Serious Thoughts About Safe Towing - G-Series Nautiques

[xxrb2010]

ironpeddler - Maybe I'm mistaken but GVWR must consider tongue weight (downward pressure). Not the total weight of the trailer/boat. Am I wrong here?

Yes, you are right:
http://www.onlinetowingguide.com/guidelines/gvwr.html

[ironpeddler]

http://boatmatetrailers.com/models_nautique.php

According to the boatmate website the tandem axle weights 1500 lbs., the tandem axle XL weighs 1700 lbs., and the tri-axle weighs 1800 lbs. Does anyone know what type of axles are on the g trailers?? Are they just 3500 lb/ axles? And does anyone know about the "XL"(extra load) tandem trailer that you can order now? What is the difference between that and a regular tandem axle, has anyone ordered that trailer? What is the tongue weight of the g trailer?

[shag]

Gasoline weighs about 8# a gallon, so figure that in too if you fuel up.... Splitting hairs, your GVWR is assuming about a 3/4 tank of fuel if I remember right...

[surroundsound64]

Gas is closer to 6. Fresh water is 8... but as you said, splitting hairs.

[MileHiGuy]

http://boatmatetrailers.com/models_nautique.php

According to the boatmate website the tandem axle weights 1500 lbs., the tandem axle XL weighs 1700 lbs., and the tri-axle weighs 1800 lbs. Does anyone know what type of axles are on the g trailers?? Are they just 3500 lb/ axles? And does anyone know about the "XL"(extra load) tandem trailer that you can order now? What is the difference between that and a regular tandem axle, has anyone ordered that trailer? What is the tongue weight of the g trailer?

I too too would like to know the differences in the XL Boatmate trailer option. My 13 G23 has a slightly bent front axle that cups the inside of the tires and the main frame has a pronounced bow front to rear.

I dont use any lead lead and I have never carried any of the liquids on out Powell trips as we always put these items in the back of the truck.

The front axle issue issue may be from being slightly low on the front (torsion axles) but the tongue jack is so suspect at full extension.

[nyryan2001]

I could not tow my G on the 8300lb rated Boatmate. Had to upgrade to the 10k triple axel.

[ironpeddler]

According to the boatmate website the tandem axle XL trailer and the tri-axle both have the same GVWR but the tandem axle has 100lbs. more capacity.

[greggmck]

One aspect of towing I don’t see discussed here is the difference between a dual-axle and a triple-axel trailer on towing safety. I just upgraded my boat from a 2016 G23 to a 2018 G23. For the 2018 I ordered the 10,000lb triple-axel trailer with electric brakes. One thing I did not consider was the difference in tongue weight between these two configurations, which changes my entire perspective on WDH and air bags. I currently only tow about 5 miles to the boat ramp once and 25 miles to the dealer once per year, (we keep our boat on a covered lift 12 month per year) so I had no long distance towing needs. But my wife suggested it would be nice to take our boat on a family trip so I decided to look into how to increase my safety towing near the limit of my vehicle.

I have a 2017 Ford Raptor rated to tow 8,000lbs. With the boat cleaned out of all gear and full fuel I weighed the boat and trailer and it came in at 8,050lbs. Legal with less than full fuel but not much margin. However, the Raptor has ample engine power, transmission gearing, and wheel base to tow much greater weight. Its limiting design element is its long-travel suspension. The suspension travel is why it is limited to 5,000lb towing capacity without a WDH and 8,000lb with a WDH hitch. But here is the thing I learned:

My 2016 G23 completely empty with full fuel has a tongue weight of about 675 lbs with a dual-axel trailer. The 2018 G23 on the triple-axel trailer has a tongue weight of 150lbs! A WDH will do nothing and is not even needed with a triple-axel trailer because the three axels bear most of the load leaving little weight on the tongue. Towing with the triple-axel with electric brakes is a dream. The truck has NO sag, and stops and handles like the G23 is not even back there.

Now that I know this, I would never consider airbags and/or a WDH because I would rather invest in a safer trailer which eliminates the heavy tongue weight completely.

2016 G23 Dual Axle Trailer - 675lbs Tongue Weight 3+ inches of rear sag.


2018 G23 on 10,000lb Triple-Axle trailer with electric brakes. 150lb tongue weight, no rear sag.

[sixcampbells]

Man I wish I had the triple axle for my '17 G23. Tongue weight of 150#'s! Wow.

