BIG BOAT little van

[JoelD]

I had to post this one, I'd not seen before.

This guy is crazier than even some of us.

And I worry about my 3/4 ton F250, pulling tri-axle with two axles of brakes and 6000lb tractor.

Not even gonna start listing what could go wrong with this one, not to mention mirrors not wide enough to see the stuff you are destroying as you drive along.


YouTube - boat hits parked car

Joel

 

[Diamondpilot]

Ouch. And Caravan at that. They were not know to have the best engines and trannys. I am sure he did not pull it out of the drink with that. We tried to pull a boat that size out with a 2500 HD GMC with the gas engine and even in 4 low it could not do it. Took a tow from my uncles diesel Suburban to get the load rolling up the ramp. Once on level ground it managed.

Chris

 

[JoelD]

Ouch. And Caravan at that. They were not know to have the best engines and trannys. I am sure he did not pull it out of the drink with that. We tried to pull a boat that size out with a 2500 HD GMC with the gas engine and even in 4 low it could not do it. Took a tow from my uncles diesel Suburban to get the load rolling up the ramp. Once on level ground it managed.

Chris

When you say in 4 low it would not pull it up the ramp, where the wheels spinning or could not even spin the wheels? I'd expect you need a huge load on the tail to prevent the wheels from spinning if that was the case.

I can't imagine how much a boat like that must weigh, not sure if was powered or not, but still, must weigh a bunch.

Joel

 

[Diamondpilot]

It would not spin the wheels. You are talking a lot of tongue weight. Boats get very heavy quickly when you get beyond your standard 17-21 foot lengths. I had a issue where I could not get up a hill on a back road with the boat and truck in the second picture. I had to drive in 4 low for about 2-3 miles to get up. It was a late August day, over weight, 103 degs, and loaded down. Bought a diesel truck the next day.

To give you a idea my first boat was a 18' 7.5 beam Rinker with a 4.3L V6. It weight about 3,500# on the trailer with all our junk. My next boat was a 21' 8' beam Caravell with a 5.7L V8 and it was 5,200# with the junk.

The boat in the first picture is a 23' 8.5 beam Ebbtide and its powered by a 6.2L 383 Stroker. Its just a tad over 7,000#

The next boat is a 27' 9' beam Rinker powered by a 454 MPI. Its right at 10,000# with junk.

The last boat is a 32' 10' beam Wellcraft powered by twin 5.0 Volvos. It weighs 15,400# with junk.

The issue with old wood boats is them getting water logged. You can double the weight quick. I would guess that boat with engine is 12,000#. They did not have the creature comforts of the modern boats like full heads, hot water heaters, AC Heat, generator, large stereo/tv/dvd systems, ect.

Chris

 

[rtdiggr]

Looks like he was on his way to the junk yard to dispose of both vehicles.

Shane

 

[Diamondpilot]

Looks like he was on his way to the junk yard to dispose of both vehicles.

Shane

Probably would be a good idea.

Chris

 

[Ryan03]

What can I possibly add, the video already says so much.

 

[JoelD]

Probably would be a good idea.

Chris

LOL.

Thanks for the pictures Chris, nice looking boats and I can imagine they get heavy fast.

The heaviest Haul I had was my 12K dozer on my tri-axle trailer. I'm guessing I was somewhere around 15K all in.

I pulled with a K2500 with 4:11's. I pulled through some of the nastiest hills NH has to offer.

I had to stop once to cool the trailer and truck brakes down, but I never had to use low, I was shocked and thought for sure I'd be using low, but never did need to.

As I've posted in a couple other threads those 4:11's were super for towing and the 4 speed auto did ok on the highway.

I really miss that truck, my F250 as we've discused in posts just can't pull anywhere near what the K2500 did.

I'm looking for a suburban (1/2 ton) to pull my boat (19 foot Ski Centurion, 3K or so total) and my Kioti, 9K with trailer. I figure a 1/2 ton Suburban geared right should be fine, this way we can all pile in to go water skiing.

