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I've got a 2009 F450 XL. The truck has the standard 2.5 in receiver on the back bolted to the frame with 8 bolts. The receiver has the ford sticker on it that says towing max is 16K with weight distribution hitch / 8k normal. The sticker confuses me because it's on what I thought was the factory weight distrusting hitch thus making the conventional tow rating for the truck 16K lbs. I'm going to pulling a trailer that weighs around 14K LBS. Do I need anything in addition to the factory 2.5 hitch and a regular trailer with a 2 5/16 ball to get the 16K rating?
Thanks. The guy that delivered the trailer towed it ~500 miles to deliver to me with a F250 with just a regular 2.5 hitch and no WDH. Had me confused as to what I needed. Ordering a WDH today.. Thanks!
The sticker on the hitch always confuses people. Its the rating of the hitch only. You need to look up the Ford Towing Guide for your year and then go thru the charts to find your exact setup. With a 5th wheel you can typically tow a lot more than the factory bumper pull hitch rating.
How big of a boat is that to weigh 14k? I once had a 30-ft sailboat with full keel and concrete ballast (NOT a trailer sailer) and it displaced around 12k.
I've seldom seen anyone with a WDH and a surge brake trailer. The reasons are (1) a weight distributing hitch puts extra pressure on the tongue and hitch of the trailer and (2) the weight distributing hitch will interfere with the performance of the surge brake.
There are adapters such as the Reese RP58393 , however, (1) this doesn't guarantee that the weight distributing hitch won't interfere with the surge brake and (2) this doesn't prevent the extra pressure of the weight distributing hitch from damaging the trailer and (3) this is probably not supported by the trailer manufacturer.
My advice: Get a receiver that has more than enough capacity to tow this trailer without a weight distributing hitch.
I've seldom seen anyone with a WDH and a surge brake trailer. The reasons are (1) a weight distributing hitch puts extra pressure on the tongue and hitch of the trailer and (2) the weight distributing hitch will interfere with the performance of the surge brake.
There are adapters such as the Reese RP58393 , however, (1) this doesn't guarantee that the weight distributing hitch won't interfere with the surge brake and (2) this doesn't prevent the extra pressure of the weight distributing hitch from damaging the trailer and (3) this is probably not supported by the trailer manufacturer.
My advice: Get a receiver that has more than enough capacity to tow this trailer without a weight distributing hitch.
Me thinks you are correct^^^^^^^^^^ I don’t believe WDH and surge brakes play well together.
And yes to the OP, get a class V hitch and be done.
Looks like most of the WDH have tie bars back to the A-Frame on the trailer. What do you generally do when it's 6+ feet back to the a-frame?
Really appreciate the help. I've been towing trailers for years, but this is the first above 10K lbs. Thanks, Chris
Knowing now that this is a BOAT, not a flatbed or camper, then go ahead and just get (as suggested above) a Class V drawbar (with a 2.5" shank) and the correct sized ball. You'll be set - MOST boat trailers, and from what I know especially those with surge brakes, don't have much for tongue weight - because if they did the surge brakes wouldn't work properly, if at all.
How big of a boat is that to weigh 14k? I once had a 30-ft sailboat with full keel and concrete ballast (NOT a trailer sailer) and it displaced around 12k.
It's a 32ft x 10.5ft deep V heavy gage aluminum boat with a fly bridge. I need to get it weighed to validate actual weight. The trailer weighs 3K per the manufacture. The surveyor thought the boat was 10.5-11.5K, but need to validate...
Looks like most of the WDH have tie bars back to the A-Frame on the trailer. What do you generally do when it's 6+ feet back to the a-frame?
Really appreciate the help. I've been towing trailers for years, but this is the first above 10K lbs. Thanks, Chris
There's no way I would put a weight distributing hitch on that tongue. It will fold under the pressure. As others said, get a class V and you should be good to go.
Sorry to say, I have never towed a stupid so I can't answer with any level of authority. It was however a funny post title so I had to drop in my 2 cents...ok. I will go back to my room now...
