Serious Thoughts About Safe Towing - G-Series Nautiques

[jjackkrash]

Can you point out which page mentions anything about a WDH in the GMC document, I could not find it? EDIT: Where is it says Trailer Weight Ratings in bold capital letters it then says those weights are for WDH. I think that applies to even the 2500 and 3500 charts because there is not any other bold letters until after all of the towing capacity charts. It would have been nice if this document had page numbers.

The notes reference WDH for 1500 but do not reference WDH for 2500s.

Also, look at pages 13 and 14 here for 2015:

https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam...-%20Savana.pdf

1500s need WDH to exceed 7K lbs.; 2500s do not. (note 1 on page 14 for 2500s: "Trailer rating limited to 13,000 lbs with weight-carrying or weight-distributing hitch (conventional) on select models.").

[Cpan13]

The older Fords (pre 2016) had the same weight distribution hitch note. I traded my older F250 in on a 2017 F350 with the 6.7. I will post a photo when I get home. The 2017 F350 SWD 6.7 is 18K weight carrying and 18K weight distributing. The limit for me is my hitch which with a 2 5/16th hitch is limited to a max GTW of 14500 and tongue weight of 1500. I am using the weight safe adjustable two sided hitch. (We love it by the way). It has a built in tongue weight meter on the hitch and have used it for a few commercial projects as well. So, with our full loaded G23 (500 lbs ballast, full tank of gas and est 300 pounds of other BS) the total tow package comes out to roughy 8,890lbs, well under both the conventional tow (18K) and hitch limits (14.5K) as well as tongue weight sitting at about 700 pounds. It tows like a champ and the engine has so much power.

Those new Fords are actually really nice. And I'm jealous of your hitch. Been wanting a WeighSafe for a while. Nice boat and rig!

[Longhorn1186]

Nope, I'm good up to 17,000 for weight carrying and WDH. Sorry about your Ford....

The limit many people don't see or overlook is the ball and accessory limit. For example, my F350 has a conventional and WDH limit of 18,000lbs. It does not discriminate straight weight vs weight distributing so my truck conventional limit is 18K with the HD receiver and towing package on the truck. A lot of people (not saying you) will go with that and never pay attention to the tongue limit or hitch/ball limit which may be much lower. The hitch/ball limit I use is rated to 14500 with a tongue weight of 1500 pounds. I am well within that but lets say I wanted to tow some farm equipment or tractor that weighted 16K pounds. I would be within the limits of the truck and receiver on the truck but over the limits of the hitch itself for the ball/hitch rating. I have seen people get in trouble that way or at least put themselves in a position to get in trouble. I have always been impressed by the towing limits of the GM products. I am happy Ford has raised their new trucks up to 18K on the SWD superduty with diesel. I have no plans to tow more than my G so I am happy but its nice to know I have some wiggle room between the tow package and the max. A few friends tow at the very limit of their F150 or GM1500 series trucks. It works on straight and level roads but hills, braking and boat ramps are where they will end up in trouble.

[Longhorn1186]

Those new Fords are actually really nice. And I'm jealous of your hitch. Been wanting a WeighSafe for a while. Nice boat and rig!

I put off getting a weight safe. I am glad I have one now. It beats going to a weight station and going through all of that to see what your actual number is. (I am OCD like that haha). The weighsafe is built like a tank as well. Could not be happier.

[jjackkrash]

That weigh safe hitch looks pretty slick. I just ordered one.

[xxrb2010]

On heavy truck I guess WDH and conventional is the same weight limit due to the stiff rear "suspension". If you make your F150 stiffer on the rear you do not need a WDH. This is my understanding on how it is working. Feel free to send me your tomahawk.

[Profunctional]

Does a WDH eliminate the rear sag?

[Neverenough]

Ive watched the thread since it began and never gave it much thought but after pulling our G for the first time with our 4x4 diesel Excursion I cant imagine pulling one of these boats without a 3/4 ton minimum.. Could you pull it with a 1/2 ton sure but no way you can do so safely. Heck Im thinking I need to upgrade the brakes on the Ex for longer hauls.

