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A useful guide for boat and yacht transport.
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Truck Guide for Boat Transport
If you're buying a truck for boat transport, renting a pickup truck, or borrowing a moving truck from your friend, you'll need to make sure you've got the right gear. Transporting your own boat can save you both time and money. And - if you have the proper tow vehicle - it can be a relatively painless experience. Whether you are looking to buy or rent, you can use the following guidelines to ensure you have the right truck for the job.
What Kind of Truck Will I Need?
The first step in choosing the right truck to tow your boat is determining how much truck you need. Naturally, this means figuring exactly how much your boat weighs. While your owner's manual may cite an exact figure for the weight of your boat, this is most likely not your boat's actual weight. Most manufacturers calculate your boat's weight as its "dry" weight (meaning the weight of your boat without any fuel inside). You also need to add in any additional equipment or material that you have installed on the boat. Finally, factor in how much your trailer weighs, which can add up to 1,500 pounds to your total weight (for boats over 50 feet).
"Transporting your own boat can save you both time and money."
Choosing Your Tow Vehicle
If you've done your homework figuring out your towing needs, this step should be fairly easy. All manufacturers will provide a maximum tow capacity for their vehicles, whether small or large. In addition, information on what additional hitches or other equipment you'll need to tow your boat should be readily available from the manufacturer or dealership.
However, much like your boat's dry weight, you should keep in mind that a vehicle's "tow rating" - or maximum towing capacity - will not compensate for how many additional passengers you're bringing along or whatever extra equipment you've stashed inside. The best advice is to give yourself a generous margin of error before pushing your vehicle's maximum towing capacity. Also be aware that with many tow vehicles you will have to purchase an optional "tow package" that includes all the hardware, wiring, and instructions you'll need to rig your truck for towing and enable it to reach its maximum towing capacity. These packages may seem expensive at first, but ultimately they'll be much cheaper than trying to install a heavy-duty suspension system in your driveway.
Compare Truck Rentals
If all this talk of tow packages and tow ratings is making your head spin, maybe renting is the option for you. Or maybe you just don't need such a heavy-duty truck except for the few times a year you transport your boat. Well, sleep easy. There are many rental agencies that offer vehicles with a towing capacity that should be more than sufficient for your needs. Plus, towing a boat can put a great deal of strain on a vehicle. Why not let someone else's truck take that abuse?
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