Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

[hocus de la pocus]

I have a 1971 trailer and boat I've got to get legal. The whole combo is like #3500. I pull with a suburban.

It has a REESE weight distribution hitch with the equalizer bars and antiquated NON functioning drum brakes that were operated via air lines on the trailer powered by a compressor on the tow vehicle.

Can I retrofit it with a hydraulic surge coupler and disc brakes?

Will the equalizer bars interfere with surge coupler operation?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

I have a 1971 trailer and boat I've got to get legal. The whole combo is like #3500. I pull with a suburban.

It has a REESE weight distribution hitch with the equalizer bars and antiquated NON functioning drum brakes that were operated via air lines on the trailer powered by a compressor on the tow vehicle.

Can I retrofit it with a hydraulic surge coupler and disc brakes?

Will the equalizer bars interfere with surge coupler operation?

Equalizer bars will normally interfere with surge brake operations although there are a few brands that are designed differently and claim they won't. I would think you could go with with a dead weight hitch towing 3500# with a Suburban.

Go to championtrailers.com ... they have complete kits to redo your brakes.

If you want disk brakes, go with the Kodiaks. I first went with the TieDown stainless but they were horrible. Took them off after 1000 miles.

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

" I would think you could go with with a dead weight hitch towing 3500# with a Suburban.

DEAD WEIGHT HITCH? do you mean just a regular hitch? pardon my ignorance, there are SO many terms when dealing with this stuff...

So a "dead weight" hitch manufactured as a stand run of the mill surge brake unit would be ok? I know, just another name for the same thing (right?)

If that's what you're saying, I suppose I could. The truck kinda sags with it hooked up WITHOUT the stabilizer bars in place... I guess its not too bad, but with 310,000 miles on her I think the old girl can use all the help she can get... Just got new tires.

I want to be able to trailer (LEGALLY!!) from Chicago area to Door County Wi. (6 hours away) and fish from my 24 foot boat during vacation...

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

I guess if it sagged too much I could just use them (bars) anyway...

Also redid the transmission this spring too so towing should be ok, just need to stop when I REALLY NEED TO. (and be legal if I get checked)

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

What make of boat do you have. Higly unlikely that a 24' boat only weighs 3500#. My 24' Boat with trailer, gas and supplies is pushing 7000#.

If that weight is the same as yours, I can see why you need the weight distributing hitch. The older Suburbans(pre 1992) had more room between the hitch and the rear axle. They were notorius for sagging without an equilizing hitch. The newer models could go "dead weight" easier.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

I agree that at 3500# a standard "dead weight" hitch will work just fine. But I also believe that 24 foot boat and trailer, full of fuel, batteries, gear and vacation stuff is well over 3500#. Installing air-shocks on the 'Burban will keep its rear end where it should be. Since you boat in fresh water, perhaps electric brakes would be a simpler solution. No plumbing to deal with. Just need to add the brake controller in the truck.

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

OK, did the math BEFORE posting. Factory boat literature states "#3150" as dry weight. Its SO nice to have the original books.

I added the few extra pounds for the gear. I WILL NOT tow the boat with a full tank of gas, excess gear, etc... MAYBE there's #250 in downriggers and the 10 rod holders, ropes, VHF...

Those extra things are going in my wifes van, not in the suburban, I'm REALLY trying to travel right.

I don't want to come across as a smart*****, its just this is all the information I have to go on. The original owner saved EVERYTHING. So, Until I weigh her that's what I got.

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

1995 suburban 2972 SLICKCRAFt SS-235

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

My dads tahoe (1/2 ton. Very similar to your surburban) started to sag without any load. Air shocks helped a LOT. You shouldn't have a problem with towing 3500 pounds with that, if you have air shocks. Does it have a 305 or a 350? The 350 will have no trouble even with 310,000. My dads 3/4 ton 1989 silverado with a 350 has no trouble with large loads, and it has about 390 - 410 thousand. (Odometer broke at about 280. These were done by sitting down and doing the math, knowing the truck got such and such miles a day in commute, and on the weekends it averaged such and such miles)
You should have no problem, just need air shocks.

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

My truck is a 1995 2wd C1500 with the factory towing package. HD springs, factory receiver, trans cooler and the correct transmission. 350 (5.7L) EFI engine, no beauty contest winner, but reliable.

The truck is up to the task of pulling the boat, I just want to make sure the whole rig is up to the task of stopping itself without busting a gut.

 

[KM2]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

Hocus,

Don't forget the trailer, it will weigh 700-900.

