Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue?

[matty boy]

Hi All,

New to the forum here. I just purchase a '03 Crownline 230 with a tandem trailer that has surge brakes and a break-away tongue. Which weight distributing hitch (Equal-i-zer? / Reese? / etc...) should I buy to work on my trailer/truck?

I have a '99 Land Cruiser and we're just under 5000# (including the trailer). So I would like to have a WDH for a safer (and smoother) ride. Not sure what the tongue weight is specifically just yet.

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Chip Chester]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

I have read* that some boat/trailer combo manufacturers don't recommend weight distributing hitches with their boats, due to trailer flex being transferred into the boat's structure, causing it to fail. This would be the case if the boat was securely fastened, bow and stern, to the trailer. From your photo, the "securely fastened" part doesn't apply, but it would be wise to consult with the manufacturer to find their recommendations about this. This is certainly not to say that it's never done, but you might be better off to look for alternatives.

On most trailers, tongue weight is somewhat adjustable by moving the axle. There is a somewhat wider tolerance range for tongue weight with boats, as compared to travel or cargo trailers... due to assymetrical loading, front to rear. 5000 combined weight doesn't necessarily mean 500 pound tongue weight. Your step one should be to determine the tongue weight right at the ball.

I would say that having the trailer level is more important than +/- 100 pounds on the tongue.

*I read this in a boating magazine, carried over into newsgroups (remember those) so sadly, I don't have chapter and verse specifics. 10 or more years ago...

Chip

 

[skyking897]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

It's my understanding that a WDH is not recommended on a trailer with surge brakes. You may want to do a search here. Might be completely wrong on that, but I'm sure I've read it here in several different threads.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

If your trailer/boat weighs approx 5000lbs, then your tounge weight, ideally should be about 500lbs. You are shooting for about 10% of your total load on the tounge. All the WDH setups I've seen are for use on trailers with an a-frame tounge, like campers or equipment trailers. They may make them for the straight tounge, but I'm not sure. I'd contact the trailer manufactuer to see what they say about it. I'd also check and find out what the weight limit is on your Land Cruiser, as far as tounge weight and towing capacity is concerned. Good luck!

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

It's my understanding that a WDH is not recommended on a trailer with surge brakes. You may want to do a search here. Might be completely wrong on that, but I'm sure I've read it here in several different threads.

I've seen both recommendations for and against WDH on surge brakes. I ran a Reese RP66542 with surge brakes for 6 years and it worked fine. The brakes worked the same, IMO, with or without the WDH in use. I switched to electric brakes last year and prefer them over the surge brakes. With electric brakes, the WDH becomes irrelevant.

You don't want a huge amount of tension on the trunnion chains, just enough to level the tow vehicle. If tongue weight is proper for the trailer, and you are using the WDH to level out a huge amount of sag, you should increase the rear axle spring rate on the tow vehicle. A WDH is not a band aid for overloading a tow vehicle.

My tow vehicle has torsion bars for front springs. I get the trailer and WDH setup the way I want and then adjust the front torsion bars until the tow vehicle is level with a typical load inside. In this manner, my tow vehicle sits lower overall and that improves stability.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

I've seen both recommendations for and against WDH on surge brakes. I ran a Reese RP66542 with surge brakes for 6 years and it worked fine. The brakes worked the same, IMO, with or without the WDH in use. I switched to electric brakes last year and prefer them over the surge brakes. With electric brakes, the WDH becomes irrelevant.

You don't want a huge amount of tension on the trunnion chains, just enough to level the tow vehicle. If tongue weight is proper for the trailer, and you are using the WDH to level out a huge amount of sag, you should increase the rear axle spring rate on the tow vehicle. A WDH is not a band aid for overloading a tow vehicle.

My tow vehicle has torsion bars for front springs. I get the trailer and WDH setup the way I want and then adjust the front torsion bars until the tow vehicle is level with a typical load inside. In this manner, my tow vehicle sits lower overall and that improves stability.

