Hey guys school me on towing

[Red91XLT]

Most of you know me from FSB. So I'm not going to bother with a long introduction.

I'm moving to another city in the next few months and I've changed my priorities as far as hobbies and toys go. I'm getting out of the "hardcore" offroading thing and I want to get into boating (I know I know... it's twice as expensive and twice as dumb:rofl:).

I'm looking for a Cuddy cruiser with a single inboard stern drive, but if I could pull it off I'd like a Cabin Cruiser with a dual engine set up.

After talking to a few guys about towing and boating, I've been told a 6.0L PSD had a hard time pulling the cabin cruiser on a 6 wheel trailer.

So.... I've been thinking about a dually for around a year. I'd love an old body style 7.3 350 dually, but I've seen 1999-2001 7.3 dually's go for between 4k and 9k.

I honestly don't know that much about towing capacities and capabilities of these trucks. So I'm here to learn from all of you. So, if I can get away with something not so expensive, that won't hurt me, but I'm going into this with the idea that I'll end up with an 8 grand truck, and a 5-6 grand boat.

Since I'm moving back to Hattiesburg, which is about 100 miles from the Gulf Of Mexico, which is where I'll be boating, it'll be 3-4 hour trip each time I go. I guess that's something to think about, as far as fuel economy and temperatures go. There really aren't any steep grades on hwy 49. It's majorly flat ground.

Bear in mind that I'm not asking about prices on things, but just trying to learn what I need truck wise to make this possible. There's nothing wrong with a little overkill in my eyes either. :beer

Thanks, and it's good to be a part of another community with a lot of the good people from FSB.

[Traveler]

How heavy is the boat and trailer? Any idea?

The biggest advantages to going with the 7.3L is you are able to mod the heck out of them if you don't like the way it pulls.
Modding the 6.0 is a lot more detailed.

A nice long wheel base crew cab dually will be the most stable ride and easiest pull.

[Red91XLT]

I'm not sure on the weight but A cuddy is around 22'-28'. Cabin is usually 30'-45'. Where as you can tow a cuddy on a single or double axle trailer, you will often need a double or tripple axle trailer for the cabin cruiser. But again, I am totally ignorant towards their weight.

I spent a few hours last night watching youtube videos of guys hauling and launching different sized boats, I'm fairly confident that a single wheel 7.3L truck can handle the Cuddy with ease.

I'm more concerned about having enough traction and truck to pull it out of launch when it comes time to go home without over working the capabilities of the truck.

I saw a youtube vid of a triton v10 hauling a 45' yacht through florida on the highway. It is at this point, I feel good about the 7.3's towing abilities.

[El Kabong]

Are you thinking 2wd or 4wd? I haven't had a boat for years, but remember some pretty slimy ramps where I wondered if my 1 ton 2wd was going to get my little boat out.

[Traveler]

I was kind of thinking that a single rear wheel would be fine as well.

Once you get the boat loaded it usually adds enough weight that 2 wheel drive will pull them out.
The only time I ever remember using 4x4 was at a lake we used to go to, we had to back into the water so far to launch the boat that the trailer wheels went off the end of the boat ramp and into a hole. That was a battle even with an empty trailer.

2 wheel drive will be fine but for peace of mind if you are really worried get the 4x4.

Thing about boat ramps is there are always people waiting on you, so if you have trouble or get stuck there are plenty of people more than happy to assist you in recovery so you hurry up and get out of their way.

We have a guy here at work that pulled his 31' sail boat on a triple axle trailer with a 302 powered, 2 wheel drive, explorer for years. He said it worked great except when he would get passed by a motor home or semi. Then it would get a little loose.

[Red91XLT]

I'm thinking I could probably get away with just a regular crewcab (as if there were any other choices when it comes to super duties) long bed would do the trick.

And I'll probably be going 4x4, kabong. I can't see the logic in purchasing a non 4x4 truck anyway...

On the other side, I'm becoming addicted to the dually aspect, and it would indeed allow me to tow much larger objects down the road. It's kind of like a "gateway drug" ... but as a truck. I guess that's an Enabler? :laugh:

Well, since we agree that the 7.3L is a firm choice, what's the best transmission choice? I've seen these trucks with autos, 5 speeds, and 6 speeds. I have no idea what will be the best medium.

