Towing 28ft trailer 6000lb boat

[the butcher]

I am used to trailering a 20ft fiberglass boat fully loaded is about 3600lbs...4300 lbs with trailer with my F150 pickup. I am getting a 25ft aluminum boat that will be about 6000lb loaded and about 7300 lbs on a 28ft double axle trailer. If I recall correctly my f150 squatted about 3" to 4" after hooking up my trailer on the 20ft boat after dropping the jack.

I am guessing I'll be squatting a few more inches with the heavier weight.

I know this type of weight on a travel trailer for RV usually calls for Wright distribution hitch but boat trailers don't have the A frame. Am I good to trailer it as is or should I get airbags or something? Also have seen big discrepancy between what trailer tongue weight percentage should be...seen values between 7 to 15%. What's a safe number?

 

[sudsy]

The killer on the f150 and most half tons is the limit of 500lb for conventional tongue weight without a load distribution hitch. ( 1000lb with load dist hitch). Your best bet is to get a tongue hitch weight of your boats and trailer and see how much over you are......it comes down to what your willing to risk when towing....I was able to upgrade to a new 1 ton this year and it made a world of difference with my heavy boat behind me ( 9000lbs). My old f150 had no problem pulling it but once I started breaking you could feel the weight behind me......

 

[Flashman]

You can use weight distributing hitches on boat trailers. Some styles of hitch use adapters, others just attach with the standard components in a different configuration.

 

[trophywife]

air bags and have your trailer brakes set properly.

 

[Pineapple Express]

The F150 requires a weight distributing hitch for any trailer over 5000lbs.

For any half-ton truck you'll run out of allowable payload long before you max out the allowable trailer weight. Payload includes passengers, miscellaneous gear, tongue weight, etc. It's easy to exceed payload

 

[the butcher]

Perhaps i haven't been paying attention but I don't ever recall seeing a trailer hooked up to a 1/2 ton truck with a weight distribution hitch at the local ramps. Perhaps those trucks were 2500 or 3500 models as I have never really paid attention to the rig and setup of others when at the ramp.

 

[kaelc]

A pole tongue adaptor is what I’d recommend if your trailer is strong enough. I use one when pulling my boat and with camper on with a weight distribution hitch and a hitch extension. https://amzn.to/4iBKbMp # ad

 

[Sharphooks]

Put air bags on your truck and try and tow with empty fuel tanks. Get the best hitch you can afford….

 

[the butcher]

Put air bags on your truck and try and tow with empty fuel tanks. Get the best hitch you can afford….

Why would I tow with empty fuel tanks? My boat is all ready to go night before. Stopping to fill up at a gas station before hitting the ramp is not ideal.

 

[M1SF1T]

Why would I tow with empty fuel tanks? My boat is all ready to go night before. Stopping to fill up at a gas station before hitting the ramp is not ideal.

Because of your probable payload deficit in a ½ ton truck.

Look at the door jamb, payload is on the sticker there.

7300# tow weight? Probably more with fuel, ice & tackle? Pretty quickly you have 1000# tongue weight. A couple fishermen in the truck, 50# hitch, some more gear, and pretty quickly you're over max payload of your truck. If you have a well optioned truck you'll get there fast, crew cab, sun roof, deluxe package... you might have barely 1500# available on a ½ ton pick up

 

[trophywife]

Why would I tow with empty fuel tanks? My boat is all ready to go night before. Stopping to fill up at a gas station before hitting the ramp is not ideal.

huge weight difference.. maybe not a big deal if launching close, but hauling 1200lbs of fuel for a trip is obviously not ideal. always appreciated a station close to a launch.