Why is it irrelevant? The type of brakes on trailer has nothing to do with the purpose of using a weight distrubution hitch. The tow vehicle being level is the reason for the hitch which delivers more weight back to the front to increase brakeing. The E/H system is a better brake setup but not a fix for a heavy tounge weight

 

[matty boy]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

Thanks for the replies.

I've been reading that the break-away tongue may not be able to handle the additional pressure that is applied to the tongue by the weight distribution system when distributing weight and controlling trailer sway. Ugh...

Another site recommended the Timbren Rear Suspension Enhancement System since I guess I can't use a WDH with the type of trailer I have. Anyone have that?

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

Why is it irrelevant? The type of brakes on trailer has nothing to do with the purpose of using a weight distrubution hitch. The tow vehicle being level is the reason for the hitch which delivers more weight back to the front to increase brakeing. The E/H system is a better brake setup but not a fix for a heavy tounge weight

I just meant that you can use any WDH with electric brakes, the WDH does not affect the brakes.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

Thanks for the replies.

I've been reading that the break-away tongue may not be able to handle the additional pressure that is applied to the tongue by the weight distribution system when distributing weight and controlling trailer sway. Ugh...

Another site recommended the Timbren Rear Suspension Enhancement System since I guess I can't use a WDH with the type of trailer I have. Anyone have that?

Just copied this from another site:

"I spoke with my contact at Reese to make sure that the 350 Mini Weight Distribution ............... item # RP66041, will be compatible with your trailer surge brake coupler. He stated that with the 350 Mini your surge coupler will still be able to compress, to activate the hydraulic brakes, when stopping but, you may experience slightly reduced braking pressure due to the friction pads on the 350 Mini system.

This and the Reese SC style, item # RP66151, weight distribution with sway control systems are the only weight distribution systems recommended for use with surge brakes"

Looks like they do make WD hitches for Surge systems, which I didn't know, but the addition of your breakaway tongue will add a whole new dinamic to the mix and you may be correct in stating that the swing-away may not handle the excess loading put on it by the WDH.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

'Weight distributing hitches are specifically for recreational vehicles--bumper hitch travel trailers. They are not to be used on any boat trailer--ever.

If your vehicle will not handle your boat, you need a bigger vehicle--hopefully a pickup truck spec'd out to handle the weight.

On my travel trailer, I have to put my 2 5/16' coupler on the hitch ball, then use the trailer jack to raise the back end of the truck and trailer tongue about 10". Then, I clamp down my 1,000 pound torshon bar to the trailer frame. Then, the trailer jack is lowered to where the trailer frame is horizontal to the ground and the spring sprung.

If you used a weight distributing hitch with a boat trailer: When you pulled the boat off the trailer, the sprung trailer frame would stand up (no weight). It might cause structural problem (frame bending). If the hitch bars had enough tension, they could technically go as far as lift the tow vehicle's rear tires off the ground. Weight distributing is for a travel trailer that doesn't unload.

Like I said, get a tow vehicle that'll handle your boat. A 1/2 ton pickup, van or V-8 SUV might be good for 8,000 lbs. realistically. From 8,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds a gas powered 3/4 ton would be fine. Up to 12,000 lbs. a diesel 3/4 would work. Above that, you'd really need a dually or more substantial medium size truck--and the ability to handle large physical loads on the road.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

'Weight distributing hitches are specifically for recreational vehicles--bumper hitch travel trailers. They are not to be used on any boat trailer--ever.

You are very misinformed! I have used weight distributing hitches with many boat trailers. Right now I am using it with a 1/2T pickup and a 6500# trailer. When the boat is not on the trailer, you can't even tell that the sway bars are trying to lift the truck at all. Without the equalizing bars, the back end of the truck is dragging.

Your statement that unloaded would cause structural damage also makes no sense. How could less load on the hitch assembly and equalizing bars cause more stress on a frame. There would be MUCH less stress.

I use an electric/hydraulic system with my present trailer to get around the surge brake issue. On a previous trailer that was close to 10000# a special adapter frame which allowed the equalizing bars to mount so that they rolled on the trailer to allow the surge brake unit to work properly. This adapter was made by an equalizing hitch company specifically for boat trailers.

