Weight distribution hitch anyone?

[Hai Nhi]

I bought one but never used it. I'm thinking of using it for my 2002 sundancer 280.

Anyone here uses one? Can you share your experience, pictures, specs please?

Thanks

Nhi

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

I've used them on car trailers, they work great when properly set up. Just make if your trailer has surge brakes, make sure you have a WD hitch designed for that so that you do not disable your brakes

Other than that, follow the directions that came with the hitch

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

You would never use an equalizer hitch on a boat. They're meant for travel trailers, and usually have a friction style antisway bar attached to the trailer tongue.

If you backed a trailer into the water and dropped the boat off, the springing on the trailer could actually lift the rear wheels of the tow vehicle off the ground--a fiasco.

And to "spring" the spring bars, you've got to life the trailer tongue very high, clasp the bars down and lower the tongue--all with the tongue jack. You'd have to life it in reverse to "unspring" the bars.

It just only works in RV use--and even then is a hassle to deal with.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

You would never use an equalizer hitch on a boat. They're meant for travel trailers, and usually have a friction style antisway bar attached to the trailer tongue.

Not true... they are rarely used on boats but they CAN be and aren't "meant for" any specific type of trailer. There are models available that don't interfere with surge brakes.

If you backed a trailer into the water and dropped the boat off, the springing on the trailer could actually lift the rear wheels of the tow vehicle off the ground--a fiasco.

Untrue... dropping off an edge with the trailer (which would be a fiasco any time) will increase tongue weight. To "lift the rear wheels of the towing vehicle" would require raising the trailer wheels IE back up onto a hump.

And to "spring" the spring bars, you've got to life the trailer tongue very high, clasp the bars down and lower the tongue--all with the tongue jack. You'd have to life it in reverse to "unspring" the bars.

This is a bit of a pain but would be the same with a boat as any other trailer

It just only works in RV use--and even then is a hassle to deal with.

They are a hassle with any trailer but work with RV's, cargo trailers, car trailers, and boat trailers.

Sometimes they are the best option but they are very rarely used on boat trailers... I would only consider a WDH if I had no other option.

 

[Mason78]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

I bought one but never used it. I'm thinking of using it for my 2002 sundancer 280.

What kind of tow vehicle do you have? I'm guessing that particular boat comes in around 7,000 to 8,000lbs so you need a properly equipped vehicle.

A WDH can reduce tongue weight on the rear axle but its not a magic bullet for towing beyond the vehicle's capacity.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

His tow vehicle is fine but his receiver isn't heavy enough to do it without the WDH

He either has to use the WDH or upgrade to a stronger receiver.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

The safest, and probably least expensive correction is to replace the receiver.

His tow vehicle is fine but his receiver isn't heavy enough to do it without the WDH

He either has to use the WDH or upgrade to a stronger receiver.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

You would never use an equalizer hitch on a boat.

I use a WDH with my boat trailer. Works great. I use an electric/hydraulic brake system on my present trailer but have used with surge brakes in the past on other types of boat trailers. On one I had a special adapter made which allowed the equalizing bar mounts to actually move with rollers so didn't affect the workings of the surge unit at all. Newer WDH use slide mounts so the surge brakes work fine

If you backed a trailer into the water and dropped the boat off, the springing on the trailer could actually lift the rear wheels of the tow vehicle off the ground--a fiasco.

The comment that the unladen trailer would lift off the ground is a load of crap. Obviously, made by someone who has never used a WDH with a boat. I launch my boat and drive my trailer with the bars on it back to my house which is 2 miles away. No issues whatsoever.

 

[rbh]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

I am trying to figure out if you are describing the WDH as an Equilizer/anti sway hitch? (two bars come out of the hitch and attach themselfs to each side of the trailers frame?)


If it is a Equilizer/anti sway system, take the bars off before you launch if the drop is sudden 12% 14% 16% slope because thats alot of preasure you're applying to the truck/trailer and hitch.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

Been using a WD on my boat trailer for 8 years. Works great, especially with electric brakes. Iv'e been told I can't use those on a boat trailer too though.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

I don't understand the whole WD hitch thing. It seams some people want to use one for the sake of using one, some people want to use one because they don't want to upgrade the truck and other people use them because they think they have to. I tow a 10K boat and trailer with a class 5 hitch just fine.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

some people want to use one because they don't want to upgrade the truck and other people use them because they think they have to. I tow a 10K boat and trailer with a class 5 hitch just fine.

I take it you have never used one hence the comments.

Curious what you think updating a truck would do unless you are talking about overhauling the rear suspension.

I have a feeling you don't understand the benefits of a WDH. Transfers some of the tongue weight to the front of the truck. Towing my boat makes a huge difference in stability.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

Yup I have never used one. I have how ever watch the guy with the 1500 Hemi RAM use one on his 17 foot stingray (we keep our boats at the same place). I have heard people dicuss how they can use one to increase how much their truck can tow etc.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

I don't understand the whole WD hitch thing. It seams some people want to use one for the sake of using one, some people want to use one because they don't want to upgrade the truck and other people use them because they think they have to. I tow a 10K boat and trailer with a class 5 hitch just fine.