Joel

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yes they do. Heck the trailer on the Wellcraft weighs 3,000# by itself. Actually 2,880# but I added a second spare since the pic.

One thing I have learned in buying and selling boats is the manufactures lie. A smart shopper wants light weight and big HP so they list the boats weight with no options. They listed the wet weight of the Wellcraft at 9,500# but that is with on big block and no gen set. Adding them added 1,800# alone to the boat then all the electronics, the 2 extra batteries for the extra engine and gen, ect, ect, ect. After all is said and done its now 12,400# on the water with our stuff, fuel, and water.

Chris

 

[bp fick]

I remember one summer, fishing with my son in Little Bay De Noc. I knew we were in trouble at launch time, but the possibilities of fishing the Bay was too tempting to worry about it then. At loading time, I backed the Dakota truck down and hooked up to our 20' Bayliner. The ramp, like some are, was VERY steep. They are also always wet from the guy taking out in front of you. Needless to say, we weren't going to make it.

The great thing about boat guys is they are always ready to help. Good neighbors is one half, getting the dopes out of the way is the other half of the equation.

A quick toss of a snatch cord by a truck up on the high and dry, and we were out. Just a little assist, really, but much appreciated.

 

[JoelD]

Pulling boat out of water on all sorts of different ramps is one reason I've resigned myself to needing 4x4 no matter what. My boat is light, but on a dirt ramp, forget-about-it.

Joel

 

[Diamondpilot]

I pull at least 3-4 out of the water every summer. Last one was a brand new GMC 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive. Guy started spinning the rears pulling a 3,000# bass boat. He got about 7-8 people to get in the bed. Still spinning. So they decided to hop up and down and like a grenade. as the engine was revving the drive shaft exploded and beat the bottom of the truck all to heck. Got to pull the entire mess to the top of the ramp with my Titan.

Chris

 

[bp fick]

My experiences in boating for 25 years or so, with all different sizes, is that 4x4 or not, one day, your "2 foot more" disease catches up with you, and the next wet ramp you attempt is at an angle is beyond an Everest team!

Hey, it happens. Instead of going nuts, as in the example Pilot just spoke of, (I have seen shafts break and hurt people and some folk die because of that sort of thing) remain calm. Get a helper to assist from high up on dry pavement. Just a boost is usually all it takes.

Final observation. A boat is just flat heavier than you imagine it is going to be. That's my experience. The Boat is Heavy!!! Usually heavier than you think. Don't con yourself. Just my 2 cents.

Oh and don't forget the straps and tie down in all the confusion. You'd have no idea how many boats I've seen get left on the ramp. Smack!! Wet bunks and rollers do that.

From the Great Lake State,
Yours Truly,

 

[Low Bucket]

I'd like to see him pull that up a hill.- That's just stupid, but funny too see.

I wonder if the owner of the car found out who hit it.

Diamondpilot, That's some nice looking boats!

 

[bp fick]

I'd like to see him pull that up a hill.- That's just stupid, but funny too see.

To say nothing of ever hoping to actually stop it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I'd like to see him pull that up a hill.- That's just stupid, but funny too see.

I wonder if the owner of the car found out who hit it.

Diamondpilot, That's some nice looking boats!

Thanks. I usually buy them as repos or dealer leftovers and then sell them a few years latter for what I have in them. I have owned over 15 boats and brokered many others. The most I have ever loss on a boat was 2K on a 90K boat that I had for 3 season. I usually break even or make something.

Chris

 

[radioman]

I'm just shaking my head. that boat is way too much for the caravan. I know, I had a 89 caravan and put 250k miles on it and yeah it doesnt have good rep on engine and tranny. I replaced engine once and had overdrive rebuilt twice. I towed with it alot, but only used a tiny trailer 4X8 open trailer.