BL6

In all my yrs of towing boats 30-35' have never known anyone to use a weight distribution hitch.
I have a 2004 Excursion, w/ air bags.
Just bot a 30' travel trailer, 7200# dry. All RV's seem to use weight dist hitches. Not sure if this is to balance load or control sway? I have no problem using if helpful (once I figure out)
Doubt I will use to tow boat?

Any thoughts or experiance? Thanks....Dave

scottc

Hey Dave, the main reason for that on travel trailers is they will be heavier in the front. The weight dist hitches keep everything sitting nice and level. Reese, Draw-Tite, E-ZLoad are the big names. You can also add the sway control systems to them real easy. A box trailer with any size to it has a strong tendecy to sway when passed by a large vechiel that will displace lots of air.
The main reason they are not used on boats is they are better balanced and the surge brakes. On that 7500lb trailer you might see an easy 800lb tounge weight. Most class III hitches have a max dead toung weight of @500-800lb. and a weight dist limit of up to 1400lb. Look at the hitch ratings on your trouck now.

IMO get the weight dist system with sway control.....you'll love it.

RedDog382

Lots of discussion about this topic in old threads. Try a search on weight distribution.

I pull a 382 Formula (#14,500 with trailer/fuel) with a F-350 4X4 crew cab. I use WD or trunion bars very frequently, especially on longer trips. It helps the ride immensely. Significantly lessens the bucking over bumps and uneven pavement. The truck just rides and tracks so much better. The only time I don't use them is if short trip to gas station, etc.

If my understanding is correct, hitch ratings increase from #5000 NWD to over #10,000 if WD (at least on my old 3500 duallie).

I think boaters do not use them for two reasons, (one) they do not know anything about them and (two) they are too lazy to hook them up. I think a lot of people band-aid this with air bags on the rear suspension instead of distributing the weight properly.

They do work well with surge brakes IF SET-UP CORRECTLY.

Downtown42

I thought elec over hydralic trailers cannot use them? am I wrong?

Sean H

i think it is the other way around, you can't use them on surge unless its done perfectly... almost all the ones i have seen used are on electric/hyd setups....

boatman22

Here is a setup you can use with surge brake and it has sway control also. I use this setup and it's great.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/produc...patibility.php

Downtown42

tnks SeanH

Downtown42

How much is a system for elec/hyd Myco trailer? I hear all good if you tow with them. My dad used to have on his 25 ft boat but I wasn't driving then.

BL6

Couple of interesting points; did not consider that mycurrent hitch might not accept that much tounge weight. I figured 8000 pounds was 8000 pounds whether boat or rv. I assumed axles on boat trailers are mounted farther back to conpensate for engines.
Also if wd hitches don't work well w/ surge brakes that expalins why I've not seen them on most boats.

Sydwayz

Does ANYONE use the search function anymore?

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...vy+hitch+balls

All you need to know in the thread above. WD hitches can work FINE with surge breaks, as long as you get it setup properly. I did mine myself. You will have to upgrade to view the pics in the thread linked above.