J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Tow vehicle

I would like to get some feedback on tow vehicle other J/30 owners have used? Many owner I have spoken to use a dually. What's been your expereince?

Thanks,
David

I use a Ford F-250 Super Duty, extended cab, 8 foot bed. I do not have a dual rear axle. No problems in about 15k miles of trailering. Duallies would probably help keep the back end of the truck planted and tracking well when cornering, but I just make sure I slow down enough beforehand. The tow capacity is 10k lbs which should just fit a J30 and a trailer in under that number. I have the diesel which gets about 8mpg on the highway. A friend used the V10 gas engine and got about 5mpg.

We towed Zephyr from New Orleans to Chicago using a Ford F250 diesel with a dual rear axle with out any problems. The ride was quite nice.

Used a 3/4 ton 6.2L diesel suburban with towing package to tow my J/30 from San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico to Los Angeles. No problems, but quite aware that the boat was back there when climbing long uphills.
Now use a 1 ton crew cab long bed Chevy dually (454 ci gas engine). Basically the tow has no effect on the truck. You don't feel like the tail is wagging the dog.

AEOLUS #085, is towed on a 1995 Triad Trailer with tandem 5,200# axles, 12" x 2 1/4 electric brakes, controlled by a Tekeonsha Engineering, Voyager-XP brake control, and Goodyear 9.5 x 16.5LT tires.
The tow vehicle is a 1999 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 4-Wheel Drive dually, Cummins 5.9L I-6 Turbo Diesel with 4-speed automatic OD and 4.10 Axle ratio.
The Triad is rated at 10,400# and is a solid platform for the J/30. With a Class IV hitch, Chrysler allows a trailer weight up to 10,000#. The Triad weighs 2,300#, AEOLUS 6,260# and Dodge 7,260# for a combined weight of 15,900#, well below the rated 18,000# GCWR.
The ride is solid, acceleration remarkable and stopping distance with six wheels on the truck and four from the trailer quick. Blending in with thruway trucks and traffic has been no problem. It is a comfortable and confident way to move this sailboat.
Jerry Atwell

Was the Triad trailer made specifically for a J/30, or for another boat. Just wondering if you have leaf springs, or Dexter Torflex axles.

I see you've listed your boat at 6,290 lbs. Did you weigh it, or is that an estimate?

The truck, trailer and boat were weighed by the same CAT scale.
The Triad was custom made for this J/30.
Jerry Atwell

The Triad has leaf springs.
Jerry Atwell

My made for J-30 Triad trailer has the torflex axles, not leaf springs. I think they changed a few years ago moving away from the leaf springs.