*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: Boats......If it isn't one thing, it's another.
Hello. I am purchasing a 1988 Sea-Ray 300 sundancer in ohio. I need to have it trucked to Just north of Boston, about 745 miles. I could not find a good one here, but found a really clean low hour lake boat up there, for less than I could have gottten a not so clean salt use boat here. Can anyone recommend a carrier? It needs to be a transport company with a Hydraulic trailer. The boat is on stands and blocks, and I dont want to incur and additional marina costs to have to load it onto a low boy. Thanx
One other thing to note is that most Diesels still come with a factory Class 3 500/5000. If you're going to haul that much weight you're going to need to switch over to a Class 5 which costs about $500. They often need to be special ordered so plan on a few extra days for that.
Some states restrict over size hauling on weekdays only so that's another thing to factor in.
I have nothing to do with the shipping/hauling industry but I have been towing boats long enough to know what can go wrong. You have to plan with the idea that if it can go wrong, it will. The fact that you seem to veiw this idea as a slam dunk is a good indicator of the lack of experience. Do you even know how to change a hub on the side of a freeway? Can you replace a brake line and bleed the sytem? What happens if you burn a hub or shred a tire/s and rip the brake line in the middle of the desert? The reason everybody thinks that this is a bad idea is that they have enough experience to know why this is a bad idea.
But I'll admitt, I'm almost hoping that you do this if you're willing to post the story afterwords.
I don't view this as a slam dunk, I know something will and probabyt go wrong. I have done a little more research and found a place around home that will rent me out a Tri-axle with torsion axles, hydraulic brakes on all axles and is a 2010. I can rent this for $500 for 2 weeks and the shop is OK with the round trip to CA, they will even throw in a spare at no cost.
I know my way around trailers, I have worked on trailers before, and trust me I am a Land Rover fanatic (have a Range Rover and a Defender) and can replace a break line on or off road. And worse case scenario, I have AAA Premiere which will get me and the trailer 200 miles to civilization.
As for the truck still trying to find my best option for this, may just buy the 96 3500 Dodge Laramie my neighbor has for sale. 1 ton Diesel dually with a Cummins Turbo. I imagine that should do the job if it checks out...thing only has 110K on the clock, all they used it for was taking their horses down to Ocala for the winter...may not be a bad deal for $4500.
Cool, now read that. Basically, your going to need at least that dually to get the tow rating you need. Add your boat, trailer, fuel, gear, and anything else you plan on throwing in there and I will be you are damn close or over. I am not trying to be a dick, all I am saying is that this is a LONG haul. I will also say that once you put that boat on the trailer and you measure height you could be over 13'6" now that presents a whole new set of problems.
Make sure you COMPLETELY research this before you undertake it.
Sounds like renting the trailer is a great problem solved, and the neighbors diesel might be a good option as well. If hes a good neighbor hes going to make you aware of any weak areas of the truck and you can address that before you start your trip. Just realize that is one large boat to have on the road.
We have come to a point where anymore advice is simply a waste. This guy is going to make this trip and tow this boat. More out of spite, most likely, than anything else.
Good luck in your champagne dream and Walmart budget endeavour. Just let me tell you this. God forbid something goes wrong and you get hurt or you hurt other motorists, because if it does and you get sued, this thread will be found by some ambulence chasing lawyer and you will pay through the nose. Cause this thread will show all the people on here that know way more about what you are trying to do than you do. Check your ego. You may have to tilt your head to the side just so you can fit it through the damn door. I'm only a year older than you and I know for a fact what you are trying to do is beyond idiotic. IF you had any clue, you wouldnt have needed to ask for help on this forum. Get over yourself!
I hope its worth the risk simply not to pay a qualified hauler $5K to do it the right way! And your quip about the haulers getting upset at what you are trying to do........that was funny. They are not upset at all. You are the sole reason they have a job.
If you want to call me dramatic, be my guest. I call it KARMA.
__________________ LTD
Living The Dream, but somedays, its not always my dream!
We have come to a point where anymore advice is simply a waste. This guy is going to make this trip and tow this boat. More out of spite, most likely, than anything else.
Good luck in your champagne dream and Walmart budget endeavour. Just let me tell you this. God forbid something goes wrong and you get hurt or you hurt other motorists, because if it does and you get sued, this thread will be found by some ambulence chasing lawyer and you will pay through the nose. Cause this thread will show all the people on here that know way more about what you are trying to do than you do. Check your ego. You may have to tilt your head to the side just so you can fit it through the damn door. I'm only a year older than you and I know for a fact what you are trying to do is beyond idiotic. IF you had any clue, you wouldnt have needed to ask for help on this forum. Get over yourself!
I hope its worth the risk simply not to pay a qualified hauler $5K to do it the right way! And your quip about the haulers getting upset at what you are trying to do........that was funny. They are not upset at all. You are the sole reason they have a job.
If you want to call me dramatic, be my guest. I call it KARMA.
I don't know why people are all posting like this is some impossible task. It is not, but the orginal idea of buying a truck in trailer in CA and hauling back would not work for someone on a budget. OP said he can get a new triple axel trailer for 2 weeks (which is what he needs) and a diesel dually (which is what he needs). Get the permits and find a buddy who has a couple of weeks to blow and make a trip of it. I would want to give that truck a good shake down and be aware the trailer might not fit the boat just right and be prepared to handle situations that come up. I am not sure the tow rating on a 1996 3500 though. I saw 1999s could be anywhere from 9k-14k pounds depending on gearing etc. I couldn't find anything older though. Also good advice about checking the height of the boat on the trailer.
