Tow a ski boat behind a TC?
Hi everyone - been studying up on how to tow a boat behind a truck camper. Kind of out of the blue, my wife and I have recently bought a ski/surf boat (2005 Mastercraft x10) and have absolutely falle...
Forum Discussion
Quick answer is YES, you need a dually.
Secondly, most people with a TC are over their GVWR. Most go by axle and tire weights. Legal has nothing to do with it. Despite what lots of misinformed people and armchair lawyers will tell you their is nothing illegal about being over your GVWR. Professional "hot shot" truck drivers using duallys to pull goose neck trailers hauling commercially are over their GVWR all the time. They go thru DOT inspections and no one cares. It's only axle and tire weights that are legally enforceable.
I carried my 11' TC on a 2007 Chevy 3500 SRW and towed my 4,500 pound 21' boat. I had air bags on the truck. Total weight on the truck was about 11,100. The truck's GVWR was 9,900.
I switched to using a 2005 Chevy dually. I drove less than a mile and realized a HUGE difference in handling. It was much more stable, had less bounce, less sway, etc. Yes I drove the SRW for a couple years with no problems but he dually was WAY better. Total weight of the camper, my growing family, and boat tongue weight was 13,100 on a truck with a GVWR of 11,400. I wasn't over axle or tire weights with either truck.
Your boat tongue weight is likely only 5%. It's incredibly difficult to achieve 10% tongue weight with a boat because all the heavy parts are in the back.
My 11' camper necessitated the use of a 48" hitch extension. I started with a Curt on the SRW but went to a Torklift Super Truss on the dually. This was also a vast improvement. Get the Torklift from the beginning.
Secondly, most people with a TC are over their GVWR. Most go by axle and tire weights. Legal has nothing to do with it. Despite what lots of misinformed people and armchair lawyers will tell you their is nothing illegal about being over your GVWR. Professional "hot shot" truck drivers using duallys to pull goose neck trailers hauling commercially are over their GVWR all the time. They go thru DOT inspections and no one cares. It's only axle and tire weights that are legally enforceable.
I carried my 11' TC on a 2007 Chevy 3500 SRW and towed my 4,500 pound 21' boat. I had air bags on the truck. Total weight on the truck was about 11,100. The truck's GVWR was 9,900.
I switched to using a 2005 Chevy dually. I drove less than a mile and realized a HUGE difference in handling. It was much more stable, had less bounce, less sway, etc. Yes I drove the SRW for a couple years with no problems but he dually was WAY better. Total weight of the camper, my growing family, and boat tongue weight was 13,100 on a truck with a GVWR of 11,400. I wasn't over axle or tire weights with either truck.
Your boat tongue weight is likely only 5%. It's incredibly difficult to achieve 10% tongue weight with a boat because all the heavy parts are in the back.
My 11' camper necessitated the use of a 48" hitch extension. I started with a Curt on the SRW but went to a Torklift Super Truss on the dually. This was also a vast improvement. Get the Torklift from the beginning.
