Hitch help

[motorcopm4]

When towing my Hydra sport 22ft Ocean CC the trailer slams my class III hitch on acceleration and deceleration feels like its going to come loose. I customly pull 7000-9000lbs on a 16ft trailer and it doesnt do this just with my boat trailer. Im using a 2' ball should I try a 2 5/8 ball seems like theres alot of play in it. The trailer has electric brakes but were disconnected by the previos owner. Does anybody use the cushion hitches to try to eliminate that jerk? Any help would be appreciated

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Hitch help

Don't pull anything anywhere, until you have the ball that matches your trailer's coupler!! The way it is now (as I understand it) is you have a 2" ball and larger coupler. The size should be stamped on the coupler.

"Use only the ball diameter indicated on your coupler. Use of any other ball diameter will create an extremely dangerous condition which can result in separation of the coupler and ball or ball failure."

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Hitch help

When towing my Hydra sport 22ft Ocean CC the trailer slams my class III hitch on acceleration and deceleration feels like its going to come loose. I customly pull 7000-9000lbs on a 16ft trailer and it doesnt do this just with my boat trailer. Im using a 2' ball should I try a 2 5/8 ball seems like theres alot of play in it. The trailer has electric brakes but were disconnected by the previos owner. Does anybody use the cushion hitches to try to eliminate that jerk? Any help would be appreciated

Make certain that the ball is the correct size for the hitch. I am guessing but I think a 2 inch ball is rated for up to 5,000lbs only. Get the brakes working again, it could save yours and others lives. You can go with any custom hitch and it wont get better till the ball is the right size !!!
Start with the basics.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Hitch help

I'd be surprised if the coupler was 2 5/8". I think it's probably 2". I haven't seen many 16' trailers with larger than 2". My guess is you're way light on your tongue weight. Weigh the tongue and see how close to 10% of that rigs weight you are...

It's not the size of the ball that determines the capacity - it's the shank diameter and the ballmount. A 2" ball with a 1 1 /4" shank mounted on a solid ballmount is good for up to 10,000lbs. However, your Class III hitch is only rated for 7500lbs...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Hitch help

could be a 2 5/16 ball common for that size boat and trailer. when my bro in law, picked up our Chris Craft in Naples, Fl. they dealer lot kids, just connected it to the hitch.. bro did'nt think to check. two days later the hitch came loose, on the way home from the ramp, as he had shifted the boat back, because of too much tongue weight. he had towed that boat 600 miles with a 2 inch ball, inside a 2 5/16 inch hitch. thanks God for damn good chains.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Hitch help

As someone pointed out, the size will be stamped right on the top of the coupler somewhere. It's also stamped on the top most balls. It's just foolish to tow with an undersized balls. It could be deadly.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Hitch help

All the advice given is good in my opinion. Please listen to it.

 

[motorcopm4]

Re: Hitch help

Thanks guys, the guy I bought the boat from used a 2' in ball to tow it with his Z71 1500 for about 4 yrs. I'll look tommorrow to see if there is any kind of stamp on the coupler.

 

[motorcopm4]

Re: Hitch help

2' coupler also so I dont know

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Hitch help

What's the tongue weight on that trailer? If it's too light, it will bounce in the coupler, among other things. It's not a safe situation.


Another source of noise is play in the receiver on your vehicle. They can telegraph a nice racket, but there's no danger.

 

[rndn]

Re: Hitch help

As mentioned tongue weight would play a part in making noise in the hitch area. Not enough allows it to bounce around qith the little bit of play. You also want to make sure you couipling is setup to tighten properly onto the hitch ball. You mention there is play and there should never be play between the hitch ball and the coupling. It should be a snug fit and lubricated.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Hitch help

It should be a snug fit and lubricated.

I'll drink to that...

 

[motorcopm4]

Re: Hitch help

Dont know what the tongue weight is but its pretty light with the boat all the way up on the front roller I dont need the jack I can just pick up the trailer with my free hand and put it on the ball no cranking of the jack required I actually thought it would be heavy. How can you put more weight on the tongue? boats as far up as it goes on the EZ load bunk trailer?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Hitch help

Photo of the boat on trailer from a few angles would help. Temporary option is to put some weight in the bow of the boat and see what happens. By the way did you verify the ball size ???

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Hitch help

Dont know what the tongue weight is but its pretty light with the boat all the way up on the front roller I dont need the jack I can just pick up the trailer with my free hand and put it on the ball no cranking of the jack required I actually thought it would be heavy. How can you put more weight on the tongue? boats as far up as it goes on the EZ load bunk trailer?

As I suspected. You've found your problem. You need 10% of that boats weight on the tongue. I don't know what your boat weighs, but I'm pretty sure 10% would be way more than you pick up with one hand. If you can't move the boat forward on the trailer, then you have to move the axle back. You thought it would be heavy because it should be...

BTW, when you set up a boat trailer, no one knows what the tongue weight is - until they weigh it. Use a bathroom scale. Chock your wheels (both sides of each wheel), lower the trailer jack until the trailer is level. Measure from the ground to the inside top of the coupler (where the top of the ball would be). Cut a piece of pipe, or 2x2 if you can't work steel, to that length minus the height of the bathroom scale. Jack the trailer back up, put the scale under the coupler, put the pipe between the two and lower it until the jack is clear of the ground.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Hitch help

Dont know what the tongue weight is but its pretty light with the boat all the way up on the front roller I dont need the jack I can just pick up the trailer with my free hand and put it on the ball no cranking of the jack required I actually thought it would be heavy. How can you put more weight on the tongue? boats as far up as it goes on the EZ load bunk trailer?

There ya go. That's the source of your problem, and it could be even more of a problem. Too little tongue weight and your boat could easily start driving your truck in a way you won't like.

Since you can't move your boat forward, move some weight forward in the boat. You can even put some heavy stuff in the bow just for towing, then shift it at the ramp.

Once you get that tongue weight up to about 10% of the weight of the whole rig, your boat will tow with no problem.

Now, I can lift the front of my trailer with one hand, too, but the whole rig wieghs less than 500 lb, trailer and all.

 

[motorcopm4]

Re: Hitch help

Photo of the boat on trailer from a few angles would help. Temporary option is to put some weight in the bow of the boat and see what happens. By the way did you verify the ball size ???

Yeah its the correct 2in

 

[motorcopm4]

Re: Hitch help

I believe the boats about 2400-3000 lbs and it feels like the tongue is 20lbs I guess ill put somekind of weight in the front, I dont know how to move two axles back. Thanks for the advise guys

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Hitch help

Move the winch post forward. If thats welded in place or it's as far forward as it goes, then move the axle backward. Normally the axle is mounted on a subframe, separate from the trailer frame and it can simply be slide backward to place more weight on the tongue.