Needing a Trailer

[Landlocked 47]

Hello, not sure if this is the right place to post this,so sorry if it is not right.
I am considering buying a 36' Bruce Roberts cutter rigged, full steel hull.
Where would I even start to look for a trailer to haul it. Would a 3/4 ton P/u
with a haul package even haul this thing? any info would be great. Thanks

[Boracay]

The Bruce Roberts web site puts the Roberts 36 at 18,000 lb.

So unless you have a 12,000 lb car to tow it with one of the professional boat haulers may be in your future.

Better to check out the delivery costs before the survey, let alone the purchase.

Have you checked inside for rust?

[David M]

You are going to need more than a 3/4 ton pickup to pull 9 tons, way more.

In looking around the internet, this trailer is rated for carrying 10 tons. The trailer itself weighs almost three tons. http://www.overbilttrailers.com/SpecGoose10Ton.html


The Ford F-550 is rated for towing 12 tons, which is about right when you add 9 ton boat and a trailer that weighs 3 tons together. http://www.commtruck.ford.com/vehicl...bs/towing.html

You are also going to need a crane at your destination because there is no way you are going to back this rig down the boat ramp.

[Guzzi]

If you do decide to purchase this boat and then a truck to pull it with, be very careful if you want a Ford F 550 with the Powerstroke (International) diesel.
I could be off a year or two on this but I know for a fact the F550 in 99 used the auto trans from the F150, with mods.
It isn't a good application.
I have a friend who owns one and pulls a 44" race car trailer. Max wt of the trailer and contents is less than 9K #.
The transmission WILL and DOES burn up, and in many cases, literally.
At 33k it went up in smoke.
The dealer told him they were aware of the problem and replaced everything at no charge.
Ford chose not to do a recall but replace at their cost on an as needed basis.
That was two transmissions ago.
The trans fluid MUST be changed IIRC every 3k miles, and it holds 22 qts, IIRC.
He hasn't replaced the truck because he might put 5k a year on it.
The engine is a pig, even pulling 8k#. He got a remap of the ECU and it helped a lot. The engine doesn't almost die between shifts.
It has lots more power and gets 17mpg.
It is still a dog.
The reason?
If it had either the manual trans or was a newer model (2001 up, IIRC) they could have put in a more aggressive map.

IMO for this job I would get a truck just a bit heavier than a F550, such as a Top Kick (GMC-used only as an example) or one from one of the other brands in that size. That boat and trailer is too close to the F550s capacities for me, even with the newer models.

Good luck with any choice you make.

[CaptainMurph]

You will need a boat hauler for this job for at least 3 reasons:

1. 102" (8'6") is the widest you can haul on the Interstate (and all secondary roads) without a permit. If you are talking about a 10-12' beam - deals off.
2. Unless you want to spend $50K to buy a suitable diesel dually - nothing in the F250/350, GMC/Chevvy 2500/3500 or Dodges will do the job.
3. You won't likely be able to rent a suitable trailer. Even if you miraculously found one, see #2.

You'll be surpised at how reasonable boat transport can be - likely $2-$3. per mile depending on distance.

Here's an article I wrote years ago on selection a tow vehicle; you'll be able to quickly see this is out of the question.

[Landlocked 47]

Thanks, that is an eye opener. I won't be going with the 36' Bruce Roberts.
To big to haul and can't afford to leave it in marina.
Thanks for your post though.