What type of early 2000 year SUV truck should I consider ?

[al1026]

I have a 28.6 Regal Commodore
Twin I.O. engines .
With stern platform distance is 32 ft.
Beam 9.10
7800 dry weight
Sits on a 3 axle trailer , 16 inch tires
4 disk braking system
Brakes work fine.

Marina kept high & dry

Years ago I purchased a 1997 Ford F 350 box truck gas engine . 5.8 (8) cylinder too tow our business trailer.
Over the years we seldom use Ford,, truck is started often
Can tow over 10 thousand lbs.
Ford is a older work truck that is tired not dependable, not a looker, something wife & myself would not want too take on a long adventure with boat. but a work horse . When I tow boat myself it does the job, but Ford is still 18 years old.

Here's my issue.
My chevy blazer my daily driver is done, time too get rid of it.
Since I have the ford that is old, my blazer that is old, I am in the market for a early 2000 truck . A SUV type of truck too tow a 7800 lb boat
30 ft wide beam boat is a lot of boat too tow often.
There will be a few times a year we will trailer too distance ports and use boat as a water condo and need a vehicle too tow legally

I am a retired man , a ( Ram 2500, Silverado 2500, or Ford 350) is the right truck too tow my Regal except I don't want a heavy duty truck as my daily driver.
My fishing buddy recently purchased a Avalanche that has towing capacity 8300 lbs.
Not too big, comforts, style.
He is telling me avalanche will do the job ?
Don't want too kill tranny, brakes,

How can you beef up a avalanche type of truck too give me more towing or what type of vehicle would fellow boaters recommend
Legally anything towed must be legal, correct vehicle, proper braking, tires etc .
The Regal empty is 7800 and keeping fuel and water low during tow still will have added weight

Many of fellow boaters have been faced with similar towing issues.

thanks

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, your dry weight may be 7800# however your towing weight is weight of boat, weight of trailer, weight of fuel, water, crud, gear, coolers, beer, etc. you also need to add in the wight of the stuff in the vehicle as well. you are probably closer to 11000-12000# when you add it all up. Just the boat and trailer will be close to 9600# without any fuel, water, gear, etc. you need a towing capacity in excess of what you are towing. I suggest looking at getting your complete rig weighed.

secondly, at 9.8' wide, that is a permit load. most roads have an 8'-6" max width without a permit. hence the reason many trailer boats are 8'-6" wide, and why every semi trailer you pass is 102"

you are going to be stuck with a 2500 or 3500. The avalanch will not cut it, and there are no add-ons to get you there. however the 2015 1500 GM products, when properly equipped can tow 11000#. that however is a bit too close to what you are actually towing, so my recommendation puts you back into a 3/4 ton

 

[H20Rat]

you are going to be stuck with a 2500 or 3500. The avalanch will not cut it, and there are no add-ons to get you there. however the 2015 1500 GM products, when properly equipped can tow 11000#. that however is a bit too close to what you are actually towing, so my recommendation puts you back into a 3/4 ton

The other thing to keep in mind is that those tow ratings require a WD hitch & trailer that support it. Not many large boat trailers are set up for weight distribution, and looking around, the couple trailer manufacturers I checked don't outright ban it, but they do say there is no longer any warranty if you slap a WD hitch on it.


That size of a boat is really past 1/2 ton territory, unless it is a very short tow at low speeds.

 

[lncoop]

Do you mean SUV Truck or SUV OR truck? If the former you're probably out of luck because the only SUV Trucks I know of are half ton or lighter (Avalanche, Ridgeline, Explorer Sport Trac). However, if you mean SUV OR truck what about an Excursion? Early 2000 models tow up to 10k or 11k pounds I think depending on equipment and fuel type. They're nice vehicles. They burn a lot of fuel, but that comes with the territory.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Avalanche is available in 3/4 ton with 8.1 engine... It'll handle it local but you would be pushing your luck at higher speeds long distance...

I have a boat the same size and weight and ideally you are in dually territory... A single rear wheel truck can handle it but having pulled mine with my dually, dad's crewcab single rear wheel f250, and my buddy's 3/4 ton 8.1 avalanche I can say there is no comparison in stability.

Get a 1 ton truck AND a small daily driver... Just like you have now but newer.

 

[bluewater19]

I would look at a avalanche 2500 with a 8.1. I think they made them in 3/4ton from 2002 to 2008 12500lb tow rating. also a 3/4 suburban would get the job done too.