BAJA MAN

Just purchased my ride and will need to upgrade to hitch capable of 10,000# load carrying and 1000# of tongue weight - load carrying. I know the stock hitch is ONLY capable of 12,000#/1200 when using weight distribution and this will be OK for travel trailer, but stock hitch will NOT work for my boat trailer with surge brakes.

Since the stock hitch is welded to frame, what do we do to add aftermarket?

Thanks!!

Rattletrap1

torklift.com

I've heard of stockers being cut out. Don't know if its required on all hitches.

CTD NUT

The stock hitch from the factory is welded on?!?!

bluepp

And why wont the stock hitch work with your boat?? The equalizer should work with the surge brakes, providing you DONT have any sway controle involved. Just make sure the equalizer bar chains are lone enough to allow the surge brake travel to work.

cditrani

Doesn't the Reese Titan mount over (or under, actually) the factory hitch on the 3Gs?

bluepp

Just what is the (TITAN) ??

cditrani

The reese titan is a class V, 2.5" receiver hitch. Expensive but Heavy Duty. IIRC, it takes a tongue weight off 1200 lbs. without weight distribution (I'm not saying that's a good idea though). Makes factory hitches look like toys.

I remember reading that it bolted over the factory hitch, but I'm not sure about that.

bluepp

I wouldnt want to hang 1200 lb on the back of my truck and try to tow the wt. that would be involved with that. I'd much rather use the hitch that comes on the truck with 1200 lb equalizers. If you have 5 or 6 links between the bars and the frame hangers ,the surge brakes should work OK.

BAJA MAN

I've been told you can not run sway bars (weight distribution system) on surge brakes. I've never seen a set on a boat trailer with surge brakes, at least boats that are the saltwater type. My boat is a 24' ocean going boat that is somewhere around 8700# boat and trailer. It has disc surge brakes. I do not know tounge weight, but I'm sure it is around 500-800#.

cditrani

Correct. Get a class V hitch and don't plan on towing long distances without switching to an electric/hydraulic system with a brake controller. Surge brakes are back-yard-to-boat-ramp.

CTD NUT

The equalizer bars are attached to the hitch draw bar and chained tight to the tongue so this will prohibit movement of the brake master cylinder/ball coupler on a surge brake trailer......

Asher

The factory hitch won't hold this weight on it's own?? Not saying right or wrong, but I have run this weight many times with the factory set up and no extras... ... Guess you learn something everyday....

Dave

cditrani

The factory hitch has a max tongue weight of, I think, 600 lbs. on 3G trucks, 500 on 2Gs, without weight distribution, double that with weight distribution.

BAJA MAN

cditrani,

Why would I need to go with an electrci/hydraulic system? How do they work. What is the benefit. Can you launch in water/saltwater? Never seen one on any saltwater going boat trailer here in So. Cal.????

Thanks

cditrani

Most boat trailers aren't really made for long hauls, just as a way to move the boat around. Surge brakes don't work very well, especially when the boat weighs more than the truck, and you can't really adjust them to conditions, etc. Electric/hydraulic is just an electric brake system wired into a brake controller in the truck (like a RV trailer) that in turn actuates the hyraulic system, which is submersible. This way you get good trailer brakes and a submersible trailer. They aren't common because they are a pricey option and most people don't know about them. Guys who trailer their boats a lot, like guys who do the saltwater fishing tournaments, often have trailers so equiped.

All that said, if you live in SoCal or Florida and cold road surfaces aren't an issue, you're probably fine with surge brakes if you're careful.