The boat weighs about 3500lbs, the trailer 1000-1500lbs, so 4500-5000lbs.

Its around a 900km drive each way, around 550 miles i guess. I've never really towed anything for a long period of time before, just wondering what sort of maintenance/preparative precautions I should be taking.

I'm changing my front brakes right now, even though the trailer has trailer brakes, I did an oil change 1500 miles ago, flushed radiator/new fluid, tranny was topped off (serviced a year ago-ish), new shocks, etc. What about a transmission cooler? Would it be necessary for traveling 60mph~ for an extended period of time? What PSI should I run in my 31 bfg a/ts? Theyre at 35 right now (recommended amount) and max out at 50. Any advice before I go on this endeavor would be appreciated, thanks.

 

Turn the overdrive off and have fun! You might be able to see your fuel gauge moving!

 

I would get a tranny cooler it keeps the tranny last longer and im guessing you already have a brake controller in your truck already correct? Make sure it works I have one in my truck and it doesnt even work(last owner took the time to take the hitch but not the brake controller) Take a a jug of anti freez with you incase you are in the middle of no where and having overheating issues. Basically for your trip it never hurts to throw a few tools in the back sockets,pliers,hose clamp or 2 ,few rags, screw driver and a hammer. People always ask me why do you have all that crap in the back of the truck I have everything I listed above in my truck all the time and its me thats handing out tools when were out on the trails or away from home. Always prepare for the worse. also make sure you have a spare for the trailer and truck(and that it they hold air, my spare doesnt lol)

 

Its possible you've got the towing packing installed, you may already have a tranny cooler, i know mine came with one.

 

Thats a good possibility check it out cause I know my truck came with one also.

 

if you have the towing package i believe it came with the 7 pin wiring connector, a 2" (class IV i believe) hitch reciever, the big tow mirrors, heavy duty battery/alternator and transmission cooler. I also got a brake controller in my truck that we could install ourselves, but we dont tow with it to need the controller

 

Yup, I have the 7 pin wiring connector and the 2" receiver, mirrors, etc. I've never towed a trailer with its own brakes before; I thought I could just plug the 7 pin connector in and it would control the brakes when I braked. How does a brake controller work?

Thanks for all the other info and tips

 

i believe it has to be wired into a spot under the dash (im 90% sure my truck has a plug wired in so i can just plug in the unit and go) and it takes the break pedal signal and varies the voltage to vary the amount of brake applied to the trailer

at least the good ones vary the signal, the cheap ones are on/off only, i do NOT recommend getting one of those

 

Most are plugged in and sense when you brake there are different settings on the brake controller so if you dont need brakes that much then you can turn it on a low setting but it you are going down a mountain you turn it up and it will slow down the trailer more so that way its not pushing you down the hill and eating up your trucks brakes. You can get a good controller for about 100.00

 

my 03 came with all the factory towing packages its rare to see a dak that didnt come with one where i live to be honest.. i just towed a few cars for about 250 miles.. each way so i did roughly 1k miles .. i had to make 2 trips for the cars for a buddy.. ( he owes me huge ) only thing i noticed was brake fade and i drove with overdrive off until i hit highway and i turned it back on not sure if thats right but my 4.7 seemed to have np towing a dodge grand caravan and a isuzu rodeo and sadly it was a windy day we had wind in the 20s and to me thats breezy..and we used a car dolly so eh that could be why it was so easy to tow.. oh well im a noob to towing as well.. i just was the lucky friend who owned a truck with a hitch..