I had a ford expedition and it sagged when loaded so I added some coil springs airbags and they helped. It was a nice improvement for less the $100.

A weight distribution hitch and surge brakes seems like more of a hassle than it's worth. Get the brakes working good because that the most important thing.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

I fit weight distribution systems for a living. The Reece brand is now chain connected and will cope with a surge coupling (the earlier models would not).

Your tongue weight should be the first port of call in your quest for a better tow package. The weight distribution system the last.

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

Yes, It has the chains that connect the torsion bars to the trailer brackets...

SO, the big question is may I tow with a newly installed surge couple/hydraulic brakes and still use the load levelling torsion bar system?

Outside of that I'd go with stiffer shocks on the back of the truck and not use the torsion bar system.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

I fit weight distribution systems for a living. The Reece brand is now chain connected and will cope with a surge coupling (the earlier models would not).

The Reese(Not Reece) hitch is still going to have a problem with the surge unit eevn if it has chains. The tension on the chains prevents the surge unit from working properly.

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

I have found additional literature that indicates the brakes ARE disc brakes, but a vacuum system, very odd. I;m going to pull one of hte hubs this weekend and see if it has the square backing plates built into the axle.

If it has this I think I'm golden to replace the whole system...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

If they are disc brakes, you can see that without pulling a hub. They would look just like an automotive disc brake.

You can also see the square backing plate by just looking behind the wheel.

Here is a picture from another thread on Iboats that shows what a backing plate looks like. This trailer also has drum brakes:

 

[180shabah]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

What make of boat do you have. Higly unlikely that a 24' boat only weighs 3500#. My 24' Boat with trailer, gas and supplies is pushing 7000#.

Bruce's numbers are right on except your 24' boat is only 22' long.

Boats and Personal Watercraft
1972 SLICKCRAFT/AMF
SLICKCRAFT/AMF
SS 235
Stern Drive Power Boat


Length: 22'
Model Name/Description: SS 235
Boat Type: Stern Drive Power Boat
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Beam: 8'
Engine: 2
120 HP
Gasoline
Net Weight: 3,160


However with 3200lbs of boat, another thousand or so in trailer plus any optional equipment (extra seats, tops, covers, etc.), plus gear, gas, engine upgrade if you do not have the 4 cylinder You are pulling close to if not over 5000 lbs. Get the boat and trailer weighed and then get the tounge weight adjusted properly, before you worry about using the spring bars. I think I heard that somplace before.

Your tongue weight should be the first port of call in your quest for a better tow package. The weight distribution system the last.

Someone else sugested getting air bags for the rear of the 'burb. They will set you back about $300 or so because you have leaf springs and will need brackets to mount them but they are well worth the money vs air shocks.

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

Alright, I reviewed the parts. The surge coupler/hydraulic brakes idea has to be scrapped. The boat side of the hitch is a hand crafted one-piece-all welded-monlith. I think replacing it with a weld on coupler will require a service call and re-fab job from a welder, which blows the budget.

I think with the limited towing I'll be doing of 48 miles annually, once a year to the marina launch and back, ( I slip the boat) I'd rather like the idea of keeping the sway bars and going electric/drum.

I can live with wiping them down and giving them a shot of water displacer/metal preserative once in the spring and once in the fall for the price and ease of the retro fit... Also, yes, the lake is fresh water.

I dunno, thoughts? Yes, Its only 48 miles over flat ground from my driveway to the launch, a few stoplights, NO hills...

 

[hocus de la pocus]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

Alright, I reviewed the parts. The surge coupler/hydraulic brakes idea has to be scrapped. The boat side of the hitch is a hand crafted one-piece-all welded-monlith. I think replacing it with a weld on coupler will require a service call and re-fab job from a welder, which blows the budget.

I think with the limited towing I'll be doing of 48 miles annually, once a year to the marina launch and back, ( I slip the boat) I'd rather like the idea of keeping the sway bars and going electric/drum. two half days a year wet, I can live with that. 363 dry days.

I can live with wiping them down and giving them a shot compressed air and of water displacer/metal preserative once in the spring and once in the fall for the price and ease of the retro fit... Also, yes, the lake is fresh water. Beautiful Lake Michigan where the fish are a-plenty, and the girls are pretty.

I dunno, thoughts? Yes, Its only 12 miles ot the launch over flat ground from my driveway to the launch, a few stoplights, NO hills...

 

[180shabah]

Re: Surge coupler and weight distribution hitch????

Sounds reasonable to me. You get brakes and keep the spring bars.