2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

[Seasonally.boating.jon]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

Actually I have thought of purchasing the helper springs. I mentioned the helper springs to a mechanic(30 or 40 years exp.), he said that a good set of gas shocks would be all that I need. So I went with it. I'll buy a good set of shocks, if it doesn't work out right I'll get the springs. I should to replace the shocks anyway. Thanks

My factory cooler is not adequate?

 

[batman99]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

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Instead of air shocks / air bags that can leak air, do investigate Timbren SES units instead. If wondering, I installed Timbren SES units on the rear of my Tow Vehicle ( http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w251/Spike99-Pictures/Montana Van/TimbrenBottomOutsStop-3.jpg ) with coil springs and under my previous Tow Vehicle (that uses leaf springs) . For each vehicle, very pleased with this "install it and leave it" pure mechanical upgrade product. For more details, surf: http://www.timbren.com/ses-pickup.htm And yes, do shop around. Prices for this product do dramatically vary.

For transmisson cooler, install cooler for attached 5,000 lbs trailer (especially for your hotter summer temp region). For example, the Hayden OC-1678 product. If wondering, I installed this Hayden 5,000 lbs ATF cooler in my Tow vehicle (which is rated to pull max 3,500 lbs) and it works great. re: http://www.bulkpart.com/2/product/hayden-transaver/OC-1678.html Tru-Cool company makes a great LPD (Low Pressure Drop) Transmission cooler as well.

For brake controller (for electric brakes), do investigate the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller - Proportional, or the better Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Brake Controller - Proportional models. If wondering, they are ranked at top of the market. And, stay away from "timed" brake controllers. This timed technology should be illegal and pulled from all store shelves. Only go with "proportional" braking technology controllers - like what Tekonsha Prodigy model use.

Hope this helps.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

I am dragging a 20 foot with a 4 cylinder, 5 speed, two wheel drive S 10 in the mountains in West Virginia.

But then it is a chev.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

This is sort of an old thread but I just wanted to say thank you for the info and show a pic. This little rig did alot better than I thought it would. Steep ramps....no prob, nice interstate hills at 65, 70ish....no prob. Had a short down pour on the interstate, 40, 50ish....no prob.
Hauled the toon to the river and lake many times this summer.

Need to invest in some good shocks for the rear which will be done before boating/camping season next year. Thanks again iboaters

Before you get too carried away
What is your current tounge weight? There is no reason a boat of that weight should be making anything squat. Could just be that the trailer axle needs to be adjusted forward to properly distribute the weight.

Adding a trans cooler would be fine, but shouldn't be needed to tow 2000ish lbs

 

[H20Rat]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

Adding a trans cooler would be fine, but shouldn't be needed to tow 2000ish lbs

Towing a 2000# boat and a 2000# pontoon are in vastly different animals. Pontoons are giant sails going down the road, and the aero drag from them will heat up a transmission alot more than a much heavier but aerodynamic boat.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

Towing a 2000# boat and a 2000# pontoon are in vastly different animals. Pontoons are giant sails going down the road, and the aero drag from them will heat up a transmission alot more than a much heavier but aerodynamic boat.

I tow his exact boat on a twin axle trailer. Its like towing next to nothing. Aerodynamics are only an issue with side winds - which is a sway issue, the front profile is pretty aerodynamic.

 

[Seasonally.boating.jon]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

Really guys, no problem pulling the boat. I towed the boat on a 1 1/2 hour trip, pulled like the Z71 I used to hual the toon home when I first bought it. Right down the road here, we have a really steep boat ramp, when I say really, I mean crazy steep. The first thing I did when I got my receiver hitch on is took the toon straight to that ramp. I was like "WOW". Couldn't wait to tell my chevy buddies. I put this truck to the test before any trips were made. Going down the highway at highway speeds and hit the brake hard, not to the floor or anything, more like a "suprizing brake light in front of you" hard. I do not tallgate, I hate when its done to me there for I don't do it. (Unless someone is going 35 in a 55, they my need a hint or push). Also the trailer is equiped with surge brakes which do exacly what they are designed to do. No problem there.

This truck is equiped with a sway bar. There is no trouble with the wind, no more trouble than with the truck alone.

Thank you Batman, does help. I'm very interested in the Timbren units.

