Can i tow a Striper 2301 o/b with a truck towing capacity of 5,000lbs?

KC Kevin · Oct-30-2009, 11:56 AM

In case the 48 other posters didn't convince you, here's my take.

I had an F150 when I got my proline. Sure, it pulled it. Drove it for a year.

It wasn't safe. If you've ever been in a rig when the boat started weaving behind you, you know what I mean. Sold the F150 and upgraded.

The weight of the tow vehicle has everything to do with its capacity to safely tow, not just h/p, brakes, tires etc.

If the tow vehicle doesn't weigh more than whats being towed, you have a recipe for disaster. You can drive along in the slow lane, thinking its just flat ground or a short commute to the ramp and then some moron will cut in front of you and slam on the brakes. It will be a quick and painful lesson about unsafe towing capacity.

Whatever the 'book' is on your towed vehicle, add 20%. By the time its fully equipped with electronics, loaded with gear and fuel and all your other crap, its not going to resemble its rated weight any more.

A good friend of mine whose a 30 year shop owner told me to think the opposite way about the tow rig. Whatever it says in the owners' manual, deduct 10%.

YANK N CRANK #2 · Oct-30-2009, 12:04 PM

A friend of our family was involved in an accident a few years ago... He was towing and his trailer was only a couple hundred pounds over the tow rating of his truck. Some jackass cut him off and he ended up killing someone in the car when he couldn't stop and ended up rear ending the car... The CHP took his truck and trailer and had it weighed.. Since he was overweight he was found guilty on manslaughter charges and he was sent to prison... He was not speeding, nor did he have a drop of alcohol or any drugs in his system.. Because of being a couple hundred pounds overweight he was slapped with a prison sentence.... Now think about it.. Is it worth it????????????????/

ISLAND BOUND · Oct-30-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YANK N CRANK #2

A friend of our family was involved in an accident a few years ago... He was towing and his trailer was only a couple hundred pounds over the tow rating of his truck. Some jackass cut him off and he ended up killing someone in the car when he couldn't stop and ended up rear ending the car... The CHP took his truck and trailer and had it weighed.. Since he was overweight he was found guilty on manslaughter charges and he was sent to prison... He was not speeding, nor did he have a drop of alcohol or any drugs in his system.. Because of being a couple hundred pounds overweight he was slapped with a prison sentence.... Now think about it.. Is it worth it????????????????/

There you go, good post!

airslot · Oct-30-2009, 04:20 PM

You can probably tow it (very sketchy) but like everyone is saying you won't be able to stop it and the wheel base is too small for the 23 striper. I have one word. "Fishtale" The truck is too small. Do yourself a favor and buy a smaller boat or a upgrade on your truck. I saw a guy with a Durango hauling a 28 foot box trailer. His trailer tire rolled on the soft shoulder and he tried to correct it. Over compensated. Fishtaled and it was a mess. The propane tank on the trailer blew and his Durango and trailer were completely burned. Luckily no one got hurt.

mikeyairtime · Oct-30-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

A friend of our family was involved in an accident a few years ago... He was towing and his trailer was only a couple hundred pounds over the tow rating of his truck. Some jackass cut him off and he ended up killing someone in the car when he couldn't stop and ended up rear ending the car... The CHP took his truck and trailer and had it weighed.. Since he was overweight he was found guilty on manslaughter charges and he was sent to prison... He was not speeding, nor did he have a drop of alcohol or any drugs in his system.. Because of being a couple hundred pounds overweight he was slapped with a prison sentence.... Now think about it.. Is it worth it????????????????/

You know a "friend ofour family" caught a grander blue marlin on the 9 a "few years ago." Or was it a guy I met at the gas station? I can't remember. Well anyhow when you show me a newspaper clipping or any evidence of that conviction I'll share my grander photos with you. Did you know a declared weight vehicles has to be over by 1000 pounds before a fine can even be levied in a weigh station. Did you know a 20000 pound truck tractor can pull a 80000 pound bulldozer on a 15000 pound trailer. So much for the tow vehicle weight making a huge difference in towing and stopping a properly balanced and operational trailer. This subject has been beat to death on all the RV sites and diesel truck sites. GVWR carries no real weight on passenger vehicles.

Oh and before you get all excited and try to play the insurance angle that doesn't fly either. They'll even still cover you when you drink and crash.

Once again it's the tires. The only thing on a passenger vehicle that will for sure screw you in court is the tire ratings. Think about it, a blowout is what causes the really bad unavoidable freeway accidents where rigs end up upsidedown. The rest are usually operator error poor trailer set up or tailgating. If you're having uncontrolable sway your tongue is either too light or way too heavy.

welder · Oct-30-2009, 07:23 PM

Mikey, your right on about the tires and yes you are also right on about the Insurance , you will be covered the FIRST time but I doubt you'll have insurance ever again after a convicted DRUNK DRIVING Accident or at least you wont be able to afford it.

But you are talking about Big Rig Tractor Trailers , the OP is running a 1/2 ton Pick-up.

And to another poster above , most people that tow a lot and long distance will only pull about 70% of the rating due to other junk that may be added to the truck or trailer with out thinking about it. That weight adds up very fast.

Y'all speed safely .

moto110 · Oct-30-2009, 09:17 PM

1

YANK N CRANK #2 · Oct-30-2009, 09:37 PM

I'm not gonna bite... Overweight is overweight and with a fatality involved a little bit of excessive weight can have dire legal consequences... Bottom line, the vehicle and boat combination you're proposing will not be safe... Buy a bigger truck that can actually safely tow what you want or limit the your boat choice within the capacities of your truck... And BTW I have a background in being around big heavy things by the name of Caterpillar and John Deere to name a few.... Also getting them around from place to place to do shit... So I'm not gonna argue... The guy was overweight on the tires as well as the GCWR of his F350 which is what fried his ass...

dieselpusher · Oct-30-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Kevin

In case the 48 other posters didn't convince you, here's my take.

The weight of the tow vehicle has everything to do with its capacity to safely tow, not just h/p, brakes, tires etc.

If the tow vehicle doesn't weigh more than whats being towed, you have a recipe for disaster.

Well, sort of... I think a few thousand truck drivers and RV'rs would argue that point. We've towed thousands of miles with our 15,000 lb toyhauler behind our 7210 lb Silverado.

The guy does need more truck than a little Frontier though.

biggens · Oct-30-2009, 10:42 PM

Get the duramax 16500 lb tow capacity!!! whats your problem !

No Harbor bomber trucks !

liftmys10 · Oct-30-2009, 11:07 PM

According to 2002 Ford F150 Specifications, curb weight of ford F150 is between 4,000-4,600. I know my truck weighs 4,300lbs So its not too far off in weight compared to F150. Shall i search for 100-0mph braking distance too?