Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

[bedwards36426]

Ok guys need some advice. I have a 2005 ford explorer with a 4.0 V6. I've towed my jetski with no problems but that's under 1000lbs. I just bought a new 2012 seadoo challenger 180 SE jet boat. Dry trailer weight 2900lbs. I have to go about 45 miles to take it to the bay. Can anyone tell me if I need to pull this boat with my overdrive on it off. I've heard off or it will damage your transmission. If anyone has experience give me some tips. All advice is much appreciated. Thanks

 

[captain zac]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

What does the Manual say
My F-250 says to always tow with OD off

Harry

 

[rockyrude]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

I've got to believe if you don't tow with OD off your going to kill the whole rig, that 4.0 is going to work its brains out. You need to add fuel weight in there also which will take you well past the 3000lb mark.

 

[bedwards36426]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

I've went all through the manual it doesn't specify. All it has is the hitch maximum weight limits. My hitch is rated for 3800lbs and 350lbs tongue weight. I'm pretty sure I should tow with OD off. Just don't wanna put a strain or the motor and or transmission. It's been payed for, for 3 years with only 39,000 miles. Wanna keep it in good shape. Thanks or the input.

 

[Pony]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

Overdrive off for sure. Overdrive is made for cruising speeds with a normal load. Towing 3k is going to stress the motor and transmission......overdrive would kill it.

 

[bedwards36426]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

Overdrive off for sure. Overdrive is made for cruising speeds with a normal load. Towing 3k is going to stress the motor and transmission......overdrive would kill it.

Thanks buddy that's what I figured wanna make sure. This should be ok for my vehicle don't you think. It's under the max load. And being a brand new boat it's balanced on the trailer almost perfectly.

 

[bedwards36426]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

I guess it's to late now after just spending 30k on this boat. I sure don't wanna buy a new vehicle to pull it.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

Having a 5 speed automatic, even with OD off you still have 4 gears to use.

Keep it off.

 

[bedwards36426]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

10-4 thanks buddy

 

[Pony]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

Thanks buddy that's what I figured wanna make sure. This should be ok for my vehicle don't you think. It's under the max load. And being a brand new boat it's balanced on the trailer almost perfectly.

I would think you would be just fine. The V6 I think was rated for 5700lbs or something like that. Do you have trailer brakes? If not I would get some. I think Alabama is the same as Wisconsin with the 3000lb requirement for them (which you are right on).....and with the shorter wheelbase of the vehicle I would want them for sure.

 

[bedwards36426]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

I don't have trailer brakes how hard of a install are those.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

Depends on your vehicle and the terrain. If it is not coming in and out of overdrive when towing then I leave it in OD. If it is hunting then I drop it down out of OD or in the case of my current truck put it in tow mode. If you live in a flat area I don't see you having any problems towing 3K in OD with the 4.0L. I used to pull a 5K car trailer with a 4.0L ranger and never had any issues in MN with the OD

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

. It's under the max load. And being a brand new boat it's balanced on the trailer almost perfectly.

That line has a me a little concerned... What do you mean balanced? How much tongue weight? Normally when someone says balanced on the trailer it implies there is almost no tongue weight, which is a very dangerous situation. (even more so with a relatively short single axle trailer)

Generally boats do not leave the mfg on a custom trailer. The dealer sets up the trailer in their shop, and the lowest paid guy is the one in charge of that. About the only criteria is that it doesn't fall off before it leaves the dealer lot, so beyond that, don't expect a new boat and trailer to match well. From what I know of seadoo, they generally DO come with an OEM trailer, but that still doesn't mean it was actually set up correctly.

 

[dmccaffrey]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

I've went all through the manual it doesn't specify. All it has is the hitch maximum weight limits. My hitch is rated for 3800lbs and 350lbs tongue weight. I'm pretty sure I should tow with OD off. Just don't wanna put a strain or the motor and or transmission. It's been payed for, for 3 years with only 39,000 miles. Wanna keep it in good shape. Thanks or the input.

I've got some bad news for you. You are way overloaded trying to tow that boat. Fully loaded ready for a day out, that boat/trailer will be pushing 4500-5000lbs. Seriously. If you don't believe me, load it and get it weighed for yourself. In fact, I'd recommend that. I think you'll be in for a nasty surprise.

 

[jkust]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

I don't know Ford that well. Does it have a digital transmission temp read out like the newer GM's do? Heat is your enemy here. I tow in my GM suv's with the OD on but here in MN we are nearly flat as a pancake and only 3 times on my hundered mile each way trip does the transmission ever kick down a gear with my 4000lbs boat/trailer. Technically OD should be off with my rigs but our flat terrain affects my decision.

 

[bnicov]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

Add about 7lbs/gallon of fuel + whatever gear you have on the boat. You are looking at another 500lbs or so with a full tank of fuel and stuff. Leave the OD off and don't think you can fly pulling the boat, take it easy and you should be fine.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

Having the OD off will unlock the convertor and that can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your load and driving conditions.
On flat ground I routinely tow with the OD engaged on my F350. The trans runs much cooler with less slipage at the convertor. But if you notice the tac jumping up and down that means the convertor in locking and unlocking and that creates a lot of heat.
The biggest thing about towing is the gearing. 4.10's are what you need.

 

[bedwards36426]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

I thank you for all you guys input. They trailer is oem. There is a couple hundred lbs of touch? weight. I think I'll be fine as well. 5000lbs seems a little outrageous. No disrespect but the dry weight of the boat is 1800lbs and trailer weight of 900lbs. 500lbs for fuel I should be good. Just don't wanna blow my tranny up.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

touch? weight? I think it is tounge weight or tushy weight

 

[dmccaffrey]

Re: Towing 3000lb boat OD off or on???

I thank you for all you guys input. They trailer is oem. There is a couple hundred lbs of touch? weight. I think I'll be fine as well. 5000lbs seems a little outrageous. No disrespect but the dry weight of the boat is 1800lbs and trailer weight of 900lbs. 500lbs for fuel I should be good. Just don't wanna blow my tranny up.

Hmm ... I thought you said the dry weight was 2800. Oh, that was dry *trailer* weight. My bad, I should read more carefully.

In that case, fully loaded you will probably weigh in about 3300-3600. That's much better and under your weight limits. You'll still want to add trailer brakes for safety.

The real point I want to drive home is that boats ready for a trip weigh much more than most people think. Add to that the fact that the so-called "dry weights" are the biggest works of fiction ever written and you end up with people towing far more than they think they are. It really looked like you were going to be one of those.