Trucks & Trailers - Towing question

I got a 2003 2800 hydrasport walk around I am looking at purchasing a truck that will tow it I now have a 1500 ram 2 wheel drive. I am not sure what the total weight of the boat with tri axle trailer and the 284 gallon gas tank would weigh I have see. That the dry weigh on my boat is 6900 to 8500 pounds. Not sure what dry weight is.

Question is what would the total weight be for the boat with trailer and full gas tank ?

And the second question is what type of truck should I be looking at ?

Thank you all

Dry weight is without any fluids or gear and with O/B it may be without engines. A trailer rated to haul that rig will be 1,200-1,500 if aluminum or 2,000-2,500 if steel. 284 gallons of gas weighs roughly 1,800 lbs.

conservatively it will be 11,000 lbs and could go higher. You'll need 2500 diesel at minimum IMO.

I keep looking at 2500 and 3500 but I don't want to go to 3500 if I don't need to, but I would hate to spend all that money and not have enough truck. So you think a 2500 would do it?

I keep looking at 2500 and 3500 but I don't want to go to 3500 if I don't need to, but I would hate to spend all that money and not have enough truck. So you think a 2500 would do it?

Ist question is, how much and how far are you going to tow to justify a diesel with the high up front cost of the engine plus cost of fuel and maintance. This diesel hype is just that unless you are towing long distances. If it is local and not very often i would go gas. I agree you at least should be in a 3/4 ton be weather it is Ford, GM or Dodge.A tri axle trailer in aluminum will be 2000lbs or more.That is what i have and rated for 12500 lbs

I go from Orlando to key west at
Least twice a year and I might take it from Orlando to fort lauder dal sometimes but not a lot of towing I'm probably going to keep her in the marina I just want the convenience of being able to tow her when I want. So what do u think about 12,000 pounds as well

I would go 3/4 ton or 1 ton with single rear wheels. It's enough truck and more convenient than a dually when not towing. Plus you can go with a short bed. I don't think you need a dually for that boat.

I go from Orlando to key west at
East twice a year and I might take it from Orlando to fort lauder dal sometimes but not a lot of towing I'm probably going to keep her in the marina I just want the convenience of being able to tow her when I want. So what do u think about 12 pounds as well

Yes. Take the rig the way you will be towing it to a scrap dealer or sand a gravel place or a truck stop with scales and have it weighed. Then you will know for sure. I tow mine with this (below). Just not alot and very far. 30ft at least 11500lbs

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n636/Thalasso/IMG_0474.jpg

Yeah I'm going to see if I can get someone with a real truck to tow me to a truck stop and get it weighed that's the only way to really know. Maybes it will save me some money on the truck

You could possibly look at a diesel Excursion, depending on how heavy the boat is. That's what I use to tow my Vector 2500CC

it's all opinion. Some will say you need a Cat diesel, and others would say you can get away with a Craftsman mower. the new 1/2 tons are saying they can pull around the 11k lb mark, but I haven't personally tested it out so I can't give you my $0.02. i had an F150 5.4 v8 pulling a 25ft proline and trailer w estimated weight of around 8500lbs loaded. it did fine, but stopping was not the best and going up hilss and on ramps were a little difficult. In my opinion I think a 3/4 ton will do the job fine (diesel or the gas). I may have people disagree with that and I may have people agree with it. But remember it's all opinion!