I would more than likely DD this truck when I buy it, so the ability to drive A-B in traffic is weighing on my mind. Are there clutch/flywheel issues with the manuals as far as stop and go traffic are concerned?

Will the Autos (4R100?) live a decent life? I've heard the 4r100 is based around the E4OD. Should I be concerned about costly rebuilds at a particular mileage?

Any and all answers are appreciated, guys :beer

[Traveler]

I like the automatics. If you service them they will last a long time. 200k easily. Unless you are doing big mods to the engine.

Not sure how the manuals held up those years.

[Red91XLT]

I'm becoming a fan of Autos myself. I don't really want to do anything other than a 4" exhaust and maybe a programmer. I'd like to have one of those plug and play electrical ones that lets you go from "Economy, Towing, Performance". There's just a ton out there. I'd probably throw on a hell of trans cooler, I was on summit looking at just crap parts and came across a direct bolt in aluminum radiator shroud with two electric fans in. I think it was like 300 ish for the setup. That seems like a worth while investment if you ask me. (the thought of putting on some 22.5" alcoa wheels has crossed my mind too.... but I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of idiocy... )

People have always said they'd rather swap 4R100 parts into their E4OD due to the the steel hard parts the newer trans uses. I'm sure this would be awesome for our little light duty broncos and what ever "wheeling" we throw at them. I sure hope it can handle 200,000 miles without grenading itself.

All in all, I'm pretty excited about this.

[locopny]

Late to this party...but for what its worth, here's my .02.

I haven't driven one with a manual. The autos were rated at a higher towing capacity....(kinda weird I thought). Mine is an auto and has been fine at 140K now and handles my 10K loads well. Dads has pulled more like 15K. I think Ford got the transmissions right in these rigs.

I got 4x4 in mine and am now very happy I did. Didn't need it in CA, but ND winters are a whole nother story. Buying it used wont make that much difference in price....only in maintenance.

I haven't 'mod'ed the heck out of it -not sure I'll ever really need to. Larger exhaust, chip, and 'Extreme duty' air filter (for the gravel roads here) is all thats done.

As for the dually....I was torn on those. I had them in the past and it was nice when I had a load that called for that, but sucked.....let me repeat that incase you missed it....SUCKED when it was in a 'grocery getter mode'. Other parking lot drivers loved to smack them fenders..thank God they weren't kids.


Oh yeah....Welcome to the TRT forum :)

[Red91XLT]

Thanks for the words of wisdom and the assurance of reliability with the trans!

I know how big of a PITA pulling through drive thru's and banks can be in a dually, I never thought about the parking lot.

Can you be more specific about what you pull and how your truck acts when towing it/them? Can you tell me about how well it handles loaded with a trailer compared to driving without one? I've noticed than when driving my bronco at 70ish MPH and passing another large vehicle or 18wheeler there's a noticeable difference in air pressure and my truck seems to move with it. Do you experience this?


And thank you for the welcome! :beer

[locopny]

rides a little stiff when empty...but I'm used to it. might be due to the rear air bags and stiff springs that currently reside under the rig. As to how it handles the different air current when passing rigs....I suppose it depends on direction and how windy it is, the speed of the passing rig, etc. Not really a fair question. Loaded vs unloaded....not exactly sure what you are looking for....Tows way better than the Bronco ever did. No feeling of the tail wagging the dog.

Usually tow a 10K GVW enclosed cargo trailer. (8.5x24 and 8.5x28 V-Nose), or a 10K GVW hydro dump (6x12), or a 7K 18'car hauler.
I can get you a photo of a loaded set up with the V-Nose in a couple weeks. Gotta grab it from So. CA in June.


FWIW-I run Howes fuel additive in my tank per manufacturers instructions and get about 2 MPG better readings. This last week...I ran out of my bottle and didn't add it to the last tank yet. A trip I customarily get 19.6MPG with, I only got 17.8MPG on. I suppose you could substitute Lucas or other regional brand...but I am a firm believer in an additive of some sort. Better mileage and reduce cavitation risk.