[xxrb2010]

Ive watched the thread since it began and never gave it much thought but after pulling our G for the first time with our 4x4 diesel Excursion I cant imagine pulling one of these boats without a 3/4 ton minimum.. Could you pull it with a 1/2 ton sure but no way you can do so safely. Heck Im thinking I need to upgrade the brakes on the Ex for longer hauls.

Up to G21 I believe a modern 1/2 ton is ok, above, I would start to agree with you

[JD ski]

Just some more thoughts. Great topic and ideas. If you don't know much about tires and are running P- (passenger rated) Tires. you need to do some research.
If you have not driven a 2017 diesel 3/4 ton truck, you will be very surprised. They are very quiet, very powerful and fast, and they don't smell. If you need an SUV type vehicle purchase a quad cab short bed and add a camper shell Leer or Snug Top and any of a number of custom bed kits.
I am going to throw another issue in here that has not been discussed fully. Trailer sway and causes, you need to watch this video and gain some information on causes and solutions. I do not think the P3 will work on the boat trailers, but knowledge helps. https://www.propridehitch.com/propri...control-hitch/
I have this hitch on my Airstream, approximately 8600 lbs. loaded. I think of it as insurance as it is expensive. RV trailers have electric brakes an huge difference from surge brakes. It amazes me that boat dealers are selling trailers that barely meet the weight requirement for the boats they are selling.
Sway bars, air bags, and Light Truck (LT) tires can make the world of difference in a tow vehicle but it will not change the tow rating.

PS. Jeff you need to air bag that Excursion. https://www.airliftcompany.com/
The Tundra has very soft rear suspension but the remote control Air-Lift system with on board air compressor allows you to change on the fly ride height and quality.

[NautiqueJeff]

Jeff you need to air bag that Excursion. https://www.airliftcompany.com/

I have wanted to do that for years. I agree that it would be a great idea. Maybe I'll check into that next week.

[Cpan13]

Up to G21 I believe a modern 1/2 ton is ok, above, I would start to agree with you

The weight difference between a G21 and G23 is almost negligible when it comes to towing. A G21 with full fuel and some gear will weigh the same as an empty G23. If you can afford a G series, or any other big wake boat, then just step up to a full size truck and pull it safely.

[jjackkrash]

@JDski, I have been looking off and on at a Hensley Arrow / Propride for a while for my 36' TT, but feel like my truck pulls "good enough" with a standard hitch. The big thing holding me back is I heard you can't move the trailer around with a standard ball on a forklift or tractor once you install the hitch, is this right?

[Sailfun]

The weight difference between a G21 and G23 is almost negligible when it comes to towing. A G21 with full fuel and some gear will weigh the same as an empty G23. If you can afford a G series, or any other big wake boat, then just step up to a full size truck and pull it safely.

I see boats constantly in my area being pulled by vehicles that have no business being used. There are many factors that go into towing limits. Engine power is probably the least important. The limits are set based on emergency stopping and handling. If when you're braking on a wet road your front wheels don't have enough weight on them to steer the rig without slipping you will not like the result.
I do commend Nautique for starting to use real weights in the manuals in 2016. The Nautique weights now include options normally installed. Other boat manufactures list the basic boat. The G23 weighs 5800 lbs. Now add gas at 400, trailer with spare tire 1800, gear you load in boat at 200 lbs and then add any lead, extra stereo gear, batteries etc. The basic G23 tow weight will be 8200lbs. That's the minimum.
Now take your tow vehicle and look at your basic limits with the hitch and ball you use. Subtract whatever the adjustment is for the upsized tires almost every vehicle is sold with and I suspect not 1 in 10 G23's is being towed within published limits. Many are being towed by family SUV's with a 5000lb rating that's really about 4000 with the big tires!!!

[JD ski]

I have wanted to do that for years. I agree that it would be a great idea. Maybe I'll check into that next week.

Possibly a site sponsor? There are a few companies that make the air bag set ups. Air-Lift seems to have a design that mounts wider (toward the wheels) than others companies. This width adds another level of stability that the companies with the narrower mounting designs can't quite achieve and the remote systems are the only way to go.