dadriva

Just wanted to make a quick report on a recent trip we made.

Trailered a 2007 Donzi 29 zfc from Maryland to Ohio ~400 miles of mostly mountainous terrain.

I knew it would be close so I calculated the numbers over and over...and then a few more times. I prefer to use the 80% rule when it comes to the limitations of towing and went into this knowing I would be out of my personal comfort zone but within the manufacturers published limitations.

Here are my calculations -

2007 Toyota Tundra 5.7
Curb weight - 5570lbs
Me - 150 lbs
My buddy - 200 lbs
our junk / misc / fudge factor - 100 lbs
= 6020 lbs

29 Donzi ZFC - 6000lbs
2 x 250 Verados - 635 lbs each
90 gal fuel on board - 558 lbs
Trailer - 2000 lbs
= 9828 lbs

= 15,848 GCVW

Max towing - 10200 lbs
GCWR - 16000 lbs

The truck was most definitely working hard. I'd love to say "you couldn't even tell it was there!" but that would be very far from the truth. It stopped ok (triple axle trailer with disc brakes on each axle) sagged a bit but was compensated for with Firestone airbags, and actually accelerated pretty well (at 0.9 mpgs !!!!!!!!!!!!!)

That being said the engine temp and tranny temp gauges DID NOT BUDGE at all through the mountains on the PA turnpike.

The only real downfalls were the engine noise (mostly in 4th gear at 55 mph in the mountains and 5th gear at 65mph on the flatter portions) and we averaged 6.5 mpgs over the ENTIRE trip for 400 miles which absolutely sucks! I exponentially increased my carbon footprint and am now a prime contributor to global warming

All in all I was VERY impressed with this truck's capabilities. I do not plan to ever do this again or make a habit out of long hauls with this rig but must say that if needed to rise to the occasion that I have utmost confidence in this truck.

WolpackVO

Sounds good. My new rig is going to weigh in about 8000lbs fully loaded so it sounds like my tundra is up to the task..

rockyraider

Wow, thats a heck of a big boat for that truck. Glad everything went well.

txhedg

That result actually sounds like about what i would expect for 10k on the Tundra.....do able, but just barely, probably dont want to make it a common occurrence.

Makes you realize that regardless of what the manufacturer says, 10k on a half ton aint really a great idea to do very often.....but as an occasional thing, the high rating isnt "wrong"....just aggressive.

Looks like you had that boat positioned on the trailer very well! And the triple axle helps a lot too. Without those, im sure it would have been pretty hairy.

Thanks for a realistic review...and glad it worked out well.

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2001 Pursuit 2870 CC 225 Optis

Sportfisher236

That's a nice looking rig u got there. That's about the results I would have expected. Thanks for being honest about the results of the trip. Some like to overstate the outcome.

bstnsportsfan

Beautiful boat but I like the truck even more. Glad to hear you made the trip safetly, but 6.5mpg is horrible!

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Chris

warmpinkcenter

my tundra tows my 31 contender and on the florida highway (flat) i get 8-9 mpg.....i think the diff is in the flat hwys....i think the boat w/ trailer and gear come in around 11k lbs..

txhedg

I think if everyone was honest about what they get towing their rigs, 6.5 mpg wouldnt seem that low. I get about that same mpg when i occassionally tow my rig with a Chev 2500 6.0L w/3.73 gears.

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2001 Pursuit 2870 CC 225 Optis

Sportfisher236

I get about 9.5 mpg towing my rig with a 2008 F250 diesel if I keep it under 60mph. When I go a longer trip and am on roads that have higher speed say 70 mph she drops to 8-8.5 mpg. With my 05 6.0 diesel I would get about 11 mpg on both of those conditions.

gf

Sounds like a good trip. Great looking Donzi! Did you sell your Contender?

dadriva

Thanks for the replies and yes I am quite excited about the new rig.

The truck was amazing! I have to say that the more I think about it, the more impressed I get with that truck. When we got to the flatter sections of the turnpike....crossing westbound into Ohio and west of there I started to see 7.5 - 8 mpg but the AVERAGE for the entire trip ended up at 6.5. So, it would have done better on flatland but nonetheless the numbers are what they are.

And GF, the Contender is STILL for sale!!

Here is a link to boat trader...make an offer!! I know I can tow this rig to deliver it to its new owner with my truck

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...-Open-94620889

BW23

I know the Turnpike very well. That truck got a workout on those long hills !

Glad you had a safe trip !