Cushioned Hitches
 

Anyone ever use one of these cusioned hitches/receivers before? I'm thinking about one of these in the Series 340

http://www.schuckhitches.com/300series.html

or possibly:

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/me...egory_Code=cbm

The Schuck looks nice and is rated for 20,000#. Of course it's quite a bit more expensive than the other model but perhaps it is better?

Do these things actually work?

Thanks for your input!!! :chimp: :chimp:

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

TTT....anyone?

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

I've seen them (schuck) used on the farm pretty frequently (while growing up)....seem to work well pulling very heavy loads IE 15-20,000#++. Never tried one while towing a boat. The nicest function around the farm was the swing tongue so you didn't have to be so precise when hooking up stuff. These things get TORTURE TESTED on the farm and I've never seen one skip a beat....so I wouldn't worry about any probs.

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

friend had one. NOt sure it if was the same brand
but was nice pulling
never felt the jerking at all

however you WILL loose the placement of yuor spare tire :(

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

Thanks for the replies guys!

MNFastBoat,
Why would I lose the location of the spare tire? The ones listed in the post are the ones that use the current receiver of my hitch, just that the ball mount is different and that's where the "cushion" is. At least that's my take on it? Any ideas on which one of the ones I have listed will work better and/or last longer? I'm nowhere near 10,000 pounds but am hoping to step up to larger boat this year.

Keep the feedback coming :)

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

I'm thinking he is thinking about an "equalizer hitch"...where there are load arms that attach to the trailer.

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

Reed,
Thanks for the reply....that would make sense.....my spare tire isn't mounted on the tongue of the trailer so I guess I have that going for me :p . Anyone else interested in something like this? Perhaps we could do a "group buy"?

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

IMO, if you have surge brakes on your trailer, i would not recommend using a cushion hitch. my experiences have proven that the combination of surge brakes and a cushion hitch reduce some of your breaking ability. they do not seem to set as well when you apply the breaks for light breaking and the recoil in the spring often times sets the surge brakes unexpectedly.

chad

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

Chad,
Thanks for your reply. So you have some experience with these....which one did you use and what weight were you towing at the time? Sounds like these things are more bouncy as you mentioned a kickback effect?

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

The old style used springs. I can see what Chad is talking about with those. Also the old style was much longer and bolted to a bumper or the bumper cam as part of the hitch. With that style you did lose the location for the spare tire.The new ones use polyurethane(sp)
I've got 1 year on the new receiver style and I love it! They are rated for up to 1000# tongue weight and 40,000# pulling. BUT your real rating is only as high as the part bolted to the frame.
I tow a 9000 # boat with no trouble at all. The braking still works the same.
I just have to back up to within 6-8" of the boat, swing the tongue where I need it, hook up(except chains and wiring), pull ahead and hit the brakes and it snaps right in place. Then I hook up the chains and wires.

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

Payton,
Are you using the type with the polyurethane inside the ball mount or are you using something similar to the schuck hitches listed in the original post? Trying to see if the schuck is better than the other(s). IF neither, let me know the brand you are using. What difference have you noticed with this product?

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

i've had two different versions. i've had the DMI and the B&M, both of which use a spring setup. they work great around the farm when you are pulling grain wagons, anhydrous tanks or transporting large pieces of equipment (15-30K#). it takes a lot of the stress from sudden jolts caused by accelerating, stopping and uneven roads off of the hitch, mounting brackets & bolts and frame.

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

I am gonna second JBK on this one. I have the second one you have listed above rated for 10K pounds, witha 10K pound stainless steel ball on it. I used to use it when towing my 7500 pound Sonic/trailer.

With surge brakes, the initial surge forward of the trailer, when braking, the cushion pushes back on the surge actuator in a 'bounce." This allows the trailer to rebound backward, then come forward again, and regengage the brakes, over and over. It lessens the efficiency of your trailer brakes in short. Its not dramatic, but after towing with it for a while I could tell the different between cushioned, and a solid drawbar. I even changed from single axle drum brakes to dual axle disc brakes and still had same effect. In a panic stop, it still works pretty well. If you are buying it to try and not feel the THUMP when your surge brakes release after coming to a stop, don't buy it. You still feel the thump.

I will let mine go for cheap. Its a 4 inch drop/lift. I painted it grey to match my truck, and it has some surface rust on the drawbar, from sitting unused. The 2-5/16 ball is really nice as it is stainless steel, and still looks good. $40 plus shipping.

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

Check out this thread for lots of info on WD hitches:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ributing+hitch

This is where I bought the whole setup from, and it works GREAT:

http://www.hitchfinder.com/weight_dist.htm

You have to buy the Pole Tongue Adapter to spread out the bars on your tongue beam.

Re: Cushioned Hitches
 

I use the model 750RT R on this page.
http://www.schuckhitches.com/700series.html

Brian and Chad, I have not felt a difference towing with this hitch or the weight distributing hitch I used befor this one.