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towing with 1/2 ton trucks
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Author:  chubert [ Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:11 am ]
Post subject:  towing with 1/2 ton trucks
My first post :D

I am planning on buying a 2004 H230 this month and am wondering what setup people are using to tow with there 1/2 ton trucks.

I have an 01 F150Crew 4X4 with a 5.4L, 3.73. The hitch states 500T.W./5000 Pulling or 800T.W./8000 Pulling with a distribution hitch. TRuck has a 7700# capacity

My estimate on the H230 is 6500# wet. Do you guys recommend a WD hitch or will just a heavy duty ball mount be enough? Are the WD hitches even compatible with a swing tongue?

Most trips will be 10 miles round trip from storage to the ramp but I will tow it home for the season and maybe for maintenance another time each year. 80 miles each way...

Thanks.
Chris
Author:  07H200SS [ Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
chubert wrote:
My first post :D

I am planning on buying a 2004 H230 this month and am wondering what setup people are using to tow with there 1/2 ton trucks.

I have an 01 F150Crew 4X4 with a 5.4L, 3.73. The hitch states 500T.W./5000 Pulling or 800T.W./8000 Pulling with a distribution hitch. TRuck has a 7700# capacity

My estimate on the H230 is 6500# wet. Do you guys recommend a WD hitch or will just a heavy duty ball mount be enough? Are the WD hitches even compatible with a swing tongue?

Most trips will be 10 miles round trip from storage to the ramp but I will tow it home for the season and maybe for maintenance another time each year. 80 miles each way...

Thanks.
Chris

I think for the short distance you are going you will be fine with the factory Ford set-up with a HD ball. Long distance you might want to consider a WD hitch. I tow my H200SS with my 2002 Chevy Trailerblazer with a 4.2L inline six cylinder. It has 270hp and I think 290 ft/lbs torque. It tow my 200 rather well.
Author:  millhaven_nice_guy [ Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
Welcome Aboard! Hope to see you here often with lots of questions, pictures and information.

I tow my H260 with a chev silverado 1/2 tonne truck 2WD. I use a 4" drop hitch in the factory "Reese Style" hitch. I have no problems with my setup in any towing conditions. It was pulled 7 hours home without any major problems. There is lots of weight on the tongue which helps and the tandem trailer handles the rest of the load nicely. I may even be a little overloaded when fully fueled.

Just be sure you have a five prong trailer wiring adapter available or else you will have to disconnect the brakes everytime you want to back up.

I would think you sould have no problems towing with your setup.
Author:  chubert [ Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
Thanks. I was googleing this as well and I saw 230Mike had a writeup on trailerboats anwering the same question... He replaced his factory hitch with a class V but I guess I am not sure if it is really required.

If the tongue weight is not over 500# shouldn't the hitch be able to handle the rated 8000#? Doesent the weight disti hitch just reduce tongue weight?

Anyone know what the tongue weight is on a H230 (With 5.7/SX)?

Chris
Author:  chubert [ Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
millhaven_nice_guy wrote:
Welcome Aboard! Hope to see you here often with lots of questions, pictures and information.

I tow my H260 with a chev silverado 1/2 tonne truck 2WD. I use a 4" drop hitch in the factory "Reese Style" hitch. I have no problems with my setup in any towing conditions. It was pulled 7 hours home without any major problems. There is lots of weight on the tongue which helps and the tandem trailer handles the rest of the load nicely. I may even be a little overloaded when fully fueled.

Just be sure you have a five prong trailer wiring adapter available or else you will have to disconnect the brakes everytime you want to back up.

I would think you sould have no problems towing with your setup.



I do have a 5 pin connector in the back. I have done a lot of towing with the truck with my current boat a 20'cuddy and my snowmobile trailer and sea doos... but never anyting more than 3500#.

I will post some pics as soon as I buy the boat!! I have to sea trial it first. Pesky ice is still preventing that....
Author:  LouC [ Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
What does the manufacturer say about the ratings, is it the same as the info on the hitch, if so they are saying you need the WD hitch to pull over 5000 lbs. One issue of using a WD hitch is it has to be set up right, that takes some time the first time you use it. The other issue is that with surge brakes the surge coupler has to move slightly to engage and release the brakes and the WD hitch can inhibt this motion, unless it is designed to work with surge brakes like the Equalizer.

If you set up the trailer with 7% tongue weight (most boat trailer makers recommend between 5-7%) you will be at 455 lbs of tongue weight. Since I do only very short trips trailering (to the shop, boatyard etc) I used the Air Lift airbags in the rear coils on my old Grand Cherokee and that levels out the Jeep very well and stops the bouncing motion I used to get with the trailer (300 lbs tongue weight). But a WD hitch would be the best for stability (since is removes some weight from the rear axle and distributes it to the front axle) if you did a lot of higher speed driving.
Author:  chubert [ Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
My truck is rated to tow 7700# but the hitch is only rated at 5000 unless a W.D. hitch is used. Then you can go to the 7700# limit.

Talking to a few people I know that have campers they say the WD hitch is the way to go. The equalizer seems to be the brand everyone loves since it works with surge brakes.

I could just replace the Class 3 hitch with a Class 4 for about $250 and have the capacity issue solved. But for another $150 I could have a better set up....

I was just not counting on buying a $500 hitch on a truck I thought was "ready" to tow 7700#:x
Author:  BrentC5Z [ Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
WD hitches that I've seen & used will not work on the single beem trailer tongue.
Author:  chubert [ Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
They do have adapters to mount the bars to a single tongue. I might just go with an upgraded class V hitch on the truck and see how it does. Hopefully I am just worried over nothing. The weight distribution hitches with the mounts run about $400-$500 for the ones that work with surge brakes. I can just replace the hitch for around $300.

Besides my hitch is looking a little rusty having 8 years of towing a snowmobile trailer on salty roads.
Author:  Busacharger [ Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
I would think that with the class IV receiver hitch you'll be good to go. I tow my 220 all over even in the Ozark mountains with a 95' 1500 Silverado 2wd 350-V8 with a class IV and haven't had any problems what so ever.
Author:  Flying Sushi [ Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
This is a famous article about WD. hitches from Trailer Boat Magazine Forum. This article should explain the most of FAQ on WD hitches including for boat trailers.
It ia a long post but very helpful.

http://boards.trailerboats.com/cgi-bin/ ... 7;t=001843
Author:  230 Mike [ Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
I tow your very boat with my '98 F150 4.6. You are correct on the weight, almost exactly 6500# wet with toys, etc. I'd like to have a bit more power in the hills, but overall I do fine with single axle surge brakes.
Author:  aguyindallas [ Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
One of our users by the name of Impulse tows a 210 with the same truck, except I think his is 2wd. You may send him a PM for his setup.
Author:  impulse [ Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
Hey Chris I do tow with a very similar tow vehicle 2002 Ford f150 SC, 5.4 2wd w/Factrory installed towing package, but the 230 weighs a few hundred pounds more than my boat. My setup tows perfectly fine. As your doing, you want to consider safety first. It's a tough call. Seems like your close on your limits. I have a wd hitch for the camper and the only downside is the extra time it takes during hookup. I think it's gonna come down to personal choice for you. For simplicity sake, upgrade the hitch, would be my 2 cents.
Author:  230 Mike [ Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: towing with 1/2 ton trucks
Forgot to mention, I did replace my factory class III hitch with a class IV. Best $300 I ever spent, peace-of-mind wise.
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