I need to tow a 39 Footer

[imported_Warren]

I need to move a 39 Foot Chris Craft Stinger Speedboat with 8ft beam to Dry Storage.....

About 10 Miles total on flat streets.....Not sure what the weight is but it has a brand new Triple axle trailer with brakes.....

Whats the minimum truck I can use to get away with this safetly?...Will a Tahoe do it?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

i seriously doubt it will be legal for you to tow it with out special permits. you have a length and width problem to begin with. Tahoe ain't gonna cut it. here are specs one a 39 ft stinger.

Boats and Personal Watercraft
1984 CHRIS-CRAFT
390 STINGER/SS
Stern Drive Power Boat


Length: 39'
Model Name/Description: 390 STINGER/SS
Boat Type: Stern Drive Power Boat
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Beam: 9'
Engine: 2
370 HP
Gasoline
Net Weight: 9760

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

For a travel trailer of that size/gross weight (which is typically only 8 ft wide) you need a mid to high end truck (2500 or 3500 series Chev/Dodge or 250/350 series Ford) Not sure what the trailer tongue weight would be etc but right off the bat, you'd need a class IV hitch just to get it connected without damaging the tow vehicle.

And with travel trailers, even then you need sway bars, stabilizer bar, etc

For the short haul, you may want to find a local marina or someone with the right rig to haul it the short distance. You'd most likely spend it on hitching.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

For 10 miles I would hire someone.
Takes all the stress out of it. Just make certain they are insured.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

For 10 miles I would hire someone.
Takes all the stress out of it. Just make certain they are insured.

Agreed...or at least rent a 25/3500 for the day. Probably cost about the same. Normally, I would say go for it. Ten low speed miles, but you will have well over a thousand pounds on that hitch and that would bother me even for that short distance.

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

With an RV hitch a Tahoe/Suburban, or full size pickup would be more than capable. I probably wouldn't make a road trip of it, but watch the hwys and see them pulling ~8000 lb trailers 60-70 mph thousands of miles every day. As a matter of fact a couple years ago I pulled my father-in-law's 28' Coachmen (6000lb empty) with his '04 Tahoe 1700 mi to Corpus Christi and back -- quite a comfortable ride
If you don't have an RV hitch I would agree that it would probably be worth it to just rent an HD truck.

Permit-wise...
Max length in CA is 40' (trailer length might be 40+?)
Max width is 8'6" (again, trailer width?)
Total length 65'

 

[25thmustang]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

The truck would do it, but is not ideal. I saw a guy on a Chevy forum tow a 39' Sea Ray Sundancer with a 1500 Chevy. Were talking 15000-18000 lbs of boat and trailer behind a half ton truck. You could see the frame bending on it, and they had lots of fun going up the ramp, but it physcially would move the load. Its far from safe or smart but would do it.

In a bind it can be done, but if there are other avenues to take, I say grab a 3500 and use that.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

Wouldn't you need some sort of commercial license to even pull something that large?

 

[Ezrider_92356]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

i wouldent even attempt it with a your truck, short wheel base plus i doubt your hitch will handle a 12000lbs load by the time you add the trailer any fuel or anything else thats in the boat, on my desirable ford i got the biggest baddest hitch i could find and its rated only rated for 12000lbs 14000with WD bars your better off to hire someone to pull it 10 miles for you, make sure that they have proper commercial insurance. if you want to be able to trailer the boat to other places i would suggest a 1ton diesel anything over 8'6 inches requires a wide load permit and thats measured at the widest point not at the trailer. typically the rub rail is the widest point. also keep in mind that any time you are towing with a trailer weight over 10,000lbs you are suppose to have a class A license

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

Rent a big U-Haul for a one day local deal......cost you less then $50.00..................plenty of towing cap................and saves ware and tear on you vehicle's.

 

[RubberDuckie]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

Virtually all car/truck rental companies forbid towing.
You wreck, you're liable.

Your Tahoe 'could' do the job, but it would be doing so beyond the manufacturer's limits.
So, if you wreck, you're liable.
Your insurance company would get out of that one easily.

Find a friend with a properly rated truck or hire a company to do it for you. Good luck!

 

[dave11]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

Virtually all car/truck rental companies forbid towing.
You wreck, you're liable.

If this is true, why do the truck rental companies put tow balls on 14 foot and larger trucks and rent trailers?

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

If this is true, why do the truck rental companies put tow balls on 14 foot and larger trucks and rent trailers?

I have towed with a rental truck a number of times both with rented trailers and with my trailers and the rental companies have always been aware of what I was doing and had no problems with it. Rubber Duckie, you need to check your statements a lot better...

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

Wouldn't you need some sort of commercial license to even pull something that large?

No, but every state has limits about width and total length that can be towed without special permits. Every state is a little different so you need to check. It is typically the length that differs, the maximum width is usually 8'6".

 

[Seon]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

If this is true, why do the truck rental companies put tow balls on 14 foot and larger trucks and rent trailers?

I rented a 21' Truck from Ryder, filled it with my household goods, hooked on a 21' enclosed trailer, loaded my Toyota Corolla, filled the spaces with household goods then drove it from VA to CA with no problem.
BUT...I had to change the hitch ball from 2" to 2-5/16" diameter because that's what the trailer coupler was.

IMO, if you're just towing locally, I'd hire someone with insurance to tow it. Less hassel.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

I rented a 21' Truck from Ryder, filled it with my household goods, hooked on a 21' enclosed trailer, loaded my Toyota Corolla, filled the spaces with household goods then drove it from VA to CA with no problem.
BUT...I had to change the hitch ball from 2" to 2-5/16" diameter because that's what the trailer coupler was.

IMO, if you're just towing locally, I'd hire someone with insurance to tow it. Less hassel.

It would still be cheaper to rent the truck and do it yourself and either the insurance you purchase on the rental truck or your auto insurance will cover you.

 

[tommays]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

At least here U-HAUL will only let you TOW U-HAUL stuff

Like there trailers and the two types of car trailers they have

 

[KM2]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

I don't know what the tongue wieght is going to be with a triple axle trailer. But a Tahoe isn't going to like 500plus pounds of toungue weight and will squat a lot. Let's not forget be over the hitch rating.

If I couldn't borrow a 3/4ton truck or van and it didn't squat to bad, I would probably tow it the 10 miles. I would leave at dawn so I didn't see much traffic and go slow. I would also double and triple check the trailer brakes for proper functioning.

But First I would try to borrow a: 2500/3500 or 250/350(Ford) pickup doesn't matter what brand. A 2500 Suburban or better yet a Ford Excursion. Also a 2500/3500 Van or 250/350 Ford Van.


If you can't get a suitable vehicle I would try to get a tow truck company to do it. Can't be that much.

 

[haskindm]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

Not only will you be over the 8'6" maximum width that applies in most states, you may well be over the 55' maximum length laws that apply in many states. Hire a pro that knows how to do it, can get the proper payments, and has the proper equipment. Here is a link to state-by-state towing restrictions: http://www.wecamp2.com/size.html

 

[Munny]

Re: I need to tow a 39 Footer

Head over to http://www.Dieselplace.com

I am sure you could find a person very near you to pull that. It might cost you gas , or maybe a small fee. Even then you might get someone wanting to break in there engine and will do it for nothing

I need to move a 39 Foot Chris Craft Stinger Speedboat with 8ft beam to Dry Storage.....

About 10 Miles total on flat streets.....Not sure what the weight is but it has a brand new Triple axle trailer with brakes.....

Whats the minimum truck I can use to get away with this safetly?...Will a Tahoe do it?