Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

[salmonee]

I'm browsing through some of the forum and found that many people's vehicle are under rated for towing. I think I'm good but just need a sanity check if the ramp is too steep or whatever? My truck is an '07 Nissan Frontier LE Crew Cab, 4.0 Motor, V6, Automatic, 4X4. The truck is rated to tow 6300lb but my NEW hitch (class 3) is good for 5k. I'm still looking for a boat. I have a feeling I'm going to find one at 18'6" boat just because of the popularity in used boat in that size. I'd like a 19'6" or even 20'6" if I can get it to fit in my 7' garage door. Once inside I have 12' to work with. Length is no issue. However, I think 19'6" may be maximum for an open bow. My neighbor has a 20'+ supra but that rig has a low hull design. Our houses are same in design. I might have to buy a class 4 hitch from nissan depending on the boat size i end up landing. What do you boating pros think? Keep in mind this is a 1st boat for me if you don't count my 10' aluminum that I had for a season, 10yrs ago.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

Towing a 18 footer should be no problem.I would check into a class 4 or 5 hitch though. Better to have too much hitch than one that just barely meets the tow rating.
The 4WD should keep you from having to many issues at the ramps.
Check online for hitches,,,much cheaper than the Nissan dealer..
An 18 or 19 footer can be pretty heavy fully loaded with fuel and gear but i doubt it will hit the 5k weight.
Weigh the boat at a truck scale when you buy it so you have a better idea before spending the bucks on another hitch.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

class 4 hitch seem hard to come by for my truck. I looked up jcwhitney and hidden hitch, none make a class 4 for my truck. I believe nissan is the only due to the bolt pattern. They also have the "circular trailer plug?" option on that particular hitch, though I don't have a trailer. I'll double check but if someone has a reputable online retailer recommendation I'd like to hear it.

 

[Titanium48]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

The Cequent (Reese, Hidden Hitch, Draw-Tite, etc.) class III hitch for the 05-09 Nissan Frontier is rated at 5000 lb weight carrying and 8000 lb weight distributing. Perhaps yours is the same? If you're towing over 5000 lb you'll probably want a WDH anyways.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

Don't know anything about foreign cars or trucks. Buy American

 

[fishinaddict]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

I have an 05 Frontier LE 2 wheel drive, and I pull my 24' Wellcraft with no problem. That 4.0 is strong, it doesn't even hesitate when coming out of the launch. The main problem is stopping a boat like that. I have trailer brakes on mine. I stuck with the class III hitch and have had no problem. You will be fine.

 

[Rowroy]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

Don't know anything about foreign cars or trucks. Buy American

Insightful



You won't have any trouble towing your boat with a class III setup.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

The Cequent (Reese, Hidden Hitch, Draw-Tite, etc.) class III hitch for the 05-09 Nissan Frontier is rated at 5000 lb weight carrying and 8000 lb weight distributing. Perhaps yours is the same? If you're towing over 5000 lb you'll probably want a WDH anyways.

What's a WDH?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

WDH = weight distributing hitch. Utilizes spring bars to transfer tongue weight back to the trailer and to the front of the vehicle. Sort of like bolting wheel barrow handles on the back of your truck. Put enough tension on the bars and you could remove the rear wheels of the truck, put it in 4WD and drive away. They did this in a hitch commercial in the 1960s using a front wheel drive Olds Toronado.

 

[FLWakeRider]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

This is quote I got from another site when I was looking this same info up...

Weight Distributing: Weight distribution hitches add spring bars to the hitch system which are used to apply leverage between the tow vehicle and the trailer. This leverage transfers the load sitting on the rear of the vehicle to all the axles of the vehicle and trailer. With the trailer tongue and rear cargo load distributed between the axles, the vehicle is leveled off and performance is greatly increased. Weight distributing systems should be used any time the trailer weighs more than 50% of the vehicle weight.


Info can be found here...

 

[idrownworms]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

Don't know anything about foreign cars or trucks. Buy American

What???? And keep Americans working and American companies in business?
support equal trade not free trade.