[GMLIII]

Very nice detailed and useful towing infomation comparing the 2 and 3 axle trailers

[scottb7]

That is very interesting.

[gary s]

I currently only tow about 5 miles to the boat ramp once and 25 miles to the dealer once per year

You sir are setting yourself up for a big accident. Check any towing site or forum - tongue weight should be between 7 and 10% of towed load,no matter how many axles you have. Once you get on the open road and up to speed you'll soon find out the hard way that the tail will wag the dog,it will get worse as a truck passes you,18 wheeler flat beds for some reason the worst. When it happens don't hit your brakes but use your brake controller if you have one and slow the rig down using the trailer brakes. Then go and change your shorts and get some weight on that hitch. You owe it to your passengers and anyone else you share the road with.

[Tallredrider]

"I currently only tow about 5 miles to the boat ramp once and 25 miles to the dealer once per year" You sir are setting yourself up for a big accident. Check any towing site or forum - tongue weight should be between 7 and 10% of towed load,no matter how many axles you have. Once you get on the open road and up to speed you'll soon find out the hard way that the tail will wag the dog,it will get worse as a truck passes you,18 wheeler flat beds for some reason the worst. When it happens don't hit your brakes but use your brake controller if you have one and slow the rig down using the trailer brakes. Then go and change your shorts and get some weight on that hitch. You owe it to your passengers and anyone else you share the road with.

I think that is a good point of discussion. I too, worry about too little tongue weight. It would seem if you hit a bump in the road just right, the tongue would become weightless, or even pull up on the hitch.

I would have to think that at some point the location of the tires and how many axles does matter. For example, a boxcar trailer you often see semi trucks carrying has wheels at the front and the back of the trailer with virtually zero tongue weight.

It is going to be pretty tough to get a triple axle trailer to sway with a G onboard, even in a hurricane. It is critical that the trailer be level so that all 3 axles are carrying equal weight.

How far apart do the front and rear tires of the trailer have to be for it to be OK?

[Cpan13]

One aspect of towing I don’t see discussed here is the difference between a dual-axle and a triple-axel trailer on towing safety. I just upgraded my boat from a 2016 G23 to a 2018 G23. For the 2018 I ordered the 10,000lb triple-axel trailer with electric brakes. One thing I did not consider was the difference in tongue weight between these two configurations, which changes my entire perspective on WDH and air bags. I currently only tow about 5 miles to the boat ramp once and 25 miles to the dealer once per year, (we keep our boat on a covered lift 12 month per year) so I had no long distance towing needs. But my wife suggested it would be nice to take our boat on a family trip so I decided to look into how to increase my safety towing near the limit of my vehicle.

I have a 2017 Ford Raptor rated to tow 8,000lbs. With the boat cleaned out of all gear and full fuel I weighed the boat and trailer and it came in at 8,050lbs. Legal with less than full fuel but not much margin. However, the Raptor has ample engine power, transmission gearing, and wheel base to tow much greater weight. Its limiting design element is its long-travel suspension. The suspension travel is why it is limited to 5,000lb towing capacity without a WDH and 8,000lb with a WDH hitch. But here is the thing I learned:

My 2016 G23 completely empty with full fuel has a tongue weight of about 675 lbs with a dual-axel trailer. The 2018 G23 on the triple-axel trailer has a tongue weight of 150lbs! A WDH will do nothing and is not even needed with a triple-axel trailer because the three axels bear most of the load leaving little weight on the tongue. Towing with the triple-axel with electric brakes is a dream. The truck has NO sag, and stops and handles like the G23 is not even back there.

Now that I know this, I would never consider airbags and/or a WDH because I would rather invest in a safer trailer which eliminates the heavy tongue weight completely.

2016 G23 Dual Axle Trailer - 675lbs Tongue Weight 3+ inches of rear sag.


2018 G23 on 10,000lb Triple-Axle trailer with electric brakes. 150lb tongue weight, no rear sag.

If you completely empty your boat of all gear to tow it, where do you put your gear? If it’s in the back of your truck then you’re defeating the purpose.

[greggmck]

If you completely empty your boat of all gear to tow it, where do you put your gear? If it’s in the back of your truck then you’re defeating the purpose.

Reread the post. The boat was full of fuel (400lbs) and empty of gear because I was trading it in for the new one. I never tow with full fuel and only have about 200lbs of gear. So at 1/2 tank or lower it is the same weight with my gear. Furthermore, I would prefer to tow any distance close to empty to reduce the risk of fire incase of an accident.