Trailoring Challenger 230

[Mikec1231]

Once i find the right boat, I plan on trailering that baby a fair amount. I have never pulled a boat and was wondering how it handles, the major issues involved, potential damage to the gell coat, etc. Is it crazy to tow it for 5 hours let's say to go to the favorite lake or to visit friends?
I plan on using my F-150 Super Crew 2 wheel drive.
Thanks
Mike

 

[bigbaldbob]

Trailering is more affected by what vehicle is doing the pulling. The more power you have the less you will notice anything is behind you. Mud flaps on your truck will help stop road debris from hitting your boat. But you will not be able to stop all hits. If you are truelly concerned you can put a shield on your trailer in front of the boat like some motorcyle trailers have. (it will look ugly)

 

[robertm]

I towed my boat 900 mi with my f150 w/o issue. There was no evidence of any rock chips or anything like that. I wouldn't worry about it to much.

First thing you are going to need before you even pick the boat up is a brake controller. The 230 trailers come with real brakes so you'll need to install a controller in your truck. Prodigy makes a great unit. (confirm the trailer has electric brakes with the dealer first, but I'm almost certain it does)

With the 230 you're probably going to need a load leveling and antisway setup too. The f-150 comes standard with a class III hitch. This means anything over 5k needs load leveling. That boat will be over 5k with the frailer and fuel. (You are actually liable if something happens and you don't have a properly equipped setup).

You will find the ride is much better if you invest in a good load leveling/anti sway setup. I recommend 'Equalizer hitch'. Look it up. You can get them online for ~$450 shipped. I use one to pull my big enclosed trailer (~8k lbs).

Thinking about this some more, what I would probably do it get the boat and see how everything rides. Fuel it up and stop at a Catapillar weigh station and see how much everything weighs in at. I suspect you'll be close to 6k lb tow load and the back of the truck will be sagging pretty good. If this is the case then look into the load leveling stuff. If you are closer to 5k and the truck seems ok then I'd not worry about it. Since most of the weight on boats is over the trailer axles and not over the receiver it may not be too bad.

Good luck and enjoy!!

 

[bigbaldbob]

Weight should not be a problem. The challenger 230 weighs 3,350 dry or the SE weighs 3,550 dry both have a 53 gallon fuel tank so at most your looking at a completly fuel 230 SE weighing around 3,920 add your trailer to that youll be well unde 6k. If you plan on towing long distances I would be more concerned with tranny temps than a load leveler. You can add a aftermarket transmission cooler on the cheap. I ounce towed a 12k pound load with a 1/2 ton chevy, that was a load.

 

[robertm]

'09 230 on the trailer weighs 5200 lbs. Add 375lbs fuel and couple hundred in gear and you'll be bumping up on 6k. The truck will pull it. Will it be legal -better check your owners manual. Better yet, check the shiny little sticker on your hitch. It will clearly state 5k max w/o load leveling. (I'm not saying the truck won't be fine, but you'll be just over the legal limit for sure)

If your truck came equiped with the tow package it will have an aux tranny cooler. If your towing a lot look into getting a scan guage or similar device which you can plug into your OBDII port and get tranny temps. You want to stay under 190 if at all possible. Also, make sure your changing your tranny fluid per Ford specs or greater. If your tranny fluid temps get high then ref a fluid breakdown chart to see how much life you have left. Error on the side of caution. If your truck doesn't have the aux cooler, then you will need one immed. They aren't expensive.

Really best thing to do is get on a towing forum or F150 specific site. Here's one I like:

http://www.f150online.com/forums/towing-hauling-72/

 

[Mikec1231]

Towing Weight

This is really helpful information guys. I looked up in my vehicle manual that with the truck, tire size, engine and rear end, I can tow a combined weight of14,500# and trailer of 9,000#. It seems that depending on the type of brakes on the trailer and with the added electric brake controller, I should be in good shape. The truck has the trailering package, so I need to research that a bit to make sure I have the aux. transmission cooler too. I also need to look into load leveling setups after I weigh the whole baby.
Thanks a lot.
Mike

 

[RFoster130]

This is really helpful information guys. I looked up in my vehicle manual that with the truck, tire size, engine and rear end, I can tow a combined weight of14,500# and trailer of 9,000#. It seems that depending on the type of brakes on the trailer and with the added electric brake controller, I should be in good shape. The truck has the trailering package, so I need to research that a bit to make sure I have the aux. transmission cooler too. I also need to look into load leveling setups after I weigh the whole baby.
Thanks a lot.
Mike

That number seems kinda high for an F 150.