Here is what Etrailer recommends for boat trailers:
http://www.etrailer.com/question-3591.html
Apparently they don't share your same opinion.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

Isnt a '99 Land Cruiser the 6 cylinder still? If so, I think your issues are more vehicle and less tongue weight at this point.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

I tow a similar load with the inline 6 in my Saab 9-7x and it will run on cruise control over mountain passes without effort. The engine is not the issue.
Mine has automatic air bags to handle the load and that helps a lot.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

I tow a similar load with the inline 6 in my Saab 9-7x and it will run on cruise control over mountain passes without effort. The engine is not the issue.
Mine has automatic air bags to handle the load and that helps a lot.

Your Saab 4.2L is possibly more robust then the 4.8L tahoe I use, I'm not knocking the 6cylinder as I know many are capable, just for that erra Land Cruiser was not a real capable towing machine, Nothing like now, I think the max was 5,000lbs.

 

[matty boy]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

thanks for all the great replies in here. my LC has a 4.7L V8. No problems pulling... It's the tongue weight I'm worried about and any additional swaying and potential reduced stopping ability due to the back end "dip". Couple of trailer places around my area have said if I put airbags or Timbren suspension enhancement on the rear end I should be good to go. We'll see...

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

Skip the WDH and just get rear air bags for the Landcruiser, assuming that is is rated for such a load.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

When you hit a bump, the weight distributing hitch is going to be putting many 100's of additional pounds on the swivel of that swing tongue.
It may very well stress the joint standing still as it effectively tries to lift the rear wheels and put weight on the front axle.
I guess it depends on how much tension you have to put on the bars. But it will stress that swing tongue far more than without it.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

If you do some research, there are some trailer manufacturers who do NOT recommend WD hitches because they feel that the additional forces can overstress the trailer tongue. The wishbone design of a boat trailer is very different than the A frame design of a travel trailer. Load Rite for one does not recommend WD hitches for this reason. Now this is not to say that a WD hitch is not a great improvement in towing stability, it is for sure. But I'd check with the trailer manufacturer first. I have used Air Lift air bags in the rear coils of my Jeep and they work great to prevent sag and the bounding motion you will get from the tongue weight of the trailer. They obviously do not provide any weight distribution (shifting the weight from the rear axle of the tow vehicle to the front axle by use of the torsion bars) but they do make towing safer and more stable. They can also be used for load leveling when carrying a load close to the load limit of the vehicle when not towing. I would not use a WD hitch on a swing tongue, unless the maker of the trailer says that it is safe.


http://www.loadrite.com/faq.php#WeightDist

 

[Shark_bait99]

Re: Which weight distributing hitch do i buy for my new tandem with break-away tongue

It's my understanding that a WDH is not recommended on a trailer with surge brakes. You may want to do a search here. Might be completely wrong on that, but I'm sure I've read it here in several different threads.

It is my understanding that the reason surge brakes can be a problem with wdh is because surge brakes exert braking force when the tongue of the trailer becomes compressed. Chain style wdh restrict the forward and backward movement of the tongue, thereby preventing the surge brakes from reacting properly.

I installed a equalizer sway control AND wdh to my 4.4l x5 and my 25 ft four winns sundowner. Equalizers work with surge brakes because metal bars are used instead of chains with are mounted through a loop which does not restrict forward and back movement needed to activate the surge brakes.

My trailer stability and sway has improved noticeably. when I go over bumps, the x5 does not bounce as much. The comments on this thread about these forces being transferred to the boat and trailer frame do concern me though. It feels to me like whe I go over a bump, instead of the vehicle being jerked, the force is transmitted to the equalizer hitch, but it could very well be the tongue. The forces being better distributed seems like a better idea than my rear axle of my x5 taking everything.

The trailer towed like a dream before the equalizer. Now she is even better (and surge brakes just fine). With the tongue mount, as opposed to a frames, there are modified instructions on the equalizer website. I am not sure what four winns will have to say about the equalizer but I am going to find out.