Trailering G23

[Beg4wake]

For clarity I am referring to the dry weight of the boat alone. As jack mentioned you still need a trailer fuel and gear. This puts you quickly in the 8000lb range.

I’m looking to purchase a new truck in the next 6-12 months and currently leaning toward a 3/4 ton. I do want to check out the latest 1/2 ton lineup from Ford and Ram. If anyone is towing a G23!longer distances with a 1/2 ton please chime in with your experience...




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I tow my boat every time I go to the lake whether it's my home lake (10 mins away) or my next to home lake (1.5hours away), or to my dealer (also 1.5hours away). I have a Ram 2500 cummins. Used to have a Ram 1500 hemi and have also towed with a newer Ford F150 EcoBoost. The Ford EcoBoost would def be my choice of 1500's, however, I will never go back from having a diesel. HUGE difference in towing these big boats! Not to mention, you put that much stress on 1/2 ton fairly regularly, you're really going to wear that 1/2 ton out quickly (suspension components, engine, brakes, etc). IMO, get the 3/4 ton, they're made to tow on a regular basis and will outlast and outperform for this reason!

[jjackkrash]

While i get the point of the test I think that, like many other theories, this would look far different with the weight over the axle (like a boats weight is distributed over the axle(s) of a trailer).
I think this topic is seriously lacking in information when it comes to boats. There's a lot of opinions and concepts taken from general trailering guidelines, but not much information specific to boat trailering.

It would be good to add boat-specific trailering info if you have any to add.

I'd note I have a tandem axle 14k flat bed (20 ft.); a tandem axle 14k dump trailer (10 ft); a tandem axle 7k flat bed (16 ft.); a 10k TT (36 ft.) and have tested towing these trailers with different loads and measured tongue weights to see where each likes to tow. The longer the trailer the more susceptible to wig wag the trailer is, but they all start towing poorly with the tongue weight less than about 7-8%. The TT is almost untowable at less than 7% and likes to tow with about 12-13%. Even the short dump tailer has worse towing characteristics when the dirt is loaded such that there is not enough tongue weight but you can get away with less than the TT.

Boats are not as easy to test different tongue weights because it is not as easy to adjust the load. But I would need to see some evidence that boats somehow tow better with less tongue weight than other types of loads or that they are less prone to wig wag with say less than 7% tongue weight. I can see a trip axle trailer needing less tongue weight if the trailer is shorter and the load is lighter, but I will remain skeptical without seeing some evidence that 10% is not ideal or that they somehow tow better with say 5% on the tongue.

[cwglee]

It would be good to add boat-specific trailering info if you have any to add.

I'd note I have a tandem axle 14k flat bed (20 ft.); a tandem axle 14k dump trailer (10 ft); a tandem axle 7k flat bed (16 ft.); a 10k TT (36 ft.) and have tested towing these trailers with different loads and measured tongue weights to see where each likes to tow. The longer the trailer the more susceptible to wig wag the trailer is, but they all start towing poorly with the tongue weight less than about 7-8%. The TT is almost untowable at less than 7% and likes to tow with about 12-13%. Even the short dump tailer has worse towing characteristics when the dirt is loaded such that there is not enough tongue weight but you can get away with less than the TT.

Boats are not as easy to test different tongue weights because it is not as easy to adjust the load. But I would need to see some evidence that boats somehow tow better with less tongue weight than other types of loads or that they are less prone to wig wag with say less than 7% tongue weight. I can see a trip axle trailer needing less tongue weight if the trailer is shorter and the load is lighter, but I will remain skeptical without seeing some evidence that 10% is not ideal or that they somehow tow better with say 5% on the tongue.

I don't have any specific links, just mainly things i've read in BoatUS magazines over the years and personal experience, which would just be more opinions.
The magazines articles will typically hit on the basics, overall weight, axle ability, tires, ratings on the various pieces of equipment from receiver hitch to hitch ball etc. All while sneaking in a pitch for whatever vehicle brand they are marketing in this printing. I haven't encountered anything discussing a WDH on a boat trailer, its a topic lacking in defintive facts.
As of right now I tend to agree that just the mechanics of a swing away trailer tongue with hydraulic brakes make it difficult to see how it would work well, but just my opinion having never tried one.

[hal2814]

To answer the OP’s original question, trailering will be very different. A G23 doesn’t handle well at slow speeds compared to its 23’ peers. A 20’ Mastercraft would run rings around it. You’ll get used to it though.

As far as these tow questions, read your manual. Trust your manual. If you’re upgrading trucks to tow more, read that manual. It’ll be online somewhere.

[jjackkrash]

I haven't encountered anything discussing a WDH on a boat trailer, its a topic lacking in defintive facts.
As of right now I tend to agree that just the mechanics of a swing away trailer tongue with hydraulic brakes make it difficult to see how it would work well, but just my opinion having never tried one.

I have never seen a swing away tongue that could be used with a WDH (there might be one but I am not aware of it), and I've only seen pictures of boats with a WDH (I've never seen one in person). I think my take away is make sure the tow vehicle you select is rated to tow the boat without a WDH or accept the fact that you are towing outside the vehicle's recommended limits.

[begone]

I tow our GS24 every time to the lake and launch. 2017 Raptor, With no issues. Even took it to Lake Travis 4 hours away. I honestly prefer launching and bringing the boat back to my house to wipe down and prep for the next trip. The docks here on a lake Ray Hubbard suck and spiders are everywhere. So more peace of mind for me.

