Trailer level question

[phillyg]

Re: Trailer level question

You really need to get your tongue weighed, then determine if your hitch is rated that high; I doubt it is. If tongue weight is over your hitch rating you do need WD bars to get the rig back to level. And yes, truck and trailer should be as level as possible.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer level question

The only problems with "bags" is that you still have less weight on your front wheels. This will make the steering feel floaty. That is where a WD hitch comes in. It transfers some of that tongue weight to the front wheels. I use a WD hitch for the 24' boat in my sig with a 1/2T truck. The difference in driving is night and day.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Trailer level question

"Is it better to get the truck and boat to ride level together IE rasing the rear suspension or is just the trailer riding level fine (step hitch)."

I think the OP knows by now there is no simple answer. While the hitch/trailer connection should be level, just being level is not the answer nor is raising the suspension to meet the sag issue. In some cases that is all that is needed; I am not so sure in this example. It's a matter of balance and limits associated with the vehicle and the load. Not saying the OP can't figure this out, but the answer may be found by a professional that can accurately assess the needs of both the trailer/load and the tow vehicle. In other words, I could block up the suspension of my Pinto in order to level my house trailer but I don't think I would get very far.

This may help...

Tandem Axle Trailer 9%-15%
Single Axle Trailer 10%-15%

http://www.eyer****ch.com/trailer-weight.html

Seriously? You are going to block the link? Eyers Hitch

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Trailer level question

Look at the letters that were blocked.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Trailer level question

I say he needs a weight distributing hitch. I don't think air bags will take the place of one.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Trailer level question

Look at the letters that were blocked.

HA! So I guess assume and assembly are out of the question. ;-)

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Trailer level question

HA! So I guess assume and assembly are out of the question. ;-)

Apparently not! I don't make the rules, I just enforce them..........

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer level question

Good point but I still think 1,000 is too much--but who am I?. Interesting note however...an Excursion weighs in at about 7700lbs which means the whole enchilada is over 16000lbs. I'd hate to have to stop fast!!

My truck and boat together are 20,000 lbs... my truck, fifth wheel and jeep together are just shy of 30,000 lbs..... they stop fast just like anything else.... hit the brakes and then cuss about all the stuff that went flying that I'll have to clean up later.

Obviously when towing, you aren't in a stripped down corvette with sticky tires but big stuff can stop fast too as long as the equipment is right.

Definitely better than a small car pulling a 3000 lb boat w/o brakes.

The O/P's excursion with brakes on the trailer should stop just fine

 

[agallant80]

Re: Trailer level question

Hmm, I am finding conflicting info from ford. I see some stuff saying that the hitch is rated at 5K with 500Lbs of tong weight and with WD hitch 10,000Lbs with 1,000LBS of tong weight. I am finding other documents from them saying the truck is rated at 11,500Lbs with no info regarding tong weight or WD hitch.

I may add helper springs in the back and a step hitch.

Thinking about this hitch:
CURT Manufacturing 45900 Channel-Style Adjuastable Dual Ball Mount : Amazon.com : Automotive

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer level question

If you use the receiver you presently have, you have to use a WD hitch. If you want to use a deadweight mount. like the one you posted the link to, you are going to need to upgrade the receiver on your vehicle to class V.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer level question

Hmm, I am finding conflicting info from ford. I see some stuff saying that the hitch is rated at 5K with 500Lbs of tong weight and with WD hitch 10,000Lbs with 1,000LBS of tong weight. I am finding other documents from them saying the truck is rated at 11,500Lbs with no info regarding tong weight or WD hitch.

I may add helper springs in the back and a step hitch.

Thinking about this hitch:
CURT Manufacturing 45900 Channel-Style Adjuastable Dual Ball Mount : Amazon.com : Automotive

You may have answered your own question....
"The HITCH is rated for....."
"The TRUCK is rated for....."

 

[agallant80]

Re: Trailer level question

Well I went ahead and ordered the Equal-I-zer Equalizer 10000/10K Weight Distribution Hitch 90-00-1000. It works with surge breaks. One of the complaints I saw about WD hitches was the time it took to hook up. This one appears that once its setup (brackets installed in the trailer) its just a few extra steps. Im sure I will post my thoughts once I have used it for a bit. I figured I was going to be about $200 in to add a leaf and another $160 in to a step hitch (not to mention a few hours on a Saturday to install the extra leaf springs). Whats another $100 to do it the way the manufacture specifies.

As I looked in to it it appears that all fords, yes all fords including 250 and 350 require the WD hitch for loads over 5,000LBS.

Hope it makes a difference.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer level question

If you ordered the one in Bruces link - did you also order a shank to go with it?

 

[agallant80]

Re: Trailer level question

If you ordered the one in Bruces link - did you also order a shank to go with it?

Yeah the one I ordered came with the hitch bar. I just need to buy my own ball. I'm excited to see how this thing does.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer level question

Yeah the one I ordered came with the hitch bar. I just need to buy my own ball. I'm excited to see how this thing does.

The ball didn't come with it, or your 9000lb trailer actually uses a 2" ball and you can't use the 2 5/16?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer level question

Another thing you may need to get is a BF wrench as you can't use a pipe wrench on the ball nut with these since it is a tight area usually. You can wait until you get it hitch to see if you need it.

I bought one of these:
SAE Jumbo Combination Wrench Set - 6 Piece

Not sure if you read the instruction on how to get the EQ bars up on their perch. You need to connect the trailer and then jack up everything. Hopefully your tongue jack is up to the task. I actually use a floor jack when I do mine.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Trailer level question

The hitch did not include a ball. My trailer takes a 2 5/16 ball. As for attaching the ball to the hitch my neighbor is a mechanic. I will send it with him to work or swing by, he has all of the right tools for connecting it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer level question

Make sure you read the instructions to set the tilt of the ball mount correctly. It is very important.

I think you will like it. Not sure how much trailer time you currently have with your Ford. With my Chevy 1/2T, it's night and day.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Trailer level question

I have only pulled the boat twice with the ford. My chevy felt better but it cost too much to run hence getting the ford. It did not handel it great. The ford was misfiring on #7 which I am going to fix this weekend. Hopefully between new plugs, new coil packs and the WD hitch it should pull good.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Trailer level question

This whole thing is turning in to a PITA. I just found out I have to buy a pol tong adapter so add on another $160 and venture says this:

"Is it OK to use a weight-distributing hitch with my boat trailer?
We do not advocate the use of load distributing hitches on boat trailers. Part of the problem is the concern with brake interference. If improperly adjusted, brake performance could be degraded. The basic premise with a weight-distributing hitch is to transfer load between the frame of the tow vehicle and the towed unit. In effect, it can serve to lock the two frames together. The wishbone design of a boat trailer, in conjunction with the use of a load distributing hitch, places a disproportionate amount of stress on the tongue member of the boat trailer frame. The tongue, already the most highly stressed boat trailer frame member, is then required to perform above its design parameters."


I am going to end up with the best tow setup out there or a $600 hot mess.