H23.5 and towing capacity

May 28, 2016
65
Hunter 23.5 Lake Nockamixon
I bought a 1993 H235 a couple years ago and have been towing with a 2012 Ford Escape with a tow package rated for 3500 lbs. I know this is borderline, but I have had no issues, except for a little struggle on steep hills. The PO assured me it was sufficient, but he was motivated to sell his boat. The tow package has 1 1/4" receiver and I have tow bar rated for 3500lbs but the ball is rated for 2000 and that's the max I can find that will fit that size receiver. I recently tried to rent a Uhaul trailer to move some furniture and they wouldn't allow me to use my Escape because of the tow balls rating not being high enough. I ended up renting a van instead. It got me to start rethinking whether the safety of my towing package is inadequate for the H235, looking for advice.
 
Jun 4, 2004
392
Hunter 31 and 25 and fomerly 23.5 Stockton State Park Marina; MO
Hi Chris,
I would definitely get a ball rated to 3500 lbs minimum. Also be sure your ball mount really is rated for 3500 lbs as many of the 1 1/4 inch receivers are only rated to 2000 lbs.
What size is your ball shank, 5/8 or 3/4 inch?
Check out etrailer.com and be sure you look at both size and capacity.
https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Hitch_Ball-co-Class_II.aspx
Dennis
 
May 28, 2016
65
Hunter 23.5 Lake Nockamixon
It’s 3/4” and 3,500 on the receiver label. I’m going to upgrade my tow hardware and consider myself lucky not to have had any issues previously. Thanks for the advice!
 
Aug 22, 2017
1,609
Hunter 26.5 West Palm Beach
Even Home Depot sells 1-1/4" tow bars that are good for 3500# - https://www.homedepot.com/p/Reese-T...ed-Interlock-Ball-Mount-Bar-7068011/207137470

Your issue is likely with the ball itself. If that is the case, then I am going to guess that you have a 1-7/8" ball, rather than the more common 2", which normally carries a much higher weight rating as long as the shank is more than 5/8". If the trailer has a 1-7/8" ball coupler, then the trailer is probably only rated for 2,000#, which I think is the weight of your boat all by itself. You might need to check if your trailer is up to the task.

If the ball & coupler are the only components that are underrated, then you can probably change them both from 1-7/8" to 2". The ball couplers usually just bolt onto the trailer. They are usually easy to change.

It is also possible that you have a 2" ball coupler that has an adjustment for ball clearance that is set too tight. If that is the case, then backing off the adjustment nut may let you go to a 2" ball with a heavier rating. See what info you can find stamped on the ball coupler & see what info you can find in the ID tag of the trailer.

While you are checking things, you might want to double check the tow capacity of your Escape. I looked at them recently. 3,500# was the max tow rating for the version with the big engine. Most of them were rated for 2,000#. A salesman at the dealer gave me some bad info about that. When I asked to see some things in writing, the story changed & I didn't buy the vehicle. Just because the receiver hitch says 3.500# on it, does not mean that the rest of the truck is rated for the same tow capacity. Often the vehicle carries a lower rating. The number stamped in the receiver is only for the hitch itself.
 
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Jun 2, 2004
649
Hunter 23.5 Calgary, Canada
I'm a novice when it comes to towing capacity, but I was surprised to learn that for some vehicles, tow capacity depends on the transmission more than the engine size. For example, a cousin showed up once in a rented SUV. I looked at the manual and the tow capacity was 2000 or 5000 depending on the transmission installed, given the same engine. One has to be careful to know exactly what options are on the particular vehicle.

I drove my empty 1995 H23.5 over a weigh scale when I first bought it. While still attached to the truck, the rear axle weighed 3300. If 10% was on the hitch, that makes 3600. And it was really empty as I had just bought it. The engine wasn't on the boat at the time.
 
May 28, 2016
65
Hunter 23.5 Lake Nockamixon
Even Home Depot sells 1-1/4" tow bars that are good for 3500# -


Your issue is likely with the ball itself. If that is the case, then I am going to guess that you have a 1-7/8" ball, rather than the more common 2", which normally carries a much higher weight rating as long as the shank is more than 5/8". If the trailer has a 1-7/8" ball coupler, then the trailer is probably only rated for 2,000#, which I think is the weight of your boat all by itself. You might need to check if your trailer is up to the task.

If the ball & coupler are the only components that are underrated, then you can probably change them both from 1-7/8" to 2". The ball couplers usually just bolt onto the trailer. They are usually easy to change.

