Toung weight

[Buck Horn Deer Farm]

My truck bounces up n down a bit more than I think it should hauling my 24' sea ray on a tandom axel trailer. The boat and trailer weigh 6400 lbs. The truck is a 95 Chevy extended cab short box silverado Z71 off road 4x4 1500 that should haul it ok but it is about max for this truck. I only have 180 lbs of toung weight now and the truck only moves down about 1 n 1/2". Should I slide the boat up a bit more on the trailer for more toung weight? Will that help with the bouncing?

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Toung weight

Yes that would help - or just reposition some weight further up.

I believe you should have 6-10% of weight on tongue if i remember correctly

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Toung weight

If memory serves: 10 per cent trailer weight = 640# tongue weight. Your truck is rated @ 500# tongue weight. You sir are overloaded. I could be wrong. Rereading, the tongue weight you have is too light for the load. Strive for 10 per cent. Tranny cooler?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Toung weight

slightly increase your tongue weight, however 10# is max. 5# minimum as a target.

do you have a class III hitch, if so, then your hitch is only rated for 5000#

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Toung weight

Not only are you overloading that 1/2 ton...you have a short wheelbase to boot...AND a stiff 4x4 suspension. No wonder you get a screwed up ride. My recommendation? Get a 3/4 ton with at least an extended cab and 8 foot bed, or better a 4 door and 8 foot bed.

BTW, inquiring minds want to know...did you actually weigh the boat and trailer, or are you just guessing based on some published data? Also, what boat is this exactly? A bowrider, cuddy or cruiser? Is the trailer bunk or roller. I'm asking because these things give us an idea of where the weight is on the trailer. Obviously, a bow rider puts less weight on the tongue than a cruiser, etc. etc. What is your boats powertrain?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Toung weight

You don't need 10% for a tandem, but i would still shoot for 5%.

 

[Buck Horn Deer Farm]

Re: Toung weight

My boat is a 1977 24' SeaRay weekender. The trailer has rollers up the center and pivoting bunks on each side. I moved the boat up a bit on the trailer and took it down to the scales and it weighs 6200# boat and trailer together with empty gas tank. (unhooked from the truck). I then weighed just the toung weight (with only the jack stand on the scale, and at ball level) at 400#.
I only haul local to Lake Erie and less than 50 mph. and have no problems except for the bouncing but want to plan a trip across the State to Ludington on Lake Michigan and want to avoid any problems hauling on the eway at 65 mph. We will load 200# of gear in the boat cabin.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Toung weight

That's a really good looking boat! Let's see some more pic's!

 

[Buck Horn Deer Farm]

Re: Toung weight

More pics.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Toung weight

throw a bit of your gear in the bow of the boat when towing, that will give you more tongue weight. however I hope you have something greater than a class III hitch (max rating 5000#)

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Toung weight

Someone has taken care of that boat...looks to be totally original and is a very nice example of a vintage Ray. Please take the time to sand and oil or varnish your teak. It will really make that boat stand out. The trailer looks perfectly matched to the boat. I think your rough ride is definitely attributed to lack of wheelbase and tongue weight. Otherwise, looks like an appropriate rig for what you are wanting to do with it. I would still recommend a 3/4 ton truck to give you a greater margin of safety; and as others have mentioned, make sure you are using a hitch system rated for that weight. I do hope you have functional braking on both axles of that trailer!

 

[HopinImFloatin]

Re: Toung weight

1995 truck, does it have original shocks?

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Toung weight

My boat is a 1977 24' SeaRay weekender. The trailer has rollers up the center and pivoting bunks on each side. I moved the boat up a bit on the trailer and took it down to the scales and it weighs 6200# boat and trailer together with empty gas tank. (unhooked from the truck). I then weighed just the toung weight (with only the jack stand on the scale, and at ball level) at 400#.
I only haul local to Lake Erie and less than 50 mph. and have no problems except for the bouncing but want to plan a trip across the State to Ludington on Lake Michigan and want to avoid any problems hauling on the eway at 65 mph. We will load 200# of gear in the boat cabin.
View attachment 159382

Scott is dead on with his assessment. I had the same truck you have but an 05 pulling a 240DA and changed the hitch because it is only rated at 5000# unless you have a weight distribution hitch which increases the load rating. There should be a tag on the hitch that tells you this info.
You don't need a bigger truck.Maybe just a higher rated hitch. The only thing i didn't like about the truck was pulling hill's on I79 going to Erie. It had a 5.3 and just not enough umph.You probably have a 350. Remember if you change your hitch you need to increase your receiver and ball rating to match the load

 

[Buck Horn Deer Farm]

Re: Toung weight

I am not sure what hitch this is. The tag has been painted over. I think it is a class III. Can you tell by the pic?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Toung weight

looks light, maybe a class II - #3500 limit. could be a class III, however its also bolted to the bumper which leads me to believe its a class II

you may want to see if there is a rating stamped into it. I know there is on my last class III as well as the current class IV

 

[Buck Horn Deer Farm]

Re: Toung weight

It bolts to the bumper with two bolts and to the frame with three bolts on each side. After some reserch, it is a class III round tube hitch that chevy factory installed on trucks in 05. It has a rating of 600# toung weight and 6000# pulling.
I may be pushing the hitch a bit with my boat but the truck is rated for 7,700# towing.
Will the tandom trailer help with towing? Will I be ok on the highway?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Toung weight

your still over-rated on the hitch. I would look into a class IV hitch.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Toung weight

It's a class three. All GM"s from the factory bolt to the bumper in that spot. Had three of them and had to change everyone A class IV hitch, rated receiver and ball for the weight your pulling and you will be good to go.

 

[Buck Horn Deer Farm]

Re: Toung weight

Thanks for all your help. I will change it over to a class IV. I hope the project will go without a hitch. Ha Ha.
Thanks again.