How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

[mnypitboat]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

well the cheapest option would be to start from scratch with all electric but to "convert" would be an electric over hydraulic kit like bruce has ... expensive but about the best you can get

Well I guess I will just see how it goes like it is for now. I am sure putting it in salt water over the summer will destroy them again anyway, and I will be replacing them next year anyway.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

Its all installed. Moved the jack all the way back and it is 39" from the ball. Instructions say 40" is optimum, but there is no place else to put it without removing the lights. Which I will do if it hits on turns or whatever. I had to relocate the spare to behind the winch post. I like it there better anyway. Sits up high and is shaded by the boat, so the dry rott from the FL sun will be slower. I was missing 2 pins that I didnt realize til I started installing it all, so I ordered them. Cost me like $8. So in a week they should be here. I will report how it handles at that time.

During the measuring phase of the install, I only measured a 1" drop with the trailer hooked up. I knew it wasnt dropping much. The tongue weight is at like 11% of total weight, according to the trailer place. Measured it when I got the boat, when they replaced the drum brakes. Of course that was dry, very little fuel and no stuff in the boat. I would venture to say it is pretty balanced though.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

I am curious as to what your towing and what with, that you even need that hitch

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

I am curious as to what your towing and what with, that you even need that hitch

I was thinking the same thing.

I towed the boat in my signature with a 2004 F-150 and later with a 1999 1/2T Silverado. Ford didn't need the WD hitch but the Chevy did.

I have towed with and without a WD hitch with the Silverado. Much more stable with the WD hitch.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

Is there a kit to convert my hydraulic brakes to electric without replacing everything? I just put these brakes on a couple weeks ago.

The Cadillac of the brake world is "Electric over Hydraulic".
That will add another $700 for the Actuator Plus another $100 for the Electric controller in the cab.
Start with $1000 and use the change to go out to dinner once.

This will give you the best of both worlds.
The actuator is an electric powered hydraulic pump that you can control remotely while driving.
No problem backing up and the trailer brakes can be operated independently from the truck brakes.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

I was thinking the same thing.

I towed the boat in my signature with a 2004 F-150 and later with a 1999 1/2T Silverado. Ford didn't need the WD hitch but the Chevy did.

I have towed with and without a WD hitch with the Silverado. Much more stable with the WD hitch.

I've been wondering too.... Bruce... any chance that the ford had better/heavier tires than the chevy? load range E vs load range C or D can be a HUGE difference towing

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

I've been wondering too.... Bruce... any chance that the ford had better/heavier tires than the chevy? load range E vs load range C or D can be a HUGE difference towing

The Ford had either a stiffer rear suspension or the length from the hitch to the axle was different. I don't remember.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

I have the Titan Elec/hydraulic unit.

Another added benefit of elec/hydraulic over surge is no dragging brakes going down hill.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

I am towing a Monterey 214FS(the 2013 model year is the 224FS) with an 05 Trailblazer EXT with a 5.3l and 3.73 rear. The only real issue I have had is a little highway sway on a breezy day. Towed my other boat, a Tahoe Q7, with it before without any problem whatsoever. Dad's Lincoln Navigator MK LT struggles big time, but seems more stable once you actually got up to speed.

I dont tow on the highway very often, but we are going on a 5-6 hour trip to the Keys in July, so I wanted to make sure I didnt have any issues.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

Is there a reason you went with the 10K bars vs the 6K bars?

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

Is there a reason you went with the 10K bars vs the 6K bars?

Because it was $40. New it is over $400. To be honest, I started this whole thing by finding my other hitch was actually bent. I then checked its capacity and found it to be only 5k. I decided to get a WD hitch, but not this particular one. After research I found this style was best for my application, and stumbled across one on CL. I had to buy some clips, but in the end I am into it for less than $50. A decent regular hitch would have cost more. So that is why I went with the 10k bars.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

The only issue I see is how stiff the bars are going to be when going over a dip and into a steep driveway. If the bars are too stiff for the load, you could actually loose traction on the rear wheels since the bars won't flex enough.

Not sure if it will affect the ride.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

Guessing at your weight I put in 5000# and 550# TW and it came up with the 10K hitch. So seems like you are fine.

Hitch Sizes

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

if you are getting a sway issue, check your tongue weight... the most common cause of trailer sway is too little tongue weight.

BTW nice score

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

if you are getting a sway issue, check your tongue weight... the most common cause of trailer sway is too little tongue weight.

That and the wheelbase on that vehicle is a little on the short side. That equalizing hitch will help for sure.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

That and the wheelbase on that vehicle is a little on the short side. That equalizing hitch will help for sure.

That would be incorrect sir. The EXT wheelbase is 129". The Tahoe of the same year is only 116". The Suburban is only 1" longer at 130" and that is one reason we bought it. Wife didnt want a huge SUV but we still needed something that could tow. Nobody else on the market, and not even GM anymore, has a medium SUV that will do what this thing does.

To address Kevin's concern, the trailer place set up my tongue weight and said I was at 11%. So I think its fine. I guess I misrepresented it when I said sway. I really only swayed when there was a breeze on the highway. I just didnt want to take a 6 hour trip at highway speeds, without something.

I am happy with the setup, I think it will be good for a long time to come, and if we ever do go bigger on the boat, we already have it.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

Oh, and I wasnt trying to be a jerk, sorry if it came off that way. Your assumption is the same as most people's and I have to let people know all the time what the wheelbase is.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

No problem. I was assuming it was 129" and I am also surprised its that close to the Suburban's number. Its also over 1000# lighter than a Suburban. I actually believe the Tahoe is not a good tow vehicle because of its short wheel base.

I drive a 1/2T Silverado and its wheelbase is over a foot longer than yours and probably similar weight. It has very little sway although I do use a WD hitch and sometimes a sway control.

I think the WD hitch will be good for you.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

No problem. I was assuming it was 129" and I am also surprised its that close to the Suburban's number. Its also over 1000# lighter than a Suburban. I actually believe the Tahoe is not a good tow vehicle because of its short wheel base.

I drive a 1/2T Silverado and its wheelbase is over a foot longer than yours and probably similar weight. It has very little sway although I do use a WD hitch and sometimes a sway control.

I think the WD hitch will be good for you.

Yep, tried to get the wife to get a Suburban. We had a 1996 3/4 ton Suburban that we towed our Chap with. She said she didnt want anything that big, so I looked at alternatives. I was a little surprised the wheelbase was so large. You must have a crew cab? Seems to me the extended cab is almost the same as our wheelbase, or at least close, cause I had one of those too, a 99. I towed a 26ft Chris Craft Amerosport with that. It was precarious at best. We only towed it a couple miles to the ramp and left it in the water.

I havent found a sway control that works with surge brakes, so until I go with electric brakes, I dont see that happening.

I agree that the Tahoe is a bit short for towing. I had a Yukon prior to the Trailblazer. We had the Tahoe Q7 back then though and it was plenty for that boat.

I also think the WD hitch will be good for us.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do I put a WD hitch on this trailer?

I have the electric/hydraulic and that is why I can use one without any trouble.

Had a sway control on a surge brake unit on a couple trailers but you have to weld a bracket to the portion of the coupler that is right after the ball and have that extend backwards so that that the sway control can attach. With that setup, the sway control does not impede the trailer from pushing the coupler into the surge unit.

Extra cab wheel base is 143.5" with the 6.5' bed.