Weight Distributing Hitch Questions and More

[MossRoad]

Thank you very much. I will check.

 

[bill18163]

My 2008 Suburban with 4.10 rear end will tow 8000 lbs and the total weight of the trailer,truck and all contents cannot exceed 14000 lbs. This is the info listed in the 2008 Suburban dealer retail booklet you get to look at when buying a car or truck. The 3.73 will tow 7000 and 13000 total. Over 5000 you have to use weight distributing hitch and no more than 1000 lb tongue weight. Under 5000 you can tow with a ball and no more than 500 lbs tongue weight. I buy a Suburban every year and for some reason the gross you can tow keeps going down every year. I can remember the gross being 8700 a number of years back. If you can't find the axle code for your truck anywhere just take a piece of chalk and put a mark at the bottom of one of your rear tires. Now get under the truck and mark the drive shaft with chalk on the side of the shaft. Get someone you TRUST and have them creep the truck forward(you are out from under the truck on your hands and knees looking under) as you count the number of times that the shaft turns for one rev of the tire. If it's a 4.10 it will turn four times +. If its a 3.73 it will turn three times plus another three quarters. Note same process for a 3.42. In my research on hitches when I bought my trailer two years ago I ran across info that stated that if you use a weight dist hitch you should measure the height of a front point on your truck,lets say the top of your wheel well opening,then do the same at one of the rear wheel well openings. Write the numbers down. Now hook up your trailer with the load on it and position your load to get your tongue weight. I use a Shearling scale to do this. Now assemble the torsion bars to the hitch arrangement which will lift the trailer tongue. Now go back and check your wheel well openings again. If the front and rear openings are within one inch of each other you are good to go. You can adjust your load on the trailer some but make sure the tongue weight is between 10% and 15% of your load. Also keep those trailer tires at max when you are loaded heavy. My tractor with everything on it weighs 5200 lbs and I use a 7000 lb trailer to haul it. Comes out to 7000 lbs almost on the nose and I tow it with no trouble at all. Usually have 700 or 800 lbs on the tongue and the whole rig is level. I have the bed of the trailer marked to position the tractor in various places depending what implements I have on it.

 

[newbury]

Resurrecting an older thread:
I've got my Draw-tite heavy duty hitch rated at 6K to 10k with WD.
I've seen recommendations for the Equalizer, which seems to run about $600+ and then there's the Reese with stabilization for about $550 or w/o $200 worth of stabilization for $350.

Any further recommendations?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Look at Curt products. I sell a lot of there stuff through my marine/trailer business. All American made and priced right. I usually get my best deals through Ebay from large trailer retailers cheaper than I can buy direct from the manufacturer.

Chris

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Resurrecting an older thread:
I've got my Draw-tite heavy duty hitch rated at 6K to 10k with WD.
I've seen recommendations for the Equalizer, which seems to run about $600+ and then there's the Reese with stabilization for about $550 or w/o $200 worth of stabilization for $350.

Any further recommendations?

I have used the Equalizer for about 8 years...and really like it.
It is easy to hook and has sway-control.

Tongue weight.__1,200lb.

Max weight.____12,000lb.

It has 1-1/2 in solid bars.

 

[newbury]

While I'm at it here's a good link for Ford axle codes.
Rear Axle Ratio Codes - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

If your like me (I lost the manual for my '88 van) and nothing could tell me what an axle code of 33 meant, till I found this decoder.

/edit - Is there any drawback in getting an over capacity WD? Like a 15,000 max weight? I'm thinking of getting a Dodge 3500 with a tow capacity of 15000lbs.

 

[newbury]

I have used the Equalizer for about 8 years...and really like it.
It is easy to hook and has sway-control.

Tongue weight.__1,200lb.

Max weight.____12,000lb.

It has 1-1/2 in solid bars.

OK -

Equalizer - Equal-i-zer Hitch - Product Info - Specifications
best quick price $500 Equalizer Weight Distribution hitch - 12,000 lbs - By Progress Mfg looks about the best

However, I've got a breakaway battery box welded on the inside drivers side of the Vframe on my trailer. at 22" to 31.5", and a crossbar at 33". How wide and thick are the link plates?