[Gtsum2]

With a conventional/bumper pull hitch, the carry weight on the hitch can move significant weight off the steer axle and can change the way the truck breaks and handles because the hitch is acting as a lever (because it is substantially behind the drive axle). This is unlike a fifth wheel or gooseneck hitch which puts the carry weight directly on the drive axle. The front tires can have less friction and less connection with the road when the conventional hitch is acting like a lever with too much carry weight. The purpose of a WDH is to transfer some of the carry weight back through the truck frame to the steer axle and also back to the trailer axles to counteract the lever created by the conventional hitch. The reason many half tons require a WDH after 5000 lbs. on a conventional hitch (but not a fifth wheel hitch) is because they assume the hitch will be carrying at least 10 percent of that weight on the lever (otherwise the trailer is overly susceptible to sway and wig wag) and the truck is designed to have x amount of weight on the steer axle. Assuming that the "brakes" are not impacted by too much carry weight is a mistake, bacause it is not really the breaks so much as the traction created by the rubber and the weight on the steer axle that is impacted by carry weight. Also, for point of reference, a WDH does not increase a truck's payload capacity and whatever weight is carried on the combination of both axles counts against payload (although some tongue weight is distributed back to the trailer axle with a WDH). And while air bags can help with sag, the bags do not transfer weight back to the steer axle or solve the all the problems created by the lever that is the conventional hitch.

This^^


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[Mahnal]

This^^

Note, there is a like button for this type of response. ;-)




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[Mahnal]

So, I looked up the details on when a WDH is needed. A bit confusing, but based on what I read, you a 3/4 ton truck would not dramatically change the need for a WDH with Nautique G. Has anyone measured their tongue weight? For example, a F150 well equipped, should be ok with 500 to 750 pounds of tongue weight, a f250 would extend that to 600 to 900 lbs. but there are lots of things here that don’t completely add up with the details listed.

I think I have a better appreciation for the weigh safe hitches.


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[greggmck]

So, I looked up the details on when a WDH is needed. A bit confusing, but based on what I read, you a 3/4 ton truck would not dramatically change the need for a WDH with Nautique G. Has anyone measured their tongue weight? For example, a F150 well equipped, should be ok with 500 to 750 pounds of tongue weight, a f250 would extend that to 600 to 900 lbs. but there are lots of things here that don�t completely add up with the details listed.

I think I have a better appreciation for the weigh safe hitches.


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For a dual axle trailer with a 2016 to 2019 G23 the tounge weight is 600 to 700lbs. With a triple axle trailer the same boat has a tounge weight of 150 to 200lbs. I have measured these and posted them in the "Straight talk about trailering thread"...

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[options123]

Hey all,

I just wanted to give an update with my experience towing my g23 now for a month with my 1500 Ram. I will say its not ideal and much different then towing my old nxt 20 but for my purposes it works fine. I did tow it 2 hours away on mostly flat freeway and didn't have any trouble with sway or braking. I think if I lived around mountains or did lots of towing I would recommend a bigger truck.

Also, for anyone searching, I started this thread with questions about getting the boat on the trailer. This has been super easy once I taught my wife to drive it on the trailer.

[stuckinaustinag]

Curious if anyone has experience with larger SUV? We have a 2019 Land Cruiser with a tow rating of 8100lbs and was hoping to tow from Lake Austin to Lake Travis (just a few miles) with occasional trip to the dealer (20ish miles). I have experience towing our GS20 with a smaller SUV (lexus GX) and was not an issue.

[Mahnal]

Curious if anyone has experience with larger SUV? We have a 2019 Land Cruiser with a tow rating of 8100lbs and was hoping to tow from Lake Austin to Lake Travis (just a few miles) with occasional trip to the dealer (20ish miles). I have experience towing our GS20 with a smaller SUV (lexus GX) and was not an issue.

6000 for the boat, trailer, plus gas, plus anything else, you are past the 8100lbs. My experience is similar with a v8 4Runner pulling a 4000# boat, so I was over the 5000 # limit. And it was fine. But I have thought about this more since... if sway is and issue, you may not fully appreciate the problem until it’s too late. So be extremely careful. Additionally, if you have a wreck, some one could claim you were negligent, since you are over factory specs.


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[greggmck]

Curious if anyone has experience with larger SUV? We have a 2019 Land Cruiser with a tow rating of 8100lbs and was hoping to tow from Lake Austin to Lake Travis (just a few miles) with occasional trip to the dealer (20ish miles). I have experience towing our GS20 with a smaller SUV (lexus GX) and was not an issue.

I towed a G23 for short distances (5 to 20 miles) with the Land Cruiser for two years. It towed the boat very well. I would want a larger vehicle if towing long distances and more frequent or through mountains. I had electric over hydraulic brakes and it stopped very well.

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[kylant]

i was witness to an accident caused by a trailer being towed by an undersized suv.
it was a ford explorer sport towing a rather large travel trailer.
we were on a descent on the freeway. the trailer started swaying. it progressed to the point where it caused the explorer to flip on it's side. just on it's side, no rollover.
the problem was, the driver, dad, had his window open. when the car came to a stop, dad's head was pinned at the neck between the ground and the a-pillar of the car.
with all the people on the scene, there was absolutely no way we could lift the car off the man.
had to wait until ems arrived to lift the car. to say the least, the man did not survive.

so after watching that accident and experiencing my boat control my Tundra on one occasion, it has been a rule of mine to always have a truck big enough, maybe even overkill to handle the loads i may be hauling.