Gene Kearns wrote:

On Wed, 21 Apr 2004 21:16:13 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:


Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know...size matters.

But I'd appreciate it if someone would explain why the length of a
towing vehicle...pickup truck or whatever...seems to matter in towing a
boat.

I was looking at a shortbed truck today, and one of my trailerboating
buddies said, "Hey...get the long bed model...it tows better."

Assuming two vehicles weigh about the same, have the same engines and
transmissions, and so forth, and one simply is a foot or two longer than
the other...why would the longer vehicle be a "better" tower?

And how does one factor in tow vehicle width? Is it as important? Would
a wider footprint truck tow better than a narrower truck?


I don't tow long distances, or even at highway speeds, but I am
interested in the arcana of it all, so to speak.

So...who knows?

I don't.



Personally, I'd prefer the short bed, because it backs better!

It is all about leverage. Think about it....

front wheels:rear wheels and rear wheels:coupler



I remember watching in amazement last season when I happened across a
fellow with a 38' go-fast on a triple axle trailer backing across a
parking lot in a dually Ford F350. Man, that rig looked as big as an
aircraft carrier. He got positioned at the ramp perfectly, the first
time. I'd still be out there, trying to line things up.

Harry
We just towed our 31 foot ChrisCraft from North Carolina to Florida with a
full size Dodge 1500... Looked like a mouse with and elephant up it's
butt... But it got the job done...

Total length was 51 1/2 feet... 38 of that was the trailer and boat.


"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know...size matters.

But I'd appreciate it if someone would explain why the length of a
towing vehicle...pickup truck or whatever...seems to matter in towing a
boat.

I was looking at a shortbed truck today, and one of my trailerboating
buddies said, "Hey...get the long bed model...it tows better."

Assuming two vehicles weigh about the same, have the same engines and
transmissions, and so forth, and one simply is a foot or two longer than
the other...why would the longer vehicle be a "better" tower?

And how does one factor in tow vehicle width? Is it as important? Would
a wider footprint truck tow better than a narrower truck?


I don't tow long distances, or even at highway speeds, but I am
interested in the arcana of it all, so to speak.

So...who knows?

I don't.