I would also plan on 13+- or so MPGs with an empty trailer and high single digit MPGs on the way back.
I just re read the original post where OP said he planned on wintering in FL and spending summer in NY. If that is the case shouldn't you be looking to buy a truck and trailer for future back and forth hauls?
Ditto,, USHIP.com is the cheepest way your going to find anyone to get it that far.
List the boat yourself with a couple of photos and the 10.5 beam and let them get the rest of what they want. Include the marina phone number and a contact and have it wrote in your add for them to contact the marina . Unless they can find a very small boat to throw on with it, your going to pay for the whole trailer and $5 g is not going to get it. At the cheepest its $2.50 a mile. You can also get local marine transport companys to give you a price but have it in writting. I had a price given to me then they got a higher paying load, and my boat was left in Fla for 4 more weeks till I found someone else. The other thing is make sure they give you a delivery date IN WRITTING> AGain, they can take 10 to 20% down then leave you till they feel like towing it. Through Uship is about the safest. way . They are rated like e bay and they don't want their rating hurt.
Contacting one directly local is a lot safer than using one you can't get to. Its not that the transport is or will not be safe its the different scams that are out there.
I'm a car hauler. We have them to and lots of companys we pick up cars for the owners are mad as hell cause the car was sitting for 3 to 5 weeks before it was brokered out to us. Cheeper is not always better but again Uship at least you have some security of the bigger and better companys. You will get several offers on the shipping but remember 3000 miles the least you will get it will be closer to 7 and 8g if they can't get another boat on there. One of my loads coast to coast pays 7500 to 8g min and rates are down now. You wait 2 more months your going into spring and summer season then add another 1 to 2 g to get it shipped. YOur lucky things are slow right now. Mid summer your rate would be about 9 to 10g at the least.
__________________ Fountain 31TE...... Hydra Sports 21 Bay...... Dodge 3500 Camping unit "Gone Fishing"..... Tinker Toy..... Sunset Point Nixonton NC
I don't know why people are all posting like this is some impossible task. It is not, but the orginal idea of buying a truck in trailer in CA and hauling back would not work for someone on a budget. OP said he can get a new triple axel trailer for 2 weeks (which is what he needs) and a diesel dually (which is what he needs). Get the permits and find a buddy who has a couple of weeks to blow and make a trip of it. I would want to give that truck a good shake down and be aware the trailer might not fit the boat just right and be prepared to handle situations that come up. I am not sure the tow rating on a 1996 3500 though. I saw 1999s could be anywhere from 9k-14k pounds depending on gearing etc. I couldn't find anything older though. Also good advice about checking the height of the boat on the trailer.
I would also plan on 13+- or so MPGs with an empty trailer and high single digit MPGs on the way back.
I just re read the original post where OP said he planned on wintering in FL and spending summer in NY. If that is the case shouldn't you be looking to buy a truck and trailer for future back and forth hauls?
I certainly am not one to say its an impossible task, but when you read this whole thread and all the information that this guy has offered up, he loses credibility in a heartbeat. It's almost laughable. I mean the guy actually insults himself and an entire nation of people with his very 1st post trying to justify how frugal he is.
Then all the ideas of how he can save money?
Leave a job like this to the pros. It will keep the job safer for you and others.
This is not a job to utilize the "I KNOW A GUY" probelm solving mentality, BASED on the information you have provided in this thread.
__________________ LTD
Living The Dream, but somedays, its not always my dream!
Uship.com I just used them to ship my boat and it was much cheaper than renting and driving it myself. Not to mention I spent two days at the office instead of driving.
USHIP.com is awesome. I had an 18' Center Console hauled from Okeechobee to Exit 98 off of I-95 in Virginia last month. I had prices from $475 to $1350. I did some research, read feedback and chose the hauler that offered a price of $475. He did a wonderful job and cant say enough good things about him!
Great website for shipping. The shipper is in control!
__________________ LTD
Living The Dream, but somedays, its not always my dream!
Where to eat and sleep while averaging 45MPH? That $1000 budget might cover fuel...nothing more. $1000 worth of tolls? $500 for loading onto the trailer and forklift time to help you adjust the boat to trailer. Motel/food for two for 6 days...$1500?
A blown tranny on your old dulie? How many days to fix, maybe $1500 to fix at the least, and hotel while waiting...not counting the towing bill from where you broke down to the nearest town...for BOTH truck and boat.
$5000 is starting to sound like a bargain yet? Good on you and best of luck either way.
__________________ Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)
Last edited by bamaboy473; 02-08-2010 at 05:31 PM.
Once I took a trailer to pick up a boat at a dry storage. Despite about an hour of on/off/on jacking with the bunks, by the time I left the marina and got on the highway, I realized that the tongue weight was way too light, and that was only a 28' boat.
No way to adjust anything at that point and didn't have a chain stopper; only a bunch of thick tie-down straps.
Broke 5 straps on I-10 through Louisiana and Mississippi going 45. Scary ride.
Let this be a caution to Stay and Pay at the marina until you KNOW that the truck is sagging enough to say, "good enough tongue weight" To know that you'll need to measure height at rear wheel well empty, then load 10-12 bags of 80-pound Sacrete into the bed and measure the height. That's what you'll be looking for to keep the boat's bow from flying up at each dip in the road. This is REAL important.
With your Range Rover and Defender, you are an adventurous spirit....but like Harry said, "...a man's got to know his limitations". Be careful if you do this...and if you do this look at the Weight Distributing Hitch system to keep the truck and boat hooked up right.
__________________ Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)
Wow?!?!?!?!?!? 
WOW, what a post! 
