Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

A rookie question...pardon me in advance.

I'm getting my 3/4 ton GMC van set up to tow my new rig (Formula 336 on aluminum trailer), which I estimate at 10,500 lbs. The local trailer shops I've talked to all say I must get a weight distributing hitch system, but I see many of you with bigger/heavier rigs than mine towing with a standard draw bar (I'm sure your bars/hitch balls are rated sufficiently).

What do I really need to safely tow? BTW, I'm not towing much or very far; the boat will be on a lift most of the time, but I'll probably pull it out every now and then to have it worked on.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

I tow a 358 Sonic around 10,500 lbs. with a 3/4 ton GMC pickup. I got a trailer hitch that was rated at 12,000 lbs. gross load and 1200 lbs. tongue weight without the equalizing bars. I also had to get a ball with the high load rating. If your suspension can handle the tongue weight and you can get a hitch with the proper load rating I would see no reason for you to have to use equalizing bars. I have had no problems with the hitch or towing.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

get a solid slug and just make sure your boat is positioned on the trailer for best tongue weight. A little too much or too little and you'll know - the hard way.

What-cha got for trailer brakes?, not surge I hope. ( I do and they suck)

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

I didn't think you can use the weight dist. setup with surge brakes?

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

I have a good friend that regularly pulls a 32 foot trailer and he swears by it. He said it really improves the way the whole rig handles.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

I pull my 38 Cig with and Excursion and I use weight distributing bars I'll never tow with out them. It make a big difference. I have surge brakes and as long as you angle the chains properly on the bars the brakes work just fine.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

I tow my 30' Kachina without wieght dist. bars. My excursion (10" lift with 40" tires) doesn't sink down more than half an inch. I think if your trailer is set up properly you shouldn't have any problems, especially on a three axle trailer. I would suggest (more than suggest) a solid shank reciever, and a 12,000 lb ball. I use one of those versa balls so I can switch back down to 2" to pull my quad trailer around with out having to have 2 recievers. As far as surge brakes go....... They aren't the greatest but nobody recommends electric for boat trailers because of the water. Most manufacturers install surge type brakes, I have disc brakes on the front and rear axle with the center axle open and I have absolutely no problem stopping it. In fact it actually stops as well with the trailer as it does with out once you get past the brake lag (thats the time it takes for your surge brakes to kick in). The only time I have a problem with them is on a long down hill run, they tend to get hot because the boat is constantly trying to push the truck and you have no way of adjusting them. Just take it slow down hill, your towing a boat not racing, and you'll be just fine. I would get a ball thats properly rated and a solid shank for sure, what every you do.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

one more thing, I am not recommending against a wieght distribution hitch, I think you would be better off with one. I'm sure they safer and probably a better ride, I just havent used one and dont think at this point I need one. My 2 cents........ :drink:

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

I always recomend airing on the side of caution. The bars don't cost that much, and if you look hard enough, you can find a used reciever. I got mine at a local camper shop for $75.00. To me its cheap insurance. Most guys get away with not enough all their lives, but some guys don't. You don't want to be one of those guys.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

What year is your van? What motor? What is the rear axle ratio? What does the door sticker and manual say for tow ratings?

DO NOT skimp. The second you have an accident, your insurance company will be reviewing your entire setup looking for a reason NOT to pay.

Invest in three things:

12K+ lbs rated Putnam Hitch.
http://www.putnamhitch.com/Trailer%2...SelectType.htm

Rear Air Bags for your suspension. (AirLift 1000 is perfect.)
http://www.airliftcompany.com/new-index/Frameset.htm

Weight distributing hitch and a pole tongue adapter.
http://www.hitchfinder.com/trunnion_WD_hitch.htm
http://www.hitchfinder.com/hi_pef_trunnion_bar_wd.htm

You can never have too much safety equipment. I have a 3/4 Ton Avalanche. Its rated to tow 12K lbs. with a Weight Distributing Hitch.
I tow 12K lbs with it, with a Weight Distributing hitch. You CAN use a WD hitch with surge brakes. You CAN'T use Sway Control bars with a surge brakes.

There is lots of info here on OSO.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...t=hitch+weight

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...t=hitch+weight

I have mine setup 100% correct and 100% legal. It tows very well, and I will not ever tow without airbags or a WD hitch. It REALLY makes a difference.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

I tow my Top Gun sitting on a steel Myco with a standard hitch. The truck is a Dodge 2500 diesel, not a dually. Approximate total weight is 14,500....(big engines and # 6 drives). No problems with handling, its all in distributing the load correctly.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

I don't hold my hydraulic steering lines together with plastic zip-ties.

I am not going to half-ass my towing setup either.

The only reason I will consider another truck (1-ton dually) is for a diesel engine and mileage.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

I have towed my boat with and with out weight distribution and i will always use them

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Get that and do not forget to get more insurance... :evilb:

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Distribution for boat trailers with surge brakes. I've found that if the rig is setup correctly and you have enough truck for the job, you don't have to go this route. A lot depends on how often, how far and what terrain your towing with what vehicle. Good Luck and be safe!!! Here is a link for bars for surge brake boat trailers.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/boat.html

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

32 baja with ram 2500, often travel up and down 6% grades. I also have surge brakes but I installed a line lock from summit and I energize it before going down big hills to keep the boat from pushing the brakes on.works great and if you do need to make an emergence stop, just flip a switch and there ya go

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

If that is all you plan to tow it, then simply go with a solid metal receiver insert with a quality 2 5/16 ball, and drive as slow and cautious as Granny on Sunday. Also make sure the trailer brakes are in good repair.