 

[robertm]

That number seems kinda high for an F 150.

Fords numbers are almost always bunk. You can't get to the max combined gross without exceeding one of the other limits. The numbers are based on the most stripped down, no optioned, short bed, 2 wheel drive, no fluids, etc weight of the truck.

 

[Mikec1231]

F-150 Numbers

It is an '07 F-150 Super Crew short bed, 2 wheel drive, 18" wheels, 3.73 rear, 5.4L
It was in the book.

 

[bigbaldbob]

Sounds like we have some ford haters in here. At least ford didnt hold there hand out for a bailout then go bankrupt.:boxing_smiley: I'll put my ford up against any others for pulling power on the hwy:cheers:

 

[slide00]

Boat trailer

I pull my 230 wake with a buick rainer thats rated for 6500lb and it pulls it no problem. I bought my boat in ohio and drove it 8hrs and it was a smooth going trip with no issues, the brakes on the trailer are presure operated with a hydraulic cyilnder not electric.

 

[RFoster130]

Sounds like we have some ford haters in here. At least ford didnt hold there hand out for a bailout then go bankrupt.:boxing_smiley: I'll put my ford up against any others for pulling power on the hwy:cheers:

I am not a Ford hater at all. We use a lot of powerstrokes where I work and they kick ass. Those numbers just seem really high for a F150 base model truck to tow that much.

 

[robertm]

It is an '07 F-150 Super Crew short bed, 2 wheel drive, 18" wheels, 3.73 rear, 5.4L
It was in the book.

You are right that is the published limit for your truck. There is very little chance you will actually be able to legally tow that much though (or honestly want to but that's another story). The real number you need to be looking at is GVWR. This is how much total the truck is allowed to weigh according to Ford. I've got the same truck so I happen to know your GVWR is 7050 lbs. This means, that no matter what your truck can't weigh more than this.

So, lets say gassed up truck weights 6050lbs. Add 500 lbs of people, gear. That means you have 500lbs left. OR your tongue weight max is 500lbs. This usually transfers into ~ 5000lbs trailer. Boats are tail heavy, tongue light so it could be more. The only way to really tell is to load everything up (including people, gear, gas, boat on trailer etc) and take it to a weigh station.

Also, note the axle load limits. The weigh station will tell you the weight on each axle. Those limits are published by Ford as well and you do not want to exceed them. (When you go to the weigh station, have the boat attached but do not have the trailer axles on the scale)

Also, regardless of all of this, with a class III hitch, over 5k load requires load leveling. If your right around the 5k mark and the truck drives well, I wouldn't worry about it.

Sounds like we have some ford haters in here. At least ford didnt hold there hand out for a bailout then go bankrupt.:boxing_smiley: I'll put my ford up against any others for pulling power on the hwy:cheers:

Hope you don't mean me. I love Fords. Just stating the fact that Ford, and all the other 1/2 manufs. publish max tow loads that are near impossible to actually legally achieve. They are based on the most stripped down, lightest truck in the production line. The one that almost no one actually owns.

 

[bigbaldbob]

You are right that is the published limit for your truck. There is very little chance you will actually be able to legally tow that much though (or honestly want to but that's another story). The real number you need to be looking at is GVWR. This is how much total the truck is allowed to weigh according to Ford. I've got the same truck so I happen to know your GVWR is 7050 lbs. This means, that no matter what your truck can't weigh more than this.

So, lets say gassed up truck weights 6050lbs. Add 500 lbs of people, gear. That means you have 500lbs left. OR your tongue weight max is 500lbs. This usually transfers into ~ 5000lbs trailer. Boats are tail heavy, tongue light so it could be more. The only way to really tell is to load everything up (including people, gear, gas, boat on trailer etc) and take it to a weigh station.

Also, note the axle load limits. The weigh station will tell you the weight on each axle. Those limits are published by Ford as well and you do not want to exceed them. (When you go to the weigh station, have the boat attached but do not have the trailer axles on the scale)

Also, regardless of all of this, with a class III hitch, over 5k load requires load leveling. If your right around the 5k mark and the truck drives well, I wouldn't worry about it.



Hope you don't mean me. I love Fords. Just stating the fact that Ford, and all the other 1/2 manufs. publish max tow loads that are near impossible to actually legally achieve. They are based on the most stripped down, lightest truck in the production line. The one that almost no one actually owns.

Leagal schmegal lets see what this puppy can pull:reddevil:
If I want to make weight with my rig I just tell the old lady to get out:hurray: