Can I tow this much weight?

[Emptytemples]

opening this thread to show my boats weight from a CAT scale. I was thinking about doing the same or possibly trying to tow every once in a while with a Durango that we may get. Same engine and towing capacity as the Grand Cherokee with a V6. Here's what i've heard and my .02. I want to be roughly 10% under the tow capacity on any trip over an hour drive. Most of my trips are 200 miles when towing so that was important. I already have a tow vehicle, 2016 F250 but that is getting older and considering replacing that with a new or newer half ton or 3/4 ton truck later this year. The Durango would only be used in a pinch or seldomly as it has more room if we bring the dog blah blah blah. We test drove the hemi version which has payload in the 7200 range I believe. IS the only difference the engine? Are there upgraded driveshafts, fans, suspension, etc etc to get you an extra 1000lbs? Likely not but some person that knows more about Dodge can enlighten me. Anyway, we have a 2023 AR250 so the boat is a little lighter than the higher trim models. No fresh water tank, I only have 2 batteries, no tower speakers, etc. We have a couple of anchors, some pop up chairs, tables, potty, some odds and ends but nothing crazy. Boat has about 15-20 gallons of fuel? ?


So what did I take away from this? Well for starters I thought maybe my tongue weight was a bit high at roughly 920lbs. I was hoping for closer to 600lbs tongue weight. It removed 240lbs from my steer axle. Not a big deal on the truck but it might affect the suvs a bit more. Also that is right at the 90% towing capacity of the 6200lb towing class vehicles. Also, as mentioned, most of these vehicles, 6 cylinder n/a, with turbos, 8cyl etc have plenty of power to pull the boat. Its braking at 13,000lbs, giving sufficient space, and paying attention around you that are more significant. I see too many people on the phone anymore and it is quite alarming. Anyway, thought I'd share my scale tickets as i don't remember seeing them before but could have easily missed a previous post.

Happy Towing (and boating)

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

17% is an excessive amount of tongue weight… 10% is the norm, but I thought the shorelander trailers wanted like 8%?

 

[Emptytemples]

Good to know. Im thinking about moving the upright back a few inches. I forget what it's called ATM. Might move it like 4 inches after this trip and re weigh. Also this came from the factory like this. You would hope they would set it up properly but that's what you get when you assume. I thought 900lbs was a little heavy. At the same token what are these 2500lb axles? Maybe(hopefully 3k)?

 

[2kwik4u]

Good to know. Im thinking about moving the upright back a few inches. I forget what it's called ATM. Might move it like 4 inches after this trip and re weigh. Also this came from the factory like this. You would hope they would set it up properly but that's what you get when you assume. I thought 900lbs was a little heavy. At the same token what are these 2500lb axles? Maybe(hopefully 3k)?

It's called a Bowstop.

I suspect that the factory sets up the trailers for the "worst case" boat loading on that trailer model. For instance the tongue weight might be lower on a 252SE vs a 255XE or something like that. Since there is one trailer that handles multiple hulls and each hull is outfitted differently the tongue weight might change from lightest to heaviest. Probably why yours is slightly heavy from the factory.

17% isn't excessive. IMO, anything over 20% is excessive. 17% is higher than I run, and higher than most here run, but not absurdly so. I run mine at 10.7%, however mine is a little finicky because of how light the boat is and how easy it is to move weight around. I would suggest moving the bow stop back 1-2in and measuring again. Aside from taking some measurements, and doing some math, it's hard to know EXACTLY how far back to move it. So we have to do some "guess and check". In that effort, go slow and make small changes until you know the magnitude of the impact the movement creates. I say this because to move the bowstop, you almost certainly have to unload the boat, and I've never seen CAT scales next to a boat ramp, so you'll have to live with your decision from one to the other, and small changes are less likely to cause an issue.

Here are the weights from when I got the Q7 back in early '21. I need to redo this with the Rivian and see what's changed. Spreadsheet has some interesting math on weight distribution on the Q7 as well, you know, just for fun.

Boat Weights

docs.google.com

 

[Emptytemples]

Also had roughly 17% fuel and not 25 to 33% like I thought when on trailer so figure only 10 gallons fuel. Will try to move it 2 inches next time the boat is off and I have some time. Definitely before my next trip to lake anna in August.

 

[Neutron]

It's called a Bowstop.

I suspect that the factory sets up the trailers for the "worst case" boat loading on that trailer model. For instance the tongue weight might be lower on a 252SE vs a 255XE or something like that. Since there is one trailer that handles multiple hulls and each hull is outfitted differently the tongue weight might change from lightest to heaviest. Probably why yours is slightly heavy from the factory.

17% isn't excessive. IMO, anything over 20% is excessive. 17% is higher than I run, and higher than most here run, but not absurdly so. I run mine at 10.7%, however mine is a little finicky because of how light the boat is and how easy it is to move weight around. I would suggest moving the bow stop back 1-2in and measuring again. Aside from taking some measurements, and doing some math, it's hard to know EXACTLY how far back to move it. So we have to do some "guess and check". In that effort, go slow and make small changes until you know the magnitude of the impact the movement creates. I say this because to move the bowstop, you almost certainly have to unload the boat, and I've never seen CAT scales next to a boat ramp, so you'll have to live with your decision from one to the other, and small changes are less likely to cause an issue.

Here are the weights from when I got the Q7 back in early '21. I need to redo this with the Rivian and see what's changed. Spreadsheet has some interesting math on weight distribution on the Q7 as well, you know, just for fun.

Boat Weights

docs.google.com

Shorlandr website states that these duel axle trailer require 5 to 7%. I called and spoke to them concerning this and they verified it.
Anything over 10% is too much . This has been hashed out over and over. And for everyone that gets it closer to the 7% all state it tows way better and will brake better.
I think 5% is too low but 7 is definitely the sweet spot.
Now if you are calculating your total weight, figure for a light fuel load and average gear because it can always change.
I moved mine back aprox 8 inches and then extended my rear bunks.
This will also put less stress on your tongue jack. Mine is still the original jack and wheel

 

[Emptytemples]

Update:

I ended up moving the boat back 3" to see how much that would affect the weight transfer. Turns out, not that much. Fuel is a little different but same gear on board. I have roughly 60lbs more fuel on board?

Tongue weight seems to be 820. A decrease of 100 lbs. My gross boat weight this time was 5500lbs. So my tounge weight percentage is just under 15%. Better than my original weight but may end of moving it further later on.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPr0EojPlzJdI6_4bW7HLaiuQZMTzrTU-UQ6e5o
We pulled it back with one of our forklifts. Much easier than doing this at the ramp or something. . . Also if anyone is close to Alpha, NJ and they ever need to do something like this, please reach out. Will be more than happy to assist if i'm around.

 

[Neutron]

Update:

I ended up moving the boat back 3" to see how much that would affect the weight transfer. Turns out, not that much. Fuel is a little different but same gear on board. I have roughly 60lbs more fuel on board?

Tongue weight seems to be 820. A decrease of 100 lbs. My gross boat weight this time was 5500lbs. So my tounge weight percentage is just under 15%. Better than my original weight but may end of moving it further later on.
Google Photos
We pulled it back with one of our forklifts. Much easier than doing this at the ramp or something. . . Also if anyone is close to Alpha, NJ and they ever need to do something like this, please reach out. Will be more than happy to assist if i'm around.
View attachment 237810

Dry weight on trailer for an ar250 is 5225 how are you not at 6000 lbs roughly

 

[Emptytemples]

Maybe I'm running without oil. Im just telling you what the scale ticket says. It's a certified cat scale so maybe yamaha gives a little cushion. Im taking the gross weight hooked to the trailer, im dropping the trailer next to the scale and re-weighing. It doesn't get any simpler. I have 3 or 4 chairs on board, 2 batteries, two umbrellas, some sand toys, 2 anchors, the extra bow cushions a few bumpers, several coozies and roughly a third of fuel so the number is off. I expect the trailer to weigh roughly 1200lbs leaving the boat at 4300 or so with my current fuel.

 

[Neutron]

I believe your scale just cant see why yamaha would inflate the dry weight number

 

[SoonersJet81]

Time for a truck...

 

[2kwik4u]

Dry weight on trailer for an ar250 is 5225 how are you not at 6000 lbs roughly

I, personally, don't trust Yamaha much further than I can throw them on stuff like this. Website accuracy hasn't really been their forte IMO.

Yamaha thought my AR190 was 2,434 dry, but weighed only 3,160 on the scale ready for the lake. Only 726lbs for the trailer, gear, and fluids feels low to me. Opposite problem as @Emptytemples