Oldjeep, to me, if I move the axle much more it would be sitting in the center of the trailer. Will you take another look? I do like that option. Less stress on the tongue.

Smokingcrater, I agree with you.

that rig shouldn't be that heavy!

I do need to check the tongue weight. I read how to check the weight with a regular bathroom scale somewhere, And it just dawned on me where I've seen it......It was with the manual that came with the hitch.....

Thank you all for the assistance. Really?, ya'll don't think that even bad shocks could be the problem?

 

[skyking897]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

My '01 squatted like yours when the boat was hooked up. The rear leaf springs in those Sport Tracs are meant to give a SMOOTH ride, not support a heavy load. Your boat/trailer probably is loaded right, with the proper tongue weight. It's just your vehicle. Timbrens will fix that squatting issue when loaded and still give you a smooth ride when unloaded and you don't have to do anything after they are installed....

PS. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I think it was something like 800lbs max load in the back of the Sport Trac. So if you have 200-300 lbs tongue weight behind the bumper (at the hitch) you can see why they squat.

 

[ricohman]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

This is sort of an old thread but I just wanted to say thank you for the info and show a pic. This little rig did alot better than I thought it would. Steep ramps....no prob, nice interstate hills at 65, 70ish....no prob. Had a short down pour on the interstate, 40, 50ish....no prob.
Hauled the toon to the river and lake many times this summer.

Need to invest in some good shocks for the rear which will be done before boating/camping season next year. Thanks again iboaters

You need a weight distributing hitch. Your caster up front is now way off and the camber will be as well. You need to put some weight over that front axle. Careful with that trans. I think the bigger the better for a cooler. Do you have a trans temp gauge? If not, slow down a bit.

 

[bigdee]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

I am dragging a 20 foot with a 4 cylinder, 5 speed, two wheel drive S 10 in the mountains in West Virginia.

But then it is a chev.

I too, used my 1995 4 cylinder, 5 speed, two wheel drive,shortbed S 10 pulling a 20 ' toon with no brakes every weekend for 5 years during the summer, 38 miles each way. It was slow because of the steep hills,2nd & 3rd gear most of the way. That little truck is still running and with the original clutch too!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

I tow his exact boat on a twin axle trailer. Its like towing next to nothing. Aerodynamics are only an issue with side winds - which is a sway issue, the front profile is pretty aerodynamic.

I tow a 24 foot pontoon as well as 18 foot boat behind my truck. The 18 foot boat is quite a bit heavier, but yet the pontoon has SUBSTANTIALLY more drag. As in i'm out of overdrive and manually shifting to keep it from hunting gears. With the boat I can keep it in full auto and it doesn't hunt ever.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

I tow a 24 foot pontoon as well as 18 foot boat behind my truck. The 18 foot boat is quite a bit heavier, but yet the pontoon has SUBSTANTIALLY more drag. As in i'm out of overdrive and manually shifting to keep it from hunting gears. With the boat I can keep it in full auto and it doesn't hunt ever.

Sounds like it might be time for a new truck

 

[Seasonally.boating.jon]

Re: 2004 Ford sport trac vs. 21ft Sun Tracker fishing barge

If there was even a hint of a shifting problem, I would pull the toon with something else. The truck shifted just fine, infact that is one thing I was worried about towing the toon. Even dropping a gear up hill, quick shift, no stall or delay. The truck shifts fine. This truck really has no problem pulling. Yeah....... it surprised me. I was very impressed with the Sport Tracs ability and yes, I know the toon isn't THAT heavy.

Most of the time the boat is pulled less than a quarter of a mile, literally about four blocks. Long hauls are about 4 or 5 times a year and therer are hills. Ofcourse the trans won't last as long if I didn't pull anything but its cool with me. I've rebuilt things and if I have trouble doing it, I have plenty of help from the gear heads around me. They may not know much about the suspension unless it's racing down the stretch in a 1/8 mile but MAN!, they can build a engine or tranny.

The squat is my issue. I guess I could try every thing that has been suggested to me, BUT I will start with the shocks ya'll:facepalm:. I'm just debating on the Timbren or the springs next. I thought the Timbrens would be much cheaper than they are but they are only about $100 dollars cheaper.

Thank you for ya'lls concern. Thats one of the major reasons I love this site, everybody looks out for everyones well being. Don't stop it.