Hey folks. I'm doing a bit of longrange planning, as it may soon be time to change vehicles. With plans to trailer a folded tri in a couple of years, I think now's the time to get into the tow vehicle, especially since larger vehicles are getting such discounts now.



when towing beachcats, the weight is not really a consideration, but they do create significant wind resistance at highway speeds. I'm assuming that the same holds true for these larger lightweight tris..... just about any midsized SUV will be able to pull and stop the few thousand pounds of weight, but the wind resistance will cause some headaches at highway speeds. Am I pretty much on-track with this, or am I overthinking it?



for those currently dragging these things all over creation, what do YOU tow with?



thanks all.

I have an F25C [bought last week] and towed it with a 1999 C2500 Suburban w/350ci base motor in "D" all the way. The wind doesn't seem to bother it because the truck seems to force the the boat straight in cross winds with its own slipstream. I got 11-12.5mpg at 70mph all the way back to Dallas from Denver. I went east to 287 and south to Amarillo...didn't go throught Raton Pass. I have seen smaller vehicles pulling the Fboats around but they really seem to need a 3/4 ton something because these trucks come with heavier suspension, tires[E load range] , oil coolers, transmission coolers [my water temps ran 190 in 95-102F weather last week].



fair winds,



thom

F25C 009 Charisma

ARC22 #2234

FMS SC20 57

Thom,



Thanks for the response. your mileage numbers are remarkable! the two gas-engine 'burban owners I know report average 10mpg towing NOTHING!



Congrats on the new boat!

I think alot has to do with two factors:



1. Front air dam in good shape. Wind underneath a truck acts like an air brake.

2. E load range tires with 50psi in front and 60psi in rear.[recommended pressure is 45psi in front and up to 80psi in rear depending if towing or not] These tires make a tremendous difference over lesser tires in handling the 5700lb Sub.



Also I have a two wheel drive with 3.73 gears [stock] If they go to larger tires fuel consumption will go up dramatically.



When I drove to Denver in February and then again on the way up last week [not pulling anything] I got 17-18.5 @ 75mph with the AC on. When I went ot FWB last April I got the same with the AC on. I have asked three other C2500 owners I know personally and they get the same mileage. All are 1999 models with the same motor. Another key is to keep your foot off the gas...no sudden acceration!h



good luck,



thom

ah, there's the difference. around here everything's 4wheel drive and everyone runs 31x10.5 tires. front air dams generally don't survive the first winter.



fyi, you're getting better mileage in your 5.4liter suburban than I'm getting in my 3liter 4runner. well done, lightfoot!



so, according to your numbers, towing your f25c cuts your fuel mileage by 40%??? it may be worth my trouble to head up to canada and get a diesel land cruiser after all!



thanks again.

I looked at diesels for awhile and decided against them for the following reasons: Fuel filters, injection pumps, batteries, alternators, reliable mechanics, glow plugs, turbochargers, the fact that they hate to be started and stopped more than twice a day, and finding reliable fuel around here. Its here but you never know how long it sits and if the stations filters have been changed regularly. I looked at the isuzu, ford, gmc, volvo, and mercedes. The extra cost for the motor will buy a tremenoud amount of gas and gas vehicles are easier to resale [here] I believe.



I like the new GMC diesel the best with the Allision 5 speed automatic...



thom

Thom,



Thanks again for all of your input. I'd like to ask for a little more.....



based on your experience with the 25C-suburban rig, do you feel that something of the suburban/excursion caliber is necessary, or is it a little bit of comfortable overkill? would you rate something like the Yukon as inadequate, or minimal, or still just fine?

I greatly appreciate Thom's input, but is there anyone else paying attention out there that would care to offer a supporting or contradicting opinion?

Actually I bought the Sub for catsailing. It will hold a second set of sails and spin for my 22 and I don't have to expose anything to the weather. As far as a Farrier goes; at the nationals I saw a minivan pulling a F28R. A Dodge Reliant pulled my F25C to Florida and a Discovery pulled it back. I like the 3/4 ton vehicles because they are made to take towing with no problems. Also in my area NAFTA trucks are all over the place and the speed limits are not enforced. They seem to leave the Sub alone but my Q45t gets buzzed pretty good sometimes... The wind stream that follows these larger vehicles seems to help with cross winds. There was a reported 180 non voluntary turn by a rental van pulling a F27 to Ruffriders last year I believe. Something about crossing the highway median and going back where they came from... That probably won't happen with a 5800lb vehicle pulling a F-boat.



thom merrill

F25C 009 Charisma

ARC22 #2234

FMS SC20 57

I may not be of much help with the F25c, but I pulled my S27 about 900 miles and barely knew it was back there until about 65 or 70. I've got a '96 Suburban with a towing package, hell I even averaged about 12-13 miles per gallon. I think the boat weighed in at about 2500# plus the trailer about another 1000#. I would think the F25C would be less than that. I probably could have adjusted the weight a little and gone faster but why take a chance. I like giving myself a little room for stopping and observing the other idiots weaving in and out with the little cars.



A friend pulls his S27 with a F150 Crew without any problems and travels a little faster than I do.



JMO



Clayton

S27, H16

We tow our F31 with a Ford Expedition (5.4L v8 and a 4.something rear axle ratio).



The key to towing something this big and heavy is the wheelbase of the tow vehicle (the longer the better) and a trailer set up with the appropriate amount of tongue weight. Also make sure your tire pressure is appropriate for the load. These factors contribute to stability of the rig which is THE most important consideration to keep in mind when towing.



The second consideration is braking power which is more of a factor of working brakes on the trailer. The Expedition's brakes are adequate alone given enough planning but there is no way they could stop me quickly in a panic maneuver.



On the east coast we don't have too many mountains to contend with so power isn't much of a safety issue but the truck we have provides us with more than enough acceleration fully loaded.



Again get the vehicle with the longest wheelbase possible and make sure you have enough tongue weight and the trailer is set up properly. If a load this heavy starts fishtailing the results could be disasterous.



Steve H.

F31 #040 "Nice Tri"

Wheelbase and Torque are two important factors in towing. I frequently trailer a race car trailer which is significantly heavier than any F boat. My tow car is a diesel excursion with a banks power pak upgrade. Average 16.8 mpg towing (heaviey),19.8 regular towing light (about 2800 lbs total) and 20-21 mpg highway. Surprises the hell out of me at every fill up! Supposedly the truck makes almost 700 ft lbs of torque (according to the paperwork). All I know is that it pulls hard, smooth, fast, and easy. NEver overheats, never breaksdown and always and I mean always people get out of the way.



Steve

soon to be F31R sailor.