford, to reflect my experiences towing and the recommended towing setup for my specific vehicle (2005 Ford Excursion with 6.0L Diesel).

Boat: 2015 Super Air Nautique G23
Weight (Dry) 5,400 lbs.
Extra Gear: (Lead) 1,000 lbs., (Gear, Fuel, etc.) 600 lbs.
Trailer Weight: 1,900 lbs.
TOTAL BEING TOWED: 8,900 lbs.

Trailer: 2015 Ram-Lin G23 Tandem Axle / 288
Trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): 9,990 lbs.
Trailer Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Capacity (Each Axle): 4545 lbs. (TOTAL: 9,090 lbs.) <-- LIMITING FACTOR
Trailer Tires: Goodyear Marathon ST225/75R15 Load Range D - Capacity (Each Tire): 2,540 lbs. at 65 PSI (TOTAL: 10,160 lbs.)

I tow with a 2005 Ford Excursion Diesel. On the trailer hitch itself, it has stamped that it has a maximum towing capacity of 12,500 lbs. This is misleading for several reasons.

1. That is the rating of the HITCH, not the vehicle.

2. The 2005 Ford Towing Guide lists the official maximum capacity of the Excursion with the 6.0 Diesel and the 3.73 rear end as 11,000 lbs. (2002 - Present Ford owners can get their towing information here.)

3. This 11,000 lbs. capacity is only valid when using a weight-distributing hitch.

4. Like many tow vehicles, the towing capacity of the 2005 Excursion without use of a weight distributing hitch is limited to 5,000 lbs.

I feel confident that the trailer itself, the axles, and the tires are within spec for the weight of my G23 as I normally load it (including the lead). The limiting factor appears to be the axles, at 9,090 lbs. capacity.

I used a weight distributing hitch in the past when towing my 2003 210 (with the lead) with a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but sold the hitch years ago. I'll be purchasing another one soon, likely the Equal-i-zer 90-00-1200 12,000 lbs. capacity hitch along with the pole tongue adapter that allows this hitch to work with boat trailers and other trailers with pole tongues. This should make towing the G23 more stable, safer, and completely legal, and also reduce the rear-end squatting that occurs when towing heavy now.

I am posting this so that others towing these heavy boats will look into the TRUE limitations of their vehicles, trailers and hitch systems, and upgrade them accordingly. These are heavy boats, and it is important to tow them safely.

[JoeA]

Thanks for posting.

[nyryan2001]

I don't think Most folks understand what a weight distributing hitch is or how it works. Most used for RV travel trailers on standard hitch mount trucks/SUVs to apply some of the tongue weight to the front wheels of the tow vehicle. PITA 5min process jacking it up cranking up the torsion bars and the letting it back down. I don't see many boat owners putting up with this. Major PitA and would require mods to the trailers.

A WDH has little to do with the hitch receiver on the truck. Has everything to do with adding dual torsion bars to the sides of the tow hitch to transfer tongue weight to the front tires through the hitch reciver.

Most of the new larger 1/2t trucks can manage the 1000lbs of tongue weight a 9000lb G gives. But Jeff's concerns on trucks, trailers and recent discussions on tire capacity are dead on. One of the reasons I upgraded to a full 10k lb rated triple axel. More stable. Heavier suspension, less trailer frame flex. 8" tube frame vs 6". Less tongue weight. Better braking with an extra set of brakes. 6 Tires at 70% load capacity vs 4 at 90-110%. I run LT tires at 65-70 PSI vs passenger tires on my 1/2t truck. All of these factors play into safely towing a heavy boat.

The only modification I would consider to a truck or SUV to suppliment towing safety going heavy would be the Roadmaster Active Suspension.

If you do decent towing of a G using a 1/2ton... You better pay attention.

[NautiqueJeff]

I don't think Most folks understand what a weight distributing hitch is or how it works. Most used for RV travel trailers on standard hitch mount trucks/SUVs to apply some of the tongue weight to the front wheels of the tow vehicle. PITA 5min process jacking it up cranking up the torsion bars and the letting it back down. I don't see many boat owners putting up with this. Major PitA and would require mods to the trailers.

This is exactly why I wanted to start this thread -- so that people take the time to actually understand what they need to do to tow safely and legally with their tow vehicles. So often people see the max tow ratings and don't look any farther to find out what needs to be done in order for those ratings to be realized.

The Equal-i-zer hitch I mentioned can mount to some pole tongue trailers without modification to the trailer (other than mounting the tabs). Some (like mine) require the adapter plate, but it is a bolt-on deal, and doesn't take long to install. I ran that plate on my 210 trailer, too.