If you plan to drive to TN and retrieve the boat, then you need to do more, but no reason to bore you with that at this point.

When's the boat coming home?

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Question for those who've towed with and without WD, and claim to love it: Why?

What does it contribute to the ride if the airbags on the truck make everything level without them? This is a sincere question, and I'm not looking for the insurance angle, nor the "legal" angle, as the word "legal" is not really applicable here. There are no laws being broken.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

It's getting picked up on 3/24 and delivered bright and early 3/25. I'm having it shipped as I just don't want to spend the time myself going there and back. 3/25,26,27 I'm going to see how much fuel I can burn, weather permitting... :D

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Have '01 Yukon XL 3/4 ton w/ 4.1 diff., 8.1 litre...no problem pulling my '38 Cig on a manning trailer and I do not have the weight dist bars...although they look like a good idea that I will look into.

Highly recommend electric brakes...IMHO they are a huge improvement over surge brakes...

Every year I pull my boat from Michigan to Florida and everytime I have had to really get on the brakes its been the first 10 miles on flat straight road (lots of traffic lights and idiots)...it's also really handy to have electrics if you ever pull through areas with long downhills...

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

TTT

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Anyone familir with the Hensley Arrow Hitch?

http://www.nosway.com/

People who tow Airstreams rave about them but I'm not sure if it offers any added benefit to those of us who tow boats. Supposedly eliminates sway and distributes weight. 14,000 lb rating. Rediculously priced at $2900. Anyone use this hitch to tow thier boat?

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

madcow IS one of those guys :eek:

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

:eek: :eek: :eek: Oooops, I remember that post!!

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Like this........Class V hitch, electric over hydraulic brakes.............about 12,000 lb

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

I've got a Schuck hitch (Model 750-RT-R)that I don't use anymore. In fact I only used it twice before I quit towing boat and put it in dry storage.

Let me know if you are interested.

[email protected]

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Madcow was way over his tow rating with only a 1/2 Ton truck. That truck had COIL springs on the back, and a factory non W/D hitch, with oversized wheels and tires.

Chart,
As for towing with and w/o WD bars. The whole rig feels more in control. The teeder and bounce when going over bumps is severely reduced and you don't feel your front end wanting to bounce AT ALL over bumps. I will give it to you that on a dually, with a tag along hitch, and ALL that wheel base, the truck has less a tendency to bounce than a Suburban/Avalanche/2500HD Short Bed, but you get where I am coming from. Trailer sway is reduced, and I feel the trailer just tracks better behind you, especially while overtaking or being overtaken by an 18 wheeler. You can adjust and eliminate any vehicle sag with the bars as well. Overall, its hard to decribe, but it just makes the truck and trailer feel more together as one unit, rather than one attached to the other by only a margin of 2+5/16" of steel. It also takes a lot of the bearing of the trailer weight, and moves if from your coupler/mounting bolts, and directly transfers it to the tongue of your trailer.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Madcow had an aftermarket wheel fail as I recall. I also think the trailer was overloaded from the description and pictures with too much tongue weight.
(No offense meant- just the facts ma'm).

Go with a WD hitch like a REESE or PUTNAM and electric brakes.

Wannabe

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Madcow's description was the trailer began to sway, and it just was unrecoverable. (Coil springs will do that, hence as to why they are not on trailers.) There were pictures of how the aftermarket rim was destroyed into pieces after the wreck.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Electric over hydraulic is the way to go for big tows. The "electric" part never enters the water. Axles are hydraulic cylinders actuated by electric pump at tongue activated by brake controller in the cab. In some states, it is illegal to tow over 10,000# without electric over hydraulic.

Had surge brakes on my triple axle Eagle trailer for my 311. THEY SUCK! Trying to stop suddenly on wet pavement (light change, a..hole pulls out in front of you, etc) makes for wet pants and a wild ride.

382 Formula on triple axle Eagle trailer is 13,500 without fuel. Electric over hydraulic brakes with weight distributing hitch is the only way to go for this kind of tow.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

Thats about the size of it. The thing about that accident was I wasn't really over weight. That whole trailer and load was only 8000 to 9000 pounds. I had bars, but no sway control. The wheel got broke on the roll. the fault of that accident lays mostly on the coil springs. Coils and towing don't mix. It always scares me to see all these guys towing big boats with Tahoes and Hummers.

Re: Towing question...weight distributing hitch or not?
 

The thing about that accident was I wasn't really over weight. That whole trailer and load was only 8000 to 9000 pounds

Madcow, 1500 Avalanche has a max towing capacity of between 7300 to 8000 lbs. The coils could not handle the load and began compressing and unloading. Your shocks could not dampen this so it builds.

Hope your arm has healed.

Wannabe