My owner's manual states that when you exceed a certain tongue weight, you need a WD system. My boat trailer tongue weight exceeds said capacity, so I use one. I could have bought a bigger tow vehicle, but the WD hitch was vastly less expensive. I have tried towing without it and the rear of the TV sags more than I like and the steering feels more vague. With the WD, the TV rides flat and the whole rig is very stable. Seems to brake better too.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

My owner's manual states that when you exceed a certain tongue weight, you need a WD system.

That's often because of the hitch they put on the vehicle. However, it sounds like you need to go with a WDH because of the rear sagging.

Some people put air bags on but that is just a band-aid and doesn't help the steering issue.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

That's often because of the hitch they put on the vehicle. However, it sounds like you need to go with a WDH because of the rear sagging.

Some people put air bags on but that is just a band-aid and doesn't help the steering issue.

Most of the time, it isn't the hitch that is the problem. (and many hitches are coming built in now, part of the frame...) My current SUV is like that, and yes, the towing capacity is higher with a WD setup.

Beefing up the rear suspension in any way is NOT the same as a weight distribution hitch. WD hitches can load down the front of the vehicle, there is no way changing the rear suspension can do that, simple physics say that if you push down on a single point behind the axle, the front end is going to get lighter. Through 2 points of contact, a WD hitch can lift the back and push down on the front.

 

[Hai Nhi]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

Thanks for all the interesting posts.

I am trying to figure out if you are describing the WDH as an Equilizer/anti sway hitch? (two bars come out of the hitch and attach themselfs to each side of the trailers frame?)


If it is a Equilizer/anti sway system, take the bars off before you launch if the drop is sudden 12% 14% 16% slope because thats alot of preasure you're applying to the truck/trailer and hitch.

Mine is the one with 2 L-shaped bars with chains on two sides & hooks to hook on to a V-tongue of a trailer. I bought this for my dump trailer. Never used it. No stabilizers.

I don't understand the whole WD hitch thing. It seams some people want to use one for the sake of using one, some people want to use one because they don't want to upgrade the truck and other people use them because they think they have to. I tow a 10K boat and trailer with a class 5 hitch just fine.

I'd like to use a WD for a couple of reasons: one is my hitch reciver only rates at max (12.5k on a F250) when used with a WD; 2nd is to keep the whole rig balance (no sagging points at rear) which in turn helps breaking & reduce swaying. With my current setup, I did tow my dump trailer to about 12-14k before and it's pretty scary. Hahaha. If the guys put too much weight on the back of the trailer (unbalanced load), it'd sway too even on a lighter load (at >52-55 mph).

I take it you have never used one hence the comments.

Curious what you think updating a truck would do unless you are talking about overhauling the rear suspension.

I have a feeling you don't understand the benefits of a WDH. Transfers some of the tongue weight to the front of the truck. Towing my boat makes a huge difference in stability.

Yep!

Most of the time, it isn't the hitch that is the problem. (and many hitches are coming built in now, part of the frame...) My current SUV is like that, and yes, the towing capacity is higher with a WD setup.

Beefing up the rear suspension in any way is NOT the same as a weight distribution hitch. WD hitches can load down the front of the vehicle, there is no way changing the rear suspension can do that, simple physics say that if you push down on a single point behind the axle, the front end is going to get lighter. Through 2 points of contact, a WD hitch can lift the back and push down on the front.

Yep! That's why even if I switch hitch receiver, since I already have a WD setup, I'd like to use it too if it's not tooooo much work involved for the big advantages it provides, at least on a heavy load (like a 2002 280) on long trip.

The factory installed hitch receiver on a new F-350 is big, rated for more than 17k lbs for WD, but only 8k lbs conventional. I mean, I would can still tow it (as mentioned, I did 12-13k with my F250 with my regular receiver, which rated only 5-6k lbs conventional). I was of course didn't know how much weight it was, run really slow & cautious, only short trip (30 miles or less), and all the safety stuffs.

So yeah, back to the WD again:
- can those with a WD for their BOAT post some pictures please? Thanks

Nhi

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

if you DO want to run it, first thing is does your trailer have surge brakes?

If you do a search on here someone JUST went through this within the last few months and there was a fair amount of info in that thread about specific parts needed

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

I have a WD hitch like what's being described by the OP, torsion bars with chains. Works perfectly for my boat. The chain style WD's allow for full motion of the coupler, no brake issues to worry about. I'm chuckling about comments of wheels coming off the ground and suddenly having loads transferred to the receiver. None of this is true. I've used my WD hitch for 10+ years now and won't tow any distance without it. Stability is better, braking is better, ride is better. Yes there are some styles of WD's that are inappropriate for boating, but what the OP has is perfect.

 

[Hai Nhi]

Re: Weight distribution hitch anyone?

Cool.

I know the torsion spring type I have would be good for surge break. Just wonder if I should upgrade to electric (over hydraulic) at some near future point (absolutely maxed out my "toy-budget") .

I watched the seller of my 280 backed down a fairly steep (not the worst one yet I heard), kinda faint hearted. . I meant he was okay (his was a 2011 F350 FX4 CCLB diesel). But there was no body there, dry pavement and all the best condition.

I read all the good things about it here. So it's the big plus for sure. But if I keep going for the "best", don't know where I should end. Hahaha. Best boat brand, biggest size possible, biggest/strongest truck power possible, best break set up, best FORUM.

Nhi