It is also possible that you have a 2" ball coupler that has an adjustment for ball clearance that is set too tight. If that is the case, then backing off the adjustment nut may let you go to a 2" ball with a heavier rating. See what info you can find stamped on the ball coupler & see what info you can find in the ID tag of the trailer.

While you are checking things, you might want to double check the tow capacity of your Escape. I looked at them recently. 3,500# was the max tow rating for the version with the big engine. Most of them were rated for 2,000#. A salesman at the dealer gave me some bad info about that. When I asked to see some things in writing, the story changed & I didn't buy the vehicle. Just because the receiver hitch says 3.500# on it, does not mean that the rest of the truck is rated for the same tow capacity. Often the vehicle carries a lower rating. The number stamped in the receiver is only for the hitch itself.
I will check it out, I'm certain this is the original trailer and the coupler should be adjustable.
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,390
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
The original coupler is for a 2" ball

If you are going to drive that thing around me with an 1 7/8" ball please let me know so I can be sure to get off the road
 
Jun 8, 2004
10,024
-na -NA Anywhere USA
As a dealer, I chose not to get into the hitch business as there were many vehicles being used. I always recommended the largest radiator, tranny cooler and heavy duty shocks if your vehicle didn’t have a tow package. In addition I suggested excelleration and braking three times the distance and go into lower or designed towing gears going uphill going slower like a big rig going uphill loaded.

You will get a lot of opinions but one thing manufacturers will never suggest high towing loads due to liability. This includes hitches which is all good but I would success going to a hitch specialist who has all that knowledge plus they generally has all the stats as they too are subject to liability. I had one shop who helped me with my vehicles and they got a lot of referrals from me
 
Oct 31, 2012
464
Hunter 2008 H25 Lake Wabamun
I never pull a loaded trailer in overdrive. Set it to third gear to keep the RPM up and reduce stress on the transition.
 
Apr 5, 2018
95
Catalina Capri 25 Jackson
How far are you planning on towing it? Short distances to the ramp are fine if you have the right components but running your tow vihocle above 80% capacity puts huge strain on everything. If this is intended to do a long haul or frequent long hauls I would consider a different vehicle
 
Jul 21, 2016
42
san juan 7.7 wabamun
One of the biggest issues, even after upgrading your tow package, is going downhill. If your weight distribution is off(more weight on trailer side than vehicle side) the trailer will have more momentum than the truck. If this happens the trailer will try to pass you. Incredibly scary!! I had it happen once. And I've witnessed others do it to. I managed to pull out of it, one of the guys I witnessed didn't. Trailer and truck were a complete write off.
 
Jul 21, 2016
42
san juan 7.7 wabamun
That is what trailer brakes are for.
I hope that is just a poor attempt at humour! Brakes when a trailer is trying to pass you is a bad choice.
The momentum makes the trailer swing side to side since it can't go forward thru the vehicle. Brakes just causes it to whip even harder the other way.
Trailer brakes are a good idea to have though. I have them on all 7 of my trailers.
But don't rely on them to fix over loading.
 
Oct 31, 2012
464
Hunter 2008 H25 Lake Wabamun
The momentum makes the trailer swing side to side
Sounds like what you are describing is a situation where the trailer weight distribution was off (too much weight behind the trailer axle. This video is an excellent example of the resulting effect.
 
Jul 13, 2010
1,097
Precision 23 Perry Hall,Baltimore County
I think a more accurate weigh in might be in order. Although certainly a different boat, my Precision 23 on the scales alone is about 5,000 lbs. That would be too heavy for an Escape I think. My wife's car is a 2015 Escape and I feel the steering is squirlely even by itself. The steering wheel is a little small and to me feels quick to turn in almost go cart like, would not buy another one.
 
Jul 21, 2016
42
san juan 7.7 wabamun
Sounds like what you are describing is a situation where the trailer weight distribution was off (too much weight behind the trailer axle. This video is an excellent example of the resulting effect.
Exactly. That is what I meant by poor weight distribution. It is a fine balance though when you are so close, or over, your rated tow weight. Too much on the trailer, behind the axle and that is what happens.
If too much weight comes forward of the axle then you exceed the hitch weight and can break the hitch free of the vehicle.
Both are scary. That is why I would recommend using a bigger vehicle, or at least get a pro hitch shop to do an inspection/upgrade with full knowledge of what's being towed.
 
May 28, 2016
65
Hunter 23.5 Lake Nockamixon
I tow it twice a year to my slip at Lake Nockamixon, about an hour's drive. The shop I'm dealing with know is very reputable.
Thanks for all the advice, greatly appreciated!