 

[SNye45]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

Try going to your local U-Haul. They have all sorts of hitches and will fit it for you as well !!

 

[Ret USN CPO]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

Don't know anything about foreign cars or trucks. Buy American

I do. Both my Nissans are manufactured in Smyrna, TN and my Honda was made in Marysville, OH. Any more smart-a55 non-informative comments?

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

I do. Both my Nissans are manufactured in Smyrna, TN and my Honda was made in Marysville, OH. Any more smart-a55 non-informative comments?

That is where they were assembled not where they were manufactured.

 

[sleeper]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

That is where they were assembled not where they were manufactured.

Wrong. I have been through the plant numerous times, they build the whole thing there. (along with the maxima, altima, pathfinder, xterra) Even the engines are built in TN, just at a different plant. Not to drag this argument out, but every car company is global now, they can't be tied down to one label. The all source parts from everywhere. A Honda Civic has a higher domestic part content that a Ford Mustang... A "domestic" car meets the government yardstick of having 75 percent or more of their parts made in the United States or Canada. By that method, a Toyota Camry is a domestic, and a Ford Mustang is an import.


Anyway, I have an 05 frontier and I tow my boat and car with no problems. It does great on the highway, especially with the 5spd auto.

The class III hitch on the truck is rated for 5000lbs, or 6300lbs (for 4x4) with a weight distributing hitch. My boat is around 3500lbs, and tows fine as is. When I tow my car the combined weight of car and trailer is over 5000lbs, and I use the WD hitch to distribute some of the load to the front of the vehicle. It works great. Obviously if you will tow 5000+lbs often, you will want a bigger truck. Like a Dodge Ram, made in Mexico.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

Wrong. I have been through the plant numerous times, they build the whole thing there. (along with the maxima, altima, pathfinder, xterra) Even the engines are built in TN, just at a different plant. Not to drag this argument out, but every car company is global now, they can't be tied down to one label. The all source parts from everywhere. A Honda Civic has a higher domestic part content that a Ford Mustang... A "domestic" car meets the government yardstick of having 75 percent or more of their parts made in the United States or Canada. By that method, a Toyota Camry is a domestic, and a Ford Mustang is an import.

So where was my 2008 ford f-250 diesel made?

 

[Provo5]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

Keep in mind that a boats weight is recorded as dry. Gas is 5.5 lbs per gallon plus trailer weight and your gear. Example I have a 23' 1994 Mariah 240 Talari bow rider with V8 I/O. Just took it to the scales last Saturday boat trailer and 70 gallons of fuel was 4815lbs. Add on another 300lbs (+ or -)of gear and I am towing 5115lbs.

 

[Floatsum]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

So where was my 2008 ford f-250 diesel made?

My last Ford was Canadian made.
My new Chevy (heart beat of America?) is made in Canada too!

Buy an American made Honda!

 

[sleeper]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

So where was my 2008 ford f-250 diesel made?

At one of these plants I guess.

Dearborn, Michigan
Kansas City, Missouri
Norfolk, Virginia
Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
Valencia, Venezuela
Cuautitlan, Mexico

Seriously though, the F-series is one of the highest domestic part contents of any vehicle. (as long as you count Canada) If I was in the market for a "real truck" because of heavy hauling/towing then it is what I would want.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Looking for boating PROS to evaluate my towing setup

Keep in mind that a boats weight is recorded as dry. Gas is 5.5 lbs per gallon plus trailer weight and your gear. Example I have a 23' 1994 Mariah 240 Talari bow rider with V8 I/O. Just took it to the scales last Saturday boat trailer and 70 gallons of fuel was 4815lbs. Add on another 300lbs (+ or -)of gear and I am towing 5115lbs.

I've never been to a truck scale before. Are the truck scales located along the hwy, usually with a sign that says "all trucks must exit" or something along those lines. Usually I see a hwy patrol car there too. I didn't know you can just pull and say, "officer, i'd like to weigh my boat".