Longest Round Trip Tow

RWilson2526 · #1 06-17-2015, 09:10 AM

So whats the longest round trip tow you guys have made? We rented a house for first week in August in Florida (Little Gasparilla Island). Boat access only. Had pretty much made up my mind we would rent a boat for the week but as the prices and types of boats available start to become more clear its getting harder and harder to stroke that check when I have a perfectly functional boat and trailer sitting in the driveway.

With the reasonable cost of gas it is a net add of about $250 in fuel. Trailer is in great shape although it is a single axle. Truck is new (new to me, 2012 V8 Silverado) so that part is not an issue.

Did tow it once to Charleston SC which some of you guys know with a much lesser truck and didn't bother me.....

Not that I'll let any single one of you make up my mind I am curious as to how many varying opinions I will get.

THEFERMANATOR · #2 06-17-2015, 09:24 AM

I would say your estimate of only an extra $250 in fuel is pretty low. Alos keep in mind wear and tear and such on your trailer and boat need to be factored in. If you had a tandem I would say it would be a safer bet, a single axle with a V on it going across the roads between Jersey and Florida is BEGGING for trouble. I've done the trip now several times with our travel trailer in tow, and it costs us close to $500 or more extra to tow it. I know it's an apples to oranges comparison, but it gives you an idea. We spend well over $1200 in fuel and costs for just the drive with my diesel BURb getting 11-12 MPG. I know you can rent a skiff down here for a week for $1250 on craigslist, and then you don't have to worry about losing a tire on those wonderful DC roads or the likes. If your going to make the trip, I would ssay step up to a tandem axle trailer just for the safety factor towing, and having less strain on the tires getting pummelled across all of them concrete roads.

THEFERMANATOR · #3 06-17-2015, 09:42 AM

Found this one on CL, $900 a week and they are local to the area.

http://sarasota.craigslist.org/boa/5052208082.html

Or this one isn't far away either.

http://sarasota.craigslist.org/boa/5042809262.html

Destroyer · #4 06-17-2015, 12:41 PM

I used to make the trip to my aunts house in Naples, Fla every year. 1600 miles one way. Gas was about 10 mpg on my Jeep Cherokee 4.0L engine. So the cost was about $50 one way in gas. But gas is a dollar cheaper now, so knock off about a hundred from that cost. Single axle Load Rite trailer. Never really had a problem. Never really noticed the boat back there except when braking hard in traffic. Just make sure you carry an extra set of bearings, a spare tire, a tire repair kit, an air compressor and a grease gun. I know several people that have a complete hub, pre-assembled with bearings, that they carry for good measure. It's completely do-able Rob, choice is yours though.

bradford · #5 06-17-2015, 07:50 PM

Ferm has it right. Will make the trip A LOT faster and easier with A LOT less driver fatigue.

Besides, who wants to play with wheel bearings in a truck stop parking lot in south Georgia in the middle of summer when you're supposed to be on vacation.

Lots of flats down that way too. Rent a boat and tear up someone else's lower unit.

inaforty · #6 06-17-2015, 07:55 PM

subscribed.........
We plan on towing down next spring.

SkunkBoat · #7 06-17-2015, 08:16 PM

never towed the V far but towed the original Skunkboat 16' Sylvan/ single axel to Key West from Jersey, twice!

First time with a 84 Dodge Ramcharger 4x4. Looked just like this

A million gallons of gas, 1 alternator in NC on the way down, Front Driver side wheel bearing in a parking lot in Delaware on the way back. Had a blast, caught my first ever grouper,cuda,snapper. Jammed to the Out'a'hand Band in Sloppy Joe's. Camped at Boyd's.

Did it again the next year, towed with my brother's Chevy van, Non-stop except for gas....peed out the gap in the back door while driving 80mph...

I know, none of this helps you but I got lost in yester-year

smokeonthewater · #8 06-17-2015, 08:59 PM

I have never even flinched at 2000 mile round trip tows.... I regularly travel between Indiana and Texas for work and the only reason I don't tow a boat every trip is I don't think I could get away with it... I am already towing a 38' tri axle fifth wheel and a jeep wrangler... 30,600 lbs with room for 70 more gallons of fuel and 78' long (over legal length in every state)... pretty sure if I added another 24' for a boat behind the jeep I'd get popped pretty quick.......

phatdaddy · #9 06-18-2015, 05:51 AM

i've towed my V to the keys 4 or 5 times, 1500 miles ,round trip. i have also met friends down there who rented boats. i think i'd rather have my own boat. i like my boat and i like boating in my boat, so if i'm more comfortable in my boat, that's what i want to be in. just do your prep work and it shouldn't be a problem.

as far as tandem vs single, i have a tandem and love it. i tow with a tahoe w 5.3 and get bout 10 mpg and i know it's back there.
i take spare hubs, 2 of them, already packed with grease. just take off the castle nut, slide the old one off and new one on. take 2 spare tires, because if you need one, then you feel naked without one for the rest of the trip.
if you have a good gps, running aground can be avoided, blue is good, white go slow, brown, turn around.

is it worth it, up to you. i'd rather spend the money on my boat and rig. plus it's kinda cool to take the old girl to some new places every now and then

the daydreamer · #10 06-18-2015, 06:17 AM

We have towed the v 4 or 5 times down to key west. 2100 miles round trip. If hubs and bearings have been done go for it. Its not that bad. Or even carry a spare hub so if you have a problem just stick new assy on and keep trucking. We tow with a 95 burb. Mph 9 to 10 any way you do it. I have thought about renting a boat also but just cant get over the cost. Have not put a pen to it (cost of towing less mpg) but i like having my own boat there!!!!!!