Pulling my ski boat with a 2004 LC

[srkpaco]

I have a 2004 LC all stock with cranked torsion bars and no running boards. I have a 23 foot Air Nautique an a double axle trailer with brakes, I have never pulled my boat with my LC because I have always had trucks and the boat is kept in a slip in the water. When I pulled it with my old truck, which was a Chevy 3/4 ton Duramax diesel, it seamed super heavy should I worry about pulling it with my LC. When I have six adults and a few small bags in the third row of my LC it bottoms out when I hit dips in the road. I am worried that the tounge weight of the trailer is going to be to much for my LC. Any thoughts?

 

[bonze]

Shouldn't be a problem. I've pulled my '21 foot Grady White with no problem for years.

 

[Sandroad]

A quick look showed that boat at 5400 lbs dry. Add in fuel, a trailer, and stuff and you'll be real close to the 6500 max towing capacity of the '04.

Any lift in the rear, or did you just crank up the front? If you only cranked the front and then add a heavy trailer tongue, you might be going down the road with the front way up in the air and the rear close to the bump stops.

All in all, it may be marginal and something you might consider only for short, slow trips?

 

[12guns]

I've pulled an older bay liner arrive 2452 which is 24' long and I guesstimat apps 5 k lbs. no issues with the cruiser as long as you are families with towing long heavy trailers. Just make sure you have a good set of brakes or working brakes on the trailer. No brakes on the trailer make you a little more careful, but its not recommended (or legal).

 

[srkpaco]

Thanks guys, please know my boat has a GM ZR6 6.0L inboard, tower,50 gallons of fuel, amps. lots of speakers and some gear in it. I have trailer brakes but it is the tounge weight that I worry about, and yes, my torsion bars are already cranked which doesn't help the situation

 

[12guns]

Thanks guys, please remember my boat has a chevy 350 inboard, tower, fuel, amps. lots of speakers and some gear in it. I have trailer brakes but it is the tounge weight that I worry about, and yes, my torsion bars are already cranked which doesn't help the situation

Your tongue weight shouldn't be that bad. BTW I installed some OME 865's and completely eliminated the sagging rear end when my buddies boat was hooked up. Very happy with the mild upgrade.

 

[PIPO]

I personally wouldn't do it. I had a Nissan Armada with 9k towing capacity that's struggled pretty bad with a 7.5k enclosed trailer. And that SUV had airbags and I was using WD sway bars.

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

I tow a ski nautique (w 351 ford windsor) all the time. Through the Canadian rockies, passing big rigs up the Kicking Horse line, no sweat. I've got a 2001 LX 470 and don't worry about it at all.

 

[ajcruiser100]

I've been towing a Sport Nautique (not quite as much weight as your boat) for the past few seasons with a 2000 LC...not a problem especially on flat roads/highway. Airlift 1000 springs were the key though...definitely makes a big difference with stability and you can eliminate the rear end sagging under the tongue weight. With a 2004 you should be better off than I am...5 spd transmission and more HP. Have fun on the lake!

 

[PIPO]

I personally wouldn't do it. I had a Nissan Armada with 9k towing capacity that's struggled pretty bad with a 7.5k enclosed trailer. And that SUV had airbags and I was using WD sway bars.

I take back my statement...considering the shape and tongue weight will be different between a boat and an enclosed trailer.

 

[ppressle]

I tow a 5k lb car trailer with mine. Tongue weight is the Achilles heal with the 100 series.
I believe recommended tongue weight is 10% of the weight you are towing, so about 600 lbs in your case. I run a little less than that to stay off the bump stops. I don't know if that is adjustable with a boat trailer though.

Consider a load leveler hitch as that helps quite a bit, also air bags or the 865 springs.

Pete

 

[Travis351]

351 Windsor in a mastercraft here. Cruiser pulls it almost as good as the boat pulls me.

 

[TXLX100]

I love those Windsor 351's. Anyone know why Ford marine engines went away? I think Nautique was one of the last manufacturers to offer it.

 

[Travis351]

I love those Windsor 351's. Anyone know why Ford marine engines went away? I think Nautique was one of the last manufacturers to offer it.

Big discussion on this here. http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20617&title=marinised-pcm-ford

Looks like a victim of the natural evolution of the gas engine in motor vehicles.

 

[TXLX100]

Interesting. Thanks for that. As much as I despise GM products, I had pretty good luck with the GM 350 in a boat that I owned, after much abuse. The 350 in a truck I had, that's a different story, total piece of crap.

Good to know the LX will pull a heavy boat, I'll probably end up with another boat at some point and may only have the LX to tow with.