Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler ok?

[Morgueman]

Today, I pulled the trigger and bought a boat/trailer combo with a combined weight of 6360. My Lincoln Navigator has a towing capacity of 8600 and uses air bags for suspension. Do I need a weight distribution hitch of is the ball/coupler sufficient?

Thank you,
Eric (Morgueman)

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

It certainly couldn't hurt, but I think you will be fine just be careful(As always) Your SUV's airbags will adjust for the added load on the rear axle so that is a good thing, your boat and trailer are well within the trucks specs so no problem there, the only thing you will need to decide is if the ride is poor enough that you want to transfer some of the load to the front and if you want more sway control via the hitch(not a primary use of a weight distribution hitch but certainly a secondary benefit) so I would suggest you get it on the road and see what you think!

Good Luck Eric!

 

[I`mNotMe]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

Assume combined weight of trailer and boat is 6,360 lbs (dry weight).
Assume wet items (like gas, oil, gear) are 300 +/- lbs.
Assume real combined weight is now 6,700 lbs.
Assume 13% weight on trailer's tongue. 6,700 x .13 = 871 lbs.

For your Tow Vehicle (Lincoln Navigator), what is its hitch rating? re: If < 900 lbs, then I would install a WDH (with bars sized for 860-950 lbs range).

Hope this helps..

 

[Morgueman]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

Thanks LippCJ7...

As long as the handling feels satisfactory, I think I'd rather be without weight distribution...reason being: The Navigator is a rear 2-wheel drive vehicle, and the added weight in the rear may provide enough extra traction to help prevent me from spinning my wheels on a slimy launch ramp. Just a thought...

 

[Morgueman]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

Assume combined weight of trailer and boat is 6,360 lbs (dry weight).
Assume wet items (like gas, oil, gear) are 300 +/- lbs.
Assume real combined weight is now 6,700 lbs.
Assume 13% weight on trailer's tongue. 6,700 x .13 = 871 lbs.

For your Tow Vehicle (Lincoln Navigator), what is its hitch rating? re: If < 900 lbs, then I would install a WDH (with bars sized for 860-950 lbs range).

Hope this helps..

Great point...I just checked my hitch receiver. It says that the max tongue load without weight distribution is 600#, and with weight distribution, it's 895#. Looks to me like the specs demand weight distribution.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

Yeah I think your concerns are very valid but only you know the ramps you use, might be worth it to carry around a bag of sand if your ramps are real slick, Sand for the ramp not the back of your Navigator that is LOL, we have slick ramps here in Colorado but from what I have heard they don't hold a candle to some other states!

Great point...I just checked my hitch receiver. It says that the max tongue load without weight distribution is 600#, and with weight distribution, it's 895#. Looks to me like the specs demand weight distribution.

Weigh it first, I don't disagree with the math, but trust me on this, weigh your tongue weight before you go and get a hitch, until you know exactly what your tongue weight is we are all just guessing, you may be very surprised what you find, or you may not and the math is correct, weigh it and find out.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

bad reason to do without... all you would have to do is unspring bars when launching/retrieving and crank em back up to hit the road.

If your numbers are based on something you read they are GARBAGE... get the boat n trailer on a scale n unhooked from the truck to be sure.... make SURE your tongue weight is within spec and last if you read the manual that 8600 lbs will probably specify with a WDH and when properly equipped... look at the actual hitch for a weight rating... I bet ya it is 5000 lbs and you will need a bigger hitch.

All that said I MIGHT go without but not for any advantage at the ramp

 

[Morgueman]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

bad reason to do without... all you would have to do is unspring bars when launching/retrieving and crank em back up to hit the road.

If your numbers are based on something you read they are GARBAGE... get the boat n trailer on a scale n unhooked from the truck to be sure.... make SURE your tongue weight is within spec and last if you read the manual that 8600 lbs will probably specify with a WDH and when properly equipped... look at the actual hitch for a weight rating... I bet ya it is 5000 lbs and you will need a bigger hitch.

All that said I MIGHT go without but not for any advantage at the ramp

You're right...The 8600# towing capacity from the manual specifies "with weight distribution." Without weight distribution, it is only 6000#. Another strong argument for weight distribution. The sticker on the hitch receiver has very similar numbers, only a few hundred more pounds. I do like your idea of detaching the distribution bars while launching/retrieving...Seems so obvious.

 

[BrianNJ]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

+1 for checking the tongue weight to see what you have first. The manufacturer of my boat trailer recommends 5%-7% of the gross weight, so that is how I adjusted the trailer. My boat happens to be about 6000 gross towing weight, and it pulls nicely with a little over 400 lbs tongue weight. Your trailer might be similar.

I too was looking into a WDH, but I also noticed that none of the other boats I have seen in this size range have them. And I read somewhere that WDH are not generally used on boats since they are not very compatible with ramps.

Side note: when I bought my boat, the tongue weight was only 138 lbs, the boat was hanging off the back of the trailer, and it was not too comfortable to pull. I moved the boat forward 20" and the wheels forward 6" to get things balanced. Much improved.

 

[lrak]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

Great point...I just checked my hitch receiver. It says that the max tongue load without weight distribution is 600#, and with weight distribution, it's 895#. Looks to me like the specs demand weight distribution.

OR just properly balance your boat on the trailer to get less than 9% tongue weight and you are within the specs. 13% is too much tongue weight for most boat trailers. Find and read the trailers owner's manual to know out what it should be.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

Tandem axle trailers don't require anymore then 5-7% tongue weight.Anything more and the weight doesn't get distributed evenly between the axles.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

Tandem axle trailers don't require anymore then 5-7% tongue weight.Anything more and the weight doesn't get distributed evenly between the axles.

percentage of tongue weight has no bearing whatsoever on how the remaining weight is distributed between the trailer axles... my tandem trailer has about 12% and pulls excellent. The equalizer system on the axles is not effected in any way by moving the boat forward.....

Now the trailer MUST be level as that WILL effect weight distribution of the axles.

EDIT: completely level for torsion axles and level enough to not max out the equalizers in conventional suspension

 

[Elkhornsun]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

Most vehicles benefit from a WDH. An exception is the 3/4 and 1-ton trucks where they can take the maximum conventional trailer weight up to 17,000 lbs. and a WDH is not needed or recommended. They have a much stronger frame than any SUV.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

uhhh no.... a WDH is just as important with a 3/4 or 1 ton as anything else... it has nothing whatsoever to do with the strength of the frame and everything to do with putting some of the trailer weight on the front axle

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Does this SUV/boat combo need a weight distribution hitch, or is the ball/coupler

uhhh no.... a WDH is just as important with a 3/4 or 1 ton as anything else... it has nothing whatsoever to do with the strength of the frame and everything to do with putting some of the trailer weight on the front axle

Spot on.
Some people with less knowledge of the purpose of weight distribution hitches will argue that until the cow comes home