Panacea loves to fishtail a little more than I like her to when I'm towing her down the highway. I have tried different methods of loading gear inside for travelling but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I am looking for an anti-sway kit or weight distribution kit to put on the tongue of the trailer but all I am finding are huge and expensive. The closest one to meeting my needs is rated for 1,000 lb tongue weight and 10,000 lbs. trailer weight which is definitely overkill and at almost $450 a little to spendy for me. Has anyone found a good and economical solution to a boat that likes to fishtail on the road?
anti-sway/weight distribution
- Thread starter steve leon
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Jack
A cheap, worthwhile fix
I don't know the particulars on the X, but my D had the same problem. The hitch weight was too light, and the trailer wanted to wander. I spent $85 at a trailer sales and service place to have the axle moved back about a foot. It's like a new trailer- positive hitch weight even with the outboard on the transom, and stays put behind the vehicle. Is yours a case of too little tongue weight, or is it something else? Jack
I don't know the particulars on the X, but my D had the same problem. The hitch weight was too light, and the trailer wanted to wander. I spent $85 at a trailer sales and service place to have the axle moved back about a foot. It's like a new trailer- positive hitch weight even with the outboard on the transom, and stays put behind the vehicle. Is yours a case of too little tongue weight, or is it something else? Jack
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Steve Paul
Towing issues
A couple of things to consider here. I've had the same problem while pulling with an Explorer and using the bumper as a hitch. Too high for the ball and this is a problem for sway. Too little tongue weight is also a problem for sway. Sway can increase rapidly with speed and be a very serious safety concern. Stay slow don't try and go 60-70mph, it won't work for you. Moving the wheels back is certainly a good idea, but not free. A weight distributing hitch with anti sway is a great idea for safety. Remember these Mac trailers are ok but the wheels are a little too close to the tow vehicle. Hope these thoughts help.
A couple of things to consider here. I've had the same problem while pulling with an Explorer and using the bumper as a hitch. Too high for the ball and this is a problem for sway. Too little tongue weight is also a problem for sway. Sway can increase rapidly with speed and be a very serious safety concern. Stay slow don't try and go 60-70mph, it won't work for you. Moving the wheels back is certainly a good idea, but not free. A weight distributing hitch with anti sway is a great idea for safety. Remember these Mac trailers are ok but the wheels are a little too close to the tow vehicle. Hope these thoughts help.
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mrbill
jc whitney
search on jc whitney, they carry both. however not sure this will solve a problem when you dont have enough weight on the tounge. I beleive the weight adjusting hitches are for too much wt on tounge. *puts trl wt on rear axle... I have added 40# of chain to the trailer tounge to increase the weight... and I never go over 65mph. you want about 300# on the hitch. (you could have the axle moved back 12"... welding required)
search on jc whitney, they carry both. however not sure this will solve a problem when you dont have enough weight on the tounge. I beleive the weight adjusting hitches are for too much wt on tounge. *puts trl wt on rear axle... I have added 40# of chain to the trailer tounge to increase the weight... and I never go over 65mph. you want about 300# on the hitch. (you could have the axle moved back 12"... welding required)
not really a tongue weight problem
It's not really a tongue weight problem. i've towed boats of various sizes all my (driving) life. i experimented with tongue weight by moving gear inside the cabin and it made no difference whatsoever. and i also have matched the receiver height to the trailer height so the trailer is level while towing. I think i'll che jc whitney. thanks for the help.
It's not really a tongue weight problem. i've towed boats of various sizes all my (driving) life. i experimented with tongue weight by moving gear inside the cabin and it made no difference whatsoever. and i also have matched the receiver height to the trailer height so the trailer is level while towing. I think i'll che jc whitney. thanks for the help.
any other suggestions?
I searched the jc whitney site and didn't see any. do you have a part number or a brand name or anythingelse that might help me locate one from jc whitney?
I searched the jc whitney site and didn't see any. do you have a part number or a brand name or anythingelse that might help me locate one from jc whitney?
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RichardL
Weight Dist Hitch
Here is a link to a weight distributing hitch suitable for the 26S pole style trailer. I did a lot of internet research, and found that this was probably the best deal. However, I agree that this is to solve the problem of too much tongue weight and not too little tongue weight. You can also add an anti-sway unit to this hitch.
Here is a link to a weight distributing hitch suitable for the 26S pole style trailer. I did a lot of internet research, and found that this was probably the best deal. However, I agree that this is to solve the problem of too much tongue weight and not too little tongue weight. You can also add an anti-sway unit to this hitch.
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RichardL
PS.....
Sorry, forgot the most inportant stuff - this hitch is $265 and for 400 lbs tongue weight and 4,000 GTW.
Sorry, forgot the most inportant stuff - this hitch is $265 and for 400 lbs tongue weight and 4,000 GTW.
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Dan McGuire
Go back and Look at Tongue Weight
There are lots of reasons for poor trailering characteristics including the tow vehicle suspension or even tire pressures. However, tongue weight is usually the culprit and the easiest to fix. When pulling my MAC 23, about 3000# including the trailer, by my Ford F250, if I do not pull the boat absolutely all of the way forward, I get poor tracking. Moving a few pounds of items around may not be enough. You may need to move a hundred pounds or more onto your hitch. Your hitch weight should probably be at least 300 pounds.
There are lots of reasons for poor trailering characteristics including the tow vehicle suspension or even tire pressures. However, tongue weight is usually the culprit and the easiest to fix. When pulling my MAC 23, about 3000# including the trailer, by my Ford F250, if I do not pull the boat absolutely all of the way forward, I get poor tracking. Moving a few pounds of items around may not be enough. You may need to move a hundred pounds or more onto your hitch. Your hitch weight should probably be at least 300 pounds.
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Ramblin' Rod - Mac 26D - SeaQuell
Can you lift the tongue by hand?
If so, even when using all your might, then you have insufficient tongue weight. For a loaded 26X with a 50 HP O/B hanging off the back, you should have about 300 pounds of tongue weight or more.
If so, even when using all your might, then you have insufficient tongue weight. For a loaded 26X with a 50 HP O/B hanging off the back, you should have about 300 pounds of tongue weight or more.
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mrbill
sway control link -jcwhitney
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-5076/c-10614 wt dist hitch http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-3234/c-10614 -yeah, their index sucks, but if you know the keywords.... cant beat the prices... eh?
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-5076/c-10614 wt dist hitch http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-3234/c-10614 -yeah, their index sucks, but if you know the keywords.... cant beat the prices... eh?
can't use w/ surge brakes
So after looking at all the great suggestions, I've learned that you can not (should not) use anti sway devices with surge brakes. In fact the use of weight distribution systems are also discouraged on trailers with surge brakes. so I guess I'll try slowing down (that's just so hard to do when you want to go boating) and maybe look into having the axle moved back to increase tongue weight. thanks for all the suggestions. sl
So after looking at all the great suggestions, I've learned that you can not (should not) use anti sway devices with surge brakes. In fact the use of weight distribution systems are also discouraged on trailers with surge brakes. so I guess I'll try slowing down (that's just so hard to do when you want to go boating) and maybe look into having the axle moved back to increase tongue weight. thanks for all the suggestions. sl
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