Once the equipment is mounted on the trailer, I would estimate less than five minutes of additional hook-up time (more like two or three once you're used to the process). I would hope that people towing these boats wouldn't mind that small bit of extra time to ensure the safety of their boat, their family, others on the road, and their legal status to tow. And I wouldn't consider it that much of a pain to use one of these hitches. Worst part is storing it when not in use.

In fact, the Toyota Tundra has the same requirement over 5,000 lbs. See page 276 of your manual. http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/docum...df/sec_2-5.pdf

By the way, I agree totally about the tow vehicle tires helping too. I too run 10-ply LT tires (BFG All Terrain) on my Excursion for just this reason.

[HS]

great contribution. . here's some info on weight dist. hitches here to add info for members. http://www.etrailer.com/faq-weightdistribution.aspx

[nauty220]

For the GMC owners check out the link below, page 4! Lot of discussion in another thread with Yukon (8500lbs) and Yukon XL (8300 lbs). I think these numbers a very conservative for liability reasons but they are what they are

http://www.gmc.com/content/dam/GMC/g...wing-guide.pdf

[NCH2oSki]

Wow, that is quite the set up. Good job on asking the members to understand what is involved in towing that behemoth of a boat. I dont guess I realized just how massive that wake machine is, until you set it up with your excursion. .

[hondaprlud]

Good thread. After towing boats around for a 14 yrs or so, I didn't think much about buying a bumper pull camper. 28' 8000lbs. Plus gear

At first I tried with the standard hitches. Not my best idea. Now I have a full WD hitch etc. much much better.

These new boats are the real deal towing wise and need to be treated as such.


Sent from my iPhone 7 prerelease

[Kenv]

Jeff.....what is the approx. height of your G23 as it sits on that trailer...from the ground to the highest point tower folded down? Do you know off hand from your own measurement or if you can remember numbers from previous posts?. Thanks. Man..that picture makes your EX look like a Ranger with a camper shell...lol. Thanks for providing the towing info. As you mentioned.....the NEWER Equalizer hitches are WAY easier to hook up than the old chain style...but like nyryan mentioned...don't see too many boaters willing to undertake that added accessory. I don't even think the guys pulling big go-fast boats like Fountains, Baja's etc use WD. Most pull with duallys but alot with single rear 1Tons. Now the camping crowd is a whole lot different when it comes to pulling a Travel Trailer using these WD and sway control units.

[HS]

For the GMC owners check out the link below, page 4! Lot of discussion in another thread with Yukon (8500lbs) and Yukon XL (8300 lbs). I think these numbers a very conservative for liability reasons but they are what they are

Yes -- a few years back I was shopping for tow gigs and from one yore to the next, the tow rating dropped in the same vehicle and I was told this was due to new ratings criteria -- so maybe more conservative, maybe more realistic. . .my concern is usually when loaded for vacation on a road trip vs haul and launch.

[NautiqueJeff]

Jeff.....what is the approx. height of your G23 as it sits on that trailer...from the ground to the highest point tower folded down? Do you know off hand from your own measurement or if you can remember numbers from previous posts?. Thanks.

I do, as a matter of fact! This comes directly from Nautique.

[Kenv]

Thanks Jeff for the quick response.

[scottb7]

For me it is too bad that the weight that a g21 purchase would move me from 3,900 lbs super air 210 to 5,200 dry weights on the g21. The g series is obviously fantastic, but it just causes not only the downstream issues of towing, when i simply don't have or want a vehicle that could pull it. (Currently have jeep grand cherokee). But also boat lift related. My lift is rated at 5,000 lbs, and switching out boat lifts is a huge pita. I love my current lift. We actually forgot to empty the full ballast out a couple times and had no problems. If I did that with g21 I would be screwed. And with current boat it is super nice to be able to pop the rear hatches and make sure the bags are empty (having replaced the hard tanks with sacs). On the g series you can't see them at all. And I have read some stories about the ballast gauges not being correct. If that happened just once it would be a very bad day.

I wish they just would have made g21 4000 lbs and allowed for more sub floor ballast.

[nyryan2001]

Interesting specs on the Ram-Lin. The exact measured height of the dual axel Boatmate is just under 11'4" from the ground to the anchor light when the trailer is perfectly level... Makes the Ram-Lin 4" lower?

Triple axel Boatmate is 11'7" to the anchor light.

[xrichard]

The biggest surprise to me is the trailer weight at 1,900 lbs. -- and it's not a huge triple axle/8" frame like nyryan.