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Anybody have their C250WK on a trailer close by?

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/13/2005 : 19:05:57

I have decided to order the Equal-i-zer hitch from Progress Mfg that Quentin found. To do that, I need to know the distance from the ground to the top of ball receiver (on the trailer). To be specific, they ask for the distance from the ground to the top of the *inside* of the ball receiver. The trailer needs to be absolutely level when this is measured.

Anybody have their boat on a trailer in their back yard or something, that can make this measurement for me?

Thanks.

Kevin Mackenzie
Former Association Secretary and Commodore
"Dogs Allowed"
'06 C250WK #881
and
"Jasmine"
'01 Maine Cat 30 #34

Edited by - kevinmac on 11/13/2005 19:07:08

Turk
Admiral

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736 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2005 : 07:54:14

Kevin

My 2003 wk and trailer are up north in a barn. I will get you the measurement hopefully today. You still may need a final adjustment with your truck by using different size ball mounts. When I took my truck to witchita to get my boat, I brought 4 sizes of ball mounts. I pull my boat with a 2004 ford 150 4x4 crew cab. Works great. I realize you have nothing to go by and I will try to get the measurement for you in the next couple days. Maybe others can measure also so you can find an average. The final adjustment on your truck will be with the drop (or rise) of the ball mount.

That said, the "balance" of the trailer and tongue weight will be important if you plan on traveling very far with the boat. Having pulled my 250 over 1000 miles, you will appreciate (or respect) it's size! I would not like to pull anything larger with this class of truck. It pulls fine but I stayed in the 55-58 range on the freeway. 23 hours to get home.

I have an 18 foot car haul type trailer also (farm tractor and brush hog), and you have to pay attention to weight distribution and the weight on the tongue. Pulling the boat down the road is normally not the problem, but having the ability to stop quickly in an emergency is the thing. The tandom axel trailer helps balance the weight of the 250.

Have you looked at the tongue weight on your Durango? I believe mine is rated at up to 650 lbs.

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2005 : 09:33:47

Thanks Turk!

I can't find a tongue weight spec, but the towing capacity is 7350, so tongue weight of 735 should be OK. My boat and trailer will be about 6200 lbs, so I am getting toward the maximum.

I really appreciate you doing the measurement. The hitch comes with several different ball mounts for different situations, and since I won't have the Durango and the boat/trailer together until I am 200 miles from home up in Seattle, I want to do my best to buy one that has the best chance of working.

Fair winds,

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

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736 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2005 : 12:40:32

Ok Kevin

I have a Trail-Rite mast raising system trailer 2003. I will get the heigth and the size tires I have so you can compare.

While looking through my trailer manual I found a whole section on equalizing hitches. It cautions that this type of hitch may bind the actuator or over-load the actuator by tightining the spring bar too tight. It says this even thought the gross vehicle weight and weight distribution (10%) are well within limits. It recommends heavy duty air type shocks be installed on the tow vehicle to assist in leveling.

They have quite a section on this type of hitch and it maybe worth reading before you make the decision to go with this option. It even says that users of this type of hitch may have to accelorate faster from a stop to free up the actuator to overcome the binding action of the equalizing hitch.

I've gone to there site and they are a little bit web challenged. If you would like, I could . . aw heck, I just scanned that part of the manual in so you could read it for yourself!

Links

www.elmhurstprop.com/trailer/trailer-page1.jpg
www.elmhurstprop.com/trailer/trailer-page2.jpg

I hope this helps.

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2005 : 22:20:10

Thanks so much for going to that effort Turk. Take a look at the hitch that Quentin found here:

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/productinfo/compatibility.php

From reading what you scanned, I think the manual is referring to a conventional equalizing hitch. The "equal-i-zer" seems to be specifically designed to work properly with surge brakes. If you see it differently, please let me know.

And thanks again for measuring that height for me.

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Turk
Admiral

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736 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2005 : 23:18:28

Kevin

Your right! All the specs say that it will work with surge brakes. That's great.

I'll be out to my boat tomorrow, I'll post the measurement for you later in the day.

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2005 : 06:53:10

Turk,

See the message I am posting in the thread "equalizing hitch".

Kevin

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.