The other day I picked up a spare truck to turn into a cat hauler. Aside from a device to stamp USCG approval on Zhik PFDs, what features would the ideal boat truck have?

I'm pretty happy with my extended cab 1500 Silverado with a cap on the bed and a carpet kit in the bed. I've got plenty of room to put gear, N20 and F18 sails fit lengthwise into the bed with no issue and I've never run out of space back there. Stinky gear also goes in the back for the trip home and because the bed is separate from the cab, we don't have to smell it. The seats in the back may not be suitable for a 5 hour trip but most of the time someone's back there, we're just headed to a restaurant.

Couldn't be happier with my FJ Cruiser.

Plenty of space in the back for all of your gear, 4WD w/locker for pulling trailer on sand. Trailers great. NO CARPET IN THE WHOLE DAMN THING so you can leave a pair of soggy sailing booties in the back for a day in the Florida sun, then pull them out and the car doesn't stink at all.

A fuel tank that never empties!!!!

The one hitch is that the truck needs to keep its ability to pull a gooseneck trailer. One of those canvas bed camper/cover deals might be a reasonable compromise. Right now I have a cab-chassis so the options are great.

I love my F-250 SD Diesel. 226k miles and running strong. I have the Crew Cab and it is nice dogs in back and people in front. I also have a slide in camper , or fiberglass shell for the bed.

I'd +1 Rich's setup... might even save some hotel costs?


How much did that camper setup cost?

http://www.rvclearinghouse.com/listings/view/17/toters-and-trucks-2002-fl112/11965

This should do it!

I think retail was 18,000 on the camper. had an old one I traded in and got last years model so it was cheaper.

So the project begins. Here is the starting point. It's an 07 F450 diesel, ambulance package which means it has a pair of generators that can produce ~250 amps. The plan is to build a steel flat bed with boxes for tools, sails or anything else. Add a larger compressor and inverter. The second part of the plan is to acquire a 25-30f gooseneck that is built a little on the lighter side and add a small pop-up or slide in camper to the front of it, leaving room for boats on the back. The goal is to keep all of this under $10k if possible.

I would love to hear ideas on how to practically move 2+ boats and their trailers at once.

How about just using a car and the money saved on gas will pay for the hotel room.

Yeah lol so what'd that big F450 cost?

I'm pretty sure trailex and others build double stack trailers for a reason, idk, maybe so you can move 2 boats at once?

I get 21 MPG towing with my car, Toyota Corolla (I know laugh now I need a different vehicle) and it isn't too happy about it (36+ MPG without towing). We got about 18-19 MPG towing with the V6 Toyota Highlander, which normally does close to 30 around town. Point is, the bigger the vehicle the less it gets around town and they all do about the same, ~17 MPG towing, unless you drive like Trey.

Something with a V6 will do the job well IMO. I want space for gear etc. The Toyota 4Runner fits the bill, as do a few pickup trucks and other SUV's. Nothing against American built but the foreigners have won until recently and I can't afford a brand new something.

I've got $2,700 in the truck so far. I often need to move big things, sure a car could do the basic 2-boat thing but that would be really boring.

How is that car gonna haul a p19 with no trailer and a 7,000lb bandsaw home from Miami?



Or haul 3 420s with no trailer to Mobile and haul an A with a unknown trailer back?

and a 7,000lb bandsaw home from Miami?

What's it rate?

http://www.bedslide.com/
i have one of these an i LOVE it. I have a camper top on my ram1500 and with the slide i don't have to crawl inside to get stuff. i bring it out to me!!!

sweet, just like the hearse my co-worker left in!

A hearse makes a great tow vehicle. Power, suspension, ride, and storage. There was a J24 college team that used to use one.

I use a Hyundai i30 with Diesel engine. I get about 25 mpg towing an f18 or double stacked vipers. Before this I would have always said at least an f150 or similar. Now if you're just hauling your boat plus the occasional 2nd boat. It doesn't matter what you have, it will get the job done.

For those that use a diesel, any problem with exhaust residue collecting on the boat?