Towing Capacity Question

Hey, so I have a concern about the towing capacity about my 2005 4-door TRD Tacoma. It has the towing package, and it has a 3 inch OME lift kit along with brand new Daker Leaf Springs.

I have a 1988 Ski Nautique 2001 and I can pull and launch that thing all day long without a problem. But now, I just got a bigger boat- MUCH bigger

We just got a 2002 Chris Craft 28 Launch and I'm reading that the weight is 7,500 lbs. My concern is, do you think I will be able to pull this thing? As well as launch it? I'm also going to have to make a one time 200 mile highway trip with it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

I wouldn't recommend it. Your rating with the hitch is 5,500.

 

I think you want to tow less than your rated max. Your truck might be able to pull it but if you have to stop in a hurry you have a boat heavier than your truck pushing on you.

 

Towing a 7,500 lb boat is where a diesel would be very nice!

I agree with everyone else, I wouldn't recommend pulling a 7,500 lb boat up a boat ramp. It'll do it but it certainly won't be happy about it and will put a lot of stress on the drive train. You need a bigger truck for that barge.

 

'Can' and 'should' are perhaps entirely different questions. There is a guy in the 4-cyl section pulling a 6000 pound bobcat on a 2000 pound trailer. And that's a 4-cyl. Obviously, it 'can'. Power isn't the biggest question here, though. Pulling up a boat ramp is trivial if you have a 4x4 (low range). It has plenty of power to roll that beast down the highway. The big issue here is going to be controlling it. Braking isn't going to be any trouble if you have a good set of hydraulic disk brakes on both axles. Steering, and even driving in a straight line, is where you can face the biggest problems. A little bit of sway on a load that big and you can get yanked off the road. Come around a corner and the trailer will yank the ass end out from behind you. Driving appropriately can keep you safe, but this really can become a majorly stressful proposition.

That boat has a *dry* weight of 7500 pounds. Throw in 150 gallons of gas (900 pounds), and a 2000 pound trailer, you're looking at 10400 pounds. It will pull it no doubt, but I dont want to be within a mile of you when you try.

Edit: that boat also has a freshwater tank with a 35 gallon = 300 pounds capacity. 10700.

 

if it were me, no way. its not safe at all. if you have to stop quickly, you will put yourself and others at high risk. it will jackknife and that will be all she wrote.

 

that is not only illegal and you get get a huge ticket, but EXTREMELY dangerous/stupid.

If your vehicle is not rated to haul it DONT DO IT

 

Thanks for all your input guys, I've come to the conclusion that I will DEFINITELY NOT be attempting this. God forbid if anything were to happen, it's just not worth it at all. Jack-knifing and not being able to control it, as well as having my brakes jeopardized is just asking for serious trouble. Not just for me, but for anybody else around me. One small error, could cause one giant disaster.

It's times like these, where I wish I went with the Tundra! Although, I absolutely love my Tacoma. It could just use a TRD Supercharger and a bigger bed (having to keep the tailgate down when hauling my atv and dirtbike sucks)

Good thing my family owns a v10 F350, or else I don't know how I'd transport this thing! Lake George is looking good this summer!

 

Just thought I would point out that even with such gargantuan v10 ferd, depending on its specific configuration, you could even be pushing *its* maximum hauling capacity with that beast. Duelly, I hope?

 

I actually bought the boat from my uncle, and it has been in our family since 2002 when it was bought new. The Ford is a 2000 and we have been towing and launching the boat with the F350 ever since without a problem. As shitty as Fords are, the truck has absolutely no problem towing the boat.

It's just too bad that the Tacoma isn't built to withstand towing of something this caliber!

 

i've pulled my 17 ft lund with my v6 tacoma. no problem at all. but to stop on a dime is high risk with that truck. this is a great site with great info. ps, i would love to have a 28 footer, that would be the kats meow.

 

Yup, this is a great site! It would be nice to have the option to tow this kind of capacity tho, there's always room for more. But I know when we're talking something of this caliber, then it's totally understandable why they're not build for it

 

Update: We sold the 28 footer and instead bought my dream boat- a 2011 Malibu Wakesetter LSV 23'. The boat weighs roughly 4,000lbs and with the tandem axel trailer, it's probably adding on close to another thousand. Well, I had many opportunities over the year to haul the thing with my Tacoma and it manages pretty well- although one time I *almost* got er stuck was on a steep incline with a dirt road; I was lucky enough to get outta it in 4 Lo tho. But aside from that, the truck manages okay with that load behind it...

Just thought I'd share for anyone else wondering who knows how to use the search engine

 

Reading through this old thread reminded me of when my Dad's 26' CC got caught in the current while he was hooked up on the ramp. Dragged his '57 Nomad right into and under the water. Bye, Bye Chevy.